The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 366

have the use or reason. We can never be forced to etn. If we could be forced, then sin would bC' no more sin. We sometimes hear of one being II martyt' to tilroumetancee. The.t is not altogether trne. Whe.t God requires of us varies, indeed, according to. oir- cnmstances. And there e.re those who have been placed under great 'dil!lldvantages compRred with others. But, however badly placed we have been, we cannot. say that 'l<"e have been necessitated to refuse salvation. With the offer of Christ in· the gospel we ha"e the power of rising above circumstances. Whatever the difficulties h:i o'ur \\lay, let Christ be glorified in our triumphing over them. At the last day it will be no valid excuse that our difficulties were great. 'l'he testing question will be-Could we' have surmounted them? did we ever sincerely try to surmount them? If Christ shall ask if we tried his strength, what shall we be able to answer? Let us not lay the blame upon circumsta.nces; let us la.y the blame on our own evil hearts. (4) It is a burden tvhich may be borne lightly or irksomely. One bears the burden of daily toil with a light cheerful heart; another with a heavy heart. So is it with the burden of responsibility~ We have reason to thank God that it ca.n be borne lightly. Christ took over our heavy responsibilities. That was, not each bearing his own burden, but One bearing the burden of a.II. He has taken the weight of guilt out of our burden, and by his grace he can make us move freely in the groove of his purpose. There is resting upon every square inch of our bodies a weight of atmosphere equal to fifteen pounds; and yet it does not oppress us. We move freely under all that weight ; we never think of it being there. With a.s little feeling of oppression do we bear, in Christ, the burden of our responsibilty. But if we stand out of relation to Christ, then it is a.s though we had two or three atmospheres upon us which would crush us.-R. F. ' Vers. 6-10.- ·well-doing. L TBE MODE OP BUPPOBTING THE CBBIBTIAl!I' lllINISTBY, " But let him that is taught in the Word communicate unto him that 'teacheth iri all good things." It is implied that there is to be, in the Christian Church, an order of men whose function it is to teach in the Word. Where these give their whole time and attention to their work, which, as a general arrangement, is most advisable, it· is necessary that provision should be made for their temporal support. The mode of support here sanctioned by the apostle is that the taught in the Word should contri- bute for the support of their teachers. Receiving spiritual things, they are to show their value of them by communicating of their temporal things. The apostle himself did not always see his way to take advantage of this mode of support. But even when he worked with bis own hands to snpport himself, as he did at Corinth, he let it be known that he was waiving his ri~ht of support from the Church he ·was serving. This voluntary mode of support has a rival in the mode of endowment. Where Christian teachers are the beneficiaries of the state, there are questions raised which need not be entered into here. Bnt there may be endowment not connected with the state. Christian people have sometimes gifted moneys and lands for the support of Christian teachers. And where these benefactions are used to support teachers for those·who have not been brought under the influence of Christianity, or in aid of what can be raised by congre- gations, there is no violation of the spirit of the apostolic ordinance. But the question i.s whether Christian people shonld contribute, according to their ability, for the suppott of their minister. Shonld a Christian teacher be thrown on the willinghood of his people? or should he have his income secured to him apart from his people? It is saia to be lowering to a minister that he should be dependent on his people. So far as worldly status or emolument is concerned that may be set aside. 'l'he essential thing is that he should have the cpportu.nity of doing good to men by teaching them in the Word. And, where he has that secured to him, he may be content to be supported in the way in whlch the Master and apostles were supported before him. But it is said that he is under the temptation to lower his ideal of the Christian ministry in accom- modation to the tnstes of those upon whom he depends for his support That may be a reason for his being on his guard ; but' it is surely not a reason for dispensing 'with an apostolic ordinance. Is there no danger, on the other band, of bringing down the ideal mode of supporting the Christian ministry to worldly expediency? The apostolic mode only works well where there are really spiritual men, where real spiritual benefit is done by the teacher, and where th.i taught are really interested and reasonable. But is it wise that it should be abandoned for a mode which dispenses with spiritual con- err. v1. 1-18.] THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS. 333