The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-11-27
FoR THE Central PRrsBrrrRrAS.
Ministerial Support.
ARGUMENT oF DIR. pABNEY.

ARGUMENT OF DR.. DABNEY.
This argument was presented to the Synod OF
Virginia in connection with the report from the
Committee appointed on that subject last year.
STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES.
1t is believed the Synod accepts the
following statements as true:
/. The Presbyterian Church in Vm-
ginia has not realized that growth de-
manded for our wide destitutions, and of
which the church of God should be ca
pable. The apparent obstacle to an ex-
pertinent of other means is, that pro.
posal of amendment implies criticism !;
and this implication is likely to be re-
sented. But since God has promised to
be with his faithful ministers constantly
to the end of the world, one of two
things must be concluded, either. that He
is as much with US, and our labors are as
successful as we are to desire or expect,
or that we are not entirely faithful
Hence, if impatience Of criticism is pro-
per for us, we must believe that Gods
cause ought not to advance faster than it
has done among US.
2. Recognizing our dependence for
success on sovereign grace, and the su-
preme Importance of more zeal and holi-
ness in ministers and people, We account
for our disappointment of fuller results,
partly by the fact that our whole minis
terial force is not actively and continu-
Ously employed. The 1S4 ministers and
icentiates ON our roll probably do not
perform the work of 90 men continuous
ly employed. And this disastrous loss OF
efficiency proceeds greatly from deficient
support. Where half a minister's days
is consumed by worldly tolls, the loss of
true efficiency is even greater; because
heart harassed and untuned by secular
anxieties and habitudes of feeling is less
energetically given, in the remaining
fragments of time, to the care of souls.
8. But if the inability or injustice of
churches lays this necessity on pastors,
they are by no means to be blamed for
making an honest secular calling sup
ply their wants, after the example of
Paul, the tent-maker. We rather rejoice
that, by means of this selfdenial of min
listers, the destitutions are supplied with
partial ministrations, which otherwise
would be wholly neglected; while yet
we deplore the obstructing of so much
spiritual effort, which might otherwise be
enjoyed by the church.
4. To realize the full effect of the pas
tors work, he must be "free from worldly
cares and ayocatiOns," to devote his whole
time, not only to Sabbath preaching, but to
catechising, preaching the Gospel from
house to house, and a perpetual and man
fold oversight of souls. And one great
lesson to be taught our laity is their ur-
gent need of all this spiritual labor, and
the wisdom Of purchasing and exacting
it. Whereas their sense of want is often
no more than of the Sabbath sermon and
the occasional call, which are dispatched
in a fragment of the minister's time !;
whence the not unnatural feeling, that a
partial compensation therefor is all that
justice requires.
5. Our merciful Divine Head still
shows US, amidst all our delinquencies,
that a true pastoral work is still always
rewarded by the sure growth of the
charge which enjoys it. This fact sum
mons us, by the most solemn and pleas
ing obligation, to make experiment Of
such full and faithful work in all our
field.
6. 1t is truth equally clear and i'm
portant, that Presbyteries cannot exact
of their members this full work, while
these are necessarily engaged in earning,
otherwise, part of their maintenance.
Whence, adequate sustentation is an ab-
sOl1te prerequisite for proper Pres6yte-
rial government oUer pastors.
7. 1t is not unnatural that both Chris
tian parents and their sons should have a
feeble sense of the claims of the minis
try, while the church fails to employ full
ly the clerical force she already possesses.
Hence we shall draw more laborers into
Christ's harvest, by giving more eficien-
cy to those now in the field.
From all which it appears plan that
the two desidsrata of our Church in this
department are: