Hints and helps in pastoral theology - Plumer - XXVI - Chapter 32

Required reading
Hints and helps in pastoral theology by William S Plumer (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapter 32 (Sayings for ministers).

My summary
To finish his book, Plumer gives us a collection of sayings for ministers.

Initially the sayings are grouped by authors, including Luther, Owen, Baxter, Matthew Henry, M'Cheyne, Chalmers and Shepard.

Then more sayings are given under the following headings:
(i) rules for giving instruction;
(ii) zeal and charity;
(iii) piety;
(iv) preach the word;
(v) use much boldness;
(vi) ministers must grow;
(vii) a minister's studies;
(viii) choose right words;
(ix) personal experience;
(x) prayer;
(xi) minister's sins;
(xii) success and the want of it;
(xiii) old age.

What grabbed me
I found it hard to choose which saying I liked best.

This one from Owen has to be one of the finest: 'To preach the Gospel properly is to handle every subject of discourse so as to keep Christ continually in view of the hearers. Hast thou permitted greediness of studies to eat up other duties?'

Keeping Christ central is what matters most.

One sentence final verdict
A fine volume of good advice for ministers.

Next week's reading
Commence 'A course of lectures on preaching' by RL Dabney (Available from Amazon or free here) by reading the Preface and Lecture 1.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.