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In another passage, found in a chapter, with which all are acquainted, the 15th of the Corinthians, our Apostle, having occasion compare his situation with that of the other Apostles, is led to say: "I laboured more abundantly than they all." St. Paul's labours in the gospel, labours, which consumed his whole life, were surely what he might reflect upon with complacency and satisfaction. such reflections were proper in any case, they were proper in his. Yet observe how they are checked and qualified. The moment he had said, "I laboured more abundantly than they all," he added, as it were correcting himself for the expression, "Yet not I, but the grace of God, which was with me." He magnifies not himself, but the grace of God, which was with him. In the next place you will observe, that, though the consciousness of his labours, painful, indefatigable labours, and meritorious labours, if ever man's were so I say, that though the consciousness of these was present to his mind at the time, yet it did not hinder him from feeling, with the deepest abasement

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abasement and self-degradation, his former offences against Christ, though they were offences, which sprang from error. "I am the least of the Apostles, that am not meet to be called an Apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God; but, by the grace of God, I am what I am." The faults of his life were uppermost in his mind. No mention, no recollection of his services, even when he did happen to recollect them, shut out, even for a single moment, the deep memory of his offences, or covered or concealed it from his view.

In another place, the same Apostle, looking back upon the history of his singular and eventful life, exhibits himself to his converts, as how? not as bringing forward his merit, pleading his services, or claiming his reward: but as nothing other, nothing more than a monument and example of God Almighty's Sinners need not despair of mercy, mercy. when so great a sinner as himself obtained it. Hear his own words. "For this cause I ob

tained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all long-suffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting" 1 Timothy i. 16. What could be more humble or self-depressing than this acknowledgement? yet this was St. Paul's.

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The eleventh chapter of the second epistle to the Corinthians, and also the twelfth, ought to be read by you on this occasion. are very remarkable chapters, and very much to our present purpose. It had so happened, that some hostile, and, as it should seem, some false teachers, had acquired a considerable influence and ascendency in the church, which St. Paul had planted. To counteract which influence it became necessary for him to assert his character, to state his pretensions to credit and authority, amongst them at least, and in comparison with those, who were leading them astray. He complies with the occasion; and he does, accordingly, set forth and enumerate his pretensions. But I intreat you to observe, with how many apologies, with

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what reluctance, and under what strong, protestations, he does it; shewing, most manifestly, how contrary it was to his habit, his judgment, and to the inclination of his mind to do so. His expressions are such as these: "Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly; and, indeed, bear with me." What was his folly? the recital, he was about to give of his services and pretensions. Though compelled, by the reason you have heard, to give it, yet he calls it folly to do so. He is interrupted, as he proceeds, by the same sentiment: "That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but, as it were, foolishly in this confidence of boasting." And again, referring to the necessity, which drew from him this sort of language: "I am become," says he, "a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me."

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But what forms perhaps the strongest part of the example is, that the apostle considers this tendency to boast and glory, though it was in his gifts, rather than his services, as one

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of his dangers, one of his temptations, one of the propensities, which he had both to guard and struggle against, and lastly, an inclination, for which he found an antidote and remedy in the dispensation of providence towards him.Of his gifts, he says, considering himself as nothing, as entirely passive in the hands of God, "of such a one," of a person, to whom such gifts and revelations as these have been imparted, I will glory; yet of myself I will not glory, "but in mine infirmities." Then he goes on; "lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure."

After what you have heard, you will not wonder, that this same St. Paul should pronounce himself to be "the chief of sinners." "Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinhers, of whom I am the chief." 1 Timothy i. 15. His sins were uppermost in his thoughts. Other thoughts occasionally visited his mind:

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