Page:The pastor in his closet.djvu/22

 myself before Thee as “a workman that needeth not to be ashamed.” I must give Thee all my self, all my soul, all my strength, all my faculties, all my understanding, all my thoughts, all my time, all my affections, all my powers of mind and body, that in all ways, and in all things, and at all times, I may preach the Gospel. My work is to preach the Gospel, in season, out of season, directly, indirectly, publicly, privately, at home, abroad, in sermons, in conversation, in the church, by the way-side, in schools, in sick-rooms. I must preach Thee to the young, to the middle-aged, to the old, to the sickly, to the strong, to those who are without faith that they may believe, to those who have faith that faith may be increased, to the careless that they may have care, to the lukewarm that they may glow with love, to the afflicted that they may seek their consolation in Thee.

I must preach Thee in a right spirit, earnestly, lovingly, with sincerity, weighing each man’s state, “making a difference,” on “some having compassion,” coming to others “with the rod,” watching occasions, especially times of sickness or other affliction.

I must preach Thee also by my life and conversation, by my own personal holiness. I am set