[The following sentences were written down while yet fresh upon the memory, and may be relied on as substantially correct. They breathe the very style and manna of that venerable man of God.]The fact of your having received a charge at your ordination to the work of the ministry, renders it less necessary to dwell minutely on the various branches of ministerial duty, You have already had some acquaintance with their importance, and some experience of their arduousness. What I have to say, will not be, therefore, to instruct, but "to stir up your mind by way of remembrance." If this be necessary for believers in general, it is not, less so for ministers.
Take heed, then, first, my dear young brother, to yourself. Watch diligently over your own heart. You know something of its deceitfulness. Age and experience have taught me more. See that it is kept right with God. Watch over your motives. Guard your imagination from the infection of sin. Keep your passions in subjection to the laws of Christ. Resist the first rising of improper feeling. Take heed also, to your conduct and example in the world. Avoid levity and excessive mirth. Aim not to shine or divert company, by sallies of wit. Sink not the gravity of the minister, into the grossness of the buffoon. Some, under pretence of being sociable, do this. This is a grievous mistake. The very persons who would seem to be pleased most by such a sacrifice, will despise you in their hearts. I say not these things because I fear for you. No; I have confidence in you, my brother, and would confirm you in a proper course. Yet, on the other hand, be not too severe. Moroseness is unlovely in a minister of the gospel of peace; and a distant, cold reserve, will always be construed into pride. Be, therefore, at all times, and in all companies, the follower of Christ, and the friend of your people.
Secondly. Take heed to the doctrine. Preach the word. Be instant in season, and out of season. Be not ashamed of the simplicity that is in Christ. Remernber it is the gospel of Christ, which is the power of God unto salvation. Tell your hearers faithfully what God has said, and you have felt, of the depravity of the heart, and of the evil of sin. Tell them faithfully what a Saviour God has revealed, and you have found; crucified for our sins - ascended to glory - able to save to the uttermost - and altogether lovely. Warn them of the ruin that awaits the impenitent, and invite the trembling mourner to the riches of grace. Let your manner be affectionate. Be simple in your style. Condescend to the weakest capacities. A remark I once heard from an aged minister, has had great weight with me. "When I endeavored to feed the lambs, the sheep were always fed, but when I overlooked the lambs, the sheep were seldom profited." My brother, if you love Christ, "feed his lambs."
========== [From The American Baptist Magazine, November, 1834, Volume 14, p. 416. Document from Google Books on-line. Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall.]
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