The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-10-13
PUTTING THE CLERGY.

those, namely, that. relate to the future
world and to God himself. Their vocation
brings men to the bar of conscience, and
adds the sanction of divine penalties to the
obligations of reason. The very fact of
their heavenly calling is a temptation to the
people not to deal with them as with other
men; and yet when they sin they fall under
popular reprobation as no other class posi-
bly, can. They are measured by the sanctity
of their profession instead of the feebleness
of human nature. When they succeed in
their ministration in the pulpit, and the sue
cess is genuine one, they deserve praise,
and are only too sure to win it. If the
hearers were wise as we'll as sincere, their
praise might be harmless so it might be if
the preacher were wholly destitute of vanity.
But God has thrust out into the ministry
men of like passions with their brethren.
Besides, if the nearer has gone to church
covered up with his business and cares, or
sinking under doubt or sore temptation, and
the preacher should succeed in drawing him
out of the slough, of diffusing about him an
atmosphere of celestial certainty, and for
the time almost making another man of him,
an acknowledgement of the service is but
natural and proper. But the acknowledge
ment too often comes in the form of mere
eulogy. Instead of speaking of doubts re-
moved, or darkness diSpelled, gratitude takes
the form of compliment, and the pastor
hears of "grand sermon" splendid
effort" Zone of the best discourses ever de-
livered in this church" These "testimo-
Mes" frequently repeated, are in danger,
by-and-by, of becoming necessity, and the
preacher is liable to depression when they
are not forthcoming. An appetite for praise
is created, which even good conscience and
a sense of intellectual ability can not satisfy,
and the preacher is obliged to angle for a
compliment. To such man the sense of
failure in a sermon becomes a source of hui
initiation for a whole week. We have known
strong and popular men whose wretchedness
on such occasions could only be dispelled by
some hearers good opinion of their per-
Torrance.
The clergyman, in respect to this ques-
ton, is not situated like members of the
other professions. The lawyer is occupied
with business; his labor aims directly at a
practical point, and his reward is a fee; elo-
quence with him is incidental, He is indie
pendent of the crowd; the decision he seeks
is not upon his own eloquence or ability, but
in regard to the rights of his client With
the preacher, whose Judge and jury are a
congregation, the reverse is too apt to be
the case: to the crowd ability and oratory
are the main things. The physicians pa
irons are his patients; he may inspire graft
tube, and win for himself an abundance of
kind and gracious words, but from him none
of the arts of speech are expected; pills and
plasters take the place of periods; he is far
removed in his labors from the sphere of the
beautiful, and his profession creates no ap-
petite for fattery. The artist in his picture,
for example, boldly processes to seek repu-
tation; money is an inferior aim; his work
is an open appeal for the applause of men.
The preachers profession shrinks from such
a motive as sinful, and aims to ignore or up
root it. Still, there he stands, needing
praise in order to exist, and yet when it
comes, it is at war with the deep seriousness
of his calling. How out of place these hu-
man trappings look over his sable garments !
But few ministers reach the experience of
Bishop WhatcOat on this subject. The story
goes that on one occasion some younger
preachers were telling their trials in his pre-
sence The sum of their talk was, that when
they felt after preaching that the sermon
had been success, Satan tempted them to
pride, and when they thought they had
failed, he tempted them to Encouragement
They finished, and waited for the venerable
Bishop to speak, but he was silent. They
then questioned him particularly:
"Wel, Bishop, haveyou these experiences,
too?'
"No," said the Bishop, "nol"
"What," said they, "does Satan never
tell you that you have preached we'll OR III"
cob! yes" answered the Bishop, "but it
gives me no trouble
"What, then" said they, els your reply
to the tempter?"
"Why," said Bishop Whatcoat, "when he
tells me 1 have preached well, [ answer,
Yes, pretty well for poor worm,' and
when he charges that have preached poorly,
1 answer, eyes, but there is little to be ex-
pected from poor worm
These thoughts are evoked by survey of
the religious weeklies and by certain recol-
lections which they awaken. The minister
in the pulpit has another minister behind
him. The sermon is satisfactory, and must,
therefore, be pulled. The stranger, in his
closing prayer, returns thanks for the sable,
clear, powerful discourse" Did he think
the preacher would expect it, and would be
watching for it in the prayer? Does not
such a prayer share the worship between
God and the preacher?" And even if it
does not, would it not still be better to avoid
such an appearance? Is it not ittleness,