The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Corinthians — Section 285

They had been in existAlnoe but a few ye11rs, and were subject to the natural dieadv&n• tages of youth e.nd inexperience. They needed diligent we.tching and tender, fostering ce.re. 2. Their exposure to the insidious efforts of false teachers, Some of these sought to lead the Christians of the first e.ge back into Jud11ism, others strove to introduce licence ,md lawlessness. 3. Their constantly recurring needs. Some needed tho villits of evangelists or the e.ppointment of pastors. Others needed the instructions or counsels which circumstances might render appropriate. II. THE PRACTICAL PROMPTINGS oF APOSTOLIC ANXIETY. We see tho evidences of Paul's sincere solicitude for the Churches in: 1. His frequent visits, by which he brou!(ht his persona.I influence to bear upon those whose welfare he sought and who naturally looked to him for help. 2. His Epistles, full of clear statement, convincing reasoning, earnest persuasion, and faithful warning. 3. His selection and appointment of devoted fellow-labourers to assist him in the supe1intendence and edification of the youthful communities. 4. His fervent prayeJ"s, which abounded on behalf of all in whose spiritual well-being he was interested. III. THE PROFITABLE LESSONS OF APOSTOLIC ANXIETY. 1. A general lesson of mutual interest and sympathy. Who can read this language without feelin~ to what an extent it enforces the scriptural precept?-" Look not every man upon his own things, but every man also up® tbe things of others." 2. A special lesson of mutual helpfulness as the duty and privilege of all who occupy positions of influence and authority in Christ's Church. Some forms of Church government tend rather to isolate Christian communities than to draw them to~ether. This tendency may be happily counteracted by complia.ncc with the precept implicitly contained in this declaration of the apostle.-'!'. Vers. 2, 3.-Pa,storal, ~ - How little understood by most believers I What strange notions many form of ministerial experience I To not a few the pastor appears a monarch with a minimum of duties and cares, and wh,,se lot has thus fallen in singu• \o.rly easy and pleasant places. But who.t a heavy burden is carried by the most pros- perous minister! He who seems to be surrounded by all tho.t can make his ministry cheering and his life happy is agitated by a host of disquieting thoughts and pressed upcn by innumerable anxieties. So was it with that amazingly successful minister, the Apostle Paul. Following his line of thought, we may gain some knowledge of a true pastor's experience. L THE PASTOR'S EAllNEBT DESIRB. 1. That hia testimony may not be ineffective. Sorely burdened is that pastor's heart whose words seem to fall to the ground. He has a great object in his earnest appeals; if these fail, his strength has been spent for nought, his life fails. To preach on and on, and yet to see no spiritual result, strains his heartstrings till they threaten to snap. Hope deferred makes the heart sick, and, if the people of his charge are merely interested or amused by his preaching, he cries, " Woe is me I " 2. That those to whom he pr=hes may be truly oonverted. He desires that they may be united to Christ as a bride to her husband (ver. 2). He is not satisfied with their thinking or speaking well of Christianity, or with their outward observanc1 of religious duties; his longing it, for their real redemption and for their thorough con- secration to Christ. If he be faithful, he aims to attach them, not to himself, but to his Master. His joy is full only when they are married to Christ, and live as those who are no longer their own. For this he longs, prays, labours, agonizes. 3. That at last they may appear in holiness be/or~ Christ. " That I might present you as a pure virgin to Christ" ( ver. 2). The true pastor desires, not only that his peop~e should start in the Christian race, but that they should continue, and at last attam to the "crown of righteousness." Flash-in-the-pan conversions please none but fools. Pastoral anxiety is largely the anxiety of watching development. The man of God has the_ toil and care of building up spiritual life. He counts that labour Jost, so far as the objects of it a.re concerned, which has no abiding effects. The merest flash of thought will reveal the multitude of disappointments certain to crowd upon his soul. IL THE PASTOR'S CONSTANT DREAD. This dread is lest his converts should fall away. Lest it should be made evident that the good seed has, after all, fallen upon the way- side, or into stony places, or amongst destructive thorns. He remembers: 1. '1 1h11 power of the tempter. Perhaps, like Paul, he calls to mind the fall of Eve, and rcrnel!lbers how much the children are like their mother. He feels the power of tempta- OH. XI. 1-33.J 'flIE SECOND EPISTLE 'l'O Tm~ comNTHIANS. 28:3