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proportioned mind and symmetrical body of the Jews’ ministry in
holy office, but He required also pure and uncorrupted minds. And
He requires no less of us, in this dispensation, in the ministry of the
gospel. His called and chosen are to show forth the praises of Him who
hath called them out of darkness into His marvelous light. The same
Bible that contains the privileges of God’s people, and His promises
to them, contains also the sacred duties and the solemn obligations He
requires of the shepherd who has charge of the flock of God; so that
the people can see by comparing the living preacher with the divine
picture whether he has credentials from heaven in likeness of character
to Him who is the Chief Shepherd. God designs that the teacher of
the Bible should in his character and home life be a specimen of the
principles of the truth which he is teaching to his fellow men.
True Character an Inward Reflection—What a man is has
greater influence than what he says. The quiet, consistent, godly life
is a living epistle, known and read of all men. A man may speak and
write like an angel, but his practices may resemble a fallen fiend. God
will have the believers of the truth zealous to maintain good works. As
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they occupy high positions, they will be tested by a higher standard.
They will be sifted; defects and vices will be searched out; for if such
exist, they will be developed in words and deportment. True character
is not something shaped from without, or put on, but it is something
radiating from within. If true goodness, purity, meekness, lowliness,
and equity are dwelling in the heart, that fact will be reflected in the
character; and such a character is full of power.
Faults and Practices of a Few—The officers who were sent to
take Jesus reported that “never man spake like this Man.” But the
reason of this was that never man lived like this Man; for if He had
not so lived, He could not so have spoken. His words bore with
them a convincing power, because they came from a heart pure, holy,
burdened with love and sympathy, beneficence and truth. How rejoiced
are those who hate God’s law, to find spot and stain of character in one
who stands in defense of that law! They are only too glad to cast a
reproach upon all the loyal and true, because of the faults and impure
practices of a few.
There is eloquence in the quiet and consistent life of a pure, true,
unadulterated Christian. We shall have temptations as long as we are
in this world; but instead of injuring us, they will only be turned to