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II. The inseparable effect, and one of the surest evidences of love to Christ, is a love to his people. Of this likewise our apostle exhibits an instructive and affecting example. The warmth and cordiality of his love to those who loved his Lord and Master, appear in every page of his writings. He so rejoiced in their prosperity, that to hear of it, at any time, made him in a manner forget his own sorrows, when encompassed with troubles on every side; and though, in many instances, he did not meet that greatful return he had reason to expect, yet he could not be discouraged: but when he had occasion to expostulate with some upon this account, he adds, "I will still gladly spend and ̧ be spent for you, though the more I love you the less I am loved." w Of such a generous temper as this, the world, would they observe it, must acknowledge (as the magicians in Egypt,)" This is the finger of God;" for nothing but his grace can produce a conduct so contrary to the natural inclination of man, as to persevere and increase in kindness and affection to those who persevere in requiting it with coldness and ingratitude. His epistles to the Thessalonians abound in such expressions and strains of tenderness as would doubtless be generally admired (especially by those who can read them in the original,) were they not overlooked, through the

u 2 Cor. vii. 7. 13. See likewise Phil. ii. 28. which finely intimates his tenderness and affection. He was oppressed with sorrow upon sorrow, yet he felt more for the Philippians than for himself. He mourned over Epaphroditus, when sick, for their sakes, and sent him away for their comfort when recovered; and this he did as the most effectual means to lessen his own burden, by sympathizing in that joy his friends would have in the interview, though he could not directly partake with them.

w 2 Cor. xii. 15.

unhappy disregard which too many show to that best of books in which they are contained. When he is appealing to themselves concerning the sincerity of his conduct, and how far he had been from abusing his authority, he says, "We were gentle among you, even as a nurse (or mother) cherisheth her children,"-who, by her tender and assiduous offices, supplies their inability to take care of themselves. * (It would be well if all who have aimed to derive a plenitude of power from the example of the apostles, were equally desirous to imitate him in the use of it.) He then adds, "So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the Gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear to us."

No comment can do justice to the spirit of this sentiment, or to the force of the expression in the Greek. In another passage, which is rendered in our version, "We being taken from you,” the original term has an emphasis which, no single word in our language can answer. It imports such a state of separation as is made between a parent and a child by the death of either, when the child is left a helpless and exposed orphan, or the parent is bereaved of the staff and comfort of his age. It beautifully intimates the endearing affection which subsisted between the apostle and the persons he was writing to, and demonstrates the greatest tenderness, simplicity, and condescension. But his regard went beyond words, and was evidenced by the whole course of his actions. Nor was it confined to those who had enjoyed the benefits of his personal ministry; his heart was charged with the care and welfare of all the churches; and those who had not seen his face in the flesh had an unceasing * 1 Thess. ii. 7, 8. Y ATоppavioleνres, 1 Thess. ii. 17.

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share in his solicitude and prayers: nay, so strong was his love to the churches, that it balanced his habitual desire to be with Christ; he could not determine which was most eligible, to suffer with the members upon earth (so that he might be serviceable to them,) or to reign with the Head in heaven. In the passage referred to, we see the happy centripetal and centrifugal forces which carried him on through the circle of duty: he constantly tended and gravitated to his centre of rest; but successive opportunities of usefulness and service drew him off, and made him willing to wait yet longer.

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In this part of his character we are not to consider him exclusively as an apostle. All who have truly known the Gospel to be the power of God unto salvation, are partakers of the same spirit, according to the measure of their faith. That person is unworthy the name of a Christian, who does not feel a concern and affection for his brethren who are in the world. It must be allowed that prejudices and misapprehensions too often prevent the Lord's people from knowing each other; but, so far as they believe a person to be a child of God through faith, they cannot but love him. This is the immutable criterion which our Lord himself has given, whereby his real disciples are to be known and acknowledged." He has not directed us to judge by their discourses, their knowledge, or even their zeal, but by the evidence they give of mutual love; and we may as easily conceive of a sun without light, or a cause without an effect, as of a person duly affected with a sense of the glory of God and the love of Christ, and not proportionably filled with a spirit of love to z Col. ii. 1. a Phil. i. 25, 24.

b John, xiii. 35.

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all who are like-minded. But especially this disposition is essential to a minister of the Gospel, and the apostle assures us, that all imaginable qualifications are of no avail without it; though we could possess the powers of a prophet or an angel, or the zeal of a martyr, if we are destitute of this love, we are, in the sight of God, but as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

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III. St. Paul's inflexible attachment to the great doctrines of the Gospel is another part of his character which deserves our attention. He knew their worth, experienced their power in his own soul, and saw that, though they were unacceptable to the wisdom of the world, they bore the impress of the manifold wisdom of God. He takes notice that, in those early days, there were many who "corrupted" the word of God. a The word properly signifies to adulterate, to imitate the practice of dishonest vintners, who mix and sophisticate their liquors, so that, though the colour is preserved, and the taste perhaps nearly counterfeited, the quality and properties are quite altered and depraved: but he says, "We are not as they." He preached the Gospel in its purity and simplicity, the sincere, genuine milk of the word, neither weakened by water, nor disguised by any artful sweetening to render it more palatable. He added nothing of you, nec employed any art or gloss to palate the truth, that it might be more

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"Sounding brass," without meaning and without life. Such are the a cious gifts ard performances, if naccompanied by love. They may perhaps beeful to others (iste and of a bell gives notice and brings people together), but he pos-essor himself is a lifeless nstrument: he designs so good, and will receive no rewa 1. • Καπηλεύοντες. 2001, Η Π. • Αδολον γαλα. 1 Pet. . 2.

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acceptable to men of carnal minds. not ashamed of it, neither was he afraid lest it should fall without success to the ground, if not supported and assisted by inventions of his own, He knew whose word it was, and therefore cheerfully ventured the issue with him, who alone could procure it a welcome reception; and as he disdained the thought of deviating a title himself from the plain and full declaration of the truth, neither could he bear, no, not for an hour, with those who presumed to do so. I doubt not but the warmth of his zeal, in this respect, has disgusted many in the present day, wherein a seeming candour and forbearance is pleaded for and extended to almost every sentiment, except the truths in which St. Paul gloried. There is little doubt but many, if they had the courage and honesty to speak out, would add St. Paul himself to the list of those whom they despise as uncharitable and hot-brained bigots; for who has offended more than he against the rules of that indifference to error which is at present miscalled charity? The Galatians, in a short time after he left them, had ventured to admit some alteration in the doctrine they had received from him: it was chiefly in one point. They had been persuaded into an undue regard for the law of Moses. This, some may think, was little more than a circumstantial; that it could not have any great or direct influence. upon their moral practice, and that they might be very good men and good Christians, though, in this one thing, they could not see exactly with their teacher's eyes. But how different was the apostle's judgment! If the Galatians had returned to the practice of idolatry, or broke out

Gal. ii. 5.

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