Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1844-07-24

z all manner of evil against you falsely, tor my
Sseake. 1t is imperiouslY the duty of. Ministers,
las well las other men TO strive, "If,itbe posi-
bic, aslnuch as ieth in them to live peaceabiy
with all men," But they are NOT to seek:peace
by Withholding or compromising the truth
They are directed, Zech. vIi. 19, TO ~ Love
the truth and peSce." Hence we conclude
Minister may be useful thoughhe be not popnt
lar: That he cannot be useful to the full ex
tent of his ability, if, from the fear OF man. he
fail TO decare'al.the counsel Of God. Bearing
in mind the charge of the Apostle to Timothy,
under the most solemn sanctions, to ''praaca
the ,cOrd," II not only becomes the duty OF the
ninistry fai,hfullyto declare the ruth as II IS
in Jesus, that they may be .pure from The
blood Of all men;" but also as a means by
which they may induce those under their charge
to make that word the rule Of their. li!e.S To
produce this result, we observe,
8. That the message of salvation should be
proclaimed in the spirit ofits author. Rom.
viii. 9. ''If any man have not the spirit of
Christ he is:none of his u He is not qualified
: 10 be Christ's in any respect unless he be un-
Rder the influence ola like holy disposition. and
cannot be prepared, therefore, to proclaim his
gospel successfully to others. The truth may
be delivered in such manner as not only TO
fail in producing good effect but of slceling
the mind against lis reception. This arises
not so much from the language in which it is
delivered as the spirit The truth, though ne.
cessary to be taught, must be spoken in nove.
Eph iv. Is. But speaking the truth in love,
>may gov up into hun In all things which is
the head, Christ" Love 10 God and mail is
the foundation Of every qualification of the
servant of Christ. Seel Cor. chap. xiii. par
ticuIar verses Is. Would Ministei sinduce
their charge to practice the precep,s Of the Bi.
Bile, let them take heed 10 the spirit in which
those piecepts are taught
= 4. Ministers should be living exemplifca-
lions Of the precepts they teach. Rom. ii. 81.
81 Thou, therefore, which teachest another
teachest thou not thyself? thou, that preachest
man should not steal, dost thou steal7 23
Thou that makest thy boast OF the law, through
breaking the law dishonorest thou GOd1" II
has been said Of Ministers, that they were as
posts en- the wayslde, which, without walking
10 the way uf their own direction. pointed the
traveller to the path which leads to the desired
goal. The truth or lalsehood of this charge will
not be fully unfoded till the day in which Jesus
Christ shall Judge the secrets of all hearts:
Ye, of this may the minisley rest assured, that
they will not prove as successful in influencing
men 10 walk in the way ofholines as The index
oil the way eide, unless they lead in the way.
Do the ministry preach against worldly mind
edness and are they contormed TO the world (?
Do they teach others to love their enemies,
and do they bear malice7 Do they ncucaie
principles of benevolence, and are they of
contracted and illiberal spiritl Alas there may
be some few individuals among their ranks of
this stamp, but we trust "ihey are but few and
far between" Itnay be said ofsome of them
4 -. .,ot,t
sician heal thysef." 2. Tim. ii. A. No man
that warreth ensang!eth himself with the affairs
ofthis life; that he may please him who hath
chosen him TO be soldier" Yet one has gone
TO his merchandise, another to his farm, another
to his school.room, while bat few remain con-
stnntIy at their posts on the walls of Zion to
cry aloud and spare not. But in reply may
such moi say, [. Cor. tx. Z. "Who goeth
warfare at any time at his own charges? Who
planteth vineyard, and enteth not the fruit
ihereos7 or who feedeth flock, and eateth
not of the milk tllereof7n ver. IA. "Even so
hath the Lord ordained that they which preach
the gospel, shall lice ofthe gospel Ministers
are men OF like wants with other men, and have
those for whom they must provide. Ut they
make not this provision, they will have denied
the faith and acted worse than infdels. They
are not mirdcllously supplied, neither has
God promised miraculously to supply them
with food from heaven, and garments that wax
not old, but while they are commanded TO at.
tend to the spiritual interests Of the Church,
the Church is under equally strong obligations
to provide for their temporal wants.
S. Ministers should he men of prayer. The
prayer of faith claims the promises Of God,
which cannot fail. Let Ministers water their
labours with much fervent prayer, and in due
season they shall reap if they faint not. James
v. 16. The efiectual fervent prayer ofa right
eous man availeth much" Matt. xxi. 22 "And
all things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer,
believing, ye shall receive"
6. They should rely alone upon the power of
God to effect the work. John XIV. 5. "For
without me ye can do nothing saith Christ
Then let Ministers make themselves thorough.
ly acquainted with the oracles of truth; let
them faithfully proclaim in the spirit of love
that truth and practice il; Let them weep
between the porch and the altar and go in the
strength Of the Lord God; then will their
flocks learn TO prize more fully the scriptures
of TRUTH make them more conscientiously and
effectively the rule of their life, aud be more
exemplary and jealous in the cause Of, God.-
Then shall Zion arise and shine in the glory
of him who rises upon her, looking forth as the
morn, fair as the moou, clear as the sun, and
terrible as an army with banners.