Pure Church: Henry Scougal on Preaching
Sobering quote on Thabiti Anyabwile's blog Pure Church from Henry Scougal's The Life of God in the Soul of Man...here is a snippet...
"If a man could speak fire, and blood, and smoke, if flames should come out of his mouth instead of words, if he had a voice like thunder, and an eye like lightning, he could not sufficiently represent the dreadful account which an unfaithful pastor shall make....
"Again, preaching is an exercise of which many are ambitious, and none more so than those that are the least qualified for it; but it is not so easy a matter to perform this task aright. To stand in the presence of God, and speak to his people in his name, with that seriousness, gravity and simplicity, that zeal and concern which the business requires; to accommodate ourselves to the capacity of the common people, without disgusting the more knowing ones; to awaken drowsy souls, without terrifying tender consciences; to carry home the charge of sin, without the appearance of personal reflection; in a word, to approve ourselves unto God as workmen that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
As someone who stands under no small measure of condemnation for my unfaithfulness in preaching, these words are both sobering and crushing to my soul. It is a terrible and humbling charge to preach the Word of God, both in the pulpit and out.
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