carried with him no introductions to the great and wealthy amongst the citizens, he had not the means of purchasing its varied merchandise, he brought no secret which could introduce a new element of commerce or of wealth. Yet this stranger, who has ever since been so greatly and widely honoured as the Apostle of the Gentiles, entered Corinth upon the most important mission which can be entrusted to man. The tidings which he brought concerned the truest welfare and the eternal state of everyone, whom he met. He came to infinitely ex

testify of blessings, which

celled in value all the riches and treasures, which the city contained. But for a time. the Apostle, in making known the gospel, seemed to meet with little or no success, and even his faith began to give way; he doubted whether he had been brought thither by the good Providence of God. Then, at the critical time, the Lord appeared to Paul in a vision, saying, 'Be

not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace, for I have much people in this city.'

The

The Apostle obeyed his Master's commands. He continued for some time longer to testify amongst the Corinthians the gospel of the grace of God. result was that although 'not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, were called,' yet a Church was formed in Corinth which, amidst many imperfections, could be described as 'sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, and waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.'

The teaching of the Apostle, which was made effectual for this purpose by the Holy Spirit, is shortly summed up in the words, 'We preach Christ crucified;' or as he says in the following chapter, 'I determined not to know anything amongst you, save Jesus Christ and him crucified.' We may venture to say, that in giving

this short account of his ministry, St. Paul did not imply that his teaching was confined almost entirely to one subject, or shut up within narrow limits. Many proofs may be given from his epistles, that it extended to every detail and duty of the Christian life. It exposed plainly and faithfully the sins which he saw alike in the Church and in the world; it entered into the various relations in which Christians stand to each other, frequently impressing upon them the need of that Christian charity, whose healing and blessed influences are described in the thirteenth chapter of this epistle. It also showed clearly the only way in which the Christian character can be formed, while it fully opened up the light, and glory, and perfection of the life immortal. But at the same time, the Apostle plainly taught that every part of Christian doctrine and practice must always be united with the central Truth of Holy Scripture,-that Truth, to

which every sinner who is seeking for pardon, and cleansing, and righteousness, and life, and salvation, must cling closely and constantly,-that Truth which is the fulfilment of every Old Testament type and prophecy-the atoning Sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Propitiation which He offered once for all upon the cross. Therefore at all times the leading subject of the Christian ministry must be summed up in these few words, 'We preach Christ crucified.'

The chief reasons for the prominence given to this subject, as well as for the influence which it is fitted to have, are stated in the titles which are applied to the Saviour in the twenty-fourth verse: He is to them, who are called, Christ the Power of God and the Wisdom of God.' First, He is described as 'the Power of God,' i.e., in our Lord Jesus Christ, and especially in Christ crucified, there is the highest possible manifestation of Almighty power. If we ask,

how is this power chiefly displayed? The answer is given in these words of our Lord Himself, The Son of Man is come to seek and save that which was lost.' The connexion between this work of the Redeemer and the title here given to Him, 'the Power of God,' may be partly explained in this way:-It can be shown. that, in the works of Creation, the highest display of Almighty power is the perfect order, which is maintained throughout the universe of God,—that order, according to which all the planets in each system move around one common centre. They thus prove their obedience to the will of Him 'who telleth the number of the stars, and calleth them all by their names.' But one human spirit, according to the estimate of the Redeemer who paid its ransom, is more precious than the world with all that it contains. We can therefore venture to reason thus, that the manifestation of Almighty power, which can restore the soul of man to