As usual, I am amazed at how relevant Baxter's work is. So much of what he writes about has immediate correlation in our modern context! This chapter deals with some of the pitfalls common to preachers. First, Baxter deals with pride and humiliation. He points out an important aspect of reformed living - repentance always follows sorrow. But this logic only works one way. If we are truly repentant, we will have a deep, Godly sorrow for our sin. But being sorry for sin does not necessarily lead to repentance - there has to be an actual change in behavior! This seems to parallel the words of the Apostle. There is a worldly sorrow, which leads only to death, and there is a Godly sorrow which leads to repentance. By examining these we can judge our own hearts. If we come to the Lord continuously, agonizing over the same sin, we may not be truly repentant. Sometimes, we want our sin and forgiveness. We want to continue stroking our lusts while receiving God's forgiveness and acceptance. Baxter doesn't work out his theology very well here - in light of modern "once saved, always saved", Baxter probably sounds like an Arminian. I won't dissect his soteriology here, but would only point out that his observations are correct. Namely, how can we as pastors decry sin and urge repentance when we haven't repented ourselves? If we do not see a benefit sufficient to change our lives, why urge it on others?PRIDE - Baxter lists this as the pastor's cardinal sin. It leads, in Baxter's observation (and in mine!) to several fruits: a dictatorial nature (137), preoccupation with wardrobe and fashion (137), selection of texts and sermons that will stroke our ego (137), in short, pride makes us seek our own and our own glory, rather than God and His glory (138). I can think of times when all of these have been true in my life, and the TV is filled with those who's entire ministry is based on these evil fruits. Pride can also lead to envy of other ministers (139), censorship of those whose opinions differ from our own (140), leading to a binary approach to all other ministries - we must either lend the victory of idea to the other (injurious indeed to our pride!) or condemn all the ministry of the one who holds the opposing view (141). Pride is also overly sensitive, and does not allow us to admit mistakes (141), causes us to curry favor with those whom we deem beneficent to our standing (to the point of sugar-coated reproof and dissimulation) (142), and causes a pure contradiction: "The very design of the gospel is to abase us; and the work of grace is begun and carried on in humiliation....it is a contradiction in terms to be a Christian and not be humble." (143).
The rest of the chapter is just as enlightening, but this section alone is so heavy, i think we might all meditate on it for a while.
New Testament reading? Old Testament reading? Public Scripture reading? Some good advice, 
