And there can be no spiritual healing without some Self-Reliance; and the best part of Salvation has regard not so much to the height of our attainments as to the soundness of the Heart, the trust we can now repose in our honest desire for Reformation.

terness.

And thus, not spiritual healing, but corruption dark and stern, may be occasioned even by the Truth, if unaccompanied by the Love that awakens some saving emotions in the Heart. And thus a man may sin, most deeply, in uttering even merited rebukes; he may administer moral lessons of unquestionable Truth with a poisonous effect; and, by the rudeness and hardness. of his touch, turn even the germs of new life in the soul into deadly roots of bitAnd thus, in all parts of Character, Christianity requires us to act with the presence of all our forces, with a union of contrasted qualities. And to be equal to the divine work of moral healing upon Earth, one must be in the spirit of the Master, full of grace as of truth, - with something of the blended Goodness and Severity of God himself, so as to speak the Truth in Love, to yield no Principle, yet lose no Sympathy, —to "corrupt no man," by Speech or Silence, and yet stir no emotion less sanctifying and gentle than "the godly Sorrow that leadeth to Repentance."

ST. PAUL URGES THE CORINTHIAN CHURCH TO DISCHARGE THE FULL DUTIES OF BROTHERLY LOVE TOWARDS THEIR AFFLICT

ED BRETHREN OF JERUSALEM.

THE LAW OF GIVING.

29*

PART II.

ST. PAUL URGES THE CORINTHIAN CHURCH TO DISCHARGE THE FULL DUTIES OF BROTHERLY LOVE TOWARDS THEIR AFFLICTED BRETHREN OF JERUSALEM. THE LAW OF GIVING.

CHAPS. VIII, IX.

VIII. 1. Now, brethren, we make known to you the grace 2 of God given in the Churches of Macedonia, — that in a great trial of affliction the overflowing of their joy, and from its depth their poverty, abounded in the riches of 3 their single-mindedness. For according to their power, I bear witness, and beyond their power, they were willing of 4 themselves, praying us with much entreaty for this 5 favor and fellowship in the assistance of the saints; and

not according as we expected, but first they gave them6 selves to God, and to us by the will of God. So that we

desired Titus, that as he had begun, so also he would 7 finish among you, this work of grace also. And as ye abound in all things, in faith, in word, in knowledge, and in all zeal, and in your love towards us, that so also ye 8 may abound in this grace. I speak not by commandment, but on account of the zeal of others, and to prove the 9 genuineness of your love. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, how for your sakes he became

poor, being rich, that ye by his poverty might be rich. 10 And herein I give my advice, for this is expedient for you who have begun before not only to do, but also to 11 be in forwardness, a year ago. Now, therefore, perfect the doing of it, that as there was a readiness to will, so also there may be a completion of it, out of that which ye 12 have. For if there be first a willing mind, a man is ac

cepted according to that he hath, and not according to 13 that he hath not. Not, indeed, that there should be a re14 mission to others, and a burden on you, but that by way of equality, now in this time, your abundance should supply their want, that their abundance likewise should be a supply for your want, that there may be an 15 equality. As it is written," He that gathered much had

nothing over, and he that had gathered little had no lack." 16 But thanks be to God who put this same earnest care for 17 you into the heart of Titus: that indeed he accepted the exhortation, and being more zealous, of his own accord 18 he went unto you. And we have sent with him the Brother whose praise in the Gospel is throughout all the 19 Churches and not that only, but who was also chosen by the churches to be our fellow-traveller with that grace, administered by us to the glory of the Lord himself, and 20 as a proof of our readiness. Taking care for this, that

no one should blame us in this abundance which is ad21 ministered by us: Providing for things honest not only in 22 the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. And

we have sent with them our brother whom we have often

proved in many things, and now much more zealous, be23 cause of this great confidence in you. Now, with regard to Titus, he is my fellow, and my fellow-worker towards you; and the brethren, they are the Apostles of the 24 Churches, the glory of Christ. Wherefore show to them, in the face of the Churches, the demonstration of your love, and of our boasting on your account.