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Sketches from the Life of Paul
enter, they would find nothing there congenial to them, in their sinful
condition. The propensities which reign in the natural heart must be
subdued by the grace of Christ, before fallen man can be elevated to
harmonize with Heaven, and enjoy the society of the pure and holy
angels. When man dies to sin, and is quickened to new life in Christ
Jesus, divine love fills his heart; his understanding is sanctified; he
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drinks from an inexhaustible fountain of joy and knowledge; and the
light of an eternal day shines upon his path, for he has the Light of life
with him continually.
Paul sought to impress upon his Corinthian brethren the fact that
he himself, and the ministers associated with him, were only men,
commissioned of God to teach the truth; that they were individually
engaged in the same work, which was given them by their Heavenly
Father; and that they were all dependent upon him for the success
which attended their labors. “For while one saith, I am of Paul; and
another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? Who then is Paul, and
who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord
gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the
increase.”
The consciousness of being God’s servant should inspire the min-
ister with energy and diligence perseveringly to discharge his duty,
with an eye single to the glory of his Master. God has given to each of
his messengers his distinctive work; and while there is a diversity of
gifts, all are to blend harmoniously in carrying forward the great work
of salvation. They are only instruments of divine grace and power.
Paul says: “So, then, neither is he that planteth anything, neither he
that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth
and he that watereth are one; and every man shall receive his own
reward according to his own labor. For we are laborers together with
God; ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.” The teacher of
Christ’s truth must be near the cross himself, in order to bring sinners
to it. His work should be to preach Christ, and studiously to avoid
calling attention to himself, and thus encumbering the sacred truth,
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lest he hinder its saving power.
There can be no stronger evidence in churches that the truths of
the Bible have not sanctified the receivers, than their attachment to
some favorite minister, and their unwillingness to accept the labors
of some other teacher, and to be profited by them. The Lord sends