I recently started reading The Reformed Pastor by Richard Baxter, first published in 1656. Crazy old. It is hard to read at times because of the "old English" but it has been very thought provoking. It's more than thought provoking, it's more like a verbal beating (in a good way) for young pastors. Here's a few quotes from the opening pages...talk about setting the tone...
- Take heed to yourselves, lest you be void of that saving grace of God which you offer to others, and be strangers to the effectual working of that gospel which you preach; and lest, while you proclaim to the world the necessity of a Saviour, our own hearts should neglect him, and you should miss of an interest in him and his saving benefits. Take heed to yourselves, lest you perish, while you call upon others to take heed of perishing; and lest you famish yourselves while you prepare food for them.
- ...many a preacher is now in hell, who hath a hundred times called upon his hearers to use the utmost care and diligence to escape it.
- Believe it, brethren, God never saved any man for being a preacher, nor because he was an able preacher; but because he was a justified, sanctified man, and consequently faithful in his Master's work. Take heed, therefore, to yourselves first, that you be that which you persuade your hearers to be, and believe that which you persuade them to believe, and heartily entertain that Saviour whom you offer to them.
- Oh what aggravated misery is this, to perish in the midst of plenty! -- to famish with the bread of life in our hands, while we offer it to others, and urge it on them!
I feel like God is wanting me to rediscover the personal nature of the Gospel. I think I may have had "kingdom on the brain" for so long, that I have lost some of the personal aspect. Does that make sense? I still believe the Gospel is more than just saving individual souls, but I better not lose that component.
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