←2010
←2010
Visitation Sermon, pp. 36, 37. ‘To see no better fruit from our employment than merely to have a benefice to live on, and some reverence from the people, is a poor encouragement. The first thing to be done in this sad case, is to search whether the fault is not in ourselves—whether we choose the most suitable subjects, study plainness, get the love of our hearers, deal with them privately and personally, as well as publicly—whether our lives preach to them as well as our tongues, etc. If any of this is amiss, it must be amended.’ Baxter on Obedient Patience.—‘When a man is in earnest, nothing will satisfy him but this. Others may be satisfied without success: they may go through a formal set of observances, and be contented; instead of examining their Ministry, and saying—“Show me why you contend with me.” If any thing but usefulness will satisfy us, I do not wonder that we are not useful. We must thank God for this and that thing: yet nothing must satisfy us but the conversion of sinners. The least success in our profession is better than the greatest in any other.’—Scott’s Sermon on Rom. 15.29. We must not, however, confine Ministerial success to the grand work of conversion. See Part. ii. chap. i. ut supra. Comp. Eph. 4.12-16, illustrated by Acts 14.22. 16.5. 1Thess. 3.2, 10.