Unconsecrated Ministers
415
Young preachers, and men who have once been ministers, who
have been coarse and rough in their manners, making expressions in
their conversation which were not perfectly modest and chaste, are
not fit to engage in this work until they give evidence of an entire
reform. One word spoken unadvisedly may do more harm than a
series of meetings held by them will do good. They leave the standard
of truth, which should be ever exalted, lowered to the dust before
the community. Their converts generally come up no higher than
the standard raised for them by the ministers. Men who are standing
between the living and the dead should be just right. The minister
should not be off his guard for a single moment. He is laboring to
elevate others by bringing them up upon the platform of truth. Let him
show to others that the truth has done something for him. He should
see the evil of these careless, rough, vulgar expressions, and should
put away and despise everything of this character. Unless he does this,
[446]
his converts will pattern after him. And when faithful ministers shall
follow after and labor with these converts to correct their wrongs, they
will excuse themselves by referring to the minister. If you condemn
his course, they will turn to you and ask: Why do you uphold and give
influence to men by sending them out to preach to sinners while they
are sinners themselves?
The work in which we are engaged is a responsible and exalted
work. Those who minister in word and doctrine should themselves
be patterns of good works. They should be examples in holiness,
cleanliness, and order. The appearance of the servant of God, out of
the pulpit and in, should be that of a living preacher. He can accomplish
far more by his godly example than by merely preaching in the desk,
while his influence out of the desk is not worthy of imitation. Those
who labor in this cause are bearing to the world the most elevated truth
that was ever committed to mortals.
Men who are chosen of God to labor in this cause will give proof
of their high calling and will consider it their highest duty to grow and
improve until they shall become able workmen. Then, as they manifest
an earnestness to improve upon the talent which God has entrusted to
them, they should be helped judiciously. But the encouragement given
them should not savor of flattery, for Satan himself will do enough
of that kind of work. Men who think that they have a duty to preach
should not be sustained in throwing themselves and their families