In class today we were reminded of these tough words from John Wesley to one of his preachers, a certain John Trembath. In a letter dated 1760, Wesley took Trembath to task for his lack of self-discipline:
"What has exceedingly hurt you in time past, nay, and I fear, to this day, is want of reading. I scarce ever knew a Preacher read so little. And perhaps, by neglecting it, you have lost the taste for it. Hence your talent in preaching does not increase. It is just the same as it was seven years ago. It is lively, but not deep; there is little variety; there is no compass of thought. Reading only can supply this, with meditation and daily prayer. You wrong yourself greatly by omitting this. You can never be a deep Preacher without it, any more than a thorough Christian. O begin! Fix some part of everyday for private exercises. You may acquire the taste which you have not: What is tedious at first, will afterwards be pleasant. Whether you like it or no, read and pray daily. It is for your life; there is no other way; else you will be a trifler all your days, and a pretty superficial Preacher. Do justice to your own soul; give it time and means to grow. Do not starve yourself any longer. Take up your cross, and be a Christian altogether."
Poor Trembath didn't even have a smartphone as an excuse for being distracted from regular reading and prayer.
Notice that Wesley thinks these habits are not something for preachers only, but anyone who desires to be "a thorough Christian".
Instead of a "trifler".
How are your daily prayer and reading habits?
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