Wesley Corpus

Would it be possible for a parent to go through the pain and fatigue of bearing and bringing up even one child, were it not for that vehement affection, that inexpressible sopy", which the Creator has given for that very end? How much less will it be possible for any Pastor, any spiritual parent, to go through the pain and labour of “travailing in birth for,” and bringing up, many children to the measure of the full stature of Christ, without a large measure of that inexpressible affection which “a stranger intermeddleth not with !” He therefore must be utterly void of understanding, must be a madman of the highest order, who, on any consideration whatever, undertakes this office, while he is a stranger to this affection. Nay, I have often wondered that any man in his senses does not rather dig or thresh for a livelihood, than continue therein, unless he feels at least (which is extremá lined amare+) such an earnest concern for the glory of God, and such a thirst after the salvation of souls, that he is ready to do anything, to lose anything, or to suffer anything, rather than one should perish for whom Christ died. And is not even this degree of love to God and man utterly inconsistent with the love of the world; with the love of money or praise; with the very lowest degree of either ambition or sensuality? How much less can it consist with that poor, low, irrational, childish principle, the love of diversions? (Surely, even a man, were he neither a Minister nor a Christian, should “put away childish things.”) Not only this, but the love of pleasure, and what lies still deeper in the soul, the love of ease, flees before it. (3.) As to his practice: “Unto the ungodly, saith God, Why dost thou preach my laws?” What is a Minister of Christ, a shepherd of souls, unless he is all devoted to God? unless he abstain, with the utmost care and diligence, from every evil word and work; from all appearance of evil; yea, from the most innocent things, whereby any might be offended or made weak? Is he not called, above others, to be an example to the flock, in his private as well as public character? * This quotation from Terence is thus translated by Colman : “Love in its last degree.”--EDIT.