Who is worthy for gospel ministry?

John Newton's famous encounter with God during a great storm at sea occurred in March 1748, but within a decade, the young disciple was already considering whether the Lord was calling him into full-time gospel ministry. In 1758, he wrote down a serious of 'miscellaneous thoughts' for his own private reflection. These have now been published by The John Newton Project.

Meditating on 2 Cor 2:16, he asks who is worthy for gospel ministry?

Who is worthy thus to stand between the Lord and sinful man? Who is worthy to be the Lord's prophet - to approach the fountain of light and purity, to receive those communications which an unholy heart can neither receive or retain?

... Who is worthy to be a priest of the Most High God - to present the offerings of a whole people - to intercede for them - to be the mouth, the hands, and the eyes of a congregation? If the Lord is to be sanctified by all that come near him - what clean hands, how pure a heart should he have who leads the way to others?

To bring the first news of the Redeemer's entrance into a lost wold, was the employment and the joy of the angels. Who of all the sons of dust and ashes is worthy to complete their message? Alas! are sinners worthy to show forth the spotless Lamb of God? Are the labours of his life, the wonders of his love, the greatness of his sufferings, and the glories of his exaltation suitable subjects for such cold hearts and stammering tongues as mine? O Lord I am unworthy, utterly unworthy of the meanest station in thy house, or the smallest service to thy people.