The Acts of the Apostles (1911) — PDF Scan 307

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A MESSAGE OF WARNING 301 songlit counsel from God. Gladly would he have visited Corinth at once, had this been the Tvisest course to pursue. But he knew that in their jDresent condition the believers would not profit by his labors, and therefore he sent Titus to prei^are the way for a visit from himself later on. Then, putting aside all personal feelings over the course of those whose conduct revealed such strange perverseness, and keeping his soul stayed upon God, the apostle wrote to the church at Corinth one of the richest, most instructive, most powerful of all his letters. "With remarkable clearness he proceeded to an- swer the various questions brought forward by the church, and to lay down general principles, which, if heeded, would lead them to a higher spiritual plane. They were in i3eril, and he could not bear the thought of failing at this critical time to reach their hearts. Faithfully he warned them of their dangers and reproved them for their sins. He pointed them again to Christ, and sought to kindle anew the fervor of their early devotion. The apostle's great love for the Corinthian believers was revealed in his tender greeting to the church. He referred to their experience in turning from idolatry to the worship and service of the true God. He reminded them of the gifts of the Holy Spirit which they had received, and showed that it was their privilege to make continual advancement in the Christian life until they should attain to the purity and holiness of Christ. ''In everything ye are enriched by Him," he wrote, ''in all utterance, and in all knowledge; even as the testimony of