The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-10-11
What is the standard that the people re-

are devoted to God-whose hearts are alive
to the interests of the church, and not
merely men religiously educated, and who
love to associate with Christian people, but
men of God, men who have had a deep.
er experience in the things of God,
men who cannot only refer to early
Christian experience, but men whose hearts
are alive to God, men who love God and
delight to consecrate themselves to the
work of God. They expect you to be truly
called by the Spirit to the work of the
ministry that you have not only connec-
ton with the vine-for members have the
same-but that God has called you to the
work. Unless you have this solemn con.
viction in your own minds, you do not come
up to this standard, and you we'll know
that you are incompetent for this great
work unless you have that impelling power
that will sustain you in the discharge of
these Christian duties. How much there is
this my brethren " called of Cod" not
merely men of God, but called of God to
do special work.
You are not, therefore, to regard your,
selves as men of the world, for Christ has
called you out of the world Christ has
gone up on high, and has placed in your
hands the fulfllment of his work. But the
position you occupy is responsible, not
merely from the standpoint that you
are teachers of the truth--how important a
view-but from this standpoint: you rep
resent God and Christ as teachers of reli-
gious truth. This is the position in which
you stand before the worId--ministers of
Christ-teachers of Christ Jesus.
1t is not then for you to give merely
your own minds, your own speculations; you
stand up to teach the truth of God, and just
that truth of God which should be brought
home to the hearts of the people. Oh what
a divine influence you need that you may
rightly understand the Word, and present it
in such manner as best to accomplish the
design of God. 1t may not be necessary for
me to say that if you faithfully discharge
these duties, you must give yourselves
wholly to this work, and prepare yourselves
for this work. No man is sufficiently en-.
dowed, who does not every day apply him.
self as far as possible to this work. For
this work we are not to rely upon the early
proficiency we have made in the work of
the ministry. How soon a minister will
decline if be lays aside the great Book of
books, and the great work of preparing for
the pulpit; how soon he will loose an
interest in his sermons, and when he loses
his interest, the people will theirs, be may
be assured. You owe it to your families !;
and hence the duty of preparing for this
great work as far as possible. II man
applies himself every day, he will be green
and vigorous in old age, and man should
never give up making sermons until be gives
up preaching sermons. When be is super.
animated, his responsibilities cease, but
when man superannuates himself the
responsibility rests upon himself, and be
must give account to God. All our powers
are to be given to the Great Head of the
Church.
We are to cultivate our minds in every
possible way, and thus make ourselves
available to the church of God. What a
pitiful thing it is when a young man COM
mences with fair prospects, desired among
the people, useful to the people, and yet
grows into maturity with no physical or
intellectual strength, and no longer desired
by the people; it is an awfM wrong. If
Divine Providence disquali6es man so that
be can no longer be useful in the ministry,
he is clear; but if a man has wilfully lost
his strength, and seems to have lost bis
power with the people to bless and bring
them to Christ, it must certainly show that
there is a great wrong somewhere. But
the people desire not merely man to
instruct them in things of Righteousness;
they desire man to visit them pastorally,
not merely to keep up individual friendship,
but as minister of the Lord Jesus Christ.
If man gives attention only to the pulpit
work, and does not prepare for the pastoral
work, he may be sure be can accomplish
but little for God and His cause bis life
will comparatively run to waste. Jesus
wants such minister as gives himself up
to this work, and attends not only to one
but all the duties of Christian minister.
l hope, brethren, if you purpose to be
ministers of Christ, you will do everything
that Christ demands at your hands. The
question is not whether we have labored in
just one direction, we must bring ourselves
to every department of the work, and we
are guilty before God if we do not attend
to it.
The conclusion of the address will be
given in the proceedings of the next session.