504
Testimonies for the Church Volume 3
which characterized the life of Christ. In this respect it is essential
that every man who labors for the salvation of souls should imitate
the pattern given him in the life of Christ. If men fail to educate
themselves to become workers in the vineyard of the Lord, they might
better be spared than not. It would be poor policy to support from the
treasury of God those who really mar and injure His work, and who
are constantly lowering the standard of Christianity.
In order for a man to become a successful minister, something
more than book knowledge is essential. The laborer for souls needs
integrity, intelligence, industry, energy, and tact. All these are highly
essential for the success of a minister of Christ. No man with these
qualifications can be inferior, but will have commanding influence.
Unless the laborer in God’s cause can gain the confidence of those
for whom he is laboring, he can do but little good. The worker in the
Lord’s vineyard must daily derive strength from above to resist wrong
and to maintain uprightness through the varied trials of life, and his
soul must be brought into harmony with his Redeemer. He can be
a co-worker with Jesus, working as He worked, loving as He loved,
[554]
and possessing, like Him, moral power to stand the strongest tests of
character.
Brother R should cultivate simplicity. He should lay aside his false
dignity and let the Spirit of God come in and sanctify, elevate, purify,
and ennoble his life. Then he can bear the burden for souls which a
true gospel minister must feel when presenting a message of solemn
warning to those in peril, who must perish in their darkness unless they
accept the light of truth. This dignity borrowed from his Redeemer
will adorn with divine grace, for by it he is brought into close union
with Jesus Christ.
I was carried forward in the life of Brother R, and then carried
back to review the result of his labors while he was attempting to
teach others the truth. I saw that some few would listen, and, as far
as the head is concerned, might be convinced; but Brother R has not
an experimental, daily, living knowledge of the grace of God and His
saving power, and he cannot convey to others what he does not himself
possess. He has not the experience of a truly converted man. How,
then, can God make him a blessing to sinners? He is blind himself,
while trying to lead the blind.