A minister's joy over his people. Rom. i. 8. I thank my God, through Jesus Christ, for you all.
AS a title of honour, a minister may assume the character of an ambassador from God. But the paternal relation is that which exhibits him before us in the most endearing view. Under the character of a father, St. Paul frequently addressed his con- vertsa. Sometimes he even compared himself with a mother " travailing in birth with themb ;" yea, and as a nursing mother, drawing forth, as it were, the breast to them, and " desiring to impart to them his very soul, because they were so dear to himc." There is scarcely one of his Epistles which does not begin with thanking God for them, and pouring forth his petitions in their behalf. The Church of Rome, though he had " never yet seen their face in the flesh," were exceeding dear to him; and the more so, because the fame of their attainments had spread throughout the whole world. They were not all equally eminent ; yet for all of them, without excep- tion, did he return thanks to God : nor did he think it at all necessary to abstain from bestowing just commendations upon themd. Nor shall we do wrong, if, with paternal regard, we express our thankfulness to God for the blessings he has bestowed on those over whom he has placed us, and whom he has graciously committed to our pastoral care.
a 1 Thess. ii. 11. b Gal. iv. 19.
c 1 Thess. ii. 7, 8. (1 Rom. xv. 14.
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