Laborious Study

I have been graciously enabled to finish 3 books this last month, and have begun anew with John Owen's volume 6. Bavinck's Reformed Dogmatics Volume 3 is a slow read and I am currently at page 346 of its 595 pages. I am still getting accustomed to its deep takes on some subjects that I previously thought to be simple. I am here sharing some of the notes I gleaned from one of the more helpful titles I have in my library. The Christian Pastor's Manual: on the chapter The Qualifications Necessary:

Spiritual instructors need wisdom for rightly man aging their public discourses. They should adapt the choice of their subjects to the particular circumstances and necessities of their hearers as wise householders, giving to everyone his portion of meat in due season; they should compose their sermons so that the lowest may understand and the most judicious have no cause to despise them, and so as neither unnecessarily to offend the weak nor give advantage to the maliciously criticizing.

 But then a studious disposition is equally necessary. It was not without its use even in the days of inspiration. Solomon found much study a weariness to the flesh, yet was sensible that the advantages of it overbalanced the toil, and tells us that the preacher (meaning himself) sought to find acceptable words, gave good heed, and sought out and set in order many proverbs. Though he excelled all men in understanding, yet he did not turn people off with anything that came first in his mind, but took pains to range his thoughts in a proper method, and to express them in agreeable language, so that his sermons were the fruit of labor and study as well as of inspiration. 

The ministry is no idle or easy profession, but requires an almost uninterrupted series of the most painful and laborious services. But ministers of a lazy, indolent disposition will be tempted to hurry over those duties, and will begrudge to spend so much time in them as is really necessary to render them in any degree useful. Nor will ordinary measures of grace suffice to overcome such temptations.

Reverence for that God in whose name we speak, regard for the dignity of the pulpit, and concern for the glorious design that brings us there should prevent our rushing into it rashly and unprepared, and serving God and His people with sudden, undigested thoughts that cost us nothing. Ministers are not set apart to their office to trifle away six days of the week, and then go to the pulpit with whatever comes upper most.

You should seek with peculiar care to obtain the approbation of conscience in each of your hearers, as appears by the following words: "By manifestations of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God." 

Truth, conscience, and God, the most important and impressive thoughts that can enter the human mind, pervade his very soul. Evangelical truth is the subject of his discussion; the approbation of conscience is the object of his desire; and the omniscient Holy One is the witness of his conduct. This example you and I, and every minister of the Word, are bound to imitate. Make it your diligent endeavor, then, to obtain the approbation of conscience from all who hear you, for without deserving that, none of your public labors can be to your honor, or turn to your own account, in the great day of the Lord.

A minister may say things which are profoundly learned and very ingenious, that are uncommonly pretty and extremely pleasing to the generality of his hearers, without aiming to reach their consciences and to impress their hearts either by asserting divine authority or by displaying divine grace. 

When this is the case, he obtains, it may be, from superficial hearers, the reward which he sought; for he is greatly admired and applauded. But, alas, the unawakened sinner is not alarmed, the hungry soul is not fed, and the Father of mercies is defrauded of that reverence and confidence, of that love and obedience, which a faithful declaration of the gracious and sanctifying truth might have produced. 

Yes, my brothers, it is much to be suspected that many ministers have recommended themselves to the fancies, the tastes, and the affections of their hearers who never deserved, and who never had, in a serious hour, the approbation of their consciences.