Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1880-04-05
WORK OF THE MIN isTRY,
III ts an Intellectual and Spiritual
Labor. Strength anu Courage II
needed-Sympathy for Ministers
Rpcnrnme m ded

II II an kMteiIestURt ana Spsr1tua
Labor. StFeUatb anu Courage II
II needed-Sympathy for Ministers
Recommended.
| Rev. g. W. Miller, the new pastor c
Grace M. X. church, preached his inia
tory sermon TO very large congrega
tion yesterday morning. The reverend
gentleman chose for his text the
words: ave beseech you, brethern
to know them which labor among you
and 10 esteem them very highly In
love for the works sake, and BE- at
peace among yourselves. ."-l Thessa-
lonians s; l2--13.
The speaker continuing, said: "Tht
sasredness and the vital importance Of
preashing Is seen in one fact-'God
sent forth His only begotten Son, not u
be ministsred unto, bat to minister
uhts others.'"
"Angels did not engage in the worn
Of preaching the gospel. 1t was neees
sary for person having a human
heart to minister unto humanity. Hence
Christ took upon Himself the nature Of
the seed of Abraham! The ministerial
Office Is filed by human beings and
none other and these persons are under
tho inspiration Of the truth which they
teach. Written sermons are inadequate
to produce such an effect as those that
are verbal. ! beseecb you, brethren, to
know them who are over you. This was
an utteranos by one who was over the
early christians. For loves sake he
besought rather than commanded. ("
The speaker entreated his congregation
to profit by the advice of the apostle.
The reverend gentleman next con-
sidered the work Of the ministry-its
practical labor and prerogatives and
those who labor. "The work of the
ministry in his opinion is labor, for
what is ministry but ssIvice' 1t is
a labor intellectually and spiritually.
The man who Is plased in high posi-
tion has more labor to perform than
those who share the effects which that
labor produces. 1t is possible that
Washington did more labor while at
Valley Forge than did his bare.footsd
followers. A minister must devote
himself entirely to his work. He has
grand themes to handle, has Gods
elaborate cause to unfold. He labors
in the quarrie9 Of eternal trNth and has
To mould the most costly materials
which this earth possesses.
at is expected OF christian ministers
to preach at least twice upon the Sab
bath and once during the week besides
upon extra occasions. They must so
present the truth that they will make
an impression Of the fullness and fresh
ness Of the Word of God. A lawyer re-
lates comic anecdotes to preserve the
good humor Of his hearers and to re-
lieve the monotony of an argument, but
such shoRld not be the means employed
by the ministry. Ministers should at
tend all the services. 1t would be
rather extraordinary for preacher to
remain away from the services on ac-
count of the condition of the weather."
ga minister is not merely preacher,
he also is q pastor; he i5 q sympathizsr
as we'll as an sxpounder. He must act
promptly and also must knew when to
sympathize. He must strengthen the
weak, support the wavering and cheer
the respondent. He must administer
consolation in the sick cham ber, and be
a chief actor in ths great drama Of the
ending Of human life. The ministry
is labor which causes brain sweat,
heart sweat aud soul sweat. 1t is not
causs Of small import. Where God
has lodged responsibility He also has
lodged authority. 1t ia not 4 majesti-
cal authority, but one which will build
up womanhood and manhood in
Christ"
"a minister must bear discourage
ments with patienes. He is ever the
people in the Lord. What wonderful
work, and what strength and courage
it takes to perform such labor There
must be no pride or avarice of any one
in the congregation which the pastor
should fear. He must endeavor to save
verybody without respec. to persons.
He mus: admonish. Is it to rebuke
some past evil, or some evil in foreign
country, or something which shall
cause some one to lean back and chuo-
kle and say, give it to them, parsoD ?
No. He must rebuke with all long
suffering aud msskness. This ministry
is to perfect ths saints. They should
be admonished, and ministers should
al 70 lO
"There are duties which should be
performed by the people. They should
know them who labor amoug them and
are ever them. A minister should know
the members of his congregation in
sickness and in health.
To gain such a knowledge depends
II pen part which the people should
take. A congregation should always
know their PASTORS strong points,
and hew he can bsst serve them.
sh suld sympathizs with him in his
struggles. They must not hesitate to
express their sympathy. That must
be cold and ehssrless home Indeed
Y hsrs no commsndable words are sps-
ken, and that must be cold and icy
h urch that does not sympathizs with
ts pastor. He needs your prayers. !
Esteem him very highly for his work,
AXE"
The speaker concluded by desiring
1od to unite thsir hearts for the work {
ND wishing Him to bestow upon them
ush power as Christ and the humble
sherman had.