:6 Religion co12 ijls much PART I. Another Inflance I (hall obferve, is the Apofile Paul ; who was, in many RefpeCcs, the Chief of all the Miniffers of the New-Teffa- ment; being above all others, a chofen Veffel untoChrifl, to bear his Name before the Gentiles, and made the chief Inftrument of propa- gating and eftablifhing the chriftian Church in the World, and of diftindtly revealing the glorious Myfteries of the Gofpel, for the In- ftruc`tion of the Church in all Ages ; and (as has not been improbably thought by fome) the molt eminent Servant of Chrift, that ever lived,' received to the higheft Rewards in the heavenly Kingdom of his Matter. By what is laid of him in the Scripture, he appears to have been a Perfori that was full of Affetaion. And 'tis very manifeft, that the Religion he expreffes in his Epiftles, confifted very much in holy Affeaions. It appears by all his Exprefi'ions of hinifeif, that he was, in the Courfe of his Life, enflamed, adtuated and entirely fwala lowed up, by a molt ardent Love to his glorious Lord, efteeming all Things as Lofs, for the Excellency of the Knowledge of him, and efteeming them but Dung that he might win him. He reprefents himfelf, as overpower'd by this holy Affection, and as it were com- pelled by it to go forward in his Service, thro' all Difficulties and Suf- ferings, 2 Cor. 5. 14, 15. And his Epiftles are full of Expreffions of an overflowing Afedtion towards the People of Chri ft :.EIe fpeaks of his dear Love to them, 2 Cor. 12. 19. Phil. 4. I. 2 Tim. I. 2. Of his abundant Love, 2 Cor. 2.4.. And of his affectionate and tender Love, as ofa Nurfe towards her Children, i Thef. 2. 7, 8. But we weregentle amongyou ; even as aNurfe cherifheth herChildeen; fo being af- fee7ionately defirous ofyou,we were willing to have imparted untoyou, not the Gofpel of God only, but alto our own Souls, becaufe ye were dear unto us. So alto he (peaks of his Bowels of Love, Phil. r. 8. Philem. v. 12, and 20. So he fpeaks of his earneJ Care for others, 2 Cor. 8. 16. and of his Bowels of Pity or Mercy towards them, Phil. 2. I. and of his Concern for others, even to iinguifh ofHeart, 2 Cor. 2. 4. For out of much Ilrliction,and finguifh of Heart, Iwrote unto you,with many Tears ; not that ye fhould be grieved; but that ye might know the Love which I have more abundantly unto yon. He fpeaks of the great Con.flié of his Soul for them, Col. 2. r. He fpeaks ofgreat and continual Grief that he had in his Heart from CompaSion to the Pews, Rom. 9. 2. He fpeaks of his Mouth's being open'd, and his Heart enlarged towards Chriftians, 2 Cor. 6. i r. O ye Corinthians, our Mouth is open unto you,, our Heart is enlarged ! He often fpeaks of his afeelionate and long- Defares, r Thef. 2. 8. Rom. r. ix. Phil. I. 8. and Chap. 4. r, 2 Tim. r. 4. The fame Apoftle is very often, in his Epiftles, expref- Ling the Affo6tion of foy, 2 Cor. 1. 12,. and Chap. 7. 7. and V. 9. and 16. Phil. r. 4. and Chap. 2. Is 2. and Chap. 3. 3. Col. r. 24, I Thef. 3. 9. He fpeaks ofhis rejoicing with great Joy, Phil. 4. 10. Philem, i,7. ofhis joying and rejoicing, Phil. 2. r, 7. and of his rejoicing exceedingly,
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