tion that draws his people to himself. Let him bear them therefore upon his heart, like the High-Priest on his breast-plate.1 Let him live with them as a father with his children. 'Bishops' (as Jerome reminded his friend) are not Lords, but Fathers.'? The Pastoral work, without the habitual influence of this principle, is indeed a most severe task; while the privileges connected with a faithful discharge of it are either wholly unknown or misconceived; and the return of affectionate respect and assiduity, on the part of our people, is considered as the relic of Popish veneration, or the effect of interested motives or enthusiastic feelings. But, in truth, none but those who "watch for souls, as they that must give account," can know the painful anxiety of the Christian Minister, "until Christ be formed in his people, the hope of glory; or understand his intense interest in superintending the various stages of their "growth unto the perfect man.” 3 2 Jer. ad Nepot. 1 Exod. xxviii. 29. 3 The following interesting and accurate sketch will touch many a chord of Ministerial sympathy and excitement-' How beautiful and holy in all its perfectness of obligation is the spiritual connexion which subsists between a faithful Minister of Christ and the flock, which he is appointed to feed with the pure word of God! How many are the methods, by which that bond of affection may be more closely drawn! How various are the ways, in which a faithful and vigilant Pastor may apply himself to the conscience of men, and promote their spiritual welfare; administering instruction, reproof, consolation; becoming all things to all men, that he might by all means save some; "always on the watch for opportunities of seasonably interposing the great truths and warnings of the gospel; anxiously alive to the symptoms of religious improvement in his flock; and looking at that, as his strong encouragement and rich reward! Many an anxious care does he experience for the welfare of those, who are endeared to him by the sacred sympathies of spiritual affinity; many a sorrow for failures, in which the world thinks he has no interest; many a joy also for blessings, which he alone perceives descending upon the heads of those whom he loves in the Lord. And such a shepherd is not without a recompense, even in this world: "the sheep follow him, for they know his voice." Such, my brethren, were the apostles; such were the first pastors and teachers of the They cannot be safely left to grow up without food and instruction, on the strength of some supposed innate principle of life. Nor do they ever arrive at that state, which does not require all our watchfulness and care for their preservation. They need exhortation, not only in a careless and backsliding state, but (as was before observed 1) as the appointed means of maintaining Christian stedfastness, and of "going on unto perfection." Nor is there any feeling of parental anxiety, with which the experience of the Christian Minister does not sympathize. Even needful reproof will be conveyed in parental language; 3 and the general spirit of the Pastoral duty, when moulded upon the principles of the Gospel, will differ as widely from mere official advice or remonstrance, as the tender counsel of an affectionate father from the accurate tuition of a well-principled instructor.* If indeed, on looking round upon our flock, we can see no one, who, in the language of the Apostle, "owes to us his soul," 5 we can have no conception church of Christ; such have been many holy fathers of that church, who imbibed the true spirit of that gospel, which it is intended to uphold and propagate; and in proportion as all its Ministers, by the aid of that Spirit, who is promised to them as an abiding and sanctifying Spirit, can assimilate themselves to that perfect model of self-devotedness and disinterestedness; of ardent zeal for the salvation of mankind, and of singleness of intention, as preachers of the gospel only; in that proportion will they be 66 burning and shining lights " to illuminate and purify the world; and in that proportion will the kingdom of Christ on earth be set forward, and his great designs of mercy carried on towards their accomplishment.' Bishop Blomfield's Lectures on the Acts, pp. 114-116. Another sketch of similar beauty may be found in the Bishop of Winchester's Charge, pp. 56-58. Pp. 504, 505. 2 Ambrose could say to his people-' Non minus vos diligo, quos genui ex Evangelio, quam si suscepissem conjugio.' De Offic. Lib. i. c. 5. In the same spirit the primitive Bishop Wilson remarks-'He that considers himself as the Father of the flock, will not forget, with what mildness, tenderness, and love a Father treats his children.' Stowell's Life, p. 286. 3 See 1 Cor. iv. 14. 4 Ibid. 15, 16. 5 Philemon 19. of the endearing bond of attachment, that unites a faithful shepherd to his deeply indebted flock. But to prove the existence of such a bond would be a most superfluous task. Every parochial visit reminds the affectionate Minister of its happy influence, binding him a willing servant to his Divine Master, and to the church for which he died.1 Now let us apply the Apostle's description of his own Ministerial feelings to our experience. His Epistles to the Philippians and Thessalonians present a most exciting picture of Ministerial endearment, in his thankfulness for his people, his prayers for them, and delight in them. Mark his continual "longings to see" his different flocks, for their mutual enlargement and comfort. “Taken from them," sometimes “in presence," never "in heart," his return to them is the subject of his constant prayers, in which he entreats them to unite with him. Nor could he meanwhile be satisfied, without hearing of their state and progress, and even sending messengers for that purpose; as if good tidings of them were the life of his own life, and an excitement to his continual thankfulness.3 He could not forbear telling them, how his "mouth was opened," and "his heart enlarged " towards them -that he was looking with a father's expectations to 1 Rutherford's Pastoral Life furnishes a beautiful illustration of this subject. He could assure his flock, that they were the objects of his 'tears, cares, fear, and daily prayers-that he laboured among them early and late'-and (to use his strong language) my witness is above, that your heaven would be two heavens to me, and the salvation of you all as two salvations to me.' Letters, part i. sect. 2. They, in their turn, in petitioning against his removal from them, declared, that it hath pleased God so to evidence his calling here, by His blessing on his labours amongst us; the consequence whereof we find to be a mutual union of our hearts betwixt him and us.'-Murray's Life, ut supra, Appendix, F. 2 Rom. i. 9-12. xv. 30-32. 1 Thess. ii. 17. 3 Phil. ii. 19. 1 Thess. iii. 1-11. be "somewhat filled with their company "—and (as if a father's tenderness was inadequate to convey the overflow of his heart) that he was ready to "cherish them, as a nursing-mother her children;" being "affectionately desirous to impart even his own soul to them." 1 His habit of carrying them always "in his heart, to die and live with them;" his anxiety during his imprisonment, employed more on their welfare than on his own life; nay, even his readiness to be detained from the immediate presence of his Redeemer for their sakes, and the joy with which hẻ anticipated the offering of his life "upon the sacrifice and service of their faith," 2 are far beyond our standard of Ministerial sympathy. He was ever willing, for the more effectual attainment of his object, to wave the right of command for the language of entreaty. His disinterested love forgot all personal injury, and all occasions of resentment, in his grand object of his people's restoration to the simplicity of the Gospel. Nay, he was willing to lose their affections for himself, if he could but win them to Christ; overcoming ungrateful returns with the continued overflowing of affection; "seeking not theirs, but them; very gladly spending and being spent for them, though the more abundantly he loved them, the less he was loved." 5 Glad was he even of his own weakness, if only they were strong, having his mind 2 1 2 Cor. vi. 11. Rom. xv. 24. 1 Thess. iii. 7, 8. 2 Cor. vii. 3. Col. ii. 1, 2. iv. 7, 8. Phil. i. 21–24. ii. 17. 5 2 Cor. xii. 12-24. 'This motto of an Apostle ("I seek not yours, but you") is transmitted to us with his Apostleship, to be transcribed, not into our rings and seals of orders, but into our hearts; there, if you please, to be engraven with a diamond; set, as the stones in our ephod, the jewels in our breast-plate, gloriously legible to all that behold us.'-Dr. Hammond's Pastor's Motto, ut supra. absorbed with one great desire" their perfection." 1 Whether or not the Apostle was raised up as a Pastoral model to his successors in the Ministry—this at least is the true spirit of the office, embodied, personified, and moulded to real life and experience. For be it remembered, that this care, solicitude, and tenderness, expressed in prayers, tears, continual sacrifices of personal ease and indulgence, and frequent exposure to imminent peril, were not the effect of direct miracle or inspiration, but the effusions of a heart, lamenting over the miserable condition of perishing sinners ; yearning over his own children in the faith; glowing with the love of Christ, and filled with his Spirit. The Writer knows not when he has felt more sensibly his almost infinite distance from the Scriptural standard of obligation, than while sketching out this imperfect outline of what a Minister ought to be, and what he might be. For let it not be supposed, that these are graces and duties peculiar either to the Apostle or the Apostolic age; they are rather the exhibition of the standard, which all, who have pledged themselves to the sacred Ministry, would do well habitually to contemplate; and the practical influence of which upon their own Ministrations will be productive of eminent success. He who has not this solicitous care and Apostolic tenderness, knows not what it is to be a father and a Pastor.' But happy is that Pastor, to whom his life, his labours, his zeal, and the testimony of his conscience, give the just confidence to say, that he loves the flock of Christ; and that he loves it only for and in Christ, only by his charity, and in his spirit.' 3 That he should have a shepherd's eye and a shepherd's heart, is equally 1 2 Cor. xiii. 9. 2 2 Cor. vi. 4, 5. xi. 23-27. 3 Quesnel on Phil. ii. 19. 1 Cor. xvi. 24. |