Minister’s Family
269
the reason that the father is with them but little, and they are left to
choose their own employment and amusement
Great as are the evils of parental unfaithfulness under any circum-
stances, they are tenfold greater when they exist in the families of those
appointed as teachers of the people. When these fail to control their
own households, they are, by their wrong example, misleading many.
Their guilt is as much greater than that of others as their position is
more responsible
Wife and Children Best Judge of His Piety—It is not so much
the religion of the pulpit as the religion of the family that reveals our
real character. The minister’s wife, his children, and those who are
employed as helpers in his family are best qualified to judge of his
piety. A good man will be a blessing to his household. Wife, children,
and helpers will all be the better for his religion.
Brethren, carry Christ into the family, carry Him into the pulpit,
carry Him with you wherever you go. Then you need not urge upon
others the necessity of appreciating the ministry, for you will bear the
heavenly credentials which will prove to all that you are servants of
Christ
The Minister’s Wife, a Helper or a Hindrance?—When a man
accepts the responsibilities of a minister, he claims to be a mouthpiece
for God, to take the words from the mouth of God and give them to
the people. How closely, then, he should keep at the side of the Great
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Shepherd; how humbly he should walk before God, keeping self out of
sight and exalting Christ! And how important it is that the character of
his wife be after the Bible pattern, and that his children be in subjection
with all gravity!
The wife of a minister of the gospel can be either a most successful
helper and a great blessing to her husband or a hindrance to him in his
work. It depends very much on the wife whether a minister will rise
from day to day in his sphere of usefulness, or whether he will sink to
the ordinary level
I saw that the wives of the ministers should help their husbands
in their labors and be exact and careful what influence they exert, for
4
Ibid., 206
.
5
Patriarchs and Prophets, 579
.
6
Testimonies For The Church 5, 161
.
7
Letter 1, 1877
.