The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-10-18

i
in the consciousness that, however much her
other interests have suffered, and her other
institutions have been injured by the fearful
ordeal through which they have passed dur
ing the last ten years, her Christian ministry
have preserved their integrity, spotlesS and
pure, as it"was in "the good old days" be
fore they were subjected to the corrupting
influences to which they were exposed during
that period of suffering, of trial and of temp
tation. Such result is most fortunate; as
it is indispensable to their success in prose-
cutting the great work assigned them by their
divine Master, the great Head of the Church.
For how could the world be converted through
the agency of men in whom the world has no
confidence?
The corollary of this proposition is that
the individual who "breathes the breath of
suspicion" upon the reputation of this devo-
ted band of men, of whom "the world is not
worthy" and who give all their energies of
mind and body to the duties of their high
calling, does, "prO tantO," place an obstruc-
ton in the way of "the Gospel Chariot, "
which impedes its progress, to the ruin of
immortal souls. And yet there are those
who, measuring others by themselves, in the
consciousness Of their own want of virtue,
and in the spirit of the vilest demagogism,
assail the character of men as devoted to
the service of their Master, and as careful
of the rights and the feelings of their breth-
ren, as any of their predecessors, in any Pc
riod of the Church. Yes, these good men
are denounced by weak or wicked accusers,
as ecclesiastical autocrats, who would
usurp the rights of the laity, and as worldly
conformists. AS proof Of this last charge
the fact is presented, that when borne down
by excessive labors, with health impaired
and strength exhausted, they obey the in
structions of their medical advisers and the
demands of suffering nature, by resting
awhile from their work during "the heated
season." And worse than this, some of them
are so lost to sense of propriety as to be-
take themselves to the hills and the noun
tains, where they may enjoy the bracing
air and the healing mineral waters which an
impartial and benefcent Providence has there
provided, not for the laity only, but for those
who serve them at the altar, as a0eU.
1t is quite evident that these watch-dogs
of the church, who have assumed to them
selves the duty of guarding The rights and
the interests Of their more ignorant brethren,
know of no other labor than that performed
by the hands Never having exercised their
own minds to weariness, they will be sur
prised to learn for the first time, that there
is such thing as "brain.sweat," which more
than all else exhausts the energies of the
body as we'll as of the mind, and leaves both
in condition to excite the sympathy Of
every philanthropist, whether he be Chris
tian, Infdel, Turk or Jew. The man who
INDUCES in "raiing accusation" against the
ministry or any portion of them, for doing
that which the gospel sanctions and nature
requires, is very much to be pttied or greatly
to be blamed, as the cause of his offence shall
be found in the head, or the heart; for the
one must be exceedingly weak or the other
deplorably corrupt. If all such would be.
take themselves to thinking, and employ
their minds in some useful study, they would
doubtless become better as well as wiser men
And they would find, what now passes their
comprehension, that the brain as we'll as the
body may be overworked, and thereby en-.
ervated to such degree as to require resi-
, and relaxation among the mountains, to re
store it to a healthy condition. They would
moreover, learn to sympathise with those de-
| voted men who "burn the midnight lamp
, in preparation for the duties of the sanctury
and thus bring upon themselves that loss O.
l health and strength which renders it neces
sary for them to breathe the mountain air
| and to quat the mineral waters which have
9 been provided for their relief.
In vindicating the clergy from the injuries
e of which 1 complain, 1 am influenced no less
by the interest which feel in the success o.
} the work to which their lives are devoted
. and which depends so much as well upon thu
4 purity of their reputation as upon the holi
5 ness of their character, than by the sympa
, thy which feel for injured innocence.
t deplore the condition of those who, from
r desire to thrust themselves forward as tn
4 peculiar champions of the rights of others
: or from an OversOeening longing after nOtorie
t ty, or from. whatever other cause, engage il
5 the contemplate business of endeavoring t.
/ bring odium upon the Christian ministry
4 and thus, as far as their influence may 60
? to render them powerless in accomplishing
< the great work to which they have been called
Whilst it cannot be denied that, now AM
t then, one may be recognised as faithles
D among the faithful (for there was Juda
/ among the twelve,) it may be safely affirmed
s of the Southern clergy, that more enlight
/, ened, self-denying and devoted men can n,
!. where be found; for they come fully up t,
e the standard of the faithful pastor of whom
0 Dryden wrote:
'His preaching much but more his practice wrought
A living sermon of the truths he taught"
The reputation and the feelings of all sucl
,oon ebo,IJ ba cd ond dafandod h1, o1