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Appeal to Ministers
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interest, and pray to understand it, new beauties will be seen in every
line. God will reveal precious truth so clearly that the mind will
derive sincere pleasure and have a continual feast as its comforting
and sublime truths are unfolded.
Visiting from house to house forms an important part of the
minister’s labors. He should aim to converse with all the members
of the family, whether they profess the truth or not. It is his duty to
ascertain the spiritual condition of all; and he should live so near
to God that he can counsel, exhort, and reprove, carefully and in
wisdom. He should have the grace of God in his own heart and
the glory of God constantly in view. All lightness and trifling is
positively forbidden in the word of God. His conversation should
be in heaven, his words seasoned with grace. All flattery should
be put away, for it is Satan’s work to flatter. Poor, weak, fallen
men generally think enough of themselves and need no help in this
direction. Flattering your ministers is out of place. It perverts the
mind and does not lead to meekness and humility; yet men and
women love to be praised, and it is too frequently the case that
ministers love it. Their vanity is gratified by it, but it has proved a
curse to many. Reproof is more to be prized than flattery.
Not all who are preaching the truth realize that their testimony
and example are deciding the destiny of souls. If they are unfaithful
in their mission, and become careless in their work, souls will be
lost as the result. If they are self-sacrificing and faithful in the work
which the Master has given them to do, they will be instrumental
in the salvation of many. Some permit trifles to divert them from
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the work. Bad roads, rainy weather, or little matters at home are
sufficient excuses for them to leave the work of laboring for souls.
And frequently this is done at the most important time in the work.
When an interest has been raised and the minds of the people are
agitated, the interest is left to die out because the minister chooses a
more pleasant and easy field. Those who pursue this course show
plainly that they do not have the burden of the work upon them. They
wish to be carried by the people. They are not willing to endure the
privations and hardships which are ever the lot of a true shepherd.
Some have no experience in taking hold of the work as though
it was of vital importance. They do not enter upon it with that zeal
and earnestness which would show that they are doing work which