Chapter 24—Appeal to Ministers
We are living in a most solemn time. All have a work to do
requiring diligence. Especially is this true of the pastor, who is to care
for and feed the flock of God. The one whose special work it is to
lead the people into the path of truth, should be an able expositor of
the word, capable of adapting his teachings to the wants of the people.
He should be so closely connected with heaven as to become a living
channel of light, a mouthpiece for God.
A pastor should have a correct understanding of the word and
also of the human character. Our faith is unpopular. The people are
unwilling to be convinced that they are so deeply in error; a great work
is to be done, and at present there are but few to do it. One man usually
performs the labor which should be shared by two; for the work of the
evangelist is necessarily combined with that of the pastor, bringing a
double burden upon the worker in the field.
The minister of Christ should be a Bible student, that his mind may
be stored with Bible evidence; for a minister is strong only when he
is fortified with Scripture truth. Argument is good in its place, but far
more can be reached by simple explanations of the word of God. The
lessons of Christ were illustrated so clearly that the lowest and most
simple-minded could readily comprehend them. Jesus did not employ
long and difficult words in His discourses, but used plain language,
adapted to the minds of the common people. He ventured no further
into the subject He was expounding than they were able to follow Him.
There are many men of good minds, who are intelligent in regard to
the Scriptures, whose usefulness is greatly hindered by their defective
method of labor. Some ministers who engage in the work of saving
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souls fail to secure the best results because they do not carry through
with thoroughness the work that they commenced with so much en-
thusiasm. Others are not acceptable because they cling tenaciously
to preconceived notions, making these prominent, and thereby failing
to conform their teachings to the actual needs of the people. Many
have no idea of the necessity of adapting themselves to circumstances
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