The Seriousness of Preaching and Teaching

I ran across this quote from Richard Baxter (posted in the Pulpit Magazine blog) that certainly gives me pause to stop and think as I prepare Bible studies, speak in churches, and seek to minister to leaders around the state:

"For myself, as I am ashamed of my dull and careless heart, and of my slow and unprofitable course of life, so, the Lord knows, I am ashamed of every sermon I preach; when I think what I have been speaking of, and who sent me, and that men’s salvation or damnation is so much concerned in it, I am ready to tremble lest God should judge me as a slighter of His truths and the souls of men, and lest in the best sermon I should be guilty of their blood.

"Me thinks we should not speak a word to men in matters of such consequence without tears, or the greatest earnestness that possibly we can; were not we too much guilty of the sin which we reprove, it would be so."