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Observe here, 1. The endearing title which the apostle gives to the apostatizing Galatians: he calls them children, little children, his little children--My little children.
Note, he calls them children, because converted to Christianity by the preaching of the gospel; and being thus regenerate and born again, they were to be as children, innocent and inoffensive. He calls them little children, to denote the tenderness of their growth in Christianity, the smallness of their proficiency in religion; they were not come to that consistency in grace, to that maturity in goodness, to that perfection in knowledge which he did desire.
Farther, he calls them his little children, to denote that spiritual relation which was between them, he having been the undoubted instrument of their conversion, and so was their spiritual father; and also to denote that endearedness of affection which he bare unto them, and that tender care and concern which he had for them.
Observe, 2. The holy vehemency of the apostle's desire, how earnestly he longed after them in the bowels of Jesus Chrsit. He compares himself to a mother in travail, until he saw Christ formed in their hearts and lives. I travail in birth, till Christ be formed in you.
Learn hence, That there is no stronger love, nor more endeared affection between any relations upon earth, than between such ministers of Christ and their beloved people, as they have been happily instrumental to convert and bring home to Christ.
Learn, 2. That there is nothing in this world which the faithful ministers of Christ do so passionately desire and affectionately long after, as to see Jesus Christ formed and fashioned in the hearts and lives of their beloved people: My little children, of whom I travail in birth, &c.