(15) Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: (16) The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: (17) But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel. (18) What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. (19) For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, (20) According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. (21) В¶ For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (22) But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. (23) For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: (24) Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. (25) And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; (26) That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.
There is somewhat very striking in the Apostles account of these different preachers. Who could they be that preached Christ, even of envy and strife? Not, surely, regenerated men! And yet, is it not possible, even for God's own children, in preaching, to do so? May not as well as in all the other circumstances of life, men feel the breakings out of corruption; so as to mingle in holy seasons, as well as upon other occasions? Is it not possible for jealousy to appear in the ministry, as well as in other parts of life? Alas! where, or in what part, of his time-state upon earth, is a child of God exempt from corruption, in all that pertains to the flesh? As to those who preached Christ out of good will; there is somewhat very blessed in this relation, however weakly and imperfect it was done. But what we have most to admire on this occasion is, that the great soul of the Apostle rejoiced at everything, and in everything, provided Christ was the one glorious subject of all preaching. Let the interest of my Lord and Master be forwarded, (said Paul), and I care not about the instrument, or the motive by which he is guided. Oh! the triumphs of grace through Christ.
I very earnestly entreat the Reader particularly to remark what Paul saith of himself, and, of consequence, all the Lord's people like himself, who are conscious of being in a justified state before God in Christ. He had no choice whether to live or die. And, if the Lord had referred it to the Apostle to have made his own choice, very sure I am that Paul would have referred it back again. And what I observe of this great Apostle, may be said of much humbler saints. When Paul looked forward, and beheld that eternal weight of glory which awaited him, his holy soul could not but long for the body to be dissolved, that in spirit he might be with the Lord. But when he looked around and beheld Christ's Church comforted and refreshed by his personal ministry, Paul felt a willingness to postpone his own everlasting happiness, for the promotion of the everlasting happiness of the Lord's people. Hence, the Apostle was suspended in his desires. He paused over the prospect; and, therefore, left it with the Lord. And so, I am fully convinced, is it with many of the faithful of the Lord, in every age of the Church. They long for Christ. They long to be with Christ. And nothing here below, as it concerns themselves, could make them for a moment wish to remain in the prison of a sinful body, no, not an hour. But, if Jesus employs them in his service, and condescends to make them useful to his Church and people, willingly will they delay their own personal felicity, in the presence of God and the Lamb, to forward the everlasting happiness of their brethren upon earth.
Reader! what saith your personal apprehension of these things? It would sound somewhat strange, to say to a child of God, and especially to a minister of Christ, I do not wish your departure for a long time from the Church upon earth, though very sure I am, whenever the Lord shall call you out of life, it will be but to exchange the Church below for the Church above. But out of love to the Lord's little ones, in this sorrowful world, I earnestly hope your personal enjoyment of Christ in heaven will be many years postponed. This would be an extraordinary thing to say. But yet, such are the motives to wish, that Jesus will not take home his chosen ones, in compassion to his Church in the wilderness, that godly souls cannot but mourn and cry out, Help, Lord! when the faithful are diminished from among the children of men.
Zealous, faithful servants of the Lord are but few here below. And, while they shine as lights in the world, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, we cannot but regret when any of them cease to lighten around, for we too sensibly feel the darkness their absence makes. It is a sad sign of approaching night, when the Lord extinguishes his brightest luminaries! And, in relation to themselves, though the change in every sense makes for their good, yet they need not depart to enjoy Christ. For they do enjoy by faith, a real personal communion and fellowship with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ, by God the Spirit. And, moreover, in one way they can and do, promote the Lord's glory upon earth, which they cannot in heaven. There are no sinners there ignorant of Christ's Person, and of his Godhead and salvation. But there are thousands here of the Lord's own redeemed ones, while in the unrecovered state of our Adam-nature, to whom the Lord can make them useful, in speaking of his princely royalties, and his loving kindness and mercy.