The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-10-25

and people talk as glibly of hiring a
pastor as they do of hiring servant girl
or coachman.
The third view is that of those who re-
gard the pastor as the chiet and chosen
friend Of the people, bound to then, IN a
relation both tender and sacred. Es-
teeming their spiritual interests more
important than their temporal they
select man with such qualifications of
mind and heart, of such piety, zeal, and
prudence, of such learning, habits, and
manners as they believe will fit him for
the pastoral Office among them, and they
say: Watch over our. souls and we will
supply your bodily wants. We know
you bring to us unsearchable riohes-the
precious gospel which cannot be esti-
mated by such corruptible things as sill
yer and gold-and we can do no less
than secure you from worldly cares and
avocations, and to free you from these,
we will provide for you home and sup
ply you with an adequate support. He
accepts their call and devotes to them
the best energies of his life. Whatever
OF talent or requirement he possesses is
theirs. All that duty demands, all that
love constrains him to do is theirs. He
no longer lives for himself, but remem-
bering the example of Him who came not
to be ministered unto but to minister.
his time, his studies, his sympathies, his
labors are for them. He identifies him
self with them; their interest, their tenn
poral and spiritual welfare-all that con-
Germs their honor, happiness, and pro-
gress as a church occupies the first place
in his thought and affection. Whatever
relates to his own personal interest is
merged in the high and holy conservation
of himself to God in their service. For
Christ's sake he becomes the servant of
all. He breaks to them the bread of life,
he guides inquirers in the way of peace,
he baptizes the children of his flock, he
ascertains the wants of the poor and in
terests those in their behalf who are able
to help them he searches out the lonely
the neglected and the friendless, and Sc
cures for them attention, sympathy, and
kindness. He keeps his own personal
trials to himself, and does not intrude his
family and domestic cares upon others.
He sometimes goes into the pulpit full Of
anxieties and heart-sinkings, of which
those to whom he breaches know moth
ing, because he suppresses all signs of his
own troubles while he attempts to sus-
tain and cheer and comfort them. When
any of the members of his church are
assailed or wronged, he generously es-
pouses their cause, and sometimes risks
his own popularity in defending their
good name. He stands by them in the
most trying passages of their lives, and
they know that in him they have friend
whose constancy cannot be shaken. The
burden of his desire and prayer is, Save
thy people and bless their inheritance;
feed them also and lift them up forever"
And when 1t pleases God In his abound
ing goodness to cast the pastors lot
among a people who appreciate his IN
calculating and unselfsh devotion to
them, then he has all the recompense he
cares for. Their confidence is an element
of strength to him. Their love his salts
flying reward. And he can sing or say,
" The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant
places, yea have goodly heritage"
But suppose the pastor fails to receive
such appreciation suppose the view of
the charity people, or the commercial,
money equivalent people prevail, is he
then cast down and disheartend by the
disappointment? No, he may be grieved,
but mingled with the sorrow will be the
sublime satisfaction of having done his
duty, and he will quietly commit his
cause to Him who judgeth righteously
and who will in His own good time and
way beStow on him the recompense of
reward that was denied on earth.