IV. TrurnE JB A SPECIAL IlECOMPENSE ASSURED TO THE CTIV.ERFUL GIVER. "The Lorn loveth him." 'l'ho Lord sees his own character reflected in that of his servant• he witnesses in the gonerons and unselfish spirit the fruit of the redemption wroul7h( by his Son, 11nd of the fertilizing operation of hie own gracious, free and be;eficent Bpirit.-T. ' Ver. 8.-Abounding grace and abounding service. Christianity does not come to men, saying, "'£his is pleasant," or "This is expedient," or "'!'his is what society cxpocts from yon, and therefore do it." It comes saying, "This is what Goel does and what God requires you to do." It lays the basis for human duty in Divine acts: So witb. liberality, as in this passage. I. 'l'HE ABUNDANT RESOURCES Goo PUTS AT THE DISPOSAL OF THE CHRISTIAN. 1. Men a.re at their best estate altogether dependent, having in themselves nothin<> but want, weakness, and sin. 2. All grace is in God ; he has both the p°'ver and the dispositioi;- to supply every want. It is his nature to bestow; he is the Go<l of grace. 3. His grace not only gives, it abounds to us. The gift of his Son is the proof of inexhaustible love. So with the gift of his Spirit. In fa.et, in the gospel there is a generosity of bestowment; no withholding and no grudging. 4. Christians, as his people, a.re thus partakers of Divine sufficiency. "All things are yourR; " such is the deed of gift in which the heavenly Father places at the disposnl of his family all the resources of his nature and liberality. 5. The liberality of God extends through every stage of individual life, and through every period of the Church's history. His bounties and favours are as the leaves of the forest, the waves of the sea, the stars of the sky- unnumbered and innumerable. II. THE CORRESPONDING REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS OF Gon FROM HIS PEOPLE. Religion consists of two parts-what God does for us, and what God demands from us. 1. It is ta.ken for granted that the Christian life consists in " good works ; " that the disciple of Christ is naturally a worker, whose energies and possessions are to be consecrated to God in his Son. Gifts, services, sympathy, speech, a.id,-such a.re the manifestations of the spiritual life which the Lord of all desires and beholds. 2. Here is implied a relation between: God's works and those of his people. His a.bounding gifts are to be regarded as (1) the example of ours; (2) the means of ours, for we can only give others what he has given us; (3) the measure of ours, as liberal and generous; and (4) the motive to ours, inasmuch as we are constrained by the love of God and by the cross of Christ.-T. Ver. 11.-True enrichment. The encouragement which the apostle here addresses to the Corinthian Christians, in order to stimulate their liberality, is appropriate to all professed followers of the Lord Jesus. Paul urges that the liberal helper of others is in every respect the wealthier and happier for his generosity. It is not the highest motive, but it is sound and powerful and effective. I. THE HUMAN NEED OF SUCH ENRICHMENT. Impoverishment is the lot of multi- tudes; but whilst many are deeply sensible of their temporal needs, it is too often the case that, with regard to spiritual possessions, they boast that they are rich and increased with goods, and know not that they a.re poor. In fact, we have nothing which we have not received from the free bounty of him who is the Giver of all. II. THE DIVINE AUTHOR OF SUCH ENRICHMENT. The God of nature supplies the need and relieves the poverty distinctive of our bodily and physical state. The God of grace provides liberally for the wants of the soul, saying to his child, " Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine." III. THE VAnIETY AND PLENITUDE OF THIS ENRICHMENT, .. In everything," says the apostle. Ho appears to teach that, as a general rule, it is the ordinance of Pro- vidence that the way of liberality should be the way of prosperity. All h:we known fortunate and wealthy niggards; and all have known generous ruen who have come to poverty; but such cases !l.l''l the exception. And if generosity is the way to temporal abundance, a liberal spirit is sure to ,acquire virtues aud excellences. Faith, hope, and love,-all are'cultivated in the exercise of liberality; progressive enrichment is the recompense of a l;rge heart and open hands. IV. 'fnE HUMAN AND EAilTIILY RESIJL1' OF THIS ENRICIIMENT. This is increase or 228 THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORIN'l'HIANS. Lon. ix. 1-15.
liberality; the more the generous man receives from God, the more ho helps his fellow-men. , V. THE ULTilLlTE RESULT OF Tms ENRICHMENT, Thanksgiving will be rendered to God, both by the liberal who are enriched, by the grateful recipients of their abundant bounty, and by all who witness the fruit of the Spirit and the evidences of the power of the Saviour's love.-T.