would cleave to some, how much besetting sins, natural infirmity, temptation without and passion within, would impede the progress of others. He was aware that many who thought themselves sincere, and perhaps really were so, were yet careless and cold-hearted; that many who were warm in profession were selfish, indolent, covetous; that many who appeared to be lovers of God, were yet inordinately lovers of pleasure; that some who professed to be dead to sin were alive to the world. "Alexander did "him much evil;" "Demas forsook "him;""Phygellus and Hermogenes "turned away from him."

The persons to whom he wrote might, on the whole, be considered as nò unfair specimen of professing Christians in every age. Consequently neither his doctrine nor his precepts can, by any fair rule of judgment, be limited to the community, or even to the individual, to whom they

were

were immediately inscribed; he has erected his mandates into an unalterable standard of general-Christianity.

The inspiring guide of Saint Paul knew that human nature, left to its own specific operation, would be the same in that church of Rome to which his Epistle was addressed, as in the now-existing church of that metropolis, -a church which has so far departed from the simplicity of its founder; that the church of Ephesus would differ only in its local circumstances and form of government from the church of England; that the same sort of beings, with the same wants and weaknesses which composed the church of Galatia, would compose that of Geneva and of Holland; - that it was not the Corinthian convert alone who should become "a new creature ;" that it was not the member of any particular community that must "put off the old man with his "deeds;" he knew that the transmut

VOL. II.

E

ing

ing power of true religion would confer the same character of newness upon every genuine believer; that as in every age the principle is the same, so also will be its results.

In illustration of these general re marks, let us select a particular case. Our apostle had not studied the human heart to so little purpose as not to perceive that it is of itself commonly indisposed to liberality. Even where a measure of religious feeling has conferred or enlarged this virtue, he knew that it requires frequent excitement to keep the flame alive; that if easily kindled by some affecting tale, or some present object, it may, by being left to itself, be as easily extinguished. He knew that impressions, if not immediately followed up, and acted upon, soon wear out; that a warm impulse, if left to cool, evaporates in mere profession. On this principle, then, we find him delicately reminding

the

*

the Corinthians of the zeal with which they had voluntarily engaged to raise a fund for the indigent, and remonstrating on the obligation to put their own plan in execution, by distributing as well as collecting.

In suggesting this duty, he takes a circuitous path, by intimating the necessity of consistency in the conduct of Christians, by dwelling on the expedi ency of those who abounded in faith, and eloquence, and religious knowledge, abounding also in acts of beneficence; and by hinting that a high profession, without that broad principle of Christian charity, of which he knew alms-giving to be one fruit, would be an anomaly discreditable to themselves, and injurious to religion.

He then proposes to them, with the hand of a master, persuasions, argu

ments, and examples; he makes duties grow out of motives, and impresses both by actual instances. He mentions in a sort of incidental way, the benevolence of a less opulent and less instructed people, the Macedonians; and according to his invariable custom, produces their charity as growing out of their piety. They gave themselves first unto the Lord, and then, as the effect would naturally follow the cause, they gave unto us by the will of God. He informs them that this generous people did not wait to confer their bounty till it was solicited. He intimates that in this instance it was not those who wanted the charity, but those who gave it," that pressed it with much "intreaty;" instructively hinting that they had made the true use of afflictions, for that" their poverty," instead of being pleaded as an apology for withholding their charity," abounded to the riches of their liberality."