The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-03-03
CHARGE TO TIE PEOPLE BY REV. W. T,
MATHEWS.
The Preacher must have Moral and
Material Support. People and
Preacher Alike Have Important
Duties to Perform.-.A Holy En-.
thusiasm Needed.

Preacher Alike Have Important
Duties to Perform.-.A Holy En-.
thusiasm Needed.
By the appointment OF the Presbytery,
which met last night in this church, 1t de-
wolves upon ME now to charge you the mem
this brother who is being inducted into the
pa$torate OF this church.
You have called him to be your pastor; he
has accepted that call, and ny this solemn and
Interesting service the relation Of pastor and
people is officially nnd legally established
Asan undershepherd he Is to lead on, nnd
you his flock are to follow on to victory and
His duties are urgent and trying. HIS re-
sponsbiuties grave, solemn and awful. he is
here to watch for souls and at last give an &C.
count of his work.
| Bnt your responsibilities are also greet.
You have work To do. The success of this
past0rate depends just rs much upon you and
your labors as upon him and his, and God
holds you responsible.
This brother Is u servant Of the Presbyt cry,
but Presbytery, ut your reqnest has consented
to his serving you in his ministerial office. II
devolvcs upon the Presbytery to see that the
promises which you have made to her and TO
him are fulfilled, in whose name l now
speak. Let me here say, that my. limited
knowledge of this church places me In such =. a
position as to be unable PIE, tS to Know exactly
There is much difference. IN churches.
Some starve the pastor, some discourage him
TO death, some fall out with him without a
cause and then there are some that, in every
sense. give him the encouragement, support
and obedience they promise.
Perhaps the better plan for me to adopt, is
to avail myself of my Ignorance OF your treat,
ment OF pastors, and thereby be enabled 10
speak the more freely.
I. charge you:
TO GIVE YOUR PASTOR ALL PROPER SUPPORT.
Support s gossl he greaeaes 80 ir as IT
| in our standards.
He is a Presbyterian minister and it is 10 be
! expected that he preach Presbyterian doc
trines, and you as members OF the PreSnJte te'
rian church are expected to defend and up.
hold that doctrine. He cannot and Will not
make compromise Of what he believes to De
the truth, but is to preach the truth-the ghote
truth. No mans presence, whatever ms views
may be, will color your pastors vie" OF
by him. You have promised to receive the
word of truth from his lips in meekness and
love. Why are so many sermons preached 10
no purpose? The fault Is 1,5t Glwdus IN p''ecdh,
crs, sometimes the hearer, being prejudlced
against The truth himself, renders 1t power
less over the minds OF others by our careless
remarks Your duty Is to speak for the trulh,
testify to 1t and hold it forth rs the word OF
iite. that this brother may rejoice In the day
of Christ, that he has not labored among you
in vain.
2. Support his ministerial and personal chdTdc'
You know that a mans character Is his
most sacred possession. But In peculiar
sense and TO greater degree Is the character
Dt the Lords anonted sacred ana inVlolaple.
1t Is the easiest thing in the world to destroy.
Like Il sheet OF white paper, when once stalh-
ed you can never remove 1t.
| From to-day forth we entrust his character
into your keeping-it is q sacred and high
trust-and I know that you VIII not prove
/ uNrt the
needless charge. But not so.
You will be called upon very soon to uphold
and defend your pastor reputation; f0r II ne
does his duty, which l know he Will, the
siander him. "
Put under your feet as that which is low
and wicked, every whisper or insinuatiohi lnlaeai
character OF your pastor. II were TO trans
cend the bounds Of propriety might tell You
In what condition we place him into your
or wherever known that is hardly surpassed
with character as pastor and a chrlstIan
brother that is inferior to none, Let MN ieei
and know that you stand by him ana t4at
Iel us that single grain Of iodine will tinge
and color seven thousand times Its weight OF
water. 1t Is so in other things. Obe woro
his life. orr or tInge % ali the gospel he Can preach.
He is TO pray for you. Shall there be no
praying done by you Tor hlm? Ii 90 way gin
YOU aid him more, than by placing beneatn
him the mighty prop of prayer. iTdger Is
7ui0ltt. Archimedes, having discovered the
lever, said, that if he could but have 1ul.
crum, it would raise the very foundations ol
the earth. Such a mighty instrument IS
prayer placed in your hands and fulcrnmeo
| in God, by which you can raise day by day
the church and with 1t your pastor 10 the
throne of divine grace. Let him come 10 iiie
house Of God bedewed with your benedlc'
| lions, and your fervent supplicatlons ascend
Ing 10 Il throne of grace in his behalf, anu l
| tell you the Gospel will be IN his hands the
mighty power of God. Deliver us from n
prayeress church. There Is no blessing IN
Store for 1t.
| I feel that 1t Is hardly necessary 10 charge
YOU to support this brother by your sub
Stance. AS honest and truthful men anu ~',-
men you will do as you 'pronised-iufnlsh
him with whatever you see needlul lor tue
honor of religion and hi, comfort.
II. charge you:
TO GIVE YOUR PASTOR ALL PROPER ENCeUR"
| AGEMENT.
Now believe that comparatively few peo-
ple ever think about such thing as enc0Hr-
aging their pastor. They say, why he has
nothing to discourage him; he doesn't need
any encouragement We'll just let them try
lie pastors place for while and they will
not talk that way. Every pastor neeuS en-
courauement and every member OF the
church can givett. Do you ask how? L an
/. By your presence Mt the services Of the
church. don't know any thing ABOUT your