October 11

"For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ; whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things." — Phil. in. 18, 19.

LET us contemplate

THE MANNER OF PAUL'S ADDRESS. Three things are observable in it: —

It was frequent. "I have told you often." It is necessary that the truths of the Gospel should be repeated in our hearing over and over again; our memories are so treacherous, and our hearts so deceitful, that there must be line upon line, and precept upon precept. Paul says, in the first verse of this chapter, "To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe."

It was faithful. "And now tell you." Some might disbelieve his testimony, and mock and ridicule the truths he proclaimed, but he must be faithful in his warnings and admonitions; for he well knew his responsibility as an ambassador of Christ, and that the blood of souls stains deep. Simplicity and fidelity are two essential ingredients in preaching: our language, like a transparent stream, should at once reveal our meaning, and, like the light of the sun, should obtrude itself upon the eyes without any pains to search for it. The rustling of the leaf, says one, can never accomplish that which requires the roar of the thunder.

It was affectionate. "Even weeping." I can imagine the aged apostle of the Gentiles, his heart filled with love and compassion for immortal souls, and his mind hurt and wounded with the conduct of these inconsistent professors, weeping over them, like his divine Master, who wept over the city of Jerusalem, which was devoted to destruction. Paul was an affectionate, as well as a faithful preacher, and spake not only with the authority of an apostle, but with the love of a friend, the compassion of a father, and the tenderness of a mother. Cornelius Winter remarks of his friend Whitefield, he hardly ever preached without weeping. He once said in the pulpit, You blame me for weeping, but how can I help it when you will not weep for yourselves? your immortal souls are on the verge of destruction, and, for aught you know, you are hearing your last sermon. Let not the tears of God's servants witness against you at the last day.