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APOSTOLIC CHRISTIANITY."

"FOR I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST: FOR IT IS THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION TO EVERY ONE THAT BELIEVETH; TO THE JEW FIRST, AND ALSO TO THE GREEK."-Romans i., 16.

OD'S Word, though one, is multiform. One pen

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of inspiration has been used, by many scribes. The Scriptures are in different handwritings, though they all testify the same salvation. Each component ray of the sunlight possesses its own virtue. The quality of light remains, modified according to the hue. Each of the sacred writers, reflecting God's Word, imparts to it something of his own personality. The colours are various, but all combined absorb themselves into the pure white light of Eternal Truth. We should certainly deprive the words just read as a text, of their distinctive significance, if we regarded them apart from what may be called their personal, individual, quality. We must take them as they stand, and not generalise them into

Addressed to the Ministers and Churches of the West-Riding Congregational Union, April 11th, 1866.

A

an abstract statement of doctrine.

Egotistical, indeed,

they are not, for the writer was as free from egotism as any man that ever lived. But there is an "Ego" which looks forth upon us from out of them almost with the vividness of a living countenance. "I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ!" One is ready to ask, at first, who is this whose unblushing confidence is thus put in the forefront? Who is this, thus solemnly connecting his own feelings with the power of God, and the eternal salvation of Jew and Greek? He speaks as a representative man. He is the typical herald. He is the chief ambassador. Yea, in a sense, he is the steward of the Gospel; holding it in trust; dispensing it to the nations. Of the greatest importance it is to bring our minds under the influence, not alone of the doctrine proclaimed, but of the individuality manifested, and to yield ourselves to the touch of that spirit which is living in the words. We cannot, I think, doubt that there is a certain positive presentment of Christian faith and life testified in the text. When we connect such featured Christianity with the facts of St. Paul's history, the history of the greatest preacher, the most successful missionary, and the master-builder of the Christian Church, it would seem of the utmost moment to see it as it was. Into the same expression we should direct our own spiritual life, and become ambassadors for Christ after the type and example of the chief apostle. The Pauline Christian is the kind of Christian

we should aim to be. Would we be made channels of divine power to the world, our faith and zeal must take their features much after his likeness, and realise themselves much in the form which he has so distinctly exemplified; and he said, "I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ!" I purpose, then, dear brethren, by God's help,

I. TO DESCRIBE THE MAIN CHARACTERISTICS THAT CHRISTIAN

OF

SPIRIT AND LIFE WHICH ARE

EXPRESSED IN THE TEXT; AND,

II. TO SHOW THEIR RELEVANCY TO OURSELVES IN OUR PRESENT POSITION AND WORK, AS SERVANTS OF CHRIST IN THE GOSPEL.

I.

1. At no epoch in the world's history, in no place, among no people, could a confidence like that expressed by St. Paul be brought to the test, as when his words were written to the Romans, and were read on the banks of the Tiber, at the beginning of the reign of Nero, the Roman Emperor. At that time a Christian community, taking its rise, doubtless, in the Jewish quarter, was slowly, but surely, adding to its numbers both native Romans and strangers from various parts of the world. Banished awhile by Claudius, the Jews left behind them those who, being Gentiles, though Christians, were not obnoxious to imperial fury. Synagogues were closed, but Christian teaching went

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