Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-09-08

Cdrnal tnitikS T II NOI. . IL
Our Lord himself announced the doc
/ trine that the workman Is worthy
/ az his meat the labOrer OF
his hire. 1t is this principle
which underlies the powerful antlthetlc
argument Of the Apostle in this passage
We who have sown are entitled to reap,
and we who have sown spiritual things
are entitled to reap carnal things. Those
who have received are under obligation
TO impart. In another place, speaking OF
the Offering made by them OF Macedonia
and Arabia to the poor saints at Jerusa-
lem, this same Apostle says, I'll the
Gentiles have been made partakers OF
their spiritual things, their duty Is also
10 minister unto them in carnal
things" Rom. 10, q. 1t APP
pears then that the Apostle did not re-
gard this contribution as a matter OF
benefcence, but as the payment OF a
debt. The spiritual blessings which they
had received imposed on them an un-
questioned obligation.
The argument is also one oil degree.
III spiritual things have been received,
it is not a great thing, but comparative
ly very small thing, TO give carnal
things in return. l fear that there are
some in every church who kindle into
exstatic glow at the Prophets vision,
elbow beautiful upon the mountains are
the feet of him that bringeth good tidings,
that publisheth peace; that bringeth
good tidings OF good, that publisheth sal
yatiOn; that saith unto Zion, Thy God
reignethw who have never been quite
able 10 enjoy the Apostles declaration,
"They which minister about holy things
live of the things of the temple, and
thew which wait at the altar are par
takers with the altar; even SO hath the
Lord ordained that they which preach
the gospel should live OF the gospel
Such persons do make their pastors feel
that il is "a great thing" when they are
permitted to share their carnaI
things. They have not, to be
sure, the spirit OF Nabal, who
on a memorable occasion, answered
David servants, and said: "Who is Da-
yid2 and who is the son OF Jesse? Shall
| then take nv bread, and my water,
and NV flesh that | have killed Tor my
shearers, and give it unto men whom
| know not whence they be% Nabal,
selfish and churlish, forgot that David S
men had guarded his fiOcks and his
household, and secured him the enjoy
ment Of all the blessings that he pos
sessed. And there are some good Chris
tian men, who are neither selfish nor
ehurlish, who mean TO be both Just and
generous, who seem never to have re-
allied the truth that for their property,
their homes, their civilization, their
highest development, their purest joys,
their most radiant hopes, they are IN
debted 10 the Church, to the Bible, and
To the faithful preaching and teaching
of the Amounted messengers OF our
Lord Jesus Christ. How much do we
owe to those men whose feet were as
tracks OF light on the mountains, when
they came TO our fathers and to us, pub
fishing peace and crying, Behold your
GodP7 II is said that the Arabs oil the
desert reward with princely honors
those who guide their sand-scorched
feet to a spring Of living water. what
honors shall we bestOw on the men who
directed our erring feet to those life-Sivlng
fountains which satisfy the thirsty soulY
We will be better prepared to answer,
If We consider, little IN detail,
THE VALUE OF THE GOSPEL MINISTRY.
|. Consider what are the functions OF
ministers. They are witnesses to the
truth OF God, they are authorized eX-
FOUNDERS of the sacred Oracl6s, they are
evangelists. disciple-makers, propagatorS
of revealed truth. They discuss sub
iects of vital interest to men for both
worlds.
.. Consider the relation OF the pulpit
IN public morals. Health, wealth,
education of children, personal safety,
society, law, govern ment-all OF these
have their surest foundation in public
morality. Ministers, more than any
other class Of men, directly seek to pro-
mote GOOD morals. They habitually re-
buke ain sin and ungOdhness. IL is their
business to apply to the hearts and
lives oi men the revealed will OF God,
which Is the only sufficient foundation
and support of morality. Ii, with the
preaching of the Gospel, the standard
and practice of morality are far below
what they ought to be, would not all
the restraints and barriers OF wickedness
be swept away, if the pulpits were lev
eled 10 the earth and Gods ministers
silenced?
3. Consider the relation OF the pulpit
To civilization, or To the amount and
distribution of individual and social
well being. The pulpit is not only the
enemy of all injustice and wrong, IL Is
also the earnest advocate OF every edu-
cational and charitable interest. The
gospel is for man without respect to
rank or class, and the preachers OF the
gospel, therefore, are the especial ser
wants of the poor, the oppressed, theig-
norant and despOiled. The pulpit, ev-
ery where. improves human condition.
II promotes family and community in
terests: and these are essential elements
in civilization. 1t build, men
up in those virtues without
which there can be no individual and
social well being, and 1t arrays all IT'S
forces against those vices which would
/ reduce men to barbarism. There Will
only be a perfect civilization when the
kingdom Of God is fully established in
/ the hearts Of men.
4. Consider the relation OF the pulpit
/ to national character. There Is differ
ence betwixt the priest who controls
/ through fear and superstition, and the
minister who appeals to reason and con-
science; there is a difference between
Professionalism and Romanism-between
New England and Mexico. A free pull
pit and an open Bible constantly tend