THE MINISTER AN EXAMPLE

THE MINISTER AN EXAMPLE

My feeling is that I should like to see you at ——, and it is simply for the Lord’s sake, because I am completely ignorant of how it would suit your profession, or you suit it. I have been allowed for some time to remember you before the Lord, and keeping His interests before my mind, my judgment is that you could be a help there. Every new place has new trials. Your business may grow there, and it is in itself a worldly place, and one in a worldly place may soon drop into its ways without feeling it. It is coming from the holiest that we feel the disparity and contrariety of this scene. We become moulded by our associations. I have remarked that what appears very worldly to a separated Abraham, is only the natural way for a Lot. No one can ever determine what is of the world but the one who knows what is of the Father. The only fear I have for you is the world, of which —— is a very conservative type; the most commendable, and therefore the most ensnaring, and the most difficult to break away from. To be in real service there, you must insist on yourself being the model of what you preach. Be able always to say, like Gideon, ‘Do as I do’. Paul was always the model of what he taught, and I do not believe any of us effect for others in our ministry more than what the ^[p. 376] Spirit has effected in ourselves. If the ministry be of divine power, and adapted to a believer for his acceptance, surely it must begin with the minister. Charity begins at home, though it does not stop there. I need not add more than to commend you to the Lord. May you be assured before Him that He is leading you; go in faith, counting on Him, and if you do, you will find that He will support you with His own grace - the manna, not for a day only, but for your whole time.