Morning Star

It has frequently been proposed, as a question of considerable practicable importance, how a person may know that he has a call to the ministry; the following observations, by Bernard, a monk of the twelfth century, may perhaps be useful: "He who is called to instruct souls, is called of God, and not by his own ambition;—and what is this call, but an inward incentive of love, soliciting us to be zealous for the salvation of our brethren? So often as he who is engaged in preaching the word, shall feel his inward man to be excited with divine affections, so often let him assure himself that God is there, and that he is invited by him to seek the good of souls. Truly, I love that preacher, who does not move me to applaud his eloquence, but to groan for my sins. Efficacy will be given to your voice, if you appear to be yourself persuaded of that to which you advise. That common rebuke will not then at least belong to you, Thou who teachest another, teachest thou not thyself?"