True Refinement in the Ministry
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deficiencies in your character which disqualify you for laboring in the
cause of God. You have not advanced or improved for many years.
You are further today from the standard of Christian perfection, from
possessing the qualifications which should be found in the minister
of the gospel, than you were a few months after you had received the
truth.
God is displeased with those who are not intelligent in regard
to the Christian religion and yet are trying to lead others. You are
correctly represented by the man who sought to pull out a mote from
his brother’s eye when a beam was in his own eye. First set your own
heart in order, and reform your own character; obtain a connection
with God, and gain a daily Christian experience; then you may bear a
burden for souls who are out of Christ.
There are but few of the brethren who have taken more time to
read different authors than you have, and yet you are very deficient
in the qualifications necessary for a minister teaching the truth. You
fail to quote, or even read, the Scriptures correctly. This should not
be. You have not advanced in mental culture and have not secured a
growth of grace in the soul which would shine out in your words and
deportment. You have not felt the necessity of reaching up for higher
and holier attainments.
Chasing through books superficially clogs the mind and causes you
to become a mental dyspeptic. You cannot digest and use one half that
you read. If you should read with the one object in view to improve
the mind, and should read only as much as the mind can comprehend
and digest, and would patiently persevere in such a course of reading,
good results would be accomplished. You, as well as other ministers,
need to attend school and to commence like a child to master the first
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branches of knowledge. You can neither read, spell, nor pronounce
correctly, and yet there are but few who have had less taxation and less
burdens of responsibility to bear than yourself.
The position of our ministers calls for health of body and discipline
of mind. Good sound sense, strong nerves, and a cheerful temper will
recommend the gospel minister anywhere. These should be sought for
and perseveringly cultivated.
Your life thus far has been unprofitable. You have some very good
ideas, but the Spirit of God does not dwell in your heart. You are not
quickened by His power, and you have not genuine faith, hope, and