Sketches from the Life of Paul (1883) — PDF Scan 164

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PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS . 157 to teardown . They had to contendwith the bigotry,prejudice,and violenceof men who had built upon a falsefoundation. Through the power of God , the apostlesbecame mighty in pullingdown thesestrongholdsof the enemy. Many who wrought as buildersof the temple of Christ's church could be likened to the buildersof thewallin Nehemiah'sday : " They which buildedon thewall,and theythatboreburdens, with thosethat laded,every one with one of his hands wrought in thework,and with the other held a weapon ." One after another of the noble builders fell at hiswork by the hand of the enemy. Stephen was stoned; James was slainby the sword ; Paul was beheaded; Peter was crucified; John was exiled. And yet stoneafterstonewas added to the building,the church increasedin the midst of the terriblepersecutionsthat afflictedher,and new workers on the wall took the placeof the fallen. These faithfulbuilderssought diligentlyto bringpreciousmaterialtothe livingfoundation. Paul labored to have his own heart and character inharmony with thelaw of God ,and then earnestlysought to bring about the same result withhisconverts. He exhortedTimothy, "Take heedunto thyself,and untothedoctrine." This isthe duty of every teacherof Bibletruth,— to illustratein his own lifethe active Christian virtues,to be pure in heart,given to holyconversation,to be good, and to do good. God willnot acceptthe most brillianttalent or the most able service, unless it islaid upon the livingfoundationstone,and connectedwith it; forthisalonegivestruevalueto ability,and