“Apart from the preaching place, madame, I think few have occasion to be offended at me; but there madame, I am not master of myself, but must obey Him who commands me to speak plainly and to flatter no flesh upon the face of the earth.”
John Knox before the Queen.
“That is the best pulpit, whatever it be made of, that holds the most faithful minister.”
Dr. Cumming
“Much reading and thinking may make a popular preacher; but much secret prayer must make a powerful preacher.”
John Berridge.
“The pulpit belongs to the “congregation’ rather than to the ‘schools’ it addresses itself to the indiscriminate many, rather than to select few. Its business is not to solve problems, but to stir and quicken souls; and it does so, not by the development of a philosophy, but the delivery of a message. What it was in the days of Paul, such is it essentially still – the proclaiming of certain great facts concerning human sin and the divine remedy. These require not so much to be proved as to be manifested; and when so manifested, are themselves their own witness. So its speech and its preaching are not with excellency of speech or man's wisdom, but by manifestation of the truth commending itself to every man's conscience in the sight of God.”
J. D. Burns
“It is shocking to fall into hell from under the pulpit; but how much more so from out of the pulpit!”
William Gurnall
“If the church be called a flock, the minister is the pastor to ‘seek that which is lost – to strengthen the diseased – to heal the sick – to bring again that which was driven away;’ in a word, to shepherd the flock in all the exercises of tenderness, consideration and care, that belong to this endearing title. If the family of Christ be an household, the minister is ‘the faithful and wise steward,’ who dispenses the provision of the house according to the necessities of its several members. If the church of God be a city, he is the watchman to wake and warn slumberers of their peril. If it be a husbandry, he is the labourer, to plant and water the soil – to cleanse the earth – to watch the growth of the plant – and be instrumental in bringing forth the harvest. If it be a building, he is the master builder, to build upon the ‘sure foundation’ lively stones – a spiritual house – ‘growing into an holy temple of the Lord, builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.’ If there be a treaty of peace to be negotiated between the majesty of heaven and a world of rebels, he is the ambassador, entrusted with the “ministry of reconciliation,’ and praying them in Christ's stead – “Be ye reconciled to God.’”
Charles Bridges
“With all my discouragements and sinful despondency; in my better moments, I can think of no work worth doing compared with this. Had I a thousand lives, I would willingly spend them in it: and had I as many sons, I should gladly devote them to it.”
Thomas Scott
“There are three things required to make a minister: – prayer, meditation, and temptation.”
Martin Luther
“None but He who made the world can make a minister of the gospel.”
John Newton
This Page Title – The Preaching Place The Wicket Gate Magazine "A Continuing Witness". Internet Edition number 10# – placed on line May 2015 Wicket Gate contact address – Mr Cliff Westcombe cw@wicketgate.co.uk If you wish to be notified when each new edition goes on line please send an e-mail to the above address Magazine web address – www.wicketgate.co.uk |