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The subject occupying the attention of the apostle is the "ministry of reconciliation;" the preaching of the gospel of the grace of God unto the forgiveness of sins and restoration of man to the Divine favor. This ministry has been entrusted to him. He had, indeed, no "letters of commendation" to rely on, as had some other teachers, but he could appeal to the character of his ministry, to the sufferings he had endured in fulfilling it, and to the Divine benedictions which had rested upon it. He does, in a sense, commend himself; but how? He looks back on his life of labours and sufferings, and challenges comparison. Can others, with their letters of commendation, point to anything like this? Dean Stanley divides the means by which the apostle commended himself into four classes:

(1) from "patience" (or endurance) to "lastings," referring to the bodily sufferings of the apostle;

(2) from "pureness" to "love unfeigned," referring to the virtues, that is, the manifestations of the Divine presence in St. Paul;

(3) from "by the word of truth" to "by evil report and good report," referring to the means whereby he was enabled to prove himself to be a true minister of God; and

(4) the remainder, relating to the acceptation in which the apostles were held, and its contrast with the reality. St. Paul's personal appeal presents for our consideration the importance of securing for the gospel a favourable hearing through the consistency and gracious beauty of the character of those who proclaim it. Its spiritual efficiency directly depends on the character of its ambassadors. The three following subjects need careful treatment: -

I. THE PREACHER OF THE GOSPEL MUST SHOW ITS POWER ON HIS OWN CHARACTER AND LIFE. Illustrate by a man offering an infallible remedy for a skin disease, from which everybody could see he was still suffering. The gospel is life for dead souls, and he who preaches it must be himself "alive unto God." The gospel is healing for sin-sick souls, and he who proclaims it must be able to tell his own experiences of the Balm of Gilead. The gospel provides a regeneration of character, and what it can do for men we expect to see in the men who commend it to us. As a fact, the men who show the power of the gospel in themselves are the men who alone can wield the power of the gospel on others. The preacher must be an ensample of them that believe.

II. AS EXAMPLES OF THE CHRISTIAN SPIRIT, MINISTERS MAY EXPECT UNUSUAL TESTINGS. These come in several ways:

(1) in the bodily strain which a Christian ministry involves;

(2) in the more anxious and careful self-culture which the ministry demands;

(3) in the fatigues and perils which come in carrying out the ministry; and

(4) in the difficulties found in dealing pleasantly with all kinds of men. To these should be added those direct dealings of God with his servants, by means of which he prepares them for service, sharpens and furbishes their swords for his war. Even "fiery trial" is not strange for those who have to stand in the chief places of influence. They must have a large experience, if, in measure like their Lord, they are to be fully "touched with the feeling of men's infirmities."

III. THEIR EXPERIENCES WILL GIVE THE TRUE POWER TO THEIR PUBLIC PLEADINGS. Illustrate in the case of the Apostle Paul, who could not have written such letters if he had not passed through such trials. Experience is the secret of power. It gives the tone of tenderness and sympathy to a minister's work. It gives confidence in speaking of the comforting and sustaining power of Divine grace. It is the true power on our fellow men to be enabled to speak to them of "that which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life." But if all this be, in high degrees, true of the recognized ministry, it is true of all who seek to influence others for God and goodness. The world which we long and strive to save very properly asks of us this most searching question, "What has this gospel done for you? - R.T.

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KJV: Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:

WEB: We give no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our service may not be blamed,