There was one principle by which Paul's labours were remarkably distinguished, which he states in verses 20, 21, "Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation: but as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand." His supreme desire his sacred ambition, was to break up new ground. This was not from love of ease; for it was beyond question the most difficult and the most dangerous work. In acting thus, he was influenced, we may presume, by two considerations.-The first is founded in our Lord's declaration, "I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.' The addition of new spiritual children to the family of God is a ground of livelier joy than the continued life and health of those already born; the increase of the Redeemer's kingdom by the accession of new subjects, than the steadfast loyalty of the old; the planting of new jewels in his royal crown than the undiminished brilliancy of those already sparkling there. This made it more desirable to plant than to water, to convert than to edify. He planted, and left others to water; a "master-builder," he "laid the foundation," and left it to others to rear the superstructure; he brought in the waste land, "the desolate heritages," and left others to keep it in cultivation.—Then, secondly, the Apostle's special commission was, to carry the Gospel to the Gentile nations—to bear through the world to men of every “kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation." This indeed was the apostolic commission as given to all of them:-"Go YE INTO ALL THE WORLD, AND PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATURE."+ Paul, therefore, acted up to this commission- —as a messenger to the nations. And there is surely a peculiar pleasure in being the first messenger of good tidings. Every man of sensibility shrinks from being the bearer of news that are to give pain-the news of disaster and distress and hopelessness.

*Luke xv. 7.

† Matt. xxviii. 19; Mark xvi. 15. 16.

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But to be the first to proclaim tidings of joy is one of the most delightful offices to which he can be called. And if this be true with regard to tidings that relate only to the interests of this world, O what ought to be the delight of the spiritual mind to be the first announcer of news such as the Gospel brings-the news of a reconciled God, and of a free and full and everlasting salvation! It was a joyous embassy to the angels of light, the children of God's purity and love, when to the shepherds of Bethlehem they were sent from heaven with the message of divine mercy—“ Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people;" and when they joined in the anthem of praise, with the transport of piety and benevolence, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."-Similar must be the feelings, though mingled with many fears and uncertainties, of a first missionary in a heathen land. The stronger his faith of the message with which he comes, and his confidence for success in the mises of that God whose message it is, will be the absence of fear, and the predominance of joy and hope, and I may add, too, the likelihood of success. -The Apostle Paul, instead of being disheartened by the false accusations, and spiteful opposition of his many adversaries, was only the more animated to make "full proof of his ministry,"-to act up, as far as possible, to the extent of his commission. He began, as he himself assures us, instantly on his receiving the truth, with all the ardour that continued to the end to distinguish him, "When it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus."* The meaning of “building upon another man's foundation" is sufficiently plain, especially from what was formerly said of its conformity with other parts of his writings. And so

Gal. i. 15-17.

is the application of the words of Isaiah in verse twentyfirst "To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.”*

In drawing to a close, I call upon you to imitate the great Apostle of the Gentiles

1. In his zeal: his zeal in spirit and in practice for the glory of Christ and the salvation of men. Let every Christian imitate it in the station assigned him, and by the means that are legitimately in his power. There is not a Christian on earth that has not, in some degree, the opportunity of doing good-some sphere of usefulness. Let every one be diligent in filling up the sphere allotted to him. What objects of interest are those I have mentioned! Every believer's bosom must glow with ardent desire to honour his Saviour and that Saviour is honoured in the salvation of souls. And O what an object to save souls from death!+

2. In his humility. He ascribes all that he had done to Christ. He had qualified him for his work; he had blessed him in it. His office, his knowledge, his power, his ability for labour and hardship, and the efficacy of his ministry— all were from Christ :- For 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: and his grace which was bestowed upon mé was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”‡ It is the work of Christ by his Spirit to make men willingly obedient-not ours. All his servants should look to him for the blessing, without which their labours will be vain.

3. In his generosity. He disdains to be indebted for any part of his honour to others. Rather would he part with his own to others, than take that of others to himself. Rather would he pluck the laurel from his own brow and place it on another's, than pluck a single leaf from the brow of another for himself.

*The words are from chap. lii. 15, as they stand in the Septuagint version. 1 Cor. xv. 9, 10.

† Jam. v. 20; Matt. xvi. 26.

LECTURE LXVIII.

ROMANS XV. 22-33.

"For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you. But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you; whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company. But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints. For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem. It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things. When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to then this fruit, I will come by you into Spain. And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. Now, I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me; that I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints; that I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and inay with you be refreshed. Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen."

THE Apostle had mentioned in the beginning of his letter the desire which he had long cherished to visit Rome.* He here repeats the same assurance. The cause which had prevented him from accomplishing his desire was, the principle by which he was influenced in regard to his apostolic labours, mentioned in the preceding verses; his eagerness, namely, to break up fresh ground-to occupy fields on which others had not preceded him. In fulfilment of this purpose, he

* Chap. i. 9-13.

Verses 20 21.

was now busy in Achaia, and wherever he could find an entrance for the Gospel. New openings having presented themselves in succession, for a long period, "in these parts"-Macedonia, Achaia, and the surrounding districts, -he had been detained from gratifying his wish to see Rome a wish which we find him expressing at Ephesus, before his second visit to Europe.* The occasion on which this wish was expressed is strikingly indicative of the indefatigable zeal and enlarged spirit of this servant of God. While there remained a spot of inhabited earth within his reach, which had not been visited by the Gospel, he could not be satisfied. On the principle of preaching "where Christ was not yet known," it is likely he would not even have thought of Rome, had there been no "region beyond" into which he might be the first to carry the lamp of truth. How desirous soever of seeing the Christians there, of enjoying their company, and even of adding amongst them by his ministry some additional trophies to the Saviour's grace, he yet longed to enlighten what was still in darkness, and to bear the tidings of mercy to those whose ears had not heard "the joyful sound."-Accordingly, you observe, that even Rome, the metropolis of the world, is not here his primary object. It is only secondary and by the way. He had filled all the region whence he wrote with the proclamation of the Gospel; so that, on looking round him, he saw no portion of it remaining where there was an immediate call for his further ministrations. And now, to what new quarter does he look? To Rome? No; but to SPAIN,—and to Rome as lying in his way. He would "make his journey into Spain," and take Italy in passing thither:-" for," says he, “I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company."

Here is, first, open honesty. He does not pretend that Rome was the immediate, far less the sole object of his proposed journey. He does not say I come for the sake of seeing you at Rome; and, as I shall then be so far on my