Sketches of the Christian life and public labors of William Miller : $b Gathered from his memoir by the late Sylvester Bliss, and from other sources — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
Sketches of the Christian life and public labors of William Miller : $b Gathered from his memoir by the late Sylvester Bliss, and from other sources
John Stuart Mill · en
“‘I say _slow_, because I expect all are not strong enough
to run yet; and _sure_, because the Bible is a sure word;
and where your hearers are not well indoctrinated, you must
preach _Bible_; you must prove all things by _Bible_; you must
talk _Bible_; you must exhort _Bible_; you must pray _Bible_;
and love _Bible_; and do all in your power to make others
love _Bible_, too. One great means to do good is to make your
parishioners sensible that you are in earnest, and fully and
solemnly believe what you preach. If you wish your people to
feel, feel yourself. If you wish them to believe as you do,
show them, by your constant assiduity in teaching, that you
sincerely wish it. You can do more good by the fireside, and in
your conference circles, than in the pulpit. Pulpit preaching
is, and has long been, considered as no more than a trade.
“Why, he is hired to preach!—he must, of course, tell a good
story,” &c., &c. And the very reason why there is more good
done in conference meetings and protracted meetings is simply
this: The god of this world is shut out. They will say, He
expects nothing for this; surely our salvation is his anxious
desire. Reflections of this sort make strong impressions of
conviction on the mind. If this man of God will make so much
sacrifice, surely I ought to think, at least, how much my
brother has my benefit in view in his preaching....
“‘_May 20, 1832._ It is now almost two months since I began
this letter, and I ought to make some apology for my long
neglect. But I hate apologies; for we never tell the whole
truth. You have, undoubtedly, seen, or will see, two numbers
in the _Telegraph_ before you receive this letter. A number
more will soon follow. I expect it will start some queries, if
nothing more. There is much opposition expressed by some who
ought to have taught the same things. But people will think
and reflect; and truth will in the end prevail. Do come, on the
13th and 14th of June, to our Association. I expect Bro. Sawyer
will be ordained then. _Do come._ I have much to say to you;
but I cannot write as I wish....