Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1882-04-24

a definite object. "SOrrOw for SIN
opened those pearly gates to the Peri.
"Sorrow for SIM opened to us the
need of the peace of Jesus Christ.
To preach the gospel is to seek and
search for just such sorrow. To |
preach the gospel is to proclaim just |
such Christ that's makes it possible |
for "a tear to move the 'Ecrystal
bar AS you recall the poem, ap-
ply the lesson, thus will it be i'm
pressed far more forcibly than | can
apply it for you. l have returned to
preach the gospel, you have waited
six long months that / might learn
better hoac to preach the gospel. You
assembled from week to week to
hear me preach the gospel. To
meet such just demand and work
for such glorious end | am here at
your .'Rome" also. These facts
suggest the thought of your help in
preaching the gospel. God uses hu-
man means In view of this fact do
you receive me to work? The one
demands the other. The one is use
less without the other. Diminish the
working force of church and you
diminish the pulpit power. You
kindly ask me to return and lovingly
promise hearty support but for what?
That l may preach the gospel. If
this be SO, it means that you desire
to work for this same gospel. That
is the definite meaning of our resum-
ing the present relations.
My dear people, thank you most
earnestly for granting me so long a
time for study. An opportunity
which in its personal help to me will
be invaluable and for which through
all time | shall thank you. | return
to attempt harder and better work
for you. This gospel of Christ is oar
work. | would willingly bear all its
sacrifices. sustain all the meetings it
requires. This | cannot do in justice
! to my Office or kindness to you. /
can and will bear the burdens ''of
the cross" with you but not for you.
You will do your share as you have
so nobly done, not few, but each
and all in his and her individual
sphere. God works through individuals
and He needs your peculiar expert
ence for "this preaching the Gospel
as Pastor | will try to plan this work
with you and aid you in it, but if it
is to be successful yOu are the human
means for making it 50. Remember,
please when the workman fail, the
work stops. Together ought we not
to guard against excuses, lest we
make a mistake? To excuse, as a
paltry subterfuge for practical disin-
clination or lack of interest is an err
ror and initiates against gospel
preaching. Remember it is ''Gospel
work. that we undertake. Excuses
have little recognition in our Lords
sayings, indeed we have no record
that he ever accepted them but rath-
er "let the dead bury the dead" ''to
sence we have been poor students
unless we have seen the mistakes of
our happy pastorate. Of my many
personal errors, one has been to try
to do too much of the work. Lean
not at all upon a mere human man
but look to Christ. Preach the Cos
pei yourselves, | came back to work
but not all the work. | came back tc
pray but not all the prayers. | re.
turn to labor for all souls but not tC
!
do all the laboring. | am aware thai
this view of our work opens itself t.
the just crit cism passed upon it by ;
! personal friend. 1.-The Pastor idea
will be beyond the power of the church
consequently they will lag behind.
Reply to friendly suggestion is dis
courte Gus. Be assured that if N,
) ideal is high, when you attain it o
: strive to reach it you will be in
higher Christian atmosphere. Yol
: gave me winters release to learl
| hooo to preach, and during its month
| have learnt that PASTORAL fidelit
, requires the highest goal possible t.
e be placed before the people, as a ne
4 cessity to gospel preaching. AS
j. promised l return and give to you, a
b has been given to me. My poor mode
t cannot compare in hight or dept
t with s'our Masters" whose Gospel W
S preach. 1t seems as if this Who'll
e subject were expressed more concise
e ly and powerfully than | could Civ
e them by the following quotation
, from the written words of a niue
y loved friend whose pen writes for an
is from the peac. sit is well for ever
:. one to have high aim but it is NJ
e we'll for those who have not reache
h the summit to look with comtemI
II upon themselves because they hay
1t not succeeded in so large degree g
e another. 1t is not always the larg
1. business that is the most profitab
'e neither is it always that church {
1T Pastor putting forth the most appa
II ent effort that will at the last day r.
> ceiye the ''warmest well done,'
&c Pastor should never drive, alwa,
1, lead his people and though they ia
7. out by the way, go back after then
Ig with the spirit of Him ''who can
IN into the world to seek and save the
fe that were lost" then at the last gre
Ia- A. .-o1oo,,,o I'LL Io A f,.,,o ~,