Part Ii. General Causes Of The Lack Of Success In The Christian Ministry.
PART II. GENERAL CAUSES OF THE LACK OF SUCCESS
IN THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY.
The prophet’s complaint—“Who has believed our report?” 285—has applied to every successive Ministry in the Church. It was echoed in reference even to the Ministry of Him who “spoke as never man spoke;” who retained a listening multitude hanging on his lips, and “wondering at the gracious words that proceeded out of his mouth.” 286 It was again repeated under the Apostolic dispensation, clothed as it was “with the demonstration of the Spirit and with power.” 287 And ever since, it has expressed the experience of faithful labourers in the Lord’s harvest. A young Minister indeed—speaking his message from the feeling of a full heart, and without an accurate calculation of the cost—may anticipate a cordial conviction and reception of the truth, as the almost immediate result. But painful experience will soon correct such unwarranted expectations. The power of Satan, the current of sin, and the course of this world—all combine to impress our work with the character of a special conflict. But, as complaint should lead to inquiry (and surely no inquiry can be more important), we will proceed to mark a few of the more general causes, that operate unfavourably on our work.
72 VIEW OF THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY