, ers. 2S, 29.-The manner in which tlu apostle discharged his divinely given trttSt. " 'Whom we proclaim, adruonisbing every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ: whcreunto I labour also, striving according to his working who worketh in me mightily." I. THE DUTY OF ll:IKfSTEns. It is to preach Christ. 1. It is not to preach morality. Though it is right and necessary to exhibit moral duties in the light of the cross. 2. It i,s not to preach a philosophy or a thauma.turgy. (1 Cor. i. 22-24.) 3. It is to preach Christ crucified. (1 Cor. ii. 3.) Some preach Christ's incarnation as the grand hope of man, but this is to present a broken hope, if it is not supplemented by the death of Christ. 4. It is to preach Christ as the only Saviour. "Neither is there salvation in any other" (Acts iv. 12). There is no salvation in ordinances, in ijaints, in angels, in images, in pictures, in works of righteousness. 5. It is to preach Ohrist as a BUjficient Saviour. He is m.i;hty to save, and "able to save to the uttermost." IL THE :r,[A!,,-"EB IN WHICH CHRIST IS TO BE PREACHED. 1. ".Admonition." "Admonishing every man." This implies: (1) 'l'he duty of• rebuke in the case of those who repair to other s.'lviours than Christ. Preachers must, likewise, rebuke sin (Isa. l viii. 1; 2 Tim. iii 17; Heh. ix. 10). (2) Preaching is to set forth examples of admonition {1 Cor. L 11). (3) Great is the profit of admonition to those who receive itaright(Prov. xxviii. 13). (4) It implies that all men need admonition, for all are apt to err or sin. 2. Teaching. Christianity is not a thaumaturgy, not a spectacular religion; it is the exhibition of Christ through the gospel of truth. The understanding must be informed. (1) There is the promise of the Spirit to lead us into all truth (John xiv. 26). (2) There is the Word of truth, which preachers are rightly to divide (2 Tim. ii. Hi). (3) We need to be instructed, for we are ignorant and prejudiced. . (4) There _is immense variety in. truth. "In all wisdom.'' Preachers must preach wisely-not 1n the "wisdom of words" (1 Cor. i. 17), but in the truly Divine wisdom which enables us "to widerstand our own way" (Prov. xiv. 8), which teaches us humility-" becoming fools that we may be wise n (1 Cor. iii. 18); "to walk not as fools, but as wise" (Eph. v. 15); ar.d "to consider our latter end, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom" (Ps. xc. 12). 11 J. THE DESIGN OF THIS PREACHING OF CHllIST. "That we may present every man perfect in Chri~t." 1. Perfection u t~e aim. It will be attained in _glory•. It impl_ies perfection in knowledge as well as holiness. '\Ve are to seek perfection (1) 1n doctrine (Hcb. vi. 1); (2) in faith ( J as. ii. 22); (3) in hope (1 Pet. i. 13); ( 4) in love {l John f~ iv. 18); (5) in understanding_ (1 _Cor. xiv. ~0). 2. P_erJectio_n _is only to :ealized in Christ. (1) Its ultimate realization comes through him (Phil. 1. 6). (2) IhlS thought ouaht to make saints seek a closer in.tercourse with Christ. 3. It ii a perfection deBigned JO: all 6rtints. "Every man." . It is ~ot for an i~ner circle of dis~ip!es, ~n initiated few, but for "every man." 'l'his universality of blessing marks the d1st1nct1on between the gospel of Christ and the schools of Judieo-Gnostic speculation. lV. 'l'HE bi'lmT IN WHICH IIOIISTEBB OUGHT TO LA.DOUB IN THE OOBPEL OIi' CHRIST, 1. Tl,ev 1r<'<1&t luu0ur and urive. 'l'he ministry is a severe labour to body, mind, and en. 1. 1-20.) THE EPISTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS. 4t
epirit. 'l'ho npostlo "labourerl more ab11nclantly than they all." The Lord's work cannot be dona negligently (2 Tim. iv. 1-3; 1 Thess. v. 12). 2. Ministers must labour, not in their own strength, but in the Lord's streuyth. "Striving according to his worldng, who worketh in me mightily." It is the Lord who works in his ministers for the snlvntion of souls. Paul may plant, and Apollos water, but" it is God that !rlveth the increase" (1 Cor. iii. G).-'l'. C. "