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For they were mysteries. The present state of man is a mystery. The apostles explained it. "By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin: and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." The future destiny of man is a mystery. The apostles disclosed it. "We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” ✦ The way of man's salvation is a mystery. It was revealed to the apostles, "There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus." 5 "For as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation: even so by the righteousness of one, the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.” Of these eternal and all important mysteries, the apostles were stewards, as ministers of Christ, the author of the salvation which they proclaimed. And thus they were to be accounted of, not as if the blessing was theirs to give, but as being the instruments through which it was given: dispensing what was not their own, but what God in his mercy had committed to them, for the good of the household of faith.

And this leads the apostle to speak of his responsibility. He cannot think of the importance of his office, without thinking of the account which must be rendered.

2. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

3. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be

3 Rom. v. 12. 4 2 Cor. v. 10.

5 Rom. viii. 1; v. 18.

judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.

4. For I know nothing by myself: yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

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It is required of a steward that he dispense to each his portion in due season: that he deny to none what God has revealed for all: that he give not to one what is intended for another: but deal to every man according as his state shall be. If Paul, when brought before Felix, had not reasoned with him "of righteousness, and temperance and judgment to come;" he would not have been a faithful steward: he might have led Felix to suppose that there was no future judgment, or that a man might stand in the judgment without righteousness and temperance. If when asked by the goaler at Philippi, “What must I do to be saved?" he had merely replied, "Do justly, and love mercy, and walk humbly with thy God:" he would not have been a faithful steward: he would have delivered but a portion of the truth committed to his charge. But when reviewing his ministry at Miletus, he was able to say, "I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God." And thus he was a faithful steward.

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Yet was he not hereby justified. Though he knew nothing by himself; i. e., though his conscience acquitted him; yet conscience partakes of human

6 Acts xxiv. 25. Acts xx. 26.

7 Acts xvi. 30.

8 Micah vi. 8.

1 i. e. Against himself: Ouder ovvoida éμavτw.

frailty, and he might deceive himself. There was one master, to whom he must stand or fall. He that judgeth me, is the Lord.

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This is spoken under a strong but just sense of the infirmity of the heart. "Who can tell how oft he offendeth ?" Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth." "If the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness !" 3 Paul would remember the time, when he" verily thought within himself that he ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth." The light that was in him, the principle he then acted on, was darkness. He allowed himself in that which was his condemnation; and therefore he says here, With me it is a very small thing to be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. How many, we may believe, have fatally deceived themselves and others, when whilst professing to be "doing God service," they have in fact been following the impulse of their own feelings, the desire of their own hearts! How many ministers of Christ have dispensed the word unfaithfully, their conscience meanwhile excusing and not accusing them! They have bound those whom they ought to have loosed, or loosed those whom God did not authorise them to absolve: they have made hearts sad, which God did not make sad; they have allowed others to depart in peace, whom they ought to have warned of danger; because "a deceived heart has turned them aside," and made them unfaithful stewards of the mysteries of God.

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With a strong sense of this evil upon his mind, St. Paul concludes,

5. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts, and then shall every man have praise of God.

In his epistle to the Philippians, Paul speaks of some who "preached Christ out of envy and strife." These might have the praise of men: were very likely to possess it, because preaching out of strife, they would have a party on their side. Those who took the part of Korah against Moses, called his company "the people of the Lord."9 Paul also speaks of others who might have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and yet "have not charity." These too would have the praise of men; for men would be instructed by their knowledge, and gratified by their talents, and might not be aware of the evil which was lurking in the heart. We are not to suspect what is unseen. But our imperfect acquaintance with the counsels of the heart may make us moderate and cautious in our judgments, and slow to set up one at the expense of another. The enemies of Paul at Corinth, cast reproach upon him, and exalted other teachers in his stead. He warns them that man's judgment may be very erroneous; God may see much to approve, when they saw something to condemn. God may see

much to condemn in what men are too ready to applaud. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who will make manifest the counsels of

8 Phil. i. 15.

9 Numb. xvi. 41.

11 Cor. xiii. 1-3.

the heart and then shall every man have praise of God. "Every man shall receive according as his work shall be." And they will often receive most, who have been least applauded amongst men: whose meekness has been mistaken, whose merit has been obscured by that humility which is in the sight of God of great price. Then it will be seen who has most sincerely endeavoured, without envy or strife, without self-seeking or private interests, to promote the cause of the Gospel, and the salvation of mankind.

LECTURE LVII.

THE CORINTHIANS WARNED AGAINST PRIDE AND SELF-COMPLACENCY.

1 COR. iv. 6-13.

6. And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.

With that charity which avoids giving needless pain, Paul had withheld the names of those at Corinth, who formed parties, and claimed distinction. He used, instead, his own name and that of Apollos, when he asked, (ii. 5,) “ Who then is Paul, or who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed?" If even they are to be thought no more of, than as

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