could not shew his anxiety for the bodily health of Gains more strongly, than by wishing it to prosper in every respect*, " even as his soul prospered." Having declared the joy which this information had afforded him, he states, in general, that he had no greater joy than what arose from such tidings as these.
From hence we shall take occasion to shew,
I. What is the great object of a minister's desire in behalf of his people —
To bring men to the acknowledgment of the truth is the first labour of a minister : and, till that has been effected, no other relation exists between him and them than that which he has by nature, or that which he has in common with all mankind. But when they have embraced the truth, and are become members of the family of Christ, then the minister seeks their advancement in the divine life —
[Christianity, as experienced in the soul, is not a sentiment, but a habit : it not merely informs the mind, but regulates the life : and, whilst it introduces "men from darkness unto light, it turns them also from the power of Satan unto God." Having brought souls to an enjoyment of Christ, and to a conformity to his mind and will, the minister desires to see them walk in the truth,]
1. Consistently —
[He longs to behold in them a holy consistency ; a high state of heavenly affections, and a careful attention to the duties of morality. Morality however will not satisfy him if detached from fellowship with God : nor will the most sublime intercourse with God in prayer and praise approve itself to him, if it be not accompanied with a conscientious discharge of every personal and relative duty ]
2. Steadily—
[In them he expects to find a steadiness that bids defiance to temptation, and cannot be diverted from its purpose, either by the allurements of sense or the terrors of persecution : he would have his converts to be " steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lorde." A fixedness of mind he regards as absolutely essential to the Christian character ; and he is never satisfied with the state of his people unless he
d 7r£pt iravThiv, vcr. 2. e 1 Cor. xv, 58.
2471.] A minister's chief joy. 559
find that, in the midst of the severest persecutions, they are enabled to say, " None of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto me, so that I may but finish my course with joy" ]
3. Progressively —
[This is implied in the term "walking," which is a pro- gressive motion necessary to the Christian life. There is no possibility of standing still in religion. Our motion, if not progressive, must be retrograde. Now, as a parent wishes to see in his children a gradual advancement towards maturity both in their bodily and intellectual faculties, so does a minister long for his people's progress towards perfection. He hopes to see in them a more entire devotedness of heart unto their God and Saviour ; evincing itself in a greater spirituality of mind, an increasing indifference to the things of time and sense,
and a more laborious engagement in every good work
In a word, he wishes to see their progress like that of the sun in the firmament, " their path shining brighter and brighter unto the perfect dayf."]
The emotions with which St. John beheld this con- duct in Gaius were most sublime : and such they will be in every faithful minister ; as will appear, whilst we shew,
II. Whence it is that the attainment of that object fills him with such exalted joy —
St. John was not inferior to any one of the Apostles in holy joy. He had been pre-eminently favoured by his Lord and Saviour, insomuch that he was known by the name of " the Disciple whom Jesus loved." He had beheld his Lord transfigured on Mount Tabor, and shining forth in all the glory of the Godhead. He had lain in the bosom of his Lord, as on many other occasions, so especially on that evening, when the commemorative ordinance of the Lord's supper was instituted : yet even " he had no greater joy than to hear that his children walked in truth." Much more therefore may we expect that ministers, less favoured than he, should have no joy more exalted than that which the sight or hearing of their people's prosperity affords them. This is their sublimest source of happiness ;