The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-08-02
Unused Pastoral Labor.

A very large proportion of the labor
OF pastors is lost SIMPLY from failure of
their people to use it. Pastors may and
often do fail IN the performance of their
duty; for they are but men. Some NAV
be less effective in one department of the
work, and excel in another; for gifts diff
Ter. But IN every case much of the la
Dor that is given is lost because, without
any fault on the pastors part, it is
unused. Congregations may have reason
to complain of their pastors, and it is
well-known that complaints can be heard
IN some quarters against almost every
minister In the world but, as a rule, pas
tors have much greater reason to say that
they are wronged and hindered in their
work by the failure Of large part of
their congregations to use their ministry
So common is that failure that pastors
would be surprised to find their ministry
used to its full extent, and would praise
the Lord with joyful hearts for the great
revival in His work.
We do not refer to the inatttention
with which many hear the Word, to the
ease with which others allow all impress
sions to fade away from the mind, nor to
the neglect or refusal of many to obey
the Word preached to them, but to that
course which keeps large part of the
life entirely beyond the instruction and
moral force of the pastor
There are many who cannot say habit
ually that day spent in the courts of
the Lord is better than thousand, and
therefore on the slightest pretext remain
at home on the Sabbath, and so lose all
the benefit Of the Word and ordinances.
Ordinarily the prayermeeting is ex-
pected to embrace only small part of
the congregation; and this although they
who do attend uniformly speak of the
great benefit they receive. After we
make every reasonable allowance for
non-attendance, and add good margin
to this for charity's sake, the fact remains
that the absence of many is to be set
down to want of spiritual interest and
pure neglect Of duty.
The sick lose much of the benefit of
their pastors ministrations by their ne
elect to inform him Of their affection and
their desire for his hel p. They assume
that he will learn of it in some way, and
of his own accord visit them, and some
times worry themselves into such fret
full mood for his delay that they cannot
be benefited when he does come. And
there is peculiar reticence in regard to
spiritual need and experience cherished
by many, perhaps the majority, which
efectually shuts out large part Of the
life from the pastors knowledge and
help, and in consequence his labor is
misdirected and lost, or may even work
injury.
Such a course is a wrong to the pastor.
The service is required, but it is not
used. 1t is course which, if followed
by the pastor, would be offensive in the
highest degree If he would, for ex-
ample close the prayer-meeting, they
who never attend would demand his re-
moval, but they do in fact close it as far
as they are themselves concerned. If he
would shut out his life from his people
as so many of them do from him, he
would be regarded as untitled for bis
work. When his own heart is expected
to be kept with open door, it is wrong
] TO keep the heart 50 closed to him that