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

| meeting. But whatever the excuse
may be when health is good nom
attendance. indicates an unspirituat
mind and weakly dying if not dead
soul.
I GIVE YOUR PASTOR WORDS OF
| CHEER.
He will have enough to discourage
him. And for the good of the great
cause, and to increase his influence
for good. speak as well as you can of
him among the people. Take lesson
from the Lecture Bureau, and as big
a business as possible With the capital
you have. Give him credit FOR the
good he is doing, and don't make a
special effort to account for all the
that is being DONE for the pros
perity of the Church, so that he is
IGNORED. or stands as cipher in rela-
ton to it. And while you sit under
his preaching, do not do so as critics.
but to learn Gods will. Tue proha-
bility is, that the person most given to
sharply criticising the preacher il
least competent of all his hearers.
A wise, noble and loving spirit Will
be far above spending his or her time
in looking up defects and faults.
Remember always that il is the man
that does nothing who makes no mis-
takes. Remember likewise that you
havnt got the Archangel Gabriel in
your pulpit, and if you had, slight
Improvements would soon be suggest
ed. And whatever you do for Christ's
sake. for the church's sake, for the
worlds sake, and for your own souls
sake, be careful of your pastors repu>
| tation.
Don't speak against him, or any
faithful honest minister of Jesus
Christ, unless the cause of truth and,
Righteousness demands it. Neither
entertain an evil report about him
until compelled by irrefutable evi.
dence. Remember every time you do
you are weakening his influence for
good, loosening bis grip upon the
community, putting weapons into tia
hands of the enemy, doing Satan's.
work and damming souls.
If any of you are guilty of this
horrible and diabolic sin. stop; or, you
will go to hell. One thing more pray
most earnestly for your pastor. lie
you will attend constantly and faith
fully TO this, you will do your whole
duty by him, and insure the divine
blessing upon yourself, your family,
your church and the community
If Paul the great apostle of tina
primitive church needed the prayers
of his brethren, your pastor (whoever
he may be, doubtless will. PRAY
for him, that the word may have
free course and be glori6ed; that God
may give him favor in the eyes of the
people; that he may "open his mouth
boldly and speak all the counsel of
God" Ask for him courage that he
may tell to you the things so necess-
airy to your wellbeing. though they be
distasteful to you; that he may show
you your sins, and tell you your whole
duty.
Pray too that God may use him as
an agent, not only for the edifcation
of saints, but for the conviction and
conversion of sinners. Now beloved
brethren if you take this advice given
in kindness and faithfulness, you will
be completely astonished at the result,
You will be wonderfully blest indiIid-
ually and as families, even above all
you ask or think. And the tide Of
salvation will rise in and flow out Of
this church, so that the sins of tho
people, with every vile institution.
every saloon and every othsr den cf
vice and crime, will be washed away
as by flood Eden will be restored
and paradise regained; God will be
with you, and His benediction will be
upon yol. May God direct and aid
you in securing pastor; but, "when
he is come, see that he is with you
without fear"