Imagine any other th1m Christ ueing this language, "My grace ill Ruflicient"? It i~ becoming, it is possible, only to him who possesses Divine resources, who is spiritually present with all his yeople. 2. Christ's mediatorial position. This involves the posRes- sion "nd the disposa of whatsoever is necessary for the spiritual welfare of those whom tbo Lord.Jesus saves. Accepted as our Representative, be has received gifts for men; nnd it is in the fulfilment of hie mediatorial office that he imparts to each individual disciple and friend the specially needed grace. 3. The spiritual dispensation over which the Lord Jesus presides. He is Head over all things unto his Church. He distributes to every man severally as he will. His Spirit is the Spirit of truth, of holiness, of power. III. THE EVIDENOE OF THIS BUFll'ICIENCY. 1. 'l'he personal experience of Paul as recorded in this passage. He tells 11e here, not only what Christ promised, but what he performed. He was perfectly satisfied with the course be had taken. He did not find his own personal weakness and insufficiency a barrier to bis efficiency and usefulness. What he lacked, his Lord supplied. 2. The recorded experience of all who have trusted to the same Divine Source of all-sufficiency. There is no discordant note in the song of grateful, affectionate adoration which fills the Church of the Redeemer. All bis peoplo, have known their own demerits, their own powerlessness, and all have known the sufficiency of their Lord. And every Christian has reason to acknowledge- , "'And when my all of strength shall fail, I ahall with the God-Man prevail." T Ver. 12.-Signs of apostleship. The evidences of deep feeling, which are manifest throughout this Epistle, are very promi.nent in this passage. There were special reasons why a sensitive man like Paul should lay to heart the treatment with which he met from the Corinthians. Considering what he had done among them and for them, he felt it bard that empty pretenders should be preferred to himself. And he was convinced that, in disregarding his authority, these members of the Corinthian congregation whom he had in view were doing injustice to bis ministry among them. For all the proofs of a Divine commission had been exhibited in his ministry in their city. He appeals to-- I. MIRACULOUS .EVIDENCES OF .APOSTLESHIP. Upon due occasion the apostle did not hesitate to bring forward and adduce as proofs of his commission the supernatural gifts which had been bestowed upon him. How could he have publicly made such a claim as this in an authentic letter, unless the Corinthians, friendly and inimical, were ready, to witness to the truth of his language? It would not be fanciful to discriminate among the terms which Paul in this passage applies to these miraculous evidences. Observe that they· are designated: 1. Powers, as pointing to the heavenly and Divine source to which they must needs be traced. Whether exercised in controlling nature, in healing disease, or in inflicting punishment, they bore upon their very presence the evidences that they were of superhuman origin. 2. Wonders, as fitted and indeed intended to awaken the interest, the inquiry, the amazement, of all beholders. Wonder may be useful in leading to such reflection, such emotion, as may surpass itself in value. 3. Signs, as indicating the authority of those at whose prayer or command these marvels were wrought " among" 'the Corinthians. IL THE HORAL EVIDENCE OF APOSTLESmP, Nowhere in the New Testament is the po1+.ent placed above the spiritual. Christ's mighty works answered their purpose when they prompted the exclamation and inquiry," What manner of man is this!" And in Paul's character there was seen an evidence of apostleship far more convincing and far more instructive than the most marvellous deeds which be performed. He justly claims to h11ve exhibited patience, both in his continuing to work for the Corinthians and to interest himself in them notwithetanding their ingratitude, and in his tender and brotherly ireatment of them with a view to their restoration to entire sympathy with himself.-T. Vor. 15.-Ministerial devotion. Paul rejoices and boasts that, however the Corin- thians may misunderstand him, he cannot be accused of having acted towards them in a mercenary spirit. Disinterestedness at all events he must claim, and they must concede. They are the debtors, not he, He is the parent who lays up for the children. '!'his he does cheerfully, and is resolved that ho will do in the future as in the past, His determination is to spend and to be spent for their souls. 302 THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. [oH. x11. 1-91.
I. A t1INCEl!E PROFESSION. Had Paul ·been a stra.nger to his correspondents he ooultl not have used such langu&,..<YEI as this. But he was well known to them, having lived and laboured in Corinth, working with bis own hands for bis maintenance, and putting forth every effort for the spiritual enlightenment and salvation of the oitii:ene. 1. The minister of Christ~ for the enrichment of his people's souls. He bas "·treeeure" though in earthen vessels. H.e has "the true riches" committed to his keeping. His aim is to bestow the choicest and most precious blessings npon the spiritually necessitous. All be bas he loni,i to part with. 2. The minister of Christ is willing to be spent for bis people's souls, Labour often involves suffering. Bodily powers ma.y be exhausted • even the mind itself may give way under the strain of a toilsome, emotional, prolonged ministry. The missionary may sink beneath the burden of climate, of unrequited toil, of persecution. Every faithful minister must la.y his account, not only with effort ·but with self-denial and self-sacrifice. ' Il. AN ARDENT APPEAL. The Revisers adopt a rendering of the latter part of this verse which harmonizes with what we may well believe to have been the sentiment; of the apostle. I. Paul has proved the abundance of his love; and every true minister, animated by the love of Christ and by pity for souls, has shown himself to be a true lover and friend of ·his fellow-men. 2. Shall it, then, be the case that those whom the Christian minister loves, and whose welfare he seeks, shall be indifferent and ungrateful? It is sometimes so; the very faithfulness and earnestness of the minister may occasion the aversion of those who desire that he should "prophesy smooth things," and leave them to their sinful pursuits and pleasures uninterrupted. Yet the affection and devotion of spiritual workers deserve a very different return.-T.