The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1873-12-12


fault, to complain. There must be great
deal of pleasure in fault-fnding, in grum-
bling, else why are so many people doing
it all the time, in every relation in life.
Women complain about their rights SER
wants about their wages, farmers about
the weather; politicians about offices work
complains against capital capital against
work I; the thief finds fault with the law;
the citizen with the State. Both seller
and customer complain of price, and from
the child with burnt fingers complaining
about the fire, to the rheumatic octoge-
marian, who complains of the east wind,
everybody complains. Even ministers
complain of their congregations and con-
cations do sometimes complain a little
about their ministers.
Now, in our church, where the people
choose their own pastor, hold it to be as
mean and dishonorable for a congregation
or part of a congregation to 60 around with
little, mean filings at their minister with
small private Sights and grievances, to air
at other peoples tea table-as for hus-
band to circulate damaging reports con-
corning his own wife. Stand by your min
lister like man stands by his wife. God
knows, who put us into this office, that it
is not path of roses to carry whole con-
gregation on mans heart to feel for
their distress, to watch by their dying;
to be everybody's friend; to be at every
bodys service; to work hard and gather
SO little exhausting the heart and
wearing out the brain, oftentimes in
thankless service. Oh if it wern't for
Christ and the rest that remaineth, and
God-inspired devotion to the good of men,
l tell you there be few of us but would be
glad to lay aside the Office and sit in q
pew instead of stand in the pulpit Very
few people have any adequate idea of the
cost and value of brain labor. The Draw
ny toiler, the man who uses his muscles,
and sleeps twelve hours, and rises refresh
ed as by q bath, cannot understand the
waste and WEAKNESS, the strain and stress
OF getting ready to interest and instruct
the same congregation of people from Sun
day to Sunday.
People have said to me, what nice, easy
time you preachers have2 Nothing to do
but to read bit of paper for half an hour
twice on Sunday and make calls. And
that, too, in the face of the fact, that the
minister has set up and talked with this
same subject an entire morning ON moth
ings, and then made the time good by
studying past midnight, till his bones
ached and his head was faint, on that same
bit Of paper he esteems SO slightly. 'Tis
enough to make a preacher that is not
as meek as Moses turn like even the worm
does when trampled on, or abandon his
profession and go at something in which
it is not everybody's privilege to give him
\ advice, criticise his clothes and find fault
with his sermons.
| One word more in this connection. A
divided congregation fault finding peo-
pie; church with discussions and strifes
in it; church wherein the people don't
traternize; are cold, Indifferent, Irregular
can never expect to have good preaching.
God won't give it to them. No minister
can possibly furnish it; l don't care how
much talent and grace he may have. His
church will freeze his blood, and dry up
his thoughts; the din of division will aeai"
en- him to the still small voice of the
Spirit, and he cannot help being stale, nat
and Improbable in the pulpit. On the
contrary, it is astonishing what a united
and devoted congregation can get out of
almost any preacher. Oh! when church
rallies around man. when their prayers
second his; when their efforts go with his
own; when they beam kindness and good
will on him from their pews, and grasp his
| hand with cordially on the street or at
their doors; Oh that church will never
complain of their ministers. Why, it will
be joy to serve that people. Their love
and enthusiasm will lift him every Sunday
| to higher flights ofeloquence, and help him
to clearer views of truth. They will get the
very best that is in that man every Lords
Day. He will grid up the loins OF his mind,
and 60 at his work with all the heartiness
and zeal of loving service. Why, who
doesn't do better for being encouraged p
Where's the man does not do better work
under loving eyes than under task mas
ter's lash, or beneath cold glances of in
difference or disapproval. Who can't lift
heavier load and bear it further in view
of friendly eyes, cheering hands, than
when unnoticed and no man caring2
Well, just 80 with us ministers. We are
men. We droop like you do, when dis
couraged, or left alone. We grow bigger,
better, fuller, when nourished by Your
generous words when lighted and warmed
by your smiles and approval. We court
just such rewards for our ministry; tits
our highest earthly crown, to be loved and
upheld and encouraged by our people
for it, because in your smiles we believe
we see Gods seal ofapproval on our minis
try; therefore, like in olden times clansmen
gathered around their chief; like brave
soldiers have followed their chosen leader,
rally around your minister. Abide by
him in every good and true work he under
takes. Second him in every generous enter
prize for the overthrow of evil and the up
building OF righteousness in the communi-
ty. Follow him always with your prayer
Remember he is your minister, and nobody
ever had or can ever have, better counsel
lor and truer friend than good and faith
full pastor. Why, who can you trust like
such an one2 TO whom can you go like to
him, when in trouble, when in doubt about
course to be pursued2
Who so worthy to have your confidence;
who so fit to sit at the secret springs of
your lite9 Who sympathzes with you so
truly and deeply who SO much interested
in your children, in your struggles and vic
tories, your successes or failures, as he 2
Christ's ambassador to your soul; your SER
want for Jesus sake; Gods voice to your
conscience, and the Interpreter and En-
forcer in your pulpit of Gods word and
will, for your instruction and guidance.
Now, in the second place, my hearers, in
order that your minister may be all this,
and more besides, to you, ask you to re-
member that it is your duty to free him
from worldly cares. Give him generous
support Remember that he gets hungry
has back to be clothed body to DO
warmed; mind to feed ON books; tastes
to oratify-as well as Won Sumo connra