Now for a recompense in the same, (I speak as unto my be ye also enlarged.

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F this enlargedness of mind, which the apostle recommends to the Corinthians, he himself was an eminent example. All his worldly honours, interests and prospects he cheerfully relinquished, for the service of Christ in preaching the gospel of salvation. In the prosecution of this work, he was not confined to the places, where he found it most lucrative to himself; he rather chose to bestow his labour, where it seemed most necessary for others. In the churches of Macedonia he was received with much cordiality, and treated with singular kindness. They not only contributed to his support while he was among them, but ministered to his necessities, when he was absent from them. Alluding to their liberality, he says to the Corinthians, "I robbed other churches, taking wages of VOL. II.

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them, to do you service." In Corinth, a place of great opulence, he found little of this liberal spirit. And such was the opposition which he met with from false apostles, that he declined to receive the scanty supplies which were offered him. He says, "I have kept myself from being burthensome to you, and so will I keep myself. Notwithstanding the liberality of other churches, and the parsimony of this, he here bestowed a great part of his labours, both in preaching and in writing. In this chapter, after a detail of his labours and sufferings in the cause of the gospel, he, with great pathos and earnestness, addresses himself to his Corinthian brethren; "O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you; our heart is enlarged. Ye are not straitened in us; but ye are straitened in your own bowels. Now for a recompense in the same, be ye also enlarged."

What the apostle here recommends is an enlarg ed mind, in opposition to a straitened, contracted mind.

We will illustrate this enlarged mind, in its nature and operations; and then shew the proper means of obtaining it.

I. The nature and operations of an enlarged mind are first to be considered.

The apostle evidently intends, by the phrase, some eminent measure of a virtuous and holy temper.

1. The christian of an enlarged mind entertains comprehensive and connected ideas of the religion of the gospel, and regards the several parts of it, according to their comparative usefulness and importance.

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There are some, who profess a zeal for religion, but confine their zeal to a few particular things, to certain favourite sentiments and usages; and these not the most important in the christian scheme, if

they in any sense belong to it. Among many of the primitive believers an attachment to the rites and ceremonies, in which they had been educated, almost excluded benevolence and charity to their more liberal brethren. On this account, the apostle calls them weak in faith-babes in Christ. They might have honest intentions, but they had not consistent ideas of the nature of the gospel.

The enlarged christian imbibes his religious sentiments fresh and pure from the deep fountain of divine truth, not from the shallow, variable stream of human opinion. Regarding the Deity as the great object to which all religion is directed, he proves what is acceptable to him.

Contemplating the perfect character of God, he concludes, that all religion must consist in rectitude of heart and holiness of life-that love to him, and benevolence to men must be its leading principles and that to purify the heart, and promote the works of righteousness, must be the great end of all the doctrines and institutions of the gospel. He despises not the least command; but he principally attends to the things which make the substance of religion; and, in subservience to these, he honours every ordinance which he finds to be sanction. ed by divine authority.

2. The enlarged christian, in matters of religion, judges freely and independently..

There are some, who, with unthinking indolence; take their religious sentiments as they are dictated by others. In opposition to this implicit credulity, our Saviour says, "Call no man your Father, on earth, for one is your Father, who is in heaven." An attention is due to the opinions of wise and good But we are to give no man dominion over our faith. The Bereans were commended, because they received, with all readiness of mind

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the doctrines taught by the apostles, and searched the scriptures daily, whether these things were so.

The christian of a large and liberal mind will not receive doctrines, as the commandments of men; nor, on the other hand, will he cavil and object against them, to shew his superiority to the opinions of men. The latter discovers as much pride and selfconceit, as the former discovers indolence and carelessness; and it is difficult to say, which is most inconsistent with an open and generous soul. 3. The enlarged mind yields an unreserved submission to the divine government.

To the man, whose views are contracted within himself, the ways of God are subjects of daily complaint. As he has no higher aim than his own worldly interest, so he has no higher wish, than to find that providence makes him its favourite. Disappointments vex him, poverty mortifies him, the prosperity of others torments him; for he sees no reason, why they should be more happy, and more successful than himself.

The man of an enlarged heart contemplates the ways of God on a more extensive scale. He does not consider himself as the only object of the divine care, nor the present life as the only term of his existence, nor this world as made and governed merely for his use. He looks up to God as a Being of unsearchable wisdom and unbounded goodness, whose government extends to all creatures, and whose designs reach forward to the remotest ages of futurity. He believes that there is a secret connexion in all God's dispensations, and feels himself incompetent to judge what will best promote the general interest, or even his own. considers, that the temporary evils which he suf fers, may be productive of lasting good to others; that the worldly prosperity, which he sometimes desires, might, if granted, operate to the prejudic

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of many; and that his present afflictions may, in ways unknown and unsuspected, turn to his own eternal benefit. He therefore acquiesces in all the allotments of providence, and rejoices that his interests are in better hands than his own.

4. The enlarged christian is of a humble mind. The man of a narrow, illiberal heart, thinks highly of his own worth, is tenacious of his own opinions, and devoted to his own interest. Vainly puffed up with a fleshly mind, he assumes airs of importance, magnifies his own works, and depreciates the virtues of others. But the man of enlarged and liberal sentiments thinks soberly, speaks modestly and walks humbly. He considers himself as only a single being in the immense creation of God. Contemplating the infinity of the Creator, the extent and variety of his works, and the countless myriads of superiour intelligences, which wait around him, he sinks into nothing in his own estimation. Yea; when he recollects the many instances of eminent virtue and wisdom, which have appeared among the human race, he dares not exalt himself above his fellow mortals; but is rather disposed to think others better than himself. From an enlarged view of the Creator and his works, the pious Psalmist was led to the most abasing thoughts of man. "O Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth, who hast set thy glory above the heavens? When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and stars, which thou hast ordained. What is man, that thou art mindful of him; and the Son of man, that thou visitest him?"

Influenced by this spirit of humility, the christian reveres the word of revelation, and receives with submission its heavenly instructions. Every high thing within him, which exalts itself against the knowledge of God is brought low, and every