2 Cor. xii. 14, I seek not yours, hut you.
DISINTERESTEDNESS, in whatever it appears,
is universally admired But most of all does
its excellency appear, when it is manifested in the service of the sanctuary. The ministers, whom the prophet represents as " greedy dogs that could never have enough %" and who would " not so much as shut the doors of the temple, or kindle a fire on the altar for nought^," must be considered by every one as the most contemptible of men : whereas the appeal which the Apostle makes to the Church at Corinth, cannot fail of exalting his character in the eyes of all. We may learn from this declaration, I. The paramount duty of ministers —
Ministers are the pastors of their flock ; and ought to watch over them as parents over their children. Now a parent does not exercise kindness to his chil- dren from a selfish consideration of the profit which he may one day make of them, but from a real de- light in their welfare ; and he regards their happiness as his reward. Thus a minister must seek,
» Isai. Ivi. 11. ^ Mai. i. 10,
1. Not his own advantage —
[To obtain honour and emolument is ardently desired by carnal and worldly men : but a minister of God must be supe- rior to such low pursuits. He must not court the favour of men. He ought indeed to avoid needless oflfence both in his preaching and conduct: he should "choose out acceptable words"," and endeavoiu: to " please all men for their good to edification ^ :" but he must not conceal or adulterate any single expression of the word of God^, or attempt to set forth the truths of God in a fascinating manner, for the purpose of gaining applause, or of shunning persecution^: he must faith- fully " declare the whole counsel of God," and " commend himself to every man's conscience in the sight of God :" and, if he do not preach in this manner, " he cannot be a servant of Jesus Christ s."
Neither must he seek to enrich himself with their property : " Those who serve at the altar have a right to live of the altar :" " The ox was not to be muzzled, while he was tread- ing out the corn." "The labourer is worthy of his hire." But the obtaining of a maintenance should not in the least degree operate with a minister as an inducement to under- take or execute his high office. If he were actuated by such a principle as this, he would degrade himself to a mere hire- ling^. Nor can he suffer so mean a principle to influence him at all in his work, without greatly diminishing the value of his services, and their acceptableness in the sight of God'. The injunction given to Christians in general should be re- garded with peculiar scrupulosity by him, " Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth ''."]
2. The advantage only of his flock —
[Their sincere conversion to God, their progressive edifi- cation in faith and love, and their final everlasting salvation, are to be the unvaried aim of all his labours. " He must lift up his voice like a trumpet, and shew the house of Israel their sins." He must not be satisfied with effecting a change in their sentiments and external conduct, but must continue " travailing in birth with them, till Christ be manifestly formed in their hearts." When that end is attained, his care of them, instead of being relaxed, must be increased. They still need his unremitting exertions, to administer to their numerous wants, and to give them from time to time that direction and encouragement which their necessities require'.
c Eccl. xii. 10. 1 Rom. xv. 2. ^ 2 Cor. ii. 17.
f 1 Cor. i. 17. s Gal. i. 10. ^ 1 Sam. ii. 36.
i 1 Pet. v. 2. k 1 Cor. x. 24. Phil. ii. 4, 21. ' Ezek. xxxiv. 4.