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while they are at heart avaricious, selfish, ease-loving, following the
promptings of their own unconsecrated hearts. They are in conflict
with Christ and His teachings, and are destitute of His meek and lowly
spirit.
The preacher who bears the sacred truth for these last days must be
the opposite of all this and, by his life of practical godliness, plainly
mark the distinction existing between the false and the true shepherd.
The Good Shepherd came to seek and to save that which was lost. He
has manifested in His works His love for His sheep. All the shepherds
who work under the Chief Shepherd will possess His characteristics;
they will be meek and lowly of heart. Childlike faith brings rest to
the soul and also works by love and is ever interested for others. If
the Spirit of Christ dwells in them, they will be Christlike and do the
works of Christ. Many who profess to be the ministers of Christ have
mistaken their master. They claim to be serving Christ and are not
aware that it is Satan’s banner under which they are rallying. They may
be worldly wise and eager for strife and vainglory, making a show of
doing a great work; but God has no use for them. The motives which
prompt to action give character to the work. Although men may not
discern the deficiency, God marks it.
The letter of the truth may convince some souls who will take
firm hold of the faith and be saved at last; but the selfish preacher
who presented the truth to them will have no credit with God for their
conversion. He will be judged for his unfaithfulness while professing
to be a watchman on the walls of Zion. Pride of heart is a fearful trait of
character. “Pride goeth before destruction.” This is true in the family,
the church, and the nation. As when He was upon earth, the Saviour
of the world is choosing plain, uneducated men and teaching them to
carry His truth, beautiful in its simplicity, to the world and especially
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to the poor. The Chief Shepherd will connect the undershepherds
with Himself. He does not design that these unlearned men should
remain ignorant while pursuing their labor, but that they shall receive
knowledge from Himself, the Source of all knowledge, light, and
power.
It is the absence of the Holy Spirit and of the grace of God that
makes the gospel ministry so powerless to convict and convert. After
the ascension of Jesus, doctors, lawyers, priests, rulers, scribes, and
theologians listened with astonishment to words of wisdom and power