THE END OF MINISTRY

THE END OF MINISTRY

... What one never had, one never misses! There is a great principle in this; you cannot miss anything until you possess it, or at least until you have tasted of it. The great end of ministry is to lead souls to taste of the “things above”, and then the things below will not only be surpassed, but there will be a sense of dissatisfaction with them. Sometimes one does not know why one is so dissatisfied, but the reason is, one is not in the element that suits one’s divine taste.

Cases of discipline are always sad, but unless they have been unseen and undiscovered by the spiritual, they do not cast a cloud on the gathering.... There is manifest decline in souls before a smash. The spiritual, when really taking charge of God’s heritage, will notice it, and will seek to wash the feet of the erring one.

As to the person who dropped off from the fellowship of the Lord’s supper because she had not peace, I think you should exercise patience. It is a matter of conscience, and if she be converted, a lack of faith. If not, she will soon show it, and connect herself with some sect, and then I feel you would be called on to announce publicly that she is not in fellowship. In fact, you would close the door on her.