 John Calvin (1509-1564) |
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Greetings!
It has been my privilege, in preparation for participating in one of our ministerial study seminars, to read a number of books from our Foundation bibliographies, including, most recently, Option XXXVI: The Nature and Practice of the Christian Pastoral Ministry.
One of the titles is the following:
Baxter, Richard.The Reformed Pastor. 1656. Edited by William Brown, 1829. Reprint, Edinburgh, Scotland and Carlisle, Pennsylvania: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1974. 256 pp.
Near the heart of this book, where Baxter was confessing some of his own shortcomings as a minister (as a way of chiding and encouraging other ministers), he had the following to say about the importance of study for ministers. |
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Study Hard!
If we were duly devoted to our work, we should not be so negligent in our studies. Few men are at the pains that are necessary for the right informing of their understanding, and fitting them for their further work. Some men have no delight in their studies, but take only now and then an hour, as an unwelcome task which they are forced to undergo, and are glad when they are from under the yoke. Will neither the natural desire of knowledge, nor the spiritual desire of knowledge of God and things Divine, nor the consciousness of our great ignorance and weakness, nor the sense of the weight of our ministerial work-will none of all these things keep us closer to our studies, and make us more painful in seeking after truth? O what abundance of things are there that a minister should understand! and what a great defect is it to be ignorant of them! and how much shall we miss such knowledge in our work! Many ministers study only to compose their sermons, and very little more, when there are so many books to be read, and so many matters that we should not be unacquainted with. Nay, in the study of our sermons we are too negligent, gathering only a few naked truths, and not considering of the most forcible expressions by which we may set them home to men's consciences and hearts. We must study how to convince and get men, and how to bring each truth to the quick, and not leave all this to our extemporary promptitude, unless in cases of necessity. Certainly, brethren, experience will teach you that men are not made learned or wise without hard study and unwearied labour and experience. (pp. 146-147)
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This seems like a good encouragement for the mission and work of the Foundation, that we provide for the ongoing study, appropriation, and explication of the historic faith and theology of the Reformed and Presbyterian Churches in our own day, primarily through guided study seminars and publications, for the application of this learning to help build up the church of Jesus Christ today through better preaching, better teaching, and better pastoral care.
Can you help us in this mission and work?
 Grace and Peace, |
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and is not a private foundation as defined by Section 509(a) of the Internal Revenue Code.
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