Testimonies for the Church Volume 1 - A New You Ministry

his voice, or in his gestures, he has sometimes felt hurt, and has reasoned that Godcalled him just as he was, that the power was of God and not of himself, and that Godmust do the work for him, that he did not preach according to man’s wisdom, etc. It isa mistake to think that a man cannot preach unless he becomes wrought up to a highdegree of excitement. Men who are thus dependent upon feeling may be of use inexhortation when they feel just like it; but they will never make good, burden-bearinglaborers. When the work moves hard and everything assumes a discouraging aspect,the excitable and those dependent upon feeling are not prepared to bear their shareof the burdens. In times of discouragement and darkness how important to havecalm-thinking men, who are not dependent on circumstances, but who trust God andlabor on in the darkness as well as in the light. Men who serve God from principle,although their faith may be severely tried, will be seen leaning securely upon thenever-failing arm of Jehovah.Young preachers, and men who have once been ministers, who have been coarseand rough in their manners, making expressions in their conversation which were notperfectly modest and chaste, are not fit to engage in this work until they give evidenceof an entire reform. One word spoken unadvisedly may do more harm than a series ofmeetings held by them will do good. They leave the standard of truth, which should beever exalted, lowered to the dust before the community. Their converts generally comeup no higher than the standard raised for them by the ministers. Men who are standingbetween the living and the dead should be just right. The minister should not be offhis guard for a single moment. He is laboring to elevate others by bringing them upupon the platform of truth. Let him show to others that the truth has done somethingfor him. He should see the evil of these careless, rough, vulgar expressions, and shouldput away and445