Horatius Bonar

We have been unfaithful. The fear of man and the love of his applause have

often made us afraid. We have been unfaithful to our own souls, to our flocks,

and to our brethren; unfaithful in the pulpit, in visiting, in discipline in the

church. In the discharge of every one of the duties of our stewardship there

has been grievous unfaithfulness. Instead of the special particularization of

the sin reproved, there has been the vague allusion. Instead of the bold

reproof, there has been the timid hint. Instead of the uncompromising

condemnation, there has been the feeble disapproval. Instead of the

unswerving consistency of a holy life whose uniform tenor should be a protest

against the world and a rebuke of sin, there has been such an amount of

unfaithfulness in our walk and conversation, in our daily deportment and

talking with others, that any degree of faithfulness we have been enabled to

manifest on the Lord's Day is almost neutralized by the lack of

circumspection which our weekday life exhibits.

We need men that will spend and be spent, that will labor and pray, that will

watch and weep for souls!

Oh Lord, forgive me.

I have been all too complacent in ministry. I needed this theological kick in the teeth.

Awake my soul to the true calling; one of abandonement and not of adornment.

For Christ's sake and for the Gospel. Amen!