Testimonies for the Church Volume 1 - A New You Ministry

despise everything of this character. Unless he does this, his converts will patternafter him. And when faithful ministers shall follow after and labor with these convertsto correct their wrongs, they will excuse themselves by referring to the minister. Ifyou condemn his course, they will turn to you and ask: Why do you uphold andgive influence to men by sending them out to preach to sinners while they are sinnersthemselves?The work in which we are engaged is a responsible and exalted work. Those whominister in word and doctrine should themselves be patterns of good works. Theyshould be examples in holiness, cleanliness, and order. The appearance of the servantof God, out of the pulpit and in, should be that of a living preacher. He can accomplishfar more by his godly example than by merely preaching in the desk, while his influenceout of the desk is not worthy of imitation. Those who labor in this cause are bearing tothe world the most elevated truth that was ever committed to mortals.Men who are chosen of God to labor in this cause will give proof of their highcalling and will consider it their highest duty to grow and improve until they shallbecome able workmen. Then, as they manifest an earnestness to improve upon thetalent which God has entrusted to them, they should be helped judiciously. But theencouragement given them should not savor of flattery, for Satan himself will doenough of that kind of work. Men who think that they have a duty to preach shouldnot be sustained in throwing themselves and their families at once upon the brethrenfor support. They are not entitled to this until they can show good fruits of theirlabor. There is now danger of injuring young preachers, and those who have but littleexperience, by flattery, and by relieving them of burdens in life. When not preachingthey should be doing what they can for their own support. This is the best way to testthe nature of their call to preach. If they desire to446