Johnson on ministry

A visitor told Samuel Johnson that he regretted not becoming a clergyman because he considered that life an easy, comfortable existence. Johnson knew better. "The life of a conscientious clergyman is not easy," he told his visitor. "I have always considered a clergyman as the father of a larger family [his church] than he is able to maintain. No, sir! I do not envy a clergyman's life as an easy life; nor do I envy the clergyman who makes it an easy life."