THE PREACHER'S DEVOTIONAL LIFE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 267, 10 November 1928, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE PREACHER'S DEVOTIONAL LIFE.

(By REV.'JAMES MILNE, M.A.) -

This was. the'subject of an instructive address given,- in the absence of the Rev. S E. Hill, ofvEUerslie, by-the Rev. J '-vPattison; of. Somefville ; Memorial Church, V' V:at ':'the ..recent '.Summer' School "■■ -of: Theology of .>the ; ,-_Presbyterian Church," : :held in "Auckland. ■"_': l; ...'"■■■ '-'.'•'Ministers -and home missionaries;., are. .;'•.preachers, rr arid'-it ~ was. maintained., that "■'--a .preacher's ''spiritual:'power- .depended :' : : largely;: on-his . devotionallife. The ■'..■'; times were strenuous,, and to keep fit ■}'■■■• ior .duty, missionaries . and ministers alike-had need to cultivate 1 " and keep in 'toiich'with'what was divine. Otherwise, '■?. there':- was.' the : 'danger of -'.their otto being.; starved, '-• while.' they. ■: strove '.'to ■;-"minister to others:;* : This was'the temp- ... tation which evertbeset the .preacher;' to . ' overlook the vital 'importancei .'of o'jbeing ' able to preach'his sermon;' to hisrown .'.icart, {before 'endeavouring to pre'acli -it 'Devotional strength: or. in- ™^- l?av ' 6 -- viv acity' arid "life .'to His-: wv "£ de * t° cbeck that offlcial-■rr-tfre e tJo£ a ™V, one eannents imped' ' ■ ?> Tlm »ei,i. So it was da- \ .--•'

monstrated . that the subject. was one ofr the mostiimportant' for discussion at the school. . —

How Devotional Fitness is Developed. 'The preacher to keep fit had 'frequently to renew his dedication vows. Self examination was wont to reveal how readily his first and high ideals were apt to be forsaken. There was ever the tendency to place reservations upon consecration;.-, but: a start being made for devotional, fitness, hindrances to progress had to be conquered all along the upward way. : For this, the gift of the Holy.. Spirit was very necessary for minister and missionary.' A theological degree, such as D.D. was not to be deprecated; ' '■ but' a-, famous American evangelist;had happily -dared • to ; coin another "0.0.," which,-not without ; a touch of humour, he, wished to see attached to' the name of every preacher, as signifying' "Out and Out" in consecration. , Such qualification was largely helped through, the provision ;"by';the preacher of fixed periods for prater. To "pray without ceasing" was to live in air-atmosphere of devotion, ah excellent thing; but' to create such an atmosphere it was necessary to'have times for prayer, Just-as there weretimes for eating and' sleep.' '- ' ' ■

• .■;, - Devotional Literature. , ; > ' There were not a few, well known book aids' to devotion. Amongst these one of the'most famous was "The Imitation of Christ," by Thomas A. Kempis, a gem of devotional" literature. But supreme to' any; and all such were of course the Scriptures of the .Old .and New Testaments. These .provided • a most profitable basis for spiritual tation, which, however, was almost regarded as a lost art nowadays. "'"'.'' The advantages accruing from'prayer and meditation were:' (1) The preacher was thus brought into the presence of God. There was , joy. in' bodily exercise, but the exercise of, spiritual gift/brought joy , much « greater. The testimony -; of Jacob Boehme and others of the mystics proved this. (2) The secret of success and -the power 'of a: great personality such as Gordon, Gladstpne and many others, lay in' appreciation of the value and" practice , of. prayer. (3): Christian character was. thus-.strsngthened and expanded. . (4).,-Men, thus disciplined renewed their strength; they mounted.up ■with wings. as eagles,.they ran and were not weary, they walked and did not faint. The address closed:with-,a brief, bright exhortation, to attempt and expect great 'things of God.. . •- ; .-.; ■