Address to Ministers
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have sixty make a nominal profession and yet not be thoroughly con-
verted. These ministers should devote less time to preaching sermons
and reserve a portion of their strength to visit and pray with those who
are interested, giving them godly instruction, to the end that they may
“present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.”
The love of God must be living in the heart of the teacher of the
truth. His own heart must be imbued with that deep and fervent love
which Christ possessed; then it will flow out to others. Ministers should
teach that all who accept the truth should bring forth fruit to the glory
of God. They should teach that self-sacrifice must be practiced every
day; that many things which have been cherished must be yielded;
and that many duties, disagreeable though they may appear, must
be performed. Business interests, social endearments, ease, honor,
reputation,—in short, everything, must be held in subjection to the
superior and ever-paramount claims of Christ. Ministers who are not
men of vital piety, who stir up an interest among the people, but leave
the work in the rough, leave an exceedingly difficult field for others to
enter and finish the work they failed to complete. These men will be
proved; and if they do not do their work more faithfully, they will, after
a still further test, be laid aside as cumberers of the ground, unfaithful
watchmen.
God would not have men go forth as teachers who have not stu-
diously learned their lessons and who will not continue to study that
they may present every point of present truth in an intelligent, accept-
able manner. With a knowledge of the theory they should continually
be obtaining a more thorough knowledge of Jesus Christ. Rules and
studies are necessary; but with them the minister should combine
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earnest prayer that he may be faithful, not building upon the founda-
tion wood, hay, or stubble, which will be consumed by the fires of the
last day. Prayer and study should go hand in hand. The fact that a
minister is applauded and praised is no evidence that he has spoken
under the influence of the Spirit.
It is too frequently the case that young converts, unless guarded,
will set their affections more upon their minister than upon their Re-
deemer. They consider that they have been greatly benefited by their
minister’s labors. They conceive that he possesses the most exalted
gifts and graces, and that no other can do equally as well as he; there-
fore they attach undue importance to the man and his labors. This is