Christian ministry - Bridges - II - Part I continued

Required reading
Christian ministry by Charles Bridges (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Read Part I, Chapters 5 and 6.

My summary
After last week looking at the discouragements of Christian ministry, in Chapter Five Bridges looks at the encouragements:
(i) The spiritual and permanent fruits of our Ministry must rank among our highest consolations (e.g. one sinner repenting);
(ii) The interest we possess in the affectionate sympathies of a beloved people;
(iii) The special advantages for the cultivation of personal religion;
(iv) The confirmation afforded to our own faith by the daily routine of a personal ministration;
(v) The certainty of success;
(vi) The prospect of eternity that consummates our hopes and joys.

Then in Chapter Six Bridges looks at the qualifications of the Christian Ministry:
(i) A spiritual character (e.g. holiness);
(ii) Spiritual attainments (e.g. a clear view of the evangelical system);
(iii) Spiritual gifts (e.g. talents for preaching, profitable private intercourse, affairs of Church government).

What grabbed me
What an encouragement it was to see Bridges unfold all the consolations that the ministry brings. 

I must admit, one of the reasons I had for going into the ministry was so that I could study God's word fulltime and it was good to see Bridges encourage such a desire: '...while secular occupations have a tendency to divert us from God, this holy employ naturally draws us to him.  In calling us to the search of the rich mines of Scripture, to heavenly contemplation, and spiritual devotedness, it furnishes the appointed means for the salvation of our own souls; so that "that watereth is watered also himself."  And thus -  the devotion of time, the concentration of attention, and the improvement of talents and opportunities - when applied in simplicity to that employment, which is the present and eternal rest of the soul, forms and matures the character for a richer supply of heavenly communications, and for more extensive usefulness in the Church of God.'

Next week's reading
Begin Chapter Seven by reading Section I, 'Habits of general study'.

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