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An old Scottish minister thus writes concerning himself: "I find a want of the Spirit—of the
power and demonstration of the Spirit—in praying, speaking, and exhorting; that whereby
men are mainly convinced, and whereby they are a terror and a wonder unto others, so as
they stand in awe of them; that glory and majesty whereby respect and reverence are
procured; that whereby Christ's sermons were differenced from those of the Scribes and
Pharisees; which I judge to be the beams of God's majesty and of the Spirit of holiness
breaking out and shining through His people. But my foul garments are on! Woe is me? The
crown of glory and majesty is fallen off my head; my words are weak and carnal, not mighty;
whereby contempt is bred. No remedy for this but humility, self-loathing and a
striving to maintain fellowship with God."
14. We have had little of the mind of Christ. We have come far short of the example of the
apostles, much more of Christ; we are far behind the servants, much farther behind the
Master. We have had little of the grace, the compassion, the meekness, the lowliness, the
love of God's eternal Son. His weeping over Jerusalem is a feeling in which we have but little
heartfelt sympathy. His "seeking of the lost" is little imitated by us. His unwearied "teaching
of the multitudes" we shrink from as too much for flesh and blood. His days of fasting,
His nights of watchfulness and prayer, are not fully realized as models for us to copy. His
counting not His life dear unto Him that He might glorify the Father and finish the work
given Him to do, is but little remembered by us as the principle on which we are to act. Yet
surely we are to follow His steps; the servant is to walk where his Master has led the way; the
under shepherd is to be what the Chief Shepherd was. We must not seek rest or ease in a
world where He whom we love had none.
CHAPTER 5
Revival in the Ministry
"Take heed unto thyself."—1 Timothy 4:16.