Advice to the Young
473
it shine forth in clear, steady rays to the world. “Fidelity to God” is
their motto.
An Educated Ministry
The merchant, the carpenter, the farmer, and the lawyer all have to
learn their trade or profession. At first, for want of knowledge, they do
imperfect work; but as they continue patiently at their vocations they
become masters of their several callings. Without close application
of mind and heart, and all the powers of the being, the minister will
prove a failure. He may be a preacher, but he must also be fitted to act
as a pastor. Study must never cease; it must be continued all through
the period of his labor, no matter how well qualified for the labor he
may think himself to be.
The times demand an intelligent, educated ministry, not novices.
False doctrines are being multiplied. The world is becoming educated
to a high standard of literary attainment; and sin, unbelief, and infi-
delity are becoming more bold and defiant, as intellectual knowledge
and acuteness are acquired. This state of things calls for the use of
every power of the intellect; for it is keen minds, under the control of
Satan, that the minister will have to meet. He should be well balanced
by religious principles, growing in grace and in the knowledge of our
Lord Jesus Christ. Too much haphazard work has been done, and
minds have not been exercised to their fullest capacity. Our minis-
ters will have to defend the truth against base apostates, as well as to
measure Scripture evidence with those who advocate specious errors.
Truth must be placed in contrast with bold assertions. Our ministers
must be men who are wholly consecrated to God, men of no mean cul-
ture; but their minds must be all aglow with religious fervor, gathering
divine rays of light from heaven and flashing them amid the darkness
that covers the earth and the gross darkness that surrounds the people.
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Vice and crime, and iniquity of all kinds, are steadily on the in-
crease. The penetrating power of Bible truth must show the contrast
between truth and error. A higher grade of preparation is required in
order to do good service for the Master. But if the minister leans upon
the knowledge he acquires, and does not feel the great necessity of
divine enlightenment daily, the education gained is only a stumbling
block to sinners. We want the God of all wisdom to be brought into