Page:The pastor in his closet.djvu/23

 as an ensample to the flock. O Christ, what a work of personal holiness must I seek to fulfil in myself through the power of the Holy Ghost! of all the souls committed to me, of all this multitude of souls, mine should be the most pure, unworldly, unselfish, mortified, gentle, spiritual. Even so; I must preach Thee through my own life and be myself a sermon unto my flock. My flock should feel that I am not a man of this world; while I invite them to heaven, I should be seen walking heaven- ward myself; I should have experience of the way; I should be nearer Thee than any; not behind any, but before all, a pattern of true devotion, godly ardour, unworldliness, charity in speech and action. If I am a lover of pleasure, or a seeker of great men, or greedy of filthy lucre, or ambitious and fond of advancement, or self-indulgent, or careless, I must needs most grievously offend my flock.

For personal holiness, for personal holiness I do pray. Lord Jesus. if I should cause any single soul to err, if any fault in my example should weaken Thy blessed Gospel preached by me, or make my ministry of none effect to any single soul! if I err, it is not my own soul only that I harm; I can neither hurt myself by myself, nor save myself by myself, for I have the