CHAPTER 21 - ON MR. WOLFF'S CHAPTER 21, WHERE HE SAYS IT IS "IMPORTANT AND NECESSARY TO STUDY FOR MINISTRY"

CHAPTER 21 — ON MR. WOLFF’S CHAPTER 21, WHERE HE SAYS IT IS “IMPORTANT AND NECESSARY TO STUDY FOR MINISTRY”

I do not feel the need of answering the chapter on studies; the man who denies gifts, and sees nothing but man in ministry, must naturally cling to this.

God can use learned men or ignorant men. He uses learning as he uses money — the man who seeks it will find his soul dried up, just like the man who seeks to get rich. God, moreover, chooses the foolish and weak things of this world to bring to nought the wise and mighty things. I do not think that the pursuit of learning by a man already called to the ministry will help him in his career. He that is not called, cannot study for the ministry; but all these reasonings flow from this: taking no account of the presence and of the importance of the operation of the Holy Ghost. Moreover, a student, a candidate, evidently bears no resemblance to the bishop described to us by the apostle. The emulation of a young man who studies Greek and theology has hardly the imprint of those qualities required by the Spirit of God for elders. In fine, according to this system, one must at all events have a ministry, and if one cannot find competent men, incompetent men must be appointed — for a ministry is needed.