The Pastor: His Qualifications and DutiesHarvey, H. (Hezekiah)
Religion
The Pastor: His Qualifications and Duties
Harvey, H. (Hezekiah)
Pastoral theology
in disappointments, in the death of loved ones, in losses and
sufferings. We would know how you felt under trials, and how God helped
you to bear them. You have had special seasons of communion with
Christ, and have received special answers to prayer; you have found
some passages of Scripture truth or promise specially opening to you;
you have some personal friend or friends for whom you are deeply
interested that God may save them. These are the things we want to
know--just what your heart has felt of late; and if in this family
gathering in our Father's house you will tell these, you will help us
and will bring all hearts into sympathy with you." Such suggestions,
occasionally made, will repress tendencies to stereotyped thought and
expression, and will educe those heart-experiences which give life and
power to the meeting. 3. When there are candidates for baptism,
encourage them to speak fully and freely, and secure, if possible, that
they shall be heard by all. After the experiences have fully come
before the church, the candidates should withdraw while their cases are
under consideration, that the investigation of each case may be
unembarrassed and full opportunity be had for inquiry or objection.
4. Matters of business and of discipline are, as a rule, to be avoided
at the covenant meeting. They usually divert attention from the special
object of the exercise, and often dissipate the spiritual impression.
5. Do not protract the service. An hour and a half is usually as long
as a profitable interest can be maintained. Too often the benefit of
the meeting is wholly lost by its tediousness. A prompt beginning and
an equally prompt ending are essential to sustained life in any
exercise.
III. THE INQUIRY MEETING.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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