explanation of a life so different from the ordinary life of men; a life which Paul hilmelf ncknowledged to be one of toil, of privation, of suffering, and persecution. "Necessity was laid upon him." In Asia and in Europe, to ,Jews and to Gentiles he offered with warmth and cordiality the unsearchable riches of Christ. 3. The ope/iing which this obligation left/or voluntary devotion and sacrifice. Paul says plainly that he had no choice as to preaching; preach he must; woe is to him if he refrains from doing so I Yet his ardent, generous nature desired to do something over and above what was required. This was the explanation of his refusing to receive pay and maintenance from his converts. He had a right to this, even as his fellow-labourers ; but he put this right in abeyance ; he voluntarily declined what he might have claimed, and thus left himself somewhat in which to glory. JI. 'l'HE GENERAL OBLIGATION LAID UPON THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. The acknowledg- ment here made by the apostle is one which may appropriately be made by the whole Church of Christ. 1. An obligation of authoritative command. The Lord Jesus, who is the Saviour of the world, is the Monarch of his Church. His order is, " Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." It is only open to us either to dispute his authority or to obey his direction. 2. A moral obligation of gratitude. Jesus himself has unfolded the law: "Freely ye have received; freely give." If we have a just sense of our indebtedness, first to the love and sacrifice of Christ, and then to the self-denying labours of those whom he has sent to labour for out· spiritual good, we shall feel the gracious constraint leading us to such efforts as he himself has enjoined. 3. An obligation enforced by many illustrious examples of devotion. They who read of the heroic enterprises of Christian evangelists, and of the noble fortitude of Christian martyrs who have died at the hands of those they sought to save, may well gird themselves to the labours to which they are invited by the spirit of benevolence, as well as commissioned by him whose authority is ever bindin_g; and whose recompense is ever sure.-'!'. Vers. 19-23.-Minislerial plianC'IJ and adaptation. In great natures we sometimes meet with a remarkable combination of firmness and yielding. To do a great work in this world, a man needs a powerful will, a resolution not easily moved, at the same· time that he displays a flexibility of disposition, and a readiness to adapt himself to different characters and to changing circumstances. Without the determination which approaches obstinacy, he will not keep the one aim l)efore him; without the pliancy needed in dealing with men, he will not be able to secure the aim. Thus the same Apostle Paul who said, "This one thing I do," is here found professing that it was his principle and his practice to become all things to all men. I. INSTANCES o~· MINISTERIAL ADAPTATION. Paul's was [\ very varie,l life and ministry; he was brought into association with all sorts and conditions of men. Himself a Jew by birth, he was yet the apostle of the Gentiles, and he was equally at home with those of either race. Himself a scholar, he was prepared to deal with rabbis and with philosophers; yet he delighted to minister to the rudest barbarians. In this passage Paul mentions three instances of his pliancy. 1. To tho Jews he was a Jew, i.e. he openly honoured the Divine Law given to Moses; antl. not only so, in certain circumstances he observed the ceremonies of his nation. This is evident in his circumcising Timothy, and in his shearing his hair and fulfilling a· vow. 2. To those without the Law, outside its pale and regimen, he became as one of themselves, i.e. ho was superior to many of the petty prejudices and indifferent to many of the customary observances of his fellow-countrymen. How ho adapted himself to the Greeks may bo seen from his preaching upon the Arcopagus at Athens. 3. 'l'o tho weak ho became as weak; e.g. in the matter treated in the preceding chapter, ho had shown his con- sideration and condcsceusion in refraining from eating what might possibly be cere- monially defiled. II. 'l'HE PURPOSES SOUGHT DY THIS COURSE OF MINISTERIAL ADAPTATION. Ho was "free" in so far as, by refusing support from his converts, he left himself at liberty to act as he thou):(ht fit; yet he made himself "a slave" for the sako of those whose welfare he sought. The aim he set before him was one which justified the use of the means he describes. 1. He desired to gain some. \Vhatover he might lose, it was his hope and purpose to "win souls "-a rich recompense and an abundant compensation, TUE FIHST EPISTLE TO 'l'I:iE COilIN'l'HIANS. [cu. 1x. 1-27.
for all bis losses. 2. He desired to save some. This is a stronger expression, for it implies the peril to wliich the hearers of the gospel were exposed whilst they remained in unbelief, and it implies the happiness, security, and dignity to which those were hronght who received the "'ord. 3. He did what he did/or the gospel's salce. For l1is own adrnntage he would never have submitted to all which he willingly endured because of his attachment to the truth in Christ Jesus. 4. Yet there was a personal aim before him. He hoped to be partaker himself with his converts of the blessings of the great salvation. His own interests were bound up with theirs, and it was ever his hope to share in the joys of that time when "he that. soweth and he that reapeth shall rejoice together."-T.