In volume 3 of the works of John Newton, there is a gem of a somewhat unknown work. He titled it “A Review of Ecclesiastical History.

Chapter 1 recounts the Gospel narratives and Acts like a simple recounting of the facts. It is brilliant.

Chapter 2 is “An Essay on the Character of St. Paul, considered as an Exemplar or Pattern of a Minister of Jesus Christ.” I am going to simply give you his key observations here as encouragement and motivation. On each of the points he expatiates – all of which is so very worth the reading. But here are the capstones to consider briefly as you head into the sacred desk today. May they inspire you to seek the love of God supremely.

I. The characteristic excellence of St. Paul, which was as the spring or source of every other grace, was the ardency of the supreme love he bore to his Lord and Saviour.

II. The inseparable effect, and one of the surest evidences of love to Christ, is a love to his people.

III. St. Paul’s inflexible attachment to the great doctrines of the Gospel is another part of his character which deserves our attention.

IV. But though St. Paul was so tenacious of the great foundation-truths of the Gospel, and would not admit or connive at any doctrine that interfered with them, he exercised, upon all occasions, a great tenderness to weak consciences, in matters that were not essential to the faith, and when the scruples were owing rather to a want of clear light than to obstinacy.

V. Every part of St. Paul’s history and writings demonstrates a disinterested spirit, and that his uncommon labours were directed to no other ends than the glory of God and the good of men.

(RAF – i.e. His focus was never about him or his ministry.)

VI. From the foregoing particulars we may collect the idea of true Christian zeal, as exemplified in our apostle.

VII. Having considered the subject-matter and the leading views of the apostle’s ministry, it may not be improper to take some notice of his manner as a preacher.

Newton expands here: “Instead of vain conjectures,* he spoke from certain experience; he could say, “I received of the Lord, that which I also delivered to you:” instead of accommodating his doctrine to the taste and judgement of his hearers, he spoke with authority, in the name of God whom he served: instead of losing time in measuring words and syllables, that he might obtain the character of a fine speaker, he spoke, from the feeling and fulness of his heart, the words of simplicity and truth.”

VIII. Another observable part of St. Paul’s character, is his unaffected humility.

Having said all this and so much more – he summarizes all these points this way as follows. May it be a sweet reminder for you today.

“Such was our apostle, and the same spirit (though in an inferior degree) will be found in all the faithful ministers of the Lord Jesus. They love his name; it is the pleasing theme of their ministry, and to render it glorious in the eyes of sinners is the great study of their lives. For his sake they love all who love him, and are their willing servants to promote the comfort and edification of their souls. They love his Gospel, faithfully proclaim it, without disguise or alteration, and shun not to declare the whole counsel of God, so far as they are themselves acquainted with it. They contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints; and are desirous to preserve and maintain the truth, in its power and purity. The knowledge of their own weakness and fallibility makes them tender to the weaknesses of others; and though they dare not lay, or allow, any other foundation than that which God has laid in Zion, yet, knowing that the kingdom of God does not consist in meats and drinks, but in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost, they guard against the influence of a party spirit: and, if their labours are confined to Christians of one denomination, their love and prayers are not limited within such narrow bounds, but extend to all who love and serve their Master. They have entered upon the ministry, not for low and sordid ends, for popular applause, or filthy lucre, but from a constraining sense of the love of Jesus, and a just regard to the worth and danger of immortal souls. Their zeal is conducted and modelled by the example and precepts of their Lord; their desire is not to destroy, but to save; and they wish their greatest enemies a participation in their choicest blessings. In the subject-matter and the manner of their preaching, they show that they seek not to be men-pleasers, but to commend the truth to every man’s conscience in the sight of God; and when they have done their utmost, and when God has blessed their labours, and given them acceptance and success beyond their hopes, they are conscious of the defects and evils attending their best endeavours, of the weak influence the truths they preach to others have upon their own hearts; that their sufficiency of every kind is of God, and not of themselves; and therefore they sit down, ashamed, as unprofitable servants, and can rejoice or glory in nothing but in him who came into the world to save the chief of sinners.”

John Newton and Richard Cecil, The Works of John Newton (London: Hamilton, Adams & Co., 1824), 247–248.