And when Silas and Timothy were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. (6) And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles. (7) And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man's house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue. (8) And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized. (9) Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: (10) For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city. (11) And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
If the Reader wishes to enter into a more particular account of Paul's preaching at Corinth than what is here stated, he will be able very easily to gather the chief sum and substance of what he discoursed upon, by referring to his Epistles to this Church. Indeed, it would be always profitable, when reading at any time in this part of the scripture history, the life and ministry of the Apostle; to consult and read with it, his both Epistles, which he afterwards sent to the Church at Corinth, when his personal labors among them were ended. One point in particular, we know Paul mostly dwelt upon, for he hath said as much; namely, Christ, and his cross. For, (said he) I determined not to know anything among you save Jesus Christ; and him crucified, 1 Corinthians 2:2. There were a thousand subjects of holy joy and delight, the Apostle discovered in his adorable master. His Person, his Godhead, his manhood, his union of both: His Offices, Characters, Relations; all, and everyone of these topics, Paul could have dwelt upon forever. But, when speaking to poor, ruined, lost, and perishing sinners, like those Corinthians he knew Christ crucified was the one persuasive remedy of God's own providing, and the only one suited to their then-state and circumstances of ignorance and darkness: and therefore, here Paul fixed his eye, and here he found ample subject for his heart to enlarge upon, and recommend: and having in his own example found the blessedness of it, he labored to enforce and recommend it to all others. And how sweetly, and persuasively he did it, those beautiful Epistles still shew?
It should seem, by what is here said, of the blasphemy of those Jews who opposed Paul's preaching, and the manner of shaking his raiment upon the occasion; that the Apostle was hardly put to it, and felt the bitterness of their persecution. And it should seem, that for the moment, he paused over the matter, as if more than half disposed in his own mind to leave Corinth. And yet he had enough to encourage him to abide there, in the conversion of Crispus, the chief ruler of the Synagogue, with all his house; and many Corinthians also. But, I pray the Reader not to lose sight of the grace and loving kindness of Jesus, in this night vision shewn Paul. For, that it was the Lord Jesus himself which so spake to the Apostle, is beyond all question. And, oh! how sweetly, powerfully, and persuasively, the Lord spake to him. How must it have refreshed and animated the Apostle? What new courage must it have inspired?
Reader! fail not to take to yourself, the consolation, such a view of the Lord's watching over his people brings, for every emergency! Oh! could the faithful but behold things visibly as they are, how often, like the Prophet's servant, should we see ourselves surrounded with horses of fire, and chariots of fire; when to our poor, timid, and apprehensive minds, like him, through fear of man, we have been crying out: Alas! how shall we do, 2 Kings 6:14-17. Precious Jesus! do I not hear thee say, and do I not know, and at times feel the sweet power of thy words, while my Lord is saying it: Sing ye to her a vineyard of red wine. I the Lord do keep it. I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day, Isaiah 27:2-3. I entreat the Reader to turn to those sweet scriptures also, Isaiah 51:7-13; Psalms 37:1 throughout.
And chiefly, ye faithful servants of my God, who minister in his sacred Name! (If peradventure one of that sacred order should glance at these my writings.) Oh! let this most interesting view, of the Lord Jesus comforting and encouraging his servant Paul, in this vision of the night, strengthen your hands and hearts with the same assurance. Jesus speaks as much now, as he did then. Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace; for I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee, See Jeremiah 1:17-19. And, no doubt, but in this our day, and in the midst of the present Christ despising generation, the Lord hath much people to gather from the Midst of this our sinful land. Oh! that the consciousness of these things may stir up the hearts of his sent servants, to do as Paul did, tinder the Lord's blessing; and remain as he did, if need be a whole year and six months, teaching the word of God among the people. And surely the Lord will defend, all that labor in his name, and are sent by him to the service, amidst all the conflicts they may sustain. Persecuted they may be, but not forsaken: cast down, but not destroyed, 2 Corinthians 4:9
I hope the Reader will allow me to dwell a moment longer on a subject so truly interesting, as it concerns the Lord's people, as well as the Lord's ministers. If Jesus told Paul that in a city like Corinth he had much people there; may we not hope, though sinful as a nation we are, yet many of God's hidden ones are among us. And, by the much people, let it not be supposed that Jesus meant his people by right of creation. For, although indeed the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof and all are his, as well by creation as redemption; yet there would have needed no vision of the night to have informed Paul of this, had that been all, for he knew it before. But very evidently, by the much people Jesus told Paul he had in Corinth; he meant his Church, his Chosen, according to Covenant settlements. That people whom the Holy Ghost spake of, as a people near unto him, Psalms 148:14. Whom the Lord said, he had formed for himself, and they should skew forth his praise, Isaiah 43:21. A people by gift, John 17:6, by purchase, Isaiah 42:1, by conquest, Psalms 110:3. And Jesus knew them all by name, John 10:3. And they must all be gathered out, Ezekiel 34:13, and all pass again under the hand of him that telleth them: Jeremiah 33:13
Reader! let us indulge the thought, for it is most pleasing. Paul knew them not. But Jesus did. Elijah was as unconscious in his day, what numbers the Lord had, when he thought himself single and alone, 1 Kings 19:18; 1 Kings 19:18. But, the Lord knoweth them that are his, 2 Timothy 2:19. And what makes the subject so very interesting and precious is, that while they are in the unregeneracy of their Adam-nature, and to all human observation alike indiscernible, as the ungodly among whom they dwell; yet Jesus hath his eye upon them for good, he keeps them from the unpardonable sin amidst all their sinning, he keeps them from going down to the pit, preserves them from death and the grave, watches over them for good in all their ungodliness, until the day of their effectual calling, when he brings them out by his Holy Spirit; so that not one of them is lost for whom he died, and whom he hath received from his Father; but all are brought at length savingly home, where he comes to make up his Jewels, Malachi 3:17. Precious Lord Jesus! I bless thee for this gracious vision to thy servant, the Apostle! And last thou not, dearest Lord, much people in the present day, in the city of this world? Lord! gather them out, and make them willing in the day of thy power! Take comfort my soul! He that conquered thy stubborn nature, can subdue others. No heart of stone, but Christ can take away, since he hath taken away thine!