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Manners and Dress of Ministers
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were impressive and solemn; His voice was melodious. And should
not we, as well as Christ, study to have melody in our voices? He
had a mighty influence, for He was the Son of God. We are so far
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beneath Him and so far deficient, that, do the very best we can, our
efforts will be poor. We cannot gain and possess the influence that
He had; but why should we not educate ourselves to come just as
near to the Pattern as it is possible for us to do, that we may have the
greatest possible influence upon the people? Our words, our actions,
our deportment, our dress, everything, should preach. Not only with
our words should we speak to the people, but everything pertaining
to our person should be a sermon to them, that right impressions
may be made upon them, and that the truth spoken may be taken
by them to their homes. Thus our faith will stand in a better light
before the community.
I never realized more than I do today the exalted character of the
work, its sacredness and holiness, and the importance of our being
fitted for it. I see the need in myself. I must have a new fitting up,
a holy unction, or I cannot go any further to instruct others. I must
know that I am walking with God. I must know that I understand
the mystery of godliness. I must know that the grace of God is in
my own heart, that my own life is in accordance with His will, that I
am walking in His footsteps. Then my words will be true and my
actions right.
But there is another point that I had almost forgotten. It is the
influence which the preacher should exert in his ministry. His work is
not merely to stand in the desk. It is but just begun there. He should
enter the different families, and carry Christ there, carry his sermons
there, carry them out in his actions and his words. As he visits a
family he should inquire into their condition. Is he the shepherd of
the flock? The work of a shepherd is not all done in the desk. He
should talk with all the members of the flock, with the parents to
learn their standing, and with the children to learn theirs. A minister
should feed the flock over which God has made him overseer. It
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would be agreeable to go into the house and study; but if you do
this to the neglect of the work which God has commissioned you
to perform, you do wrong. Never enter a family without inviting
them together, and bowing down and praying with them before you
leave. Inquire into the health of their souls. What does a skillful