St. Pauls heart was a spring of love, his lips were the pipes, the Corinthians were the Cistern in the which this spring did run. This holy Apostle was a mirror or pattern of love; to the sinning Corinthians, Pauls Tears did drop; to the praying Corinthians, his love did burn; holy Paul he was a Ceraphim, his heart did burn in flaming affections to his people, how many appellations do we find scattered in his Epistles, that are witness of his love, he tells his people to whom he sometimes wrote, sometimes preached, 2 Cor. 12. 14. I seek not yours, but you; he looked more after their souls, then after their silver; as a tender Nurse cherisheth her Child with her breast, so did Paul cherish his people with the breast Milk of the word, 1 Thes. 2. 7. we were willing to impart to you our own souls, because you were dear to us, this man of God did not only Preach his Sermons to his people, but would part with his own soul to them; such was Pauls affection to his people, that without a complement he loved them more then his life, Phil. 2. 17. If I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I ⟨p. 3⟩joy and rejoice with you all, as if he had said, if it be so that my blood be poured out as a sacrifice, and my death any way serviceable to you, if it may help forward the strength and comfort of your faith, I am willing to dye; I rejoice to do it. So full of affection and bowels was this Apostle, that he could not choose but love his people, although the more he loved them, the less he should be beloved, 2 Cor. 12. 15. O how did Paul sweeten all his Sermons with love; If he reproved sin he was angry in love, he dipped the Pill in Sugar, Gal. 4. 9, 10. how turn you again to the weak and beggarly Elements—You observe Days and Months and times, I am afraid of you; and see here how he chides their sins, and at the same time courts their souls; no sooner doth he lance the wound, but presently he pours in Wine and Oil into the wound, so well did Paul love his people, that he would not justly give any offence to the weakest believer, 1 Cor. 8. 13. If meat make my Brother to offend, I will never eat meat while the World standeth, St. Paul was like some tender Mother, who forbeareth to eat those meats she might, for fear of hurting the Child she giveth suck to; thus you see he was a spiritual Father made up of love.
St. Pauls heart was a spring of love, his lips were the pipes, the Corinthians were the Cistern in the which this spring did run. This holy Apostle was a mirrour or pattern of love; to the sinning Corinthians, Pauls Tears did drop; to the praying Corinthians, his love did burn; holy Paul he was a Ceraphim, his heart did burn in flaming affections to his people, how many appelations do we find scattered in his Epistles, that are witness of his love, he tells his people to whom he sometimes wrote, sometimes preached, 2 Cor. 12. 14. I seek not yours, but you; he looked more after their souls, then after their silver; as a tender Nurse cherrisheth her Child with her brest, so did Paul cherish his people with the breast Milk of the word, 1 Thes. 2. 7. we were willing to impart to you our own souls, because you were dear to us, this man of God did not onely Preach his Sermons to his people, but would part with his own soul to them; such was Pauls affection to his people, that without a complement he loved them more then his life, Phil. 2. 17. If I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I ⟨p. 3⟩joy and rejoyce with you all, as if he had said, if it be so that my blood be poured out as a sacrifice, and my death any way serviceable to you, if it may help forward the strength and comfort of your faith, I am willing to dye; I rejoyce to do it. So full of affection and bowels was this Apostle, that he could not chuse but love his people, although the more he loved them, the less he should be beloved, 2 Cor. 12. 15. O how did Paul sweeten all his Sermons with love; If he reproved sin he was angry in love, he dipt the Pill in Sugar, Gal. 4. 9, 10. how turn you again to the weak and beggerly Elements—You observe Days and Monets and times, I am affraid of you; and see here how he chides their sins, and at the same time courts their souls; no sooner doth he lance the wound, but presently he pours in Wine and Oyl into the wound, so well did Paul love his people, that he would not justly give any offence to the weakest beleiver, 1 Cor. 8. 13. If meat make my Brother to offend, I will never eat meat while the World standeth, St. Paul was like some tender Mother, who forbeareth to eat those meats she might, for fear of hurting the Child she giveth suck to; thus you see he was a spiritual Father made up of love.
