[What is your conduct, in your collective capacity, as a Church? Are there among you " debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, wliisperings, swellings, tumults?" Dear brethren, if tliis be the case, and " I find you such as I would not, you can expect only that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not : and that, whilst I bewail your condition," I shall only administer such correctives as the occasion may require P. As to individuals, of course, except in extreme cases, nothing of a personal nature can be spoken, but only in a way of private intercom'se. But, beloved, I wish you to examine, whether you are " profiting by the word preached," and whether you '* make that profiting to appear." I wish you to examine, whether there be in you any secret declension from God ; or whether you are advancing steadily in your Christian course, and " daily growing up into Christ in all things as your living Headi." If this be the case, we shall greatly rejoice: for, as St. Paul said, " I live, if ye stand fast in the Lord"^;" and as St. John said, " I have no greater joy, than to hear that my children walk in truth';" so I, brethren, according to the grace given unto me, would have all my own feelings and interests swallowed up in your welfare. If you are but " babes, I would feed you with milk : if you are grown to full age, I would administer strong meat" for your nourishment. In a word, I would endeavour to adapt my ministrations to your necessities, in accordance with the direction given me ; " Warn them that are unruly, comfort the feeble-minded, support the weak, and be patient towards all men*." The time is shortly coming, when both you and I must give account to God; I, of my ministrations; and you, of your improvement of them : and the Lord grant, that in that day I may be found to have discharged my duties witli fidelity ! and may you be my crown of rejoicing to all eternity ! yea, of all of you, with- out exception, may I then be able to say, " Ye are our glory and joy"!"]
P 2 Cor. xii. 20, 21. ^ Eph. iv. 15. ^ i Thess. iii. 8.
« 3 John, ver. 4. * 1 Thess. v. 14. " 1 Thess. ii. 19, 20.