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Chapter 76—Manners and Dress of Ministers
[Reported as spoken before the General Conference of 1871.]
Ephesians 3:6, 7
: “That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs,
and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the
gospel: whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the
grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of His power.”
“Whereof I was made a minister,” not merely to present the truth
to the people, but to carry it out in the life.
“And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery,
which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God.”
Verse
3:9
. This does not refer merely to the words that roll off the tongue;
it is not merely to be eloquent in speaking and praying; but it is to
make known Christ, to have Christ in us, and make Him known to
those that hear.
“Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man
in all wisdom,” not as novices, not in ignorance, “that we may
present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: whereunto I also labor,
striving according to His working, which worketh in me mightily.”
Colossians 1:28, 29
. It is the work of God, the grace from God,
realized and felt, gracing the life and actions, which is to make a
sensible impression upon those that hear.
But it is not this only. There are other things to be considered, in
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which some have been negligent, but which are of consequence, in
the light in which they have been presented before me. Impressions
are made upon the people by the deportment of the speaker in the
desk, by his attitude, and by his manner of speaking. If these things
are as God would have them, the impression they make will be in
favor of the truth; especially will that class be favorably impressed
who have been listening to fables. It is important that the minister’s
manner be modest and dignified, in keeping with the holy, elevating
truth he teaches, that a favorable impression may be made upon
those who are not naturally inclined to religion.
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