Hebrews should also be regarded as an eternal monument of his love for the Jewish christians, and his zeal for their advancement in the knowledge of the truth.

Nor were his benevolent regards confined to those of the Jews who had embraced christianity. Notwithstanding he had more to fear, and actually suffered more, from his Jewish enemies than from all others, he expressed, no doubt, the real feelings of his soul when he said, "I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart; for I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ, for my brethren, for my kinsmen, according to the flesh.".

Hitherto we have contemplated Paul rather in his regards and labors for the Jews, and the churches which he found established at the period of his conversion, than as a messenger of light and mercy to the surrounding nations. It is however in this latter sense-it is as a Missionary to the heathen, that Paul is exhibited in the most noble and interesting attitude.

The first branch of his missionary labor was the dissemination of truth in the regions of surrounding darkness. Not satisfied to continue building "on another man's foundation," as soon as he had been called by the Holy Ghost to plant the standard of the cross in heathen lands, he most cheerfully obeyed. He entered the dominions of idolatry, cruelty, and death, and light and salvation followed in his steps. We first behold him tracing and retracing the various parts of Asia Minor; next, visiting the different cities of learned and classic but voluptuous Greece; next, passing, in the character of a prisoner, but as a most indefatigable and successful Minister, through Italy to Rome; and next, probably, accomplishing his expected" journey into Spain" and exploring the benighted regions of the west of Europe. Nor did

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he perform these long and then laborious excursions with the feelings of a mere traveller. He had a great object before him which he never suffered himself for a moment to forget. It was to disseminate truth; to pour light upon the dark minds of men; to reclaim lost creatures; to found churches; and to extend by every method the kingdom of his Redeemer. And this heavenly object he was enabled in an unexampled manner to promote. Wherever he went, his path, like that of a meteor in the midnight heavens, was marked with light. The kingdom of darkness melted away under the influence of his pursuasions; churches rose up after him as if by miracle; and in comparatively a little time, a greater part of the Roman empire was filled with his doctrine.

Paul's labor, as a missionary, fextended not only to the dissemination of truth and the founding of churches, but to regulating and establishing them. The rude materials of which the newly formed churches were composed, needed much moulding and shaping before they were properly fitted for God's spiritual house; and this they received under his plastic hand. He instructed them not only in the faith but in the order of the gospel; made them acquainted with the several institutions of Christ; "ordained elders in every city ;" and was instrumental under God of rearing up the churches, as spiritual temples for the dwelling of their Lord.

Another important branch of Paul's Missionary labor was the particular instruction of teachers for the numerous Churches of the Gentiles. Of many

of these teachers, he was the spiritual father; and they could have received special instruction from no one else. To have an adequate idea therefore of the labors of Paul, we must regard him, not only as

a preacher of Christ and a winner of souls over a great part of the Roman empire, but as an instructer in divinity—a teacher of future teachers-who was training up a host of laborers to be his successors in the vineyard of the Lord.

Amidst the various other labors of the apostle Paul, he maintained a general care and inspection of the churches he had planted. This is what he particularly mentions as coming upon him daily-" The care of all the Churches." In the exercise of this general care, he would be led to pray for them; to keep up a correspondence with them and an acquaintance with their state; to warn them of their dangers; heal their divisions; correct if possible their disorders; refute the errors which appeared among them; and with the feelings of an affectionate, anxious parent, to seek by every method to promote their good.

And we are not to suppose, that while the apostle was engaged in these several parts of his duty, the work of extending the gospel was permitted to stop. He was constantly pushing it forward to remoter regions, and was ever planning to make farther and and still farther incursions upon the empire of dark

ness.

Nor did the labors of Paul, either in fact, or in his own probable estimation of them, have respect solely to the age in which he lived. He planned and labored for posterity. He labored for the good of the Churches and of his fellow immortals, to the end of time, and to the labors of no mere man are the church and world more deeply indebted, than to those of Paul.

The sketch here given of the labors of this distinguished apostle and Minister of Jesus is sufficient,

it is thought, to justify his declaration in the text: "I labored more abundantly than they all." And as

he was disposed to take none of the glory of these extensive labors to himself, but ascribe it wholly to Divine grace-as his feelings prompted him to say “ Yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me ;” so it becomes us to honor Paul only as an instrument, and to ascribe the glory of his exertions and success to sovereign grace alone.

I proceed now to the second part of this discourse, in which I am to inquire how it can be accounted for, that Paul should accomplish so much as he did. Christians in these days think they do about as much as they can, if they keep up the round of religious observances, and take care of themselves. And christian Ministers think they do as much as they can, if they preach two Sermons on the Sabbath, and perform the usual clerical duties in their own parishes. But what, my brethren, did Paul do? and if we are doing as much as we can, how shall it be accounted for that he was enabled to bring to pass so much as he did?

He, let it be remembered, was no more than a man. Nor is there evidence that he possessed firmer health, or greater strength, or a more winning exterior or manner, than other men. His enemies said of him, by way of reproach, that "his bodily presence was weak, and his speech contemptible;" and all the accounts of him which ancient writers have furnished, represent him as small in stature, "rude in speech," and destitute of any peculiar peronal advantages with which to be recommended.

Nor can his distinguished labors and success be accounted for, on the ground of his possessing peculiar facilities for preaching and promoting the gospel

of Jesus.

Such facilities he did not possess.

On

the contrary, he was obliged to pursue his labors, under many trying and distressing embarrassments. He was tried, perhaps usually, with deep poverty. He was tried with frequent and cruel persecutions, and with constant exposures to danger and to death. And whatever may be intended by the "thorn in his flesh"; there can be no doubt that he considered it at distressing hindrance to his usefulness.

Nor can the abundance of Paul's labors be accounted for, from the great length of the period during which he was employed; as the whole space, from his conversion to his death, could have been little more than thirty years.

The true reasons of which we are in search, and by means of which we may account for the distinguished labors and success of the great Apostle of the Gentiles, are doubtless chiefly of a moral nature.

In the first place, he gave himself wholly to his work. The leading object of his life was, to promote the gospel and save souls; and this he kept constantly in view. He had no farm to cultivate, no schemes of ambition to accomplish, and no private purposes of worldly policy or speculation to carry into effect. He had no time to devote to sensual gratifications, to scenes of festivity and amusement, or even to many of the innocent enjoyments of life. He had a great work before him-one, on which his whole heart was set-one, in comparison with which all worldly things appeared as trifles; and nothing was permitted to divert him from it. He was not satisfied to engage in this work one day in the week, and in the pursuits of the world all other days; but he was every day devoted, and every day active, in promoting the cause of his Redeemer and Lord.