Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1879-03-15
MEWn1S APPEAL
StfTRDAI, i MARCH Is, 1879.
KIND WORDA

We publish to-day from the pen Of Rev.
Mr.. Barksdale, a communication defensive Of
the conduct of the Protestant pastors who fed
from Memphis during the epidemic. This
Communication is written IN the kindliest
spirit, and coming from one who stood
heroically at his post IS entitled TO espe-
cal consideration. But unfortunately for the
brethren whose cause Mr.. Barksdale pleads
so affectionstely, the people have made Up
their minds in their case and have decided
against them. The verdict is sealed and ir
revOca0le. 1t is based not only upon some
OF the texts which Mr. Barksdale quotes, but
upon others of equal f-rce, upon the ex-
ample of Christ end his apostles, the usage
Of the church from the earliest days, and
upon the expectancy Of the people who, IN
time OF trouble and affection, Of plague, pes
thence and famine, look to the Lord through
the church and the church's ministers. The
people have delivered this judgment upon
the promises and assurances of the scripture
which every Protestant minister promises
TO preach. "He shall deliver thee, thou shalt
not be afraid for the terror of night
nor for the pestilence that walketh in dark
ness, nor for the destruction that wasteth at
MONDAY. Who forgiveth all thine iniquities,
who healeth all thy diseases" The people
are fixed in their Judgment because they have
been taught to believe in the efficacy of
prayer. "Hezekiah prayed to the Lord in
mis- sickness. Thus SAID the Lord to him, i
have heard thy prayers, | have seen thy
tears, will heal thee" "Publius lay sick
of fever, to whom Paul entered IN and
prayed, and laid hands on him and healed
him." Evidently the apostle to the gentiles
was not afraid of fever. 'ls any among you
afflicted? let him pray. Is any sick? let
him send for the elders of the church, and
let them pray for him, and the prayer of
faith shall save the sick" Our runaway pas
tors did-not wait to test this power of prayer,
for denying which Tyndal was so souudly
berated by them. They left our stricken
people. ASA in his disease sought not the
Lord the parsons were ABSENT, but went to
the physicians" and he died "Let the
priests; the ministers of the Lord weep be-
tween the porch and the altar, and let them
say, Spare Thy people, o Lord. and give
not Thy heritage to reproach.'" HE that
lovelh his life for my sake shall find it.
Every one that hath forsaken houses or
brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or
wife, or children, or lands for my names
sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and
shall receive everlasting life" The preach
ers ought to have remembered this last text
aOove all others, and should have been pre-
pared to ''glory in tribulations, knowing that
tribulation worketh patience" "God will
render to every man according to his works.
Whatsoever good things any man doth,
the same shall he receive of the
Lord" What is good work
in man who is commissioned
as an ambassador of Christ? Comfort ye,
comfort ye my people. God comforteth US,
that we may be able to comfort them that
are IN trouble" And "Bear ye one another's
burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ"
Christ went about doing good" healing the
sick, raising the dead, comforting those who
had fallen and those who were distressed in
mind, body or estate, and took no account of
his own safety, but went on to suffer death
at the last, an example for all who follow
him.