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Sketches from the Life of Paul
the minister of Christ. Any labor that will benefit humanity or advance
the cause of God, should be regarded as honorable.
In preaching the gospel at Corinth, the apostle adopted a different
course of action from that which had marked his labors at Athens.
While in the latter place, he had adapted his style to the character of
his audience; and much of his time had been devoted to the discussion
of natural religion, matching logic with logic, and science with science.
But when he reviewed the time and labor which he had there devoted
to the exposition of Christianity, and realized that his style of teaching
had not been productive of much fruit, he decided upon a different plan
of labor in the future. He determined to avoid elaborate arguments
and discussions of theories as much as possible, and to urge upon
sinners the doctrine of salvation through Christ. In his epistle to his
Corinthian brethren, he afterward described his manner of laboring
among them:—
“And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency
of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ,
and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and
in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with
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enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit
and of power; that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men,
but in the power of God.”
Here the apostle has given the most successful manner of convert-
ing souls from ignorance and the darkness of error, to the light of truth.
If ministers would follow more closely the example of Paul in this
particular, they would see greater success attending their efforts. If all
who minister in word and doctrine would make it their first business
to be pure in heart and life, and to connect themselves closely with
Heaven, their teaching would have greater power to convict souls.
When Christ was upon earth, the Jews all over the land were noti-
fied to watch his movements, for their religion was not safe where his
influence was felt. He was continually followed by spies, who caught
up every word and act which they could use against him. Paul had to
meet the same spirit of opposition and blind prejudice. He preached
first in the synagogue, reasoning from Moses and the prophets, show-
ing what sins the Lord had most severely punished in olden times, and