The Preacher's Wisdom and Courage
These come from the same source as his calling. We must not speak " with words which man's wisdom teacheth "42 nor seek to tickle the palates of those who choose their teachers to suit their tastes.43 Our message is to be found in the Word of God and there alone, and to that Word we must constantly go. And yet our right understanding of it will not follow from our diligent study alone; whatever the penetration of our insight, we shall only rightly divide the Word of Truth44 and rightly present it to those who hear us, if we approach seeking constantly the blessing and enlightenment of God in prayer. We must ask as preachers that " we may speak boldly as we ought to speak,"45 and seek as servants that " the Word of God may run and be glorified."46

Our courage must be such a courage. We will not in our preaching be bombastically brave against an enemy who is not there (which is cowardice). In times of danger, should they come, we will not wilfully seek hurt to no purpose. If the days of violence were to return as the Master and his Apostles knew them, we should follow their example and pass quietly out of the midst of them to preach anew elsewhere47 or flee without false dignity to a safer platform.48 But preach we will in whatever circumstances, with a stedfastness which no fear of consequences can weaken. If our alternatives were to become those of preaching in physical danger, or continuing safe in silence, we should preach, knowing that they are more with us than those that be against us, not fearing him which can destroy the body, but afterwards hath no more that he can do.49

These are not our present circumstances, and in the time and place at which these words are written, it seems unlikely that they will be. Yet we do well to prepare our minds to know our duty if they should arise. We may well feel, as the writer of it does, that the confidence of the last paragraph might suddenly evaporate if the circumstances were real. Yet even so it should be written as a testimony for us and a reminder in times of security that we need in preaching a courage greater than our own.

Even now we do. Though we write in war-time, the country let us be Christadelphians without much complaint. We may preach from Christadelphian platforms, and our unregenerate colleagues hardly notice it. When we come to special efforts, with something more than ordinary publicity, the situation changes a little, and from within we have heard from time to time the unworthy call to halt before an open door lest it should be closed-to refrain from using our privileges lest they should be withdrawn. And when we come to speak to our associates face to face the trials are greatest of all.

It is this, at present, which demands our greatest courage, to speak with all boldness as we ought to speak.50 And only a constant reminder of how precious a thing it is we have received, a constant recourse to God in prayer to exchange our self-interest for His support, will suffice to ensure that we shall not lapse.