_I beseech you._
A LESSON TO MINISTERS
Ministers of the gospel should be gentle, tender, and affectionate.
They should be kind in feeling, and courteous in manner--like a father
or mother. Nothing is ever gained by a sour, harsh, crabbed,
dissatisfied manner. Sinners are never scolded either into... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_And be not conformed to this world._
CONFORMATION AND TRANSFORMATION
1. “World” has various meanings.
(1) Time.
(2) An age--the Messianic, _e.g., _as contrasted with the Jewish, or
the past as opposed to the present or coming age.
(3) A state, as the present in distinction from the future in
a... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_For I say … to every man._
., not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think.
NEEDFUL COUNSEL
I. We must not think too highly of ourselves, especially of--
1. Our knowledge (Jérémie 9:23; 1 Corinthiens 8:1). We know little
either in--
(1) Naturals, of which we know but few, and the... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_For as we have many members in one body._
ST. PAUL’S VIEW OF LIFE
How comprehensively he surveys the whole range of human action and
conduct! He starts from the consideration of men as constituting
“many members in one body,” and he proceeds to direct them in
their various offices. He passes in r... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to
us._
GIFTS OF GRACE
1. Their common source.
2. Diverse character.
3. Liberal distribution.
4. Faithful exercise.
5. Happy influence. (_J. Lyth D.D_.)
GIFTS: THEIR DIVINE SOURCE
As many vapours, rising from the sea, meet toge... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_Let love be without dissimulation._
CHRISTIAN LEGISLATION
Here are laws for--
I. Social intercourse. It must be--
1. Honest.
2. Pure.
3. Kind.
II. Business must be--
1. Diligent.
2. Conducted on Christian principles.
3. In the fear of God.
III. Temper.
1. Cheerful.
2. Patient.
3. Pray... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love._
DUTIES OF CHRISTIANS TO EACH OTHER
1. All men ought to love each other as men because brethren by Adam.
The world is one common family, split up by sin, but to be united
again by Christian love.
2. All Christians ought to love each other... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_Not slothful in business._
I. We have all business to do.
I. In our particular calling and station in the world (1
Thesaloniciens 4:11).
2. In our general calling (Philippiens 2:12).
(1) Repentance (Luc 13:3).
(2) Faith (Actes 16:30).
(3) To get our sins pardoned.
(4) And so God reconciled.... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_Rejoicing in hope._
I. What is it to rejoice?
1. Negatively--
(1) Not to have the senses pleased.
(2) Nor does it consist in the imagination.
2. Positively; it consists in--
(1) The removal of sorrow from the heart (Psaume 42:5).
(2) The soul’s content and satisfaction (Luc 1:47).
II. What... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_Distributing to the necessity of saints._
I. Who are the saints?
1. All that truly believe in Christ are sanctified.
2. All that profess to believe in Him (Philippiens 1:1; Colossiens
1:2; Apocalypse 7:9).
II. What necessities? That they need our--
1. Advice.
2. Prayers (1 Timothée 2:1).
3.... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_Rejoice with them that do rejoice._
THE CHRISTIAN’S JOY AND GRIEF
There are some who only rejoice over their own happiness, only weep at
their own miseries. They are ruminating animals--always chewing the
cud of their own private joy or grief. If they are in good health, if
they are getting on in... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_Be of the same mind one towards another._
UNITY
I. What it implies.
1. One spirit.
2. One aim.
3. One way.
II. How to secure it.
1. Suppress ambition.
2. Be condescending to inferiors.
3. Be modest in the expression of your own opinion. (_J. Lyth, _D.D.)
MIND NOT HIGH THINGS
I. What high... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_Recompense to no man evil for evil._
NON-RETALIATION
I. What evils are we not to recompense?
1. Not to hate others because they hate us (Matthieu 5:44).
2. Not to curse others because they curse us (2 Samuel 16:10; Matthieu
5:44).
3. Not to defraud others because they defraud us (Lévitique 19:... [ Continuer la lecture ]
_Avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath._
AVENGE NOT YOURSELVES
The prohibition urged by such considerations as--
1. Our own peace and happiness. There is nothing so wretched as the
harassing disquietudes of angry and revengeful passions. The spirit of
revenge is like the shelvin... [ Continuer la lecture ]