Sketches from the Life of Paul (1883) — PDF Scan 189

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182 LIFE OF PAUL . throughthetransformingpowerofhisSpiritand grace. But itwas necessarythat thoseamong them who had pervertedthegospelof Christ,and corruptedthe pure doctrinestaught by him, shouldbe rebuked,topreventthem from corrupting others, and that all might be warned by seeingthatthe frown of God was upon those enemies of the faith . After informinghis brethrenof his great anxiety in theirbehalf, and the reliefthat he experiencedat the coming of Titus, the apostle breaksforthwitha voiceofpraiseand triumph: " Now thanks be unto God ,which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest thesavorofhisknowledgeby us ineveryplace. For we are unto God a sweet savor of Christ, in them that are saved,and in them thatperish." The figurein the apostle'smind was that of a generalreturningfrom a victoriouswarfare, followedby a trainof captives, accordingto the custom of theday. On suchoccasionstherewere personsappointedas incense-bearers. As the army marched triumphantlyhome, the fragrant odors,thesignalofvictory,were tothe captives appointedto die a savor of death, in that it showed them theywere nearingthetimeoftheir execution. But to thoseof theprisonerswho had found favor with theircaptors, and whose liveswere tobe spared,itwas a savorof life, in that it showed them that their freedom was near. Paulhad been an ardentopposerofthegospel, buthe had beenconqueredby lightfrom Heaven, and had yieldedhimselfa captivetoChrist. He had become an incense-bearer,signalingthe victoryofChristoverhisenemies. Paul was now fullof hope and faith. He feltthat Satan was