“How may a man ascertain his election of God to the ministry of the gospel? And what are sufficient qualifications for that important office?”

I conceive an answer to the latter part of the question will enable a person to decide upon the former; it being a principle which may be taken for granted, that whoever possesses the essential qualifications for the Christian ministry is called of God to exercise them. “Every man that hath received the gift” is commanded of God “to minister the same as a good steward of the manifold grace of God.” Only let him take heed that “if he speak, it be according to the oracles of God.”

Now the Scriptures are not silent on the qualifications of a bishop: see 1 Tim. 3:1–7. By a bishop I must be allowed to understand, not a lord in lawn, but a Christian pastor. And besides those requisites which belong to his moral and religious character, there are two things which appear to be absolutely necessary to the discharge of this sacred office; one is, that he have a true desire after it, and the other, an ability for it. The former of these qualifications is included in the terms, “if a man desire the office of a bishop.” It is supposed that this desire shall spring from a pure motive, and not from the love of ease, affluence, or applause; but from a concern to glorify God and promote the salvation of men. It is necessary, in my judgment, that there should be a special desire of this sort; a kind of fire kindled in the bosom, that it would be painful to extinguish. The latter qualification is contained in those expressive terms, “apt to teach.” He must possess not only an inventive mind, but a kind of natural readiness in communicating his ideas.

Neither of these qualifications is sufficient in itself. A man may have a desire after the Christian ministry, and that desire may arise from the purest motives; and yet, having no competent ability for the work, he is certainly not called of God to be employed in it. I doubt not but the Lord will take it well that it was in the heart of such persons to build him a house, though their desire may never be accomplished. On the other hand a person may not only be a good man and judicious, but possess a readiness in communicating his ideas; and yet, having no special thirst after the work of the ministry, or of thus promoting the salvation of souls, he is unfit to engage in it.

Of the former qualification, every man must be his own judge; for who else can be acquainted with his desires and motives? Of the latter, those with whom we stand connected. Whether we be “apt to teach” is a question on which we ought not to decide ourselves: those are the best judges who have heard us, and been taught by us. When a congregation of Christians invite a person to serve them in the gospel, it is sufficient proof that they consider him as equal to the undertaking. If a person so invited be but clear as to the former qualification, I conceive he may leave the latter to the judgment of others; and conclude that, so long as a door is opened for him to preach the gospel, he is called of God to do so.

Fuller, A. G. (1988). “Ministerial Call and Qualification,” Answers and Queries. The Complete Works of Andrew Fuller: Expositions—Miscellaneous (J. Belcher, Ed.; Vol. 3, pp. 793–794). Sprinkle Publications.