Bernard of Clairvaux takes centre stage this week. He was a man who wrote beautiful truths while supporting terrible ideas. During his life the Honey-Tongued preacher gets himself embroiled in a Papal schism and starts another crusade almost single-handedly… it doesn’t go well.
How does a productive pastor not burn out? I didn’t expect to find the answer from John Gill. John Gill was a prolific Baptist writer and author in 18th Century London. He wrote: The first English single author whole Bible commentary (9 vols). The first Baptist systematic theology (2 vols). Various other tracts, treatises and technical Hebrew works. I expected his life to involve sacrifice. Perhaps early hours, a poor marriage or neglecting his congregation. But Rippon’s A Brief Memoir surprised me. Gill didn’t work an insane schedule. He pastored from age 21 to 74 and never burnt out. Here’s...
