Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1881-09-08

Nor will he fear death, but with Paul
will cry. 'sIf [ be offered upon the
sacrifice and service of your faith |
Joy and rejoice with you ALL l am
now ready to be offered. p" But he
will fear, and more than all beside. a
want of success. Above all else he
loves Jesus, the souls Of men, and the
cause of righteousness and truth
His paramount desire is to glorify the
Savior, save men and promote the in
terests of the eternal Kingdom. This
is his mission. 10 this he is called
and consecrateG. Oh! how he fears
failure, and how he longs for success
Whitfield cried, "give me souls or
take my soul" John Knox, when
the religious liberties of Scotland were
threatened, prayed, in the intensity of
his desire, ''Give me Scotland or |
die"
And then [ think of the great ex-
emplar, the model preacher; on that
solemn night, never to be forgotten,
so greatly did the burden of guilty
world press upon his innocent soul,
so fercely was he assailed by Satan,
he feared he aoould not fulfill has mas
sion by dying on the cross. Death
there and then, seemed Inevitable;
"And being in an agony" after much
prayer for deliverance, while his
sweat as great drops Of blood fell to
the ground, he prayed yet more earn
estly, Father, if it be thy will, let
this cup pass, but not my will, rather
let thine be DONE" We are told,
"He was heard IN that he feared.'
Fearing the want of success, the
faithful pastor will fear any thing that
tends to that; as for instance
financial embarrassment. This always
tends to failure The care and ankle
ty thus superinduced, especially in
those who have family, is very ex-
haustive of vital force. The inability
to meet obligations unnerves one.
Then, a want of books, and the pros
peet of restitution and pauperism; or,
the having to ''leave the word of God
and serve tables" all have depress,
ing effect.
But the most discouraging thing Of
all is, when a church is abundantly
able and yet fails to meet her obliga-
tons, there is evident want of that
interest, appreciation, sympathy, de.
votion, conservation and honesty that
insures success.
"God has ordained that they who
preach the gospel shall live of the
gospel" and, there is reason fol
this. A minister who gives himself
fully to his work cannot be engaged in
secular employment, and of course is
dependent upon his people for the
supply of his temporal wants, includ-
ing the support of his family; and,
should be so provided for, that with
ordinary prudence, temporal embarrass-
ment would be out ofthe question. A
minister, to study and labor With effect
must have his mind at ease. How can
he be efficient when distracted by
worldly cares? If comfortable CIR
catmstances be essential to the highest
literary success, and it is, those claim,
who are competent to judge, will not
the same law apply to ministers of the
gospel? 1t is the specialist, the per
son who focalizes his energies, who is
most efficient.
And more and more, as the years
roll by, as the people advance in knowl-
edge and grow in intelligence will it
become more and more necessary for
ministers to be men of one work, if
they are to be prepared to lead their
people. And the minister who does
not do that had better step down and
out. In these later gears, there IS a
cry coming up from all parts Of this
land. "Hhy IS 1t, SO fer of our young
men enter the ministry 2" And from
aoise, serious, thoughtful men, on the
right and left, we get the answer in
this form, "They know the heavy de-
mand that will be made upon them,
and fear from what they have seen,
financial embarrassment through made
quate support. There as great need
Of a reOival IA finance in many of our
Churches; and not merely ours, but
all the denominations. And | think
ministers are largely to blame for not
preaching more upon this subject
There is a false delicacy about speak
ing of money. So that Churches are
left in darkness on the subject of
Stewardship and Tithes. So greatly
have ministers neglected their duty