Keeping Things Within Bounds, Time-Wise

A selection from a letter by William Still to his congregation, Gilcomston South Church of Scotland, Aberdeen. He wrote a pastoral letter to his people each month. Having a lengthy pastorate there meant he wrote hundreds of letters which take up many themes. This letter is an appeal to backsliders but he also addressed a complaint that the services were too long. It was written May, 1970.

I know my faults, and realize the danger that meetings can go on too long. Many feel this and often appeal to me to try to keep the meetings, as well as the services, within bounds. And we are learning, slowly, although I must admit that it is hard to have one’s enthusiasm for the Word and the things of God clipped because people nag about the length of meetings. Do not I also need to consider my body? But I am determined to try to keep things within bounds, time-wise, because it is often our keenest folk who are most definite that the time factor must be observed. Yet the Lord and His Word and His work are so preoccupying that it is the easiest thing in the world to forget the clock and go on and on. Would you not like to be so caught up with the movements of the Spirit working in, from, and through, our congregation that time cease to be an overruling or dominant factor?

The Letters of William Still, The Banner of Truth, 1984, pp. 105-06.

A Supply of Time

A selection from a letter by Rev. William Still to his congregation, Gilcomston South Church of Scotland, Aberdeen, January, 1960:

God has given us a supply of time, which we are to redeem because the days are evil. John tells us that Satan is ever raging more madly as he sees his time shortening, and many lazy and scatter-brained Christians begin to panic when they see their time is short. We ourselves must find out what God made us for, and then, under His control and not under our own ambition, go ahead and do it with all our might, pressing on, forging ahead, climbing steadily, nothing daunted… forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forward to those things which are before, and pressing towards the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Point, direction, purpose, clear motive, definite aim, and a personality geared to God’s will are what we need.

The Letters of William Still, The Banner of Truth, 1984, p. 70.

The Valuable Experiences of Brainerd and Elliot

A selection from a letter by Thomas Chalmers to “a young Clergyman,” giving him advice for the work of the ministry. Chalmers advised the young minister to model his ministry after the lives of two great missionaries to the American Indians – David Brainerd and John Elliot. The letter was written November 12, 1838.

It is a most valuable experience of Brainerd—that the regular distribution of time is essential to one’s religious prosperity; and of Elliot—that through faith in Christ Jesus, it is in the power of prayer and of pains to do everything.

Letters of Thomas Chalmers, edited by William Hanna, first published 1853, reprinted by The Banner of Truth, 2007, pp. 311-12.