precious thing in the world. Whilst men were seeking to save all other things, be would seek to save this. All other f(ain was as loss compared to the gain of a soul. 2. The fate of the lost soul. He saw the unsaved soul going down, getting further and :further from God, becomin~ viler, ripening for hell. The fearful words of his Master rang loudly in his ears. He believed them, he did not refine them down until they meant nothing. He saw the souls "cast out;" he beard the dread "Depart;" the "weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth" sounded in his heart; and he resolved that, as an instrument in the Divine hand, be would do his utmost to "save some." 3. The future of the saved soul. (1) In this life. Tending upwards; becoming purified; increasing in joy, peace, usefulness; indissolubly united to God. (2) In the next life. "With Christ." 'l'he fulness of joy. Every soil of sin removed. All powers becom- fo~ developed. The "higher ministry" commenced and continuing. 4. The glory of Christ. This was supreme in the apostle's mind. The Master was first. P,rnl was pre-eminently a" Jesus Christ's man." Soul-saving redounded to the honour and praise of his Lord. Christ had come "to seek and to save that which was lost." The pur- pose of the Master became the all-absorbing desire of the servant. Paul saw that bis Master was glorified by the victories of the cross. So in season and out of season the apostle preached "Jesus Christ and him crucified" that he might "save some." He lived, laboured, suffered, for the day when" the multitude which no man could number" should sing ta the praise of Christ the sweet stanzas of the "new song." The love of Christ constrained him. II. NOTE SOME WAYS IN WHICH PAUL SOUGHT TO SAVE SOULS. 1. He used all ni~ans at hand. (1) Preaching. He had a definite object in preaching. (2) Conversa- tion. He could preach well to a congregation of one! (3) Writing. What a gift ho haci for "Epistles"! Letter-writing with a view to saving souls is an excellent means, but it requires dexterous use. P,1.ul could not" drivel," or be "goody-goody," or" talk cant." Many religious letter-writers can. Hence the contrast between ancient and modern epistles. (4) Prayer. He" bowed his knees." Stiff-kneed preachers often have ~tiff-necked people. (5) Living the truth. Here, perhaps, lay the tro.nscendent power of Paul. He not only prayed, wrote, talked, preached,-he was. Satan is more afraid of the gospel in the concrete than of the gospel in the abstract. 2. He complied with pre- ;"iulice and prepossession. If we would make others like ourselves in things essential, we must first make our$elves like them in things indifferent. Paul tells us thnt to the Jf'w he became a Jew-remembered Jewish feeling, looked at things from a Jewish standpoint, accorcled with Jewish observances. 'l'o the Gentile he became a Gentile- ~ccomruodating his utterance, manner, form of thought, mode of presenting the truth, to Gentile predilection. You can talk to a man more easily if you stand on the same J)latform with him. 'l'o the weak Paul became as weak ; not insisting upon his liberty or ruthlessly running counter to imperfect conceptions. In fact, he asserts that ho 1iecame "all things to all men" in order to realize his supreme object. Personal pre- Jilections must be sacrificed, and unpleasant restraints submitted to, if we would do elTectively tho greatest work under heaven. An unbending preacher will preach to unbroken hearts. An insistence upon our rights and privileges is a short method, often adopted, of ruining all hopes. A spirit of holy compliance, a disposition to stand :j11st alongside the one wo would gain,-these are potent. We often bar and bolt the very door titat ive are trying to unfasten. Often we forget that we arc speaking to very imperl'cct men, and that we are very imperfect ourselves. Complianco must, of course, not be unlimited. (1) \Vo must exercise discretion. We must abido in the realm of "the lawful," and select what will be truly "expedient." Sound judgment need be exercised. \Ve must look to 1irobable results. (2) \Ve must never sacririce the right. Paul was most compliant in things indifferent, but most unyielding in thingsess~ntial. ·when he yielded he not only confined himself to things indifferent, but made it lo bo understood that the things were indifferent. When they were regarded as essential ho refused to comply. 'l'his is strikingly illustrated in his permitting the circumcision of Timothy, but resisting that of Titus. 3. He practised great self-sacrifice. He di,! not think of himself, but of those he sought to gain. Vv e have seen how willing he was to sacrifice his personal predilections. He went further. (1) In some instances ho sacri ficc,l his maintenance, supporting himself by,the la.hour of his own hands. (2) He sacrifice,! his 1msonal case and comfort. (3) He sacrificed much of his freedom-he made himself I. CORI!':TIIIA NS, X. 306 THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. [cu. IX. 1-2,.
"serrnnt unto all" (ver. 19). A man who is prepared for illimitable self-sacrifice can do, much. No sacrifice is too great for the attainment of Paul's life-objact. Christ laid down his life for it. He who bore the great cross spoke of crosses for his followers. His ministers often have heavy ones, but it is worth while to carry them, if by doin" so we become instrumental in saving souls. Souls saved will be our "joy and crown f.. at last. What vast possibilities life presents, when we think that in it we may be· the means of saving souls! This applies to all Christians. Every saint should toil for the sah·ation of men. All the sorrows endured and sacrifices made will seem. like "the dust of the balance" when we see our spiritual children welcomed home.-H .. Vers. 24-2T.-Spiritual athletics. Paul compares the Christian life to a foot-race and to a boxing contest. These were familiar to the Corinthians bein" conspicuous. features of the celebrated Isth~ian gam_es. A wise teac~er spe;ks through things known of thrngs unknown. Chnst spoke m parables. PassJn" events may be made the .chicles of a biding truths. The secular may often illustrate th~ sacred. There is no loss of dignity or impropriety in such modes of instruction. Some people are shocked by references to everyday life; but such people ought to be shocked. Homely garb, sometimes wins the readier admittance. Note some points of resemblance. I. CHRISTIAN LIFE IS A PASSAGE-FROM SIN TO HOLINESS, FROM EARTH Tn HEAVEN,. It is a daily movement. '\Ve need beware of stumbling-blocks, of strayin" from the right course, of indulgence which may hinder, of violation of laws, of loit;rin"0 since the time is short. '