The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-03-23
Our Need of Ministers.
An Address to the Southern Presby
terrain Churches.

AN Address to the Southern Presby-
terrain Churches.
Dear Brethren,-When the cause of
Education came before our last Assembly
the following resolutions, among others,
were adopted:
RESOLVED, That the churches be exhorted to
pray the Lord of the harvest to raise up and
qualify men for the gospel ministry.
ResotUed, That committee consisting of the
Moderator of the Assembly. the Rev. ]. l.. Cir
ardeuu. d. D., and the Rev. William Brown, D.
d. be appointed to prepare an address to all our
churches, setting forth the claims of the cause
of Education for the ministry" on their prayers
and their pecunary benefactions, and that said
address, when prepared, be published. and put
into circulation by the Executive Committee of
Publication
Resolved, That ministers having charge Of
churches be requested to read the said address
from their pulpits.
1t is impossible to over estimate the
Importance of the matter which comes
within the scope of these resolutions, or
to present it adequately within the limits
of this address. 1t is a subject which
touches deeply and Immediately, not on
the welfare, but the very life of the
Church, and also the salvation of "the
world which lieth in wickedness."
We earnestly ask the whole brother
hood of our beloved Church to ponder
prayerfully the following considerations.
May the Spirit of God use them to arouse
the heart, conscience, and energy Of our
people to the object in view. Our need is
for earnest, faithful ministers, called of
God, and properly qualified to preach the
gospel of Jesus Christ. We ask your at
tention to its Importance, to our present
alarming lack, and to the causes and
remedies for our condition
|. The Importance of the ministry of
reconciliation" needs to be deeply real
lied. 1t is Gods appointed way of build
ing up His kingdom and saving men.
" 1t hath pleased. God by the foolishness
of preaching to save them that believe +"
The preaching of the gospel, and mill
lstry set apart for that purpose, is not a
human, but divine institution. They
that labor Alright in this work are called
and sent of God to it. 1t is the duty and
privilege of the Church to accept them
with thankfulness, as Gods gift to her.
This institution is necessary to her very
existence and progress among men. If
it cease, it is practically withdrawal of
the blessings Of salvation from the earth.
If the Church neglect or despise this gift
of her Lord, she is guilty of suicide, she
is unfaithful to her Redeemer she is an
enemy of mems souls. The giving of
faithful ministers is Gods favor, the with
holding of them is judgment Let us
remember that to be an ambassador for
Christ" to labor for the salvation of men
from sin to God, to hold forth the retri-
buttons Of eternity, to guide men in the
way of righteousness, to comfort them
with the hopes of the gospel, is a work
weighty with the highest interests of the
life that now is, and of that which is to
come-the most important employment
on earth. If all faithful preachers of the
gospel were removed, and the decree
should go forth that Il cir places should
remain forever vacant, it would be the
knell of the life of the Church, and of
the hopes of the world.
II. The demand for ministers is urgent.
God in His providence is manifestly open
ing the way for the gospel. The present
condition of the world emphasizes the
Importance of this work. One fifth of
our churches are vacant, and the fields
around them uncultivated For lack OF
ministers they are unable to occupy for
the Master. Think of our own country
in its vast extent, and its rapidly increas-
ing population. Fifty millions of people
dwelling in the land from ocean to ocean ;
new States and territories opening their
resources in the South and West; the
greatness Of material interests tending to
drown souls in worldliness and yet
every place easily accessible to the
preacher of the gospel. Surely Gods
providence is teaching us the importance
Of the ministry
And what shall be said as we look
upon the vast heather world, so wonder
fully made known and brought closer to
US year by year? AS these great and
effectual doors are opened, surely our
Church should hear through them the
voice of her divine Head calling her to
quickened energy in her glorious mission
of spreading the gospel among all nations.
The cry of perishing world, in its blind
ness feeling after God has come into our
ears. Through the voice of its need ,'our
Redeemer says to us as to His disciples,
eighteen hundred years ago, go ye into
all the world, and preach the gospel to
every creature" Those who sit in dark
ness and the shadow of death are wait
ing to hear the glad tidings of salvation.