A Hint to Desponding Ministers
A certain minister, who had been very successful in his labors in the gospel vineyard, at length saw but little fruit attending his ministrations. To be useless, he could not bear; his soul was bowed down under the discouraging prospects around him. Nothing on earth was so gloomy to him as spiritual dearth, for he had been used to showers of reformation and mercy; and nothing else could satisfy his mind. Seeing no outpouring of the Spirit, no sinners converted under his preaching for some time, his soul was beset with despondency and melancholy fears. While thus exercised, he dreamed that a gentleman hired him to work for him, and the price of his labor per day was stipulated. On inquiring what his employer would have him go about, he was informed that he must go and hammer a certain rock to pieces. “That,” he replied, “would do no good; for the rock is large and hard and I could never break it to pieces.” “That is nothing to you,” said the gentleman, “follow my directions and I will pay you your wages.” The laborer then went to work, and though it appeared an endless, and therefore useless task, he labored with diligence and patience, for the sake of his wages. After a while, and contrary to all his calculations, the mountainous rock broke into shivers. The minister saw the dream contained instruction for him. He felt the reproof, resumed courage, and was again blessed with seeing the rocky hearts of many of the hearers broken by the hammer of God’s word.