ENCOURAGEMENT FOR PASTORS (BY SPURGEON) Preparing for the ministry

Many young fellows are reading this and are preparing for the ministry. I shall not enlarge on this point, but shall only press on their earnest consideration and their most devout meditation, this inspired exhortation, which is not mine, nor even an apostle’s only, but the exhortation of the Holy Spirit of God through the apostle: “Till I come, give attendance to reading.” (1 Timothy 4:13).

 

Brothers, if you would bless God’s Church and train up a band of really intelligent Christians, do not always appeal to the emotions only, but give out also good, sound, strong gospel doctrine, and illustrate the doctrine, to expound and commend to others. Do this especially by reading the words of the greatest masters in Scripture theology, and these will prove your delightful and dear companions, and your splendid helpers in making your ministry richly profitable to your hearers.