Col. ii. 1, 2. I toould that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh ; that their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding , to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ,
NOTHING is more odious than a boasting spirit. Yet are there occasions on which it may be proper for a minister to declare to his people the greatness of his affection for them, and of his solicitude in their behalf. St. Paul, than whom no man was ever further from indulging this hateful spirit, judged it right, in almost all his epistles, to assure his converts of his remembrance of them night and day in prayer ; and of his willingness to impart to thern, not the Gospel only, but even his own soul, because they were dear to hima. This tended to beget in them a reciprocal affection, and to open their ears to his instructions ; and, at the same time to commend to them the Gospel, which had generated in his heart these feelings towards them. True it is, indeed, that he abounded in love far beyond any ministers of the present day : but still every faithful minister may, without pride or arrogance, adopt towards his people the language of our text, and say, " I would that ye knew what great conflict I have in my soul for you."
That we may enter fully into the Apostle's words, I will shew you,
I. What he desired in behalf of the Colossian Church —
His object was, " that he might present every man perfect in Christ JesusV With this view, he sought,
a 1 Thess. i. 2, 3. ii. 7, 8. and iii. 9, 10. n Col. i. 28.
n 2