Industry in the Ministry
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taketh away the sins of the world. The work for this time is altogether
too solemn and too important to be handled with unclean hands and
impure hearts.
Brother R has a very unhappy temperament. This makes trouble
for himself and for his best friends. He is naturally jealous, suspicious,
and faultfinding. Those most closely connected with him will feel this
most deeply. He has much self-love and large self-esteem, and if he
is not especially regarded and made an object of attention he feels as
though someone were to blame. The fault exists in himself. He loves
to have his vanity flattered. He is suspicious of the motives of others
and shows in these feelings a very narrow, selfish mind. He thinks
that he sees much to question, to find fault with, and to censure in the
plan of others’ labors, when the real evil exists in his own unhumbled,
unconsecrated heart. Self, in him, must die, and he must learn of Jesus,
who is meek and lowly of heart, or he will fail of perfecting Christian
character and of gaining heaven at last.
Brother R has made a failure in his manner of seeking to teach the
truth to others. His spirit is not winning. Self is mixed with all his
efforts. He is quite particular about the externals, so far as his apparel
is concerned, as though this would designate him as a minister of
Christ; but he has neglected the inward adornment of the soul. He has
not felt the necessity of seeking for a beautiful, harmonious character,
resembling the character of Christ, the correct pattern. The meekness
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and humility which characterized the life of Jesus would win hearts
and give him access to souls; but when Brother R speaks in his own
spirit, the people see so much self exhibited, and so little of the spirit
of humility, that their hearts are not touched, but grow hard and cold
under his preaching, because it lacks the divine unction.
The self-confident, self-exalted spirit of Brother R must be put
away, and he must see that he is sinful and in need of continual grace
and power from God to press through the moral darkness of this de-
generate age and reach souls who need to be saved. He has put on
upon the outside the dignity of a gospel minister, while he has not felt
that a real experience in the mystery of godliness and a knowledge of
the divine will were essential to making a success of presenting the
truth.
Brother R is too cold and unsympathizing. He does not come
directly to hearts by the Christian simplicity, tenderness, and love