T HE K I N G ’S B U S I N E S S feel the chilling effect; and a cold pulpit sends its frost through., the whole con gregation. On the other hand, when a m inister brings Jesus Christ with him into the - pulpit, then there is a “tongue of fire” there which will burn its way into the hearts and consciences of the audi tors. Genius, scholarship, rhetoric, are but “tinkling cymbals” in comparison'' with this indwelling, o’er-mastering grace of personal love for a personal Saviour. If such men as Brainerd, McCheyne, Somerville, Spurgeon, or Moody were sitting by my side, they would say “Àmen!” to every word I have ju st w rit ten. “More love to Thee, O C hrist!” is the p ray er' th a t should be oftenest on every m in iste rs lips. Reaching the Heart. As the spiritually successful m inister is a man whose highest inspiration is a supreme love of Christ, so it is his fore most aim to induce his hearers to give their hearts' to Jesus. He knows no other way to save a life but to save the heart th a t animates and controls th at life; and the only way to save th at heart is to enthrone Jesus Christ there. Win ning people to tru st, to obey, to follow Christ—th at is his “high calling.” There is a constantly pressing tempta tion with m inisters to ignore this, or to substitute something else for it. One m inister who lives much in an atmos- sphere of books is tempted to preacn chiefly to the intellect, and gives much valuable instruction. Another is deeply interested in sociology ,1 and aims to re form social wrongs, to promote humani tarian enterprises and Christian citizen ship. Christ’s Gospel goes infinitely deeper than mental instruction o r social re1- forms, or excellent philanthropies of var ious kinds. It aims to change human h earts and to put Jesus Christ there. His message was, “Come unto me,” “Fol low m e ;” and no m inister ought to feel that his work is successful unless (by the Holy Spirit’s aid) he can win people
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PU LP IT PO IN T E R S By Rev. T. L. Cuyler, D.D.
HE highest aim and ambition of every true m inister of Jesus Christ is to achieve spiritual success. For this he prays and
for this he labours; and for the lack of this neither fame, nor popular favour, nor large salary can be any compensa tion.- He is not blind to the fact th at in his success two factors must be reckon ed with—the human and the Divine. The planting of the w isest Paul, and the wat ering by the most eloquent apostles, will avail nothing unless God gives th e in crease. Not by human might nor power, but by the agency of the Holy Spirit, is success to be secured. The m inister may pray ever so fervently for the bless ing of the Divine Spirit, but he cannot dictate and demand th a t blessing. Yet there are certain things th a t the ambassador of Jesus Christ must be, and must do, if his m inistry is to bear spirit ual fruits. For doing his duty he is re sponsible; for spiritual results he rolls the responsibility over upon the Master he serves. He works, but he does not worry. Love for Work and Master. The first essential to success is that a m inister should not only love his work, but love th at Divine Master and Owner whose blood-redeemed servant he is. Paul cut at the root and the core of the m atter when he said, "The love of Christ constraineth us.” Not only His love for us, but ours for Him. A vast deal of preaching and teaching has self—in some shape—at the bottom of i t , , and Christ is not there at all. “Whose I am and whom I serve.” The more entirely a m inister can fulfil this vital and indispensable condition the stronger he will be, the happier he will be; yes, and the holier he will be also. As surely as the heart-thermometer shows a lowering of the Christ-love, so surely will the sermons and the prayers
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