the acts of the apostles-第50部分

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authority　to　counsel；　reprove；　and　exhort　as　a　minister　of　Christ。

Paul　regarded　the　Corinthian　brethren　as　his　testimonial。　〃Ye　are　our
epistle；〃　he　said；　〃written　in　our　hearts；　known　and　read　of　all　men：
forasmuch　as　ye　are　manifestly　declared　to　be　the　epistle　of　Christ
ministered　by　us；　written　not　with

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ink；　but　with　the　Spirit　of　the　living　God；　not　in　tables　of　stone；　but　in
fleshy　tables　of　the　heart。〃

The　conversion　of　sinners　and　their　sanctification　through　the　truth　is　the
strongest　proof　a　minister　can　have　that　God　has　called　him　to　the　ministry。
The　evidence　of　his　apostleship　is　written　upon　the　hearts　of　those
converted；　and　is　witnessed　to　by　their　renewed　lives。　Christ　is　formed
within；　the　hope　of　glory。　A　minister　is　greatly　strengthened　by　these　seals
of　his　ministry。

Today　the　ministers　of　Christ　should　have　the　same　witness　as　that　which　the
Corinthian　church　bore　to　Paul's　labors。　But　though　in　this　age　there　are
many　preachers；　there　is　a　great　scarcity　of　able；　holy　ministersmen
filled　with　the　love　that　dwelt　in　the　heart　of　Christ。　Pride；
self…confidence；　love　of　the　world；　faultfinding；　bitterness；　envy；　are　the
fruit　borne　by　many　who　profess　the　religion　of　Christ。　Their　lives；　in
sharp　contrast　to　the　life　of　the　Saviour；　often　bear　sad　testimony　to　the
character　of　the　ministerial　labor　under　which　they　were　converted。

A　man　can　have　no　greater　honor　than　to　be　accepted　by　God　as　an　able
minister　of　the　gospel。　But　those　whom　the　Lord　blesses　with　power　and
success　in　His　work　do　not　boast。　They　acknowledge　their　entire　dependence
on　Him；　realizing　that　of　themselves　they　have　no　power。　With　Paul　they　say；
〃Not　that　we　are　sufficient　of　ourselves　to　think　anything　as　of　ourselves；
but　our　sufficiency　is　of　God；　who　also　hath　made　us　able　ministers　of　the
new　testament。〃

A　true　minister　does　the　work　of　the　Master。　He　feels

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the　importance　of　his　work；　realizing　that　he　sustains　to　the　church　and　to
the　world　a　relation　similar　to　that　which　Christ　sustained。　He　works
untiringly　to　lead　sinners　to　a　nobler；　higher　life；　that　they　may　obtain
the　reward　of　the　overcomer。　His　lips　are　touched　with　a　live　coal　from　the
altar；　and　he　uplifts　Jesus　as　the　sinner's　only　hope。　Those　who　hear　him
know　that　he　has　drawn　near　to　God　in　fervent；　effectual　prayer。　The　Holy
Spirit　has　rested　upon　him；　his　soul　has　felt　the　vital；　heavenly　fire；　and
he　is　able　to　compare　spiritual　things　with　spiritual。　Power　is　given　him　to
tear　down　the　strongholds　of　Satan。　Hearts　are　broken　by　his　presentation　of
the　love　of　God；　and　many　are　led　to　inquire；　〃What　must　I　do　to　be　saved？〃

〃Therefore　seeing　we　have　this　ministry；　as　we　have　received　mercy；　we　faint
not；　but　have　renounced　the　hidden　things　of　dishonesty；　not　walking　in
craftiness；　nor　handling　the　word　of　God　deceitfully；　but　by　manifestation
of　the　truth　commending　ourselves　to　every　man's　conscience　in　the　sight　of
God。　But　if　our　gospel　be　hid；　it　is　hid　to　them　that　are　lost：　in　whom　the
god　of　this　world　hath　blinded　the　minds　of　them　which　believe　not；　lest　the
light　of　the　glorious　gospel　of　Christ；　who　is　the　image　of　God；　should
shine　unto　them。　For　we　preach　not　ourselves；　but　Christ　Jesus　the　Lord；　and
ourselves　your　servants　for　Jesus'　sake。　For　God；　who　commanded　the　light　to
shine　out　of　darkness；　hath　shined　in　our　hearts；　to　give　the　light　of　the
knowledge　of　the　glory　of　God　in　the　face　of　Jesus　Christ。〃

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Thus　the　apostle　magnified　the　grace　and　mercy　of　God；　shown　in　the　sacred
trust　committed　to　him　as　a　minister　of　Christ。　By　God's　abundant　mercy　he
and　his　brethren　had　been　sustained　in　difficulty；　affliction；　and　danger。
They　had　not　modeled　their　faith　and　teaching　to　suit　the　desires　of　their
hearers；　nor　kept　back　truths　essential　to　salvation　in　order　to　make　their
teaching　more　attractive。　They　had　presented　the　truth　with　simplicity　and
clearness；　praying　for　the　conviction　and　conversion　of　souls。　And　they　had
endeavored　to　bring　their　conduct　into　harmony　with　their　teaching；　that　the
truth　presented　might　commend　itself　to　every　man's　conscience。

〃We　have　this　treasure；〃　the　apostle　continued；　〃in　earthen　vessels；　that
the　excellency　of　the　power　may　be　of　God；　and　not　of　us。〃　God　could　have
proclaimed　His　truth　through　sinless　angels；　but　this　is　not　His　plan。　He
chooses　human　beings；　men　compassed　with　infirmity；　as　instruments　in　the
working　out　of　His　designs。　The　priceless　treasure　is　placed　in　earthen
vessels。　Through　men　His　blessings　are　to　be　conveyed　to　the　world。　Through
them　His　glory　is　to　shine　forth　into　the　darkness　of　sin。　In　loving
ministry　they　are　to　meet　the　sinful　and　the　needy；　and　lead　them　to　the
cross。　And　in　all　their　work　they　are　to　ascribe　glory；　honor；　and　praise　to
Him　who　is　above　all　and　over　all。

Referring　to　his　own　experience；　Paul　showed　that　in　choosing　the　service　of
Christ　he　had　not　been　prompted　by　selfish　motives；　for　his　pathway　had　been
beset　by　trial　and　temptation。　〃We　are　troubled　on　every　side；〃　he　wrote；
〃yet　not　distressed；　we　are　perplexed；　but　not　in　despair；

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persecuted；　but　not　forsaken；　cast　down；　but　not　destroyed；　always　bearing
about　in　the　body　the　dying　of　the　Lord　Jesus；　that　the　life　also　of　Jesus
might　be　made　manifest　in　our　body。〃

Paul　reminded　his　brethren　that　as　Christ's　messengers　he　and　his　fellow
laborers　were　continually　in　peril。　The　hardships　they　endured　were　wearing
away　their　strength。　〃We　which　live；〃　he　wrote；　〃are　alway　delivered　unto
death　for　Jesus'　sake；　that　the　life　also　of　Jesus　might　be　made　manifest　in
our　mortal　flesh。　So　then　death　worketh　in　us；　but　life　in　you。〃　Suffering
physically　through　privation　and　toil；　these　ministers　of　Christ　were
conforming　to　His　death。　But　that　which　was　working　death　in　them　was
bringing　spiritual　life　and　health　to　the　Corinthians；　who　by　a　belief　in
the　truth　were　being　made　partakers　of　life　eternal。　In　view　of　this；　the
followers　of　Jesus　were　to　be　careful　not　to　increase；　by　neglect　and
disaffection；　the　burdens　and　trials　of　the　laborers。

〃We　having　the　same　spirit　of　faith；〃　Paul　continued；　〃according　as　it　is
written；　I　believed；　and　therefore　have　I　spoken；　we　also　believe；　and
therefore　speak。〃　Fully　convinced　of　the　reality　of　the　truth　entrusted　to
him；　nothing　could　induce　Paul　to　handle　the　word　of　God　deceitfully　or　to
conceal　the　convictions　of　his　soul。　He　would　not　purchase　wealth；　honor；　or
pleasure　by　conformity　to　the　opinions　of　the　world。　Though　in　constant
danger　of　martyrdom　for　the　faith　that　he　had　preached　to　the　Corinthians；
he　was　not　intimidated；　for　he　knew　that　He　who　had　died　and　risen　again
would　raise　him　from　the　grave　and　present　him　to　the　Father。

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〃All　things　are　for　your　sakes；〃　he　said；　〃that　the　abundant　grace　might
through　the　thanksgiving　of　many　redound　to　the　glory　of　God。〃　Not　for
self…aggrandizement　did　the　apostles　preach　the　gospel。　It　was　the　hope　of
saving　souls　that　led　them　to　devote　their　lives　to　this　work。　And　it　was
this　hope　that　kept　them　from　ceasing　their　efforts　because　of　threatened
danger　or　actual　suffering。

〃For　which　cause；〃　Paul　declared；　〃we　faint　not；　but　though　our　outward　man
perish；　yet　the　inward　man　is　renewed　day　by　day。〃　Paul　felt　the　power　of
the　enemy；　but　though　his　physical　strength　was　declining；　yet　faithfully
and　unflinchingly　he　declared　the　gospel　of　Christ。　Clad　in　the　whole　armor
of　God；　this　hero　of　the　cross　pressed　forward　in　the　conflict。　His　voice　of
cheer　proclaimed　him　triumphant　in　the　combat。　Fixing　his　gaze　on　the　reward
of　the　faithful；　he　exclaimed　in　tones　of　victory；　〃Our　light　affliction；
which　is　but　for　a　moment；　worketh　for　us　a　far　more　exceeding　and　eternal
weight　of　glory；　while　we　look　not　at　the　things　which　are　seen；　but　at　the
things　which　are　not　seen：　for　the　things　which　are　seen　are　temporal；　but
the　things　which　are　not　seen　are　eternal。〃

Very　earnest　and　touching　is　the　apostle's　appeal　that　his　Corinthian
brethren　consider　anew　the　matchless　love　of　their　Redeemer。　〃Ye　know　the
grace　of　our　Lord　Jesus　Christ；〃　he　wrote；　〃that；　though　He　was　rich；　yet
for　your　sakes　He　became　poor；　that　ye　through　His　poverty　might　be　rich。〃
You　know　the　height　from　which　He　stooped；　the　depth　of　humiliation　to　which
He　descended。　Having　once　entered　upon　the　path　of　self…denial　and
sacrifice；　he　turned

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not　aside　until　He　had　given　His　life。　There　was　no　rest　for　Him　between　the
throne　and　the　cross。

Point　after　point　Paul　lingered　over；　in　order　that　those　who　should　read
his　epistle　might　fully　comprehend　the　wonderful　condescension　of　the
Saviour　in　their　behalf。　Presenting　Christ　as　He　was　when　equal　with　God　and
with　Him　receiving　the　homage　of　the　angels；　the　apostle　traced　His　course
until　He　had　reached　the　lowest　depths　of　humiliation。　Paul　was　convinced
that　if　they　could　be　brought　to　comprehend　the　amazing　sacrifice　made　by
the　Majesty　of　heaven；　all　selfishness　would　be　banished　from　their　lives。
He　showed　how　the　Son　of　God　had　laid　aside　His　glory；　voluntarily
subjecting　Himself　to　the　conditions　of　human　nature；　and　then　had　humbled
Himself　as　a　servant；　becoming　obedient　unto　death；　〃even　the　death　of　the
cross〃　（Philippians　2：8）；　that　He　might　lift　fallen　man　from　degradation　to
hope　and　joy　and　heaven。

When　we　study　the　divine　character　in　the　light　of　the　cross　we　see　mercy；
tenderness；　and　forgiveness　blended　with　equity　and　justice。　We　see　in　the
midst　of　the　throne　One　bearing　in　hands　and　feet　and　side　the　marks　of　the
suffering　endured　to　reconcile　man　to　God。　We　see　a　Father；　infinite；
dwelling　in　light　unapproachable；　yet　receiving　us　to　Himself　through　the
merits　of　His　Son。　The　cloud　of　vengeance　that　threatened　only　misery　and
despair；　in　the　light　reflected　from　the　cross　reveals　the　writing　of　God：
Live；　sinner；　live！　ye　penitent；　believing　souls；　live！　I　have