gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us." The connexion seems to be this—“ As a nurse cherishes her children," that is, as a tender mother,* who undertakes to nurse her own children, with fond endearment gives them the breast, and feeds them with her milk, the quintessence of her own blood; "so," saith St. Paul, "being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you the sincere milk of the word, even the gospel of God, the most precious thing we had to communicate and not only this, but our own souls or lives also, because ye were dear unto us." When he says, "We were willing to have imparted to you our own souls or lives ;" he may either mean, that such was his affection for the Thessalonians, and such was the influence his affection had upon his address to them, that he, as it were, breathed out his soul in every word. So affectionate, so pathetic and earnest was his discourse, that it seemed animated with his very soul. Every word came from his heart, and seemed a vehicle to convey his spirit into them. He spoke as if he would have died on the spot, through earnestness to affect them with what he said, that their souls, so dear to him, might be saved : or, he may mean, that so ardent was his love for them, that he was willing not only to preach to them, but to lay down his life for them: he would willingly endure a natural death, if by that means he might bring them to obtain eternal life. Some of the patriots of antiquity, we are told, loved their country so well, that they generously sacrificed their lives for it. This public spirit, indeed, is almost lost in these dregs of time; but the evidence of ancient history is sufficient to convince us, that such a thing once was, And shall not the love of souls be as heroic, and work as powerfully? Yes, we find this spirit of sacred patriotism glowing with the utmost ardour in the generous breasts of St. Paul and his brethren. St. Paul breathes out his spirit towards the Philippians: "If," says he, "I be offered up,† as a libation, upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy and rejoice with you all." St. John also infers this as a matter of obligation, from the * The nurse here meant is, not the unnatural nurse of modern times, whose mercenary service can never supply a mother's care; but the genuine tender mother; and it should be rendered, "as a nurse cherishes her own [savτns] children." † σπενδομαι. Phil. ii. 17. SERMON 77. THE LOVE OF SOULS, A NECESSARY QUALIFICATION FOR THE MINISTERIAL OFFICE.* 1 THESS. ii. 8.—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 unto us. A COMPLETE ministerial character is a constellation of all those graces and virtues which can adorn human nature: And the want of any one of them, leaves a hideous defect in it, that breaks its symmetry and uniformity, and renders it less amiable and less useful. The love of God, and the love of man, and all the various modifications of this sacred passion—ardent devotion and active zeal, charity, compassion, meekness, patience, and humility; the accomplishments of the man of sense, the scholar, and the christian, are necessary to finish this character, and make us able ministers of the New Testament. Each of these deserves to be illustrated and recommended; but should I attempt to crowd them into one discourse, I should be bewildered and lost in the vast variety of materials. I must therefore single out some one particular, some one bright star in this heavenly constellation, to which I would confine your attention on this solemn occasion, and with the sacred splendour of which I would adorn both myself and you. Let the subject be, BENEVOLENCE, or, the : love of souls. Love is a delightful theme; and those that feel it, take pleasure in thinking and talking about it. Therefore, while this is the subject, we cannot be weary, nor inattentive. The history of mankind cannot furnish us with a more striking instance of benevolence, or the love of souls, than we find in St. Paul, who speaks as like a father and an orator, as an apostle, in this chapter-a chapter written in such pathetic strains, that I can remember the time, when the reading of it has drawn tears even from a heart so hard as mine. "So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the Preached in Cumberland County, Virginia, July 13, 1758, at the ordination of the Rev. Messrs. Henry Patillo and William Richardson. gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us." The connexion seems to be this "As a nurse cherishes her * children," that is, as a tender mother, who undertakes to nurse her own children, with fond endearment gives them the breast, and feeds them with her milk, the quintessence of her own blood; "so," saith St. Paul, "being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you the sincere milk of the word, even the gospel of God, the most precious thing we had to communicate and not only this, but our own souls or lives also, because ye were dear unto us." When he says, "We were willing to have imparted to you our own souls or lives;" he may either mean, that such was his affection for the Thessalonians, and such was the influence his affection had upon his address to them, that he, as it were, breathed out his soul in every word. So affectionate, so pathetic and earnest was his discourse, that it seemed animated with his very soul. Every word came from his heart, and seemed a vehicle to convey his spirit into them. He spoke as if he would have died on the spot, through earnestness to affect them with what he said, that their souls, so dear to him, might be saved : or, he may mean, that so ardent was his love for them, that he was willing not only to preach to them, but to lay down his life for them: he would willingly endure a natural death, if by that means he might bring them to obtain eternal life. Some of the patriots of antiquity, we are told, loved their country so well, that they generously sacrificed their lives for it. This public spirit, indeed, is almost lost in these dregs of time; but the evidence of ancient history is sufficient to convince us, that such a thing once was, And shall not the love of souls be as heroic, and work as powerfully? Yes, we find this spirit of sacred patriotism glowing with the utmost ardour in the generous breasts of St. Paul and his brethren. St. Paul breathes out his spirit towards the Philip pians: "If," says he, "I be offered up,† as a libation, upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy and rejoice with you St. John also infers this as a matter of obligation, from the all." * The nurse here meant is, not the unnatural nurse of modern times, whose mercenary service can never supply a mother's care; but the genuine tender mother; and it should be rendered, "as a nurse cherishes her own [savτns] children." tvdou. Phil. ii. 17. consideration of Christ's laying down a life of infinitely greater 66 worth for us. Hereby," says he, we perceive the love of God, because he laid down his life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."* : Such, my brethren, ought to be the spirit of every gospel minister thus dearly should they love the souls of men; and thus ardently desirous should they be to conduct them to Jesus and salvation. My present design is to show, what a happy effect the generous principles of benevolence, or the love of souls, would have upon us in the exercise of the ministerial office. And this will appear in the following particulars : First, The prevalence of this disposition will contribute to ingratiate us with mankind, and so promote our usefulness. It is not to be expected in the stated course of our ministry, that those should receive advantage by our labours, to whom we are unacceptable. If they are disaffected to us, they will also disregard what we say; and while they disregard it, they can receive no benefit from it. The ministry of a contemptible minister, will always be contemptible; and consequently useless. When the heart is open to admission through the same be no suspicions of imposi Then even hard things will But, on the other hand, when a minister in his congregation, appears in a circle of friends, whose affections meet in him, as their common centre, then his labours are likely to be at once pleasing and profitable to them. the speaker, his words will gain door of entrance. Then there will tion, or sinister interested design. be received, not as the effect of moroseness, but as wholesome severities from faithful friendship. For the confirmation of this, I may appeal to your observations of mankind: you know they will bear many things, and even take them well, from a known friend, which they would warmly resent from others. You know the persuasion, the remonstrance or admonition of a friend, will have great weight, when that of others would be neglected or contemned. In short, you may almost carry any point with mankind, if they are satisfied you love them, and regard their interest; and they also love you : but even real kindnesses, from those whom they disaffect, will be received with suspicious caution, and perhaps with indignation. * John iii. 16. Now, such is the nature of the ministerial office, that there is much need of this happy prepossession of mankind in our favour, that we may discharge it with comfort and success. We are not only to display the rich grace of the gospel, and the fair prospects of a blessed immortality, but also to denounce the terrors of the Lord, and rouse up again the lightning and thunder, and tempest of Sinai. We must represent human nature in its present fallen state, in a very disagreeable and mortifying light; we must overturn the flattering hopes of mankind, and embitter to them the false measures of sin, in which they place so much of their happiness. We must put the cross of Christ on their shoulder, and reconcile them to self-denial, reproach, and various forms of suffering, for the sake of righteousness. We must inculcate upon them a religion for sinners; in which selfaccusation, remorse, fear, sorrow, and all the painful heartbreakings of repentance, are necessary ingredients. We must set ourselves in a strenuous opposition to the favourite lusts of the world, and the ways of the multitude; and this alone will set the world against us as their enemies, and officious disturbers of their peace. We must also exercise the rod of discipline for the correction of offenders; must take upon us the ungrateful office of reprovers, and give the reproof with proper degrees of severity. In short, the faithful discharge of our office will oblige us to use such measures, as have been found by the experience of thousands of years, to be very unpopular and irritating to mankind-measures, which brought upon the prophets, the apostles, and other servants of Christ, the odium of the world, and cost many of them their lives and if we tread in their steps, we may expect the same treatment in a greater or lesser degree. : And how shall this unacceptable office be discharged faithfully, and yet as inoffensively and acceptably as may be? I can prescribe no certain expedient for this purpose, while the world continues as bad as it is. This is what neither the prophets nor apostles, though inspired from heaven, were ever able to find out. But that which will have the happiest tendency of any thing within the reach of humanity is, the prevalence of benevolence, or the love of souls. It is comparatively easy to a minister that ardently loves his people, to make them sensible that he does love them, and is their real friend, even when he is constrained to put on the appearance of severity. Love has a language of its own-a |