Graces of Culture and Kindness
557
sport with young girls, while almost daily listening to the most solemn,
soul-stirring truths.—
Testimonies For The Church 3:473
(1875).
[640]
Not Actors, but Teachers of the Word—I see that great refor-
mation must take place in the ministry before it shall be what God
would have it. Ministers in the desk have no license to behave like
theatrical performers, assuming attitudes and expressions calculated
for effect. They do not occupy the sacred desk as actors, but as teachers
of solemn truths. There are also fanatical ministers, who, in attempting
to preach Christ, storm, halloo, jump up and down, and pound the desk
before them, as if this bodily exercise profited anything. Such antics
lend no force to the truths uttered, but, on the contrary, disgust men
and women of calm judgment and elevated views. It is the duty of
men who give themselves to the ministry to leave all coarseness and
boisterous conduct outside the desk at least.
Awkward and uncouth gestures are not to be tolerated in the com-
mon walks of life; how much less, then, are they to be endured in
the most sacred work of the gospel ministry. The minister should
cultivate grace, courtesy, and refinement of manner. He should carry
himself with a quiet dignity becoming his elevated calling. Solemnity,
a certain godly authority, mingled with meekness, should characterize
the demeanor of him who is a teacher of God’s truth.
Ministers should not make a practice of relating anecdotes in the
desk; it detracts from the force and solemnity of the truth presented.
The relation of anecdotes or incidents which create a laugh or a light
thought in the minds of the hearers is severely censurable. The truths
should be clothed in chaste and dignified language; and the illustrations
should be of a like character.
Were the gospel ministry what it should and might be, the teachers
of Christ’s truth would be working in harmony with the angels; they
[641]
would be co-laborers with their great Teacher. There is too little prayer
among the ministers of Christ, and too much self-exaltation. There is
too little weeping between the porch and the altar, and crying, “Spare
Thy people, O Lord, and give not Thine heritage to reproach.” There
are too many long doctrinal sermons preached, without one spark of
spiritual fervor and the love of God. There is too much gesticulation
and relation of humorous anecdotes in the pulpit, and too little said of
the love and compassion of Jesus Christ.