This is St. Paul's account of his own training: in the Epistle for
to-day we have another account of it; a description of the life which
he led, and which he was content to lead--"in much suffering, in
stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watching, in
fastings"--and an account, too, of the temper which he had learnt to
show amid such a life of vexation, and suffering, and shame, and
danger--"approving himself in all things the minister of God, by
pureness, by wisdom, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the spirit of
holiness, by love unfeigned;" "as dying, and behold we live; as
chastened, and not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as
poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing all
things."--In all things proving himself a true messenger from God, by
being able to dare and to endure for God's sake, what no man ever
would have dared and endured for his own sake.

"But"--someone may say--"St. Paul was an apostle; he had a great work
to do in the world; he had to turn the heathen to God; and it is
likely enough that he required to train himself, and keep strict
watch over all his habits, and ways of thinking and behaving, lest he
should grow selfish, lazy, cowardly, covetous, fond of ease and
amusement. He had, of course, to lead a life of strange suffering
and danger; and he had therefore to train himself for it. But what
need have we to do as St. Paul did?"

Just as much need, my good friends, if you could see it.

Which of us has not to lead a life of suffering? We shall each and
all of us, have our full share of trouble before we die, doubt it
not.