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LONDON:

PRINTED BY STEWART AND MURRAY,

OLD BAILEY.

SINGLE AIM OF THE CHRISTIAN MINISTER;

A SERMON,

PREACHED

SEPTEMBER 7TH, 1839, IN THE CHURCH OF SONNING, BERKS,

AT THE VISITATION OF

THE VERY REVEREND HUGH NICHOLAS PEARSON, D. D.

DEAN OF SALISBURY.

AND PRINTED AT HIS REQUEST, AND THAT OF THE CLERGY UNDER HIS

PECULIAR JURISDICTION, THEN PRESENT.

BY THE REV. A. A. CAMERON, M. A.

PEMBROKE COLLEGE, OXFORD.
PERPETUAL CURATE OF HURST, BERKS.

LONDON;

RIVINGTONS, ST. PAUL'S CHURCH YARD.

READING; E. BLACKWELL, LONDON STREET.

MDCCCXXXIX.

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SERMON.

2 Cor. xii. pt. of verse 14.

FOR I SEEK NOT YOURS, BUT YOU."

It is a gracious appointment of the providence of God, in behalf of his church,-for which every minister, especially, of that church, should feel thankful,-that He has ordained that the conduct and character of one amongst his apostles so illustrious as St. Paul, should be fully set forth, as they are, in the scriptures. In the portion of the history of his eventful life, detailed in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles, and, still more in his own writings preserved to us, called forth by such various occasions, a pattern is held out for those consecrated to the work of the ministry, to which-whatever circumstances may be their lot-they can most profitably have recourse for instruction. We are enabled to view him, at one time, blessing God for the success attending his holy labours; at another, grieving, and full of anxious fear, where the fruit of what he has planted, or watered, is still doubtful, or

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evidently deficient: we hear him reasoning boldly of the truth with the unbelieving Jew, or heathen reproving earnestly the unworthy ways of his dear children in the faith ;-rebuking, sharply and sternly, the heinous sins of backsliders by turns exhorting, by every high and glorious motive; and pleading and beseeching, by every prevailing thought of mercy and love: appealing to the head and to the heart-to the fears of a conscience stained with sin-to the hopes and the gratitude of sinners saved, by the sacrifice of the Son of God, from eternal death at one time, he speaks, by commandment, with authority, in things of necessity; at another, he tenderly gives his advice, with consideration for all in regard to things left indifferent. But this is far from all we are admitted to a much more close and intimate knowledge of him, than what consists in acquaintance with these points of his actual ministrations only among the disciples. We hear him telling us; in the unreserved warmth of his heart, of his secret prayers and thanksgivings, day and night, for his beloved flocks; and of the affection from which flowed such unceasing intercessions-affection so full, that, to use the words of the excellent Herbert, "never was there such care of a flock expressed,

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