private interest be always a bad object, then it is sinful to pursue it, and disinterested love is true Christian love; but if our interest, rightly apprehended, be a good object, then it is our duty to pursue it in due subordination to higher objects, and disinterested love is not true Christian love. The love of God is manifested when we render obedience to all his precepts; and, of course, when we endeavour, in the use of all lawful means, to make suitable provision for our own: because to do this is a commanded duty. The meaning of the Apostle is evidently this, that the man who exercises Christian love, does not seek his own, at the expense of another's comfort and prosperity; or, that he has an eye to the good and advantage of a brother, as well as to his own interest; or, as Dr. Doddridge expresses it," he makes all reasonable concessions in any point of self-interest, where any superior interest of others is concerned."

In the epistle to the Romans, chap. ix. ver. 1, 2, 3. we have another passage which is often quoted in support of the doctrine of disinterested benevolence." I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, that I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart: For 1 could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh." Now to find any countenance given to the doctrine in this passage, it is necessary to suppose, that at the very time the Apostle penned it, he could wish himself accursed from Christ -that he was then willing to perish, if it would be the means of securing the repentance and salvation of his brethren. If this be not understood, there is benevolence, indeed, but not disinterested benevolence, displayed in it; and this we affirm ought not to be understood, because no such thing is expressed. The original is Ηὐχόμην γὰς αὐτος ἐγὼ ανάθεμα είναι από το Χρισ. Tỡ; and every person who has any acquaintance with the Greek language knows that the first word, Hexóun, is in the imperfect tense, middle voice; which translated literally, is, I DID WISH. This was the fact. Such was his attachment to his brethren the Jews, before he was called to be an apostle,

that he was willing to run all hazards for the sake of preserving the credit of their religion, and he did wish himself accursed from Christ, whom he accounted an impostor. He did join in the awful imprecation, "His blood be upon us and our children." Knowing the terrors of the Lord, he now felt deeply for those of his kinsmen who were so infatuated as still to cherish the same wish, and to persist in an obstinate rejection of the Messiah. He had great heaviness and continual sorrow in his heart for them, that they should remain under the guilt of this imprecation; and by the above declaration he merely intended to convince them that his former love to them continued, though he would manifest it in a different way, viz. in seeking their conversion to the Lord Jesus Christ. Other explanations might be given, but I deem them unnecessary. This I believe to be the true one. That Paul, at the very time when his heart was filled with the love of Christ, and he desired to depart and be with Christ, actually wished himself accursed from Christ, or could wish it, is, to say the least, a strange notion. I cannot conceive it possible, and believe no man of plain sense can conceive it possible, for one to cherish such disinterested love towards God, as to be willing to be HIS

ETERNAL ENEMY.

Job declares" though he slay me, yet will I trust in him;" and this declaration has been wrested into the service of disinterested love. But was Job willing to perish for ever to promote the glory of God? For what then, let me ask, did he resolve to trust in God? His obvious meaning is, that he trusted he would not finally perish, whatever might be the issue of present afflictions; that though he might be slain by them, or die, yet he would hope for salvation. Some little time after he said much the same thing in other words" For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God." Scripture is the best interpreter of Scripture; and if we consult the law and the testimony in a proper manner, comparing one part with another, we shall be at a loss to discover any evangelical ground

private interest be always a bad object, then it is sinful to pursue it, and disinterested love is true Christian love; but if our interest, rightly apprehended, be a good object, then it is our duty to pursue it in due subordination to higher objects, and disinterested love is not true Christian love. The love of God is manifested when we render obedience to all his precepts; and, of course, when we endeavour, in the use of all lawful means, to make suitable provision for our own: because to do this is a commanded duty. The meaning of the Apostle is evidently this, that the man who exercises Christian love, does not seek his own, at the expense of another's comfort and prosperity; or, that he has an eye to the good and advantage of a brother, as well as to his own interest; or, as Dr. Doddridge expresses it," he makes all reasonable concessions in any point of self-interest, where any superior interest of others is concerned."

In the epistle to the Romans, chap. ix. ver. 1, 2, 3. we have another passage which is often quoted in support of the doctrine of disinterested benevolence." I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, that I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart: For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh." Now to find any countenance given to the doctrine in this passage, it is necessary to suppose, that at the very time the Apostle penned it, he could wish himself accursed from Christ -that he was then willing to perish, if it would be the means of securing the repentance and salvation of his brethren. If this be not understood, there is benevolence, indeed, but not disinterested benevolence, displayed in it; and this we affirm ought not to be understood, because no such thing is expressed The original is Ηὐχόμην γὰρ αὐτος ἐγὼ ανάθεμα είναι από τα Χρισ T; and every person who has any acquaintance wi Greek language knows that the first word, Huxómar imperfect tense, middle voice; which translated

I DID WISH.

This was the fact. Such was his his brethren the Jews, before he was called

st

private interest be always a bad object, then it is sinful to pursue it, and disinterested love is true Christian love; but if our interest, rightly apprehended, be a good object, then it is our duty to pursue it in due subordination to higher objects, and disinterested love is not true Christian love. The love of God is manifested when we render obedience to all his precepts; and, of course, when we endeavour, in the use of all lawful means, to make suitable provision for our own: because to do this is a commanded duty. The meaning of the Apostle is evidently this, that the man who exercises Christian love, does not seek his own, at the expense of another's comfort and prosperity; or, that he has an eye to the good and advantage of a brother, as well as to his own interest; or, as Dr. Doddridge expresses it, "he makes all reasonable concessions in any point of self-interest, where any superior interest of others is concerned."

In the epistle to the Romans, chap. ix. ver. 1, 2, 3. we have another passage which is often quoted in support of the doctrine of disinterested benevolence." I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, that I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart: For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh." Now to find any countenance given to the doctrine in this passage, it is necessary to suppose, that at the very time the Apostle penned it, he could wish himself accursed from Christ -that he was then willing to perish, if it would be the means of securing the repentance and salvation of his brethren. If this be not understood, there is benevolence, indeed, but not disinterested benevolence, displayed in it; and this we affirm ought not to be understood, because no such thing is expressed. The original is Ηὐχόμην γὰς αὐτός ἐγὼ ανάθεμα είναι από το Χριστ 78; and every person who has any acquaintance with the Greek language knows that the imperfect tense, middle voice; I DID WISH. This was the fact. his brethren the Jews, before he was called to be an apostle,

first word, Hoxóun, is in the which translated literally, is, Such was his attachment to