Smyrna times., 1866-04-18
MISCELLAN NEOUS.
Written for the Smyrna Times.
Itinerant Ministers.

One of the most prominent traits in the
economy of MethOdisrn is the itinerancy of its
ministers. 1t is almost coeval with its rise,
and has continued in every country where it
has spread with unabated vigor. It is usage
that has been emincntly blessed of God for
more than a century. Perhaps to this pecu-
| liarity more than to any other is Methodism
indebted for its unparalleled progressive march.
No other system could have been adequate
to cover such vast area; and no other could
have attached to its pulpits such a numerous
and various population. The educated and
| iterate, refined and vulgar, high and low,
rich and poor, have all been drawn within the
circle of its influence by the great variety of
talent exhibited by its itinerant ministry. The
| politician, statesman, orator and warrior have
all been attracted by its magnetizing power to
| its standard.
And though its circuits were few in the be-
ginning, they are now abundantly numerous
| When contemplating the rise and progress of
this Church, we think of the grain of mustard
seed spoken of by our Saviour, which is less
than all the seeds that are in the earth !"
| But when it is sown it groweth up and becom-
eth greater than all herbs and shooteth out
| great branches, SO that the towels of the air
may lodge under the shadow of it," Like the
grain of mustard seed, it was small at the be-
! ginning, yet it has vegetated and extended its
|
nations lodge under the shadow of it. And it
bids fair t6 extend its branches into every
country on the globe before another century
! shall have passed away.
In our humble opinion, change of ministry,
with the diversified multitude as hearers, is
necessary to eminent success. Even the earth
refuses plenary production, where its fields are
| titled for several years in the same ways. A
| change of seed and tillage are necessary to the
1 oofo lkY,r lsck fha
versi6ed talents found in the Conferences are
called into requisition by our mixed assemble
ges and all have chance of being suited some
time. In order to meet the wants of some OF
our prominent churches in large cities, trans
fers are made from one Conference to another.
| One preacher portrays to US Mount Sinai,
amidst the thunders and lightning and a thick
cloud, and the voice OF the trumpet exceeding
loud, . and the mount on smoke, because
the Lord descended upon it in fire." g 1t was
here that Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu,
and seventy of the elders saw the God Of Is
rael:" "and there was under his feet as il
were paved work Of a sapphire stone, and
as it were the body of Heaven in its clearness.
'1knd the sight Of the glory Of the Lord was
like devouring fire on the top Of the mount"
Among all this sublime and awful splendor the
deealogue written by God was given to Moses
for to teach the children of Israel. We dc
not wonder that the Hebrews said unto Moses
4 speak thou with us and we will hear but LEI
not God speak with us lest we die 4 Sd aie''
Another more gently leads US to Mount Cav.
airy, and delineates the sufferings of the i'm.
maeulate Son of God, and kindly tenders IL
poor heart-broken sinners the promises Of tht
4 gospel; and we feel that we have hope. el
alOne, like Paul, 8 reasons Of righteousness
temperance and Judgment to come" and Felil
\ trembles. Another, like John. says /" my Lit
j 4
cate with the Father, Jesus Christ the right
eous, and he is the Precipitation for our sins
! and not our only, but also for the sins of tn
4 whole world" )" Some are eloquent, and might
in the Scriptures, and fervent in spirit lik
ApoIlos." ~. 4 .as5- 4 ta. u =
4 The above thoughts we're suggested by re
cent change of Minister'S and we congratulate
our youthful Pastor on his debut among US
Wefeel hope that his services will contrib
= ute to the spiritual prosperity Of the Church.
md giiilss8' AN EPISCOPAL METHODIST.
Il Smyrna, April 9th, 1866. asda .'et gb