Satan can furnish men with endless excuses and evasions to cause them to neglect the duty of speaking words of warning to those who are erring, and of presenting the truth as it is in Jesus to souls who are perishing. The minister who loves to sermonize will be in danger of preaching to a great length, as though a multitude of words was all-essential, and thus he will become so weary that he will have neither disposition nor strength to engage in personal effort when he has an opportunity of coming heart to heart with his hearers. The minister should be ready to open the Bible, and according as circumstances shall require, read reproof, rebuke, warning, or comfort to those who listen. He should teach the truth, rightly dividing the word, suiting out portions that will be as meat in due season to those with whom he associates. Too many ministers neglect to deal faithfully with those with whom they come in contact. They leave plain dealing to be done by other ministers: for they do not want to run the risk of losing the friendship of those for whom they labor. If ministers would deal at the right time with those who err, they would prevent an accumulation of wrong, and save souls from death. If the work of reproving is neglected by one minister, and taken up by another, those who are reproved, receive the impression that the minister who did not point out their errors was a good minister. But this is not the case; he was merely a preacher, not a worker together with God for the suppression of sin. In the meekness of Jesus, you should do the work which will gave full proof of your ministry. You should show a heartfelt sorrow for sin, but manifest no unholy passion in reproving the error. All your efforts must be made with longsuffering and doctrine; and if you see but meager results of your work, do not be discouraged. This experience will call for the manifestation of longsuffering and patience. Keep working, be discreet, be discerning, understand when to speak and when to keep silence.

Satan kan hjælpe os til utallige undskyldninger for ikke at gøre vor pligt med at advare dem, der fejler og at forkynde sandheden i Jesus for sjæle, der er ved at gå fortabt. Prædikanter, der elsker at prædike, vil stå i fare for at prædike for længe, - som om en masse ord var det væsentlige. Dette gør dem så udslidte, at de hverken kan eller vil yde en personlig indsats, når lejlighed byder sig for virkelig at tale til tilhørernes hjerter. En prædikant bør være parat til at åbne Bibelen, som lejlighed byder sig og vejlede, advare eller trøste dem, der lytter. Han bør forkynde sandheden og bruge Guds ord, som det er passende i forhold til dem, han er sammen med. Alt for mange prædikanter forsømmer at tage sig trofast af dem, de kommer i kontakt med. De overlader det nærliggende til andre, for de ønsker ikke at løbe den risiko at miste deres venskab, som de virker for. Hvis prædikanter i tide ville tage sig af dem, der fejler, ville de forebygge meget ondt og redde sjæle fra døden. Hvor den ene forsømmer at advare mens en anden gør det, vil den der fejler få det indtryk, at ham, der ikke påpegede deres fejltrin var en god prædikant. Dette er bare ikke tilfældet, han var bare prædikant - ikke Guds medarbejder, når det gælder at påpege synd. Med Jesu ydmyge sindelag skal du gøre den gerning, der vil bevise din tjeneste. Du bør vise sorg over synden, men ikke en vanhellig lidenskab i at påtale fejltagelser. Du må gøre alt med tålmodighed og i overensstemmelse med læren; og du skal ikke blive mismodig, hvis du kun ser ringe resultater af din indsats. Det kræver udholdenhed og tålmodighed. Men hold ud! Vis, at du forstår, hvornår du skal sige noget, og hvornår du skal tie stille.