Beecher on Ordination

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 28, 1874

Beecher on Ordination.

A young man who goes out to preach is never ordained when the consecrating hand has been laid on his head, and he has entered upon the ministry. The ceremony of ordination is very well as far as it goes; but not until the providence of God has put its hand upon you; not until you have ached and wept and prayed in secret places; not until you have realized your weakness and unworthiness, and said, “Would God that I were dead;” not until you have felt that your appearing is as nothing; not until with unutterable desire you have turned to God with the meekness and humility and gentleness and sweetness of a child, and been conscious that you were carried in the arms of his love—not until then will you be fully ordained. But when you have had this administration, how blessed the word of God will be to you!