The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-11-22

Galatian Church was different in this re-
spect. They seemed ever inclined to &c
back to Judaism, or to mingle the pre-
cepts and customs Of Moses with those OF
Christ. Hence Paul in writing to them
says, How turn ye again to the weak
and beggarly elements, whereunto We de.
sire again to be in bondage? I am,
afraid of yow lest 1 have bestowed upon
you labor in vain" 81 desire to be pre-
sent with you now and to change nv
voice, for 1 stand an doubt of YOU
" Stand fast therefore in the liberty
wherewith Christ hath made you Free
etc. He seemed to be in constant an
prehension,' lest they would apostatize
but he had no such fear in reference to
the Roman Church. He was well known
IN Galatia, having founded the church
himself, visited it often and might be in
measure regarded as its pastor, while
at Rome he was not known at all and
they had no one to whom they could
look as leader. But even under these
disadvantages, with no founder, no leader
or pastor to guide and keep them steady
In the faith, they evinced far more sted-
fastness than the Galatians.
Now In this respect does not this
vacant Roman church rebuke our vacant
churches, some cf whose members are
ever disposed to leave their own fold and
60 into other communions because thew
are without a pastor? Some Presbyte-
rams say let us 60 to the Methodist or
Baptist Church because we have no pas
tor Tor our church. Does not this evince
weakness in their attachment to their
own Church? That is Just the way to
Perpetuate this vacant condition. and if
persisted in it will eventually destroy
their Church altogether.
4 This Roman church, in spite of their
vacant condition, so exerted themselves
and developed their individual talents
as to acquire worldwide reputation for
Plety and zeal. Paul thanks God for
them that their "faith was spoken of
throughout the whole world" What
wonderful success was this a success
achieved too by their own unaided eff
forts. This is far better than most
churches can do now even with pastors to
aid them. How did they manage to ac-
cure such reputation under the great
disadvantage of being without pastor
Our vacant churches conclude that they
can do nothing without pastor. 1t is not
worth while to try. We need not have
any meeting at all. No use to open the
church. There is no one to preach. We
can take up no collections, have no Sab
bath School no prayer-meeting, nothing.
But did this Roman church wait on the
pastor, scatter off to other places of wor-
ship because there was no one to lead in
their own? On the contrary, each mem
Der realising his individual response
blllty, did what he could and waited for
no one, and so set the world an example
what church can do even when it has
no pastor. Our vacant churches look
upon themselves as dead or at least
moribuad and give up to dependency.
Because the pulpit is vacant they re-
taliate by making the pews vacant
also. But this is great mistake. To
vacate the pews because the pulpit is
vacant is just the way to keep the pull
pit vacant forever. In the Presbyterian
denomination there are no vacant church
es, there can be none without absolute
dlsorganization. Where there are Elders
there Is no vacant churches. If there is
no pastor it only shows that the elder
ship is not complete. The Methodist
Church boasts Of having no vacant
churches, the Presbyterians can make
the same claim. Let our vacant church
es emulate the Roman Church and learn
from it what church can do when it
happens to be deprived OF pastor,
E. o. F.