Today Spring speaks about the piety of the minister.
Firstly Spring teaches of the necessity that an effective preacher be pious.
Secondly Spring explains the evidences of piety in ministers.
Thirdly Spring discusses the results of a minister's piety on his work, particularly by holding up examples from church history to support his case, e.g. Whitefield.
I liked Spring's discussion of the blessing of being a minister: 'Ministers have peculiar opportunities and means of a growing conformity to God, because they are familiar with his truth ; because their views of it are often so strong and clear; and because their vocation is such, that the motives to this conformity in all their variety and force, are so often present to their minds. There is nothing. which increases the obligations of men to be holy, and which lays these bonds upon them in all their strength and tenderness, but is experienced in the work of a Christian minister. They greatly delight in those clear, connected, and comprehensive views of God's truth, which they so often enjoy ; but should they not more often be humbled under the reflection, that, " to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin"? Though inhabitants of this low earth, they dwell in regions of light ; they inhabit its mountain summits, where the sun shines bright and clear when clouds and darkness rest upon the valleys below. God expects that his ministers should be holy men. " Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord !" Holiness to the Lord was inscribed in deep and legible lines on Aaron^s forehead. Ministers expect holiness of themselves ; the Church of God expects it of them ; the world that lieth in wickedness is disappointed unless it discorers in them a piety that is both genuine and eminent.'
It is indeed wonderful to be a pastor and be so familiar with God's truth and have a view of it that is so plain.
R
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