Paul was able similarly to appeal to those who knew him. Witness his parting words to the Ephesian elders (Acts 20:18-35), his words to his spiritual children in Thessalonica (1 Thess. 2:9-11) and his words to Timothy in the last of his inspired epistles (2 Tim. 4:10-11). Our expositions and exhortations have no more value than our lives give them. Of the scribes and Pharisees in our Lord's day, He was constrained to say, They “sit in Moses' seat: all therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not after their works; for they say and do not” (Matt. 23:1-3). How deeply solemn! The teaching was good, but the teachers did not correspond to the teaching. Happy the man, be it Samuel, Paul or any other, who, when the term of his service is drawing to its close, can conscientiously draw the attention of those who know him best to his manner of life from first to last. May God grant us one and all a good finish!