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EFFECTS OF THE GOSPEL IN ENLARGING THE HEART
THE ministers of the Gospel sustain an office characterized in Scripture by the most exalted terms. They are ambassadors of the Lord Jesus Christ: they address men in the name, and in the very place, of God himself [Note: 2Co_5:20.]: and they are in this respect fellow-workers with God [Note: ver. 1.]. But, though they are at liberty, and indeed are bound, to “magnify their office [Note: Rom_11:13.],” they are not at liberty to magnify themselves: nor, indeed, will they be disposed to do so: they know, that, whilst they bear for the good of others an inestimable “treasure, they are themselves but earthen vessels [Note: 2Co_4:7.]:” and, if they glory at all, they can “glory only of their infirmities,” by means of which the Lord Jesus Christ is honoured, and his work advanced [Note: 2Co_11:30.]. It is to these that the Apostle, in the passage now under our consideration, refers, as the proofs of his appointment to, and his fidelity in, the apostolic office: and so ample is his enumeration of the difficulties and trials to which he had been subjected in the discharge of his duty, that he apologizes, as it were, for the fulness of his description; and entreats his Corinthian converts to exercise towards him the same disposition which he was at this instant exercising towards them.
The words which we have read to you will afford me occasion to shew,
I. How the Gospel enlarges the heart of a faithful minister—
To the servants of Christ is committed the ministry of reconciliation—
[In this respect, a common minister is on a par with an Apostle. St. Paul himself could declare nothing, but that “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself; not imputing their trespasses unto them:” and those blessed tidings we also are privileged to bear; as we are, also, to “beseech men, in Christ’s stead, to be reconciled to God.” And this office I will now perform, if peradventure God may give his blessing to the word, and bring the soul of any one amongst you into a state of favour and acceptance with himself — — —]
In the discharge of this high office they have many difficulties to encounter—
[The Apostle here, with astonishing enlargement, sets them forth, and adduces them as evidences of his fidelity to God and man. He had “approved himself as a minister of God” in the diversity and intenseness of his sufferings; “in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings.” He had approved himself, also, in the whole of his spirit and conduct; “by pureness, by knowledge, by long-suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left.” He had given yet further evidence of his fidelity, in the different kinds of reception he had met with; “by honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report; as a deceiver, yet true; as unknown, yet well known; as dying, yet, behold, he lived; as chastened, yet, contrary to all human expectation, not killed.” Lastly, he had shewn himself a true minister of God, in the supports and consolations that had been administered to him; “as sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” The eloquence of this passage has perhaps never been surpassed: and it proceeded, not from the richness of his imagination, but from the fulness of his heart; as he says: “O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.”
And were these things peculiar to the Apostle? Has not every faithful minister a measure of the same? What, if we have not to experience bonds and imprisonments, have we not to go “through honour and dishonour; through evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, yet well known?” Yes, and under the lowest pressure of adverse circumstances, we trust we can say, “As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.”]
But difficulties, of whatever kind, are of no account with them, if only they may be rendered subservient to the progress of the Gospel, and the salvation of immortal souls—
[It was not in a way of complaint, and much less in a way of boasting, that the Apostle dilated thus on his experience: no; it was for the purpose of convincing the Corinthians that he longed for their welfare, and accounted not his life dear unto him, if he might by any means promote their eternal happiness. He had himself obtained, by the Gospel, reconciliation with God; and he panted to make them also partakers of the same benefit. This hope it was that made him so indefatigable in all his labours, and so invincible under all his sufferings.
And I may safely say, that the same blessed hope will animate every faithful minister to tread in the Apostle’s steps, and to be a follower of him, as he was of Christ.]
In this address of St. Paul to the Corinthians, we yet further see,
II. What reciprocity of feeling he may hope to find amongst those to whom he ministers—
If this experience attends a faithful ministration of the Gospel, so does it also, in some degree, a faithful reception of it: and if it should be welcomed by the preacher as an evidence of his fidelity, so should it also be welcomed by his hearers as a testimony borne by God himself in their favour. I call you then, beloved, to shew a measure of that enlargement which was so conspicuous and unrivalled in the Apostle Paul. To every one of you I say, Resemble him.
1. Let your reception of the Gospel be alike cordial—
[It is as worthy of your reception, as it was of his; and will be as rich a source of blessings to you as ever it was to him — — —]
2. Let your devotion to it be alike entire—
[See how entirely he devoted himself to God, from the very first moment that the Lord Jesus revealed himself unto him. “He conferred not with flesh and blood.” Having asked, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” he knew of no will, but God’s; no way, but that which the Lord himself prescribed. Be ye, brethren, alike upright in the service of Him who “has reconciled you to God by the blood of his cross.” “Ye are not your own: ye are bought with a price: therefore ye must glorify God with your body and your spirit, which are his” — — —]
3. Let your zeal for it be alike ardent—
[In the whole passage we have read to you, you have heard what labours he undertook, and what sufferings he endured, in order to diffuse the knowledge of that Gospel which he had found so beneficial to his own soul. And shall not “the love of Christ constrain you” also? Shall any labour be accounted too great, or any suffering too severe, if you may be instrumental to the advancing the Redeemer’s kingdom upon earth? — — —]
4. Let your sacrifices for it be alike welcomed—
[By the cross of Christ, in which St. Paul gloried, “the world was crucified to him, and he unto the world [Note: Gal_6:14.]:” and he regarded all that it contained, just as a man dying on a cross would regard it. Yea, in his Master’s service he was ready to welcome martyrdom as an occasion of self-congratulation and joy [Note: Php_2:17-18.]. A noble example! Seek to imitate it, my beloved brethren; and instead of repining at any thing ye may suffer for the Gospel’s sake, “count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;” and “rejoice, if ye are counted worthy to suffer for your Lord’s sake” — — —]
And now let me, in conclusion, “speak to you as my children”—
[Would to God I could say, that “ye have never been straitened in us,” Alas! we are conscious that in out ministrations we have often been cold and dead. But, on the present occasion, we hope that, in some small degree, we may adopt the Apostle’s words; and, “in recompence for the same,” we would add with him, “Be ye also enlarged.” Truly, if you had not been “straitened in your own bowels,” many, many blessings would have flowed down upon you, which yet have been withheld, because ye were not sufficiently alive to the importance of the subject propounded to you — — — You well know, that a vessel with a contracted opening receives but little of the showers of heaven, in comparison of one that presents to them a wide and expanded orifice: and thus it fares with many, who, through prejudice or worldly-mindedness, have their hearts almost closed to the glad tidings of the Gospel. O that ye might henceforth be enlarged, so as to come with minds fully prepared to receive at God’s hands all that his dear Son has purchased for you, and all that his own unbounded mercy is ready to bestow! Come to the house of God as rebels that have subjected yourselves to God’s heavy displeasure. Come as penitents, imploring mercy at his hands. Come as believers, that are persuaded of the fulness of the salvation provided for you in Christ, and of the willingness of God to bestow it on every believing penitent. In a word, Come to hear the testimony of God, in the manner, and in the spirit, that St. Paul went forth to announce it to his hearers. Let but this feeling be reciprocal, (the Lord grant it may be more and more found in me!) and then we shall not speak in vain, nor will you hear in vain.]