Counsel to Gospel Ministers: Letters on Preaching, Exemplary Behavior, and the Pastoral Call by John Brown of Haddington
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Books of counsel to ministers regularly feel, at least to me, either excessively burdensome, or else excessively mild. The Bible sets high standards for a minister’s character, provides clear instruction for our role, and gives encouragement. Unfortunately, many books either lash a minister with guilt, misdirect a minister’s role, or else over-encourage without any conviction. This helpful book of letters, on the other hand, is balanced in all the right ways. It provides clear direction for the role and necessary character of a minister, but simultaneously lays out a path of encouragement and guidance. It rebukes what ought to be rebuked, warns what ought to be warned, and promotes what ought to be promoted. At times I was deeply convicted, other times deeply encouraged in my current role, and at other times wondered aloud, “Who is sufficient for these things?” to be met John Brown’s answer that only the glorious Jesus Christ is our sufficiency.

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