The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-03-23

1
circumstances, and bringing their great
calling before their minds as possible
sphere of duty Let the pastor and
elders especially attend to this. They
may not urge every man to preach, as
tney exhort every man to believe, but
they may invite him to such self-conse-
Grafton as will lead him to say with
sincerity" Lord, what wilt Thou have
me to do?" Every Christian parent
should train his family to feel that the
highest honor attainable by any of them.
would be not worldly applause, or
wealth, or position, but the call of God
to the ministry of the gospel. How
lnslncere must be our prayers that the
Lord would send forth iaborers into His
vineyard, if we are unwilling that our
own children be sent Let the parents
IN our Church make the conservation of
their offspring to the service of God. and
with thankful JOY, welcome His call upon
their best sons; and the Lord may gra-
clansly accept their offerings, and take
of their sons for His ambassadors.
Every pious young man should Sc
rlously consider his duty in this regard.
While all are not called to preach, GER
tainly it is the duty of some-of many.
May we not turn to the young brethren
nourished in the communion of orr
Church, and ask them, in view of the
startling facts stated, to seek unto the
Lord for light as to what he would have
them to Go? It is the very essense of
true piety to desire to serve the Lord in
whatever way he may indicate by His
SPIRIT, word, and providence. No one
can be sure of his path unless he prayer
fully seek guidance from on high. Let
our young men, therefore, with unset
fish devotion anxiously inquire, "Lord,
wilt Thou have us to serve thee in the
gospel ministry" If God has indeed
called any one of our young men, it is
his duty, at once, to obey the call. Nav
there not be many young men who are
living unhappy, and laying up bitterness
for dying hour, by refusing to heed
the Saviour's word-"go preach my Cos
pel?' There are among our useful min
listers, those who resisted this call for
years, and found no peace until they
obeyed Let our youth as they enter
life watch and pray for Divine direction
IN this matter. Let no apprehension of
TRIALS, no fear of privations hold them
back: God can and will take care of
His servants, and should it please him to
deny them worldly ease and comfort
He will fill them with spiritual ioy. and
give them an eternal reward Nav thew
catch the spirit of heroic COURAGE and
patient devotion which animates the
great body of our laborious and self-sac-
rifcing ministers
g. Another remedy is this Let our
Churches sustain the cause of Education
by liberal contributions God calls min
listers, but it is the duty of His Church to
see to it that they obtain the education
required to fit them for their work. IF
God call man and give him to the
Church, and she refuse to prepare him
for the ministry, she is thereby rejecting
and dishonoring Gods gift. The policy
adopted by our Church is to give not a
full support, but only aid to candidates
according to their need, the largest ap-
preparation being far from such an
amount as would encourage luxury or
extravaganza. Here is an arrangement
which commends itself to the common
sense and Christian conscience of our
people. 1t has given our Church nearly
one-half Of its most effective ministerial
force. This excellent cause needs to be
lnvlgorated by generous benefactions
from all our people, that we may exhibit
willingness to receive His chosen ones
when He calls them. What need to
pray for laborers, unless we welcome
and encourage in their arduous prepara-
ton, those whom the Lord sends to us?
a. We need righteous consideration
OF our faithful ministers IN regard to
Their temporal support. When it is
stated that the average of their salaries
is only 1926, and that only 294 of our
1923 churches. give over $500 to their
pastors, we have revelation that must
awaken sorrow in many hearts. A dis
tinguished writer has recently said that
q" the average pay Of Christian minis
ters is the same with the pay of the bet
ter class of manual day 1aborers and of
course much less than the pay of Jour
neymen artisans"
We are also to remember that wide
fields in heather lands open to us, are
unoccupied, because men ready to 90.
are prevented by lack of money to carry
them or to support them when there.
Shall we pray for laborers, and then
chain their hands and feet by bodily
wants.
If any church declare in actions more
clearly than in words-"w we will not