The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-11-23
advancement Of tho cause OF God and
OF our beloved church In tho years be.

This work is not my work; II is yours
and mino; 1t is ours and Gods. For tho
past ton years we have labored together
as pastor and people, and wo together
with God. 1t has been n double. CO.
partnership. During this time wo havo
had our seasons OF encouragement and
discouragcmcnt. Wo have at times been
successful and Mt other times unsuccess-
ful. We doubtless have Rll seen many
defects In our work. We have mado
many mistakes. ! know | have. II
only could do some things over how diff
icrently ! would do them. lhavo erred
in judgment, in planning and in oxecu-
ton. ! have deeply realized my def
! cheney in tho-work in my study, in tho
pulpit, in house to house visitation, and
faithful spiritual work everywhere. Yet
! AM concious OF having tried hard to
do my duty, and to DO faithful in all
things, and l havo tried hard and pray
criully TO "watch for souls rs those who
must give account"
And so We each and all could say wo
have tried and yet have erred and
come short in worry many things; have
spoken hastily and dono wrong in
various ways, but it is well to
acknowledge our faults ono to another
and 20 forward and do better. Though
VIC have been short coming creatures
God has not forsakcn us. IIo has been
with us and helped us; Hc has not per-
mittcd his work committed TO our
hands TO fail; llo hasprospered 1t. We
have all tasted OF sorrow, but He sus-
tiined us. lie has given US in
crease Of numbers, energy, knowledge,
spirituality, church property, financial
ability, social elevation, culture in every
form and opportunities for
USEFULNESS IN HIS SERVICE.
This is cause ior gratitude, as well rs
is the increased sense OF independence
and confidence in the SUCCESS OF our
undertaking. All these things serve to
make us confident OF still greater tri-
umphs in the name OF the Lord. And
this review enables us to do what St.
! Paul did under somewhat similar cir
cunstances; that is, "Thank God and
take courage" As God has given us
greater ability as individuals, and as q
congregation, he has done $50 that We
might render better service to Him and
his church in the future.
|
understand our mission and the means
OF successful work Us pastor and peo-
| pie, let us examine what st. Paul con-
sidcrs successful ministry, as it is un-
folded in tho passage Of Scripture I
have selected for text.
In one OF Charles Surgeons volumes
is recorded the following incident:
"There was once minister OF tho
Gospel, q true preacher, faithful, low
ing man, whose ministry was supposed
to be exceedingly unsuccessful Alter
twenty years labor he was known to
have brought only one soul to Christ.
SO said his congregation. Poor worker
in tho trench, his toll was not seen by
mon, but the eye OF God rested upon it.
To him came one day deputa:ion from
his people, representing to him, re-
spectfully enough, that, inasmuch rs
God had not seen fit to bless his labors
among them. it were better for him to
remove to another field. They said that
he had been instrumental in tho con-
version OF only ono sinner. He might
do more elsewhere. What do you
say?' said he. Have l really brought
ono sinner to Christ% 'Ycs,' was tho
|
God cried he, 'for that. Thank God l
have brought one soul to Christ. Now
Tor twenty years more labor among
you'll God sparing me, perhaps may
bo the lionorcd instrument OF bringing
| two.'"
This looked small for twenty years
work, and yet it was well worth the
effort. One soul is worth more than
millions OF worlds. But it would bo
| DIFFICULT NOT TO DE DEsPoSDEST
where there arc such multitudes OF un-
saved people all around. Yet this was
not the only measure OF his work or Of
their work rs pastor and people. God
| could doubtless put down more to that
devoted pastor than men could see.
And while his people could not SEQ
much accomplished among unconverted
sinners, the reason for this may not
have been in the pastor alone, but also
in the people, who may have failed to
cooperate with him, or who may have
ncutralized his work. Then the work
OF his pastoratc was not 10 be summed
up entirely by his work upon uncon-
verted men, but also by the effect on
Christians OF the Word ho preached.
| Tho first evidence OF a successful
ministry in the estimation OF Paul is
found in the manner in which the peo-
| pie receive the word OF God. The word
is to be preached By men, imperfect
men, fallible lncn, men OF passions and
faults. This treasure is by divine ordi-
nation placed in carthen vessels, and is
by them to be communicated to tho
| world.
Yet the treasure is none tho less
great treasure because committed to SO
comparatively unseemly means OF COM
munication. 1t is the word OF God.
The apostle considered it matter
worthy oi gratitude and thanksgiving
that the Thcssalonians to whom he and
Timothy and Sylvanus preached receiv-
cd tho word not as their word but as tho
word OF God. And receiving i. rs such
it wrought in them good things. 1t is
the duty OF the ministryto preach the
Word. Anything else instead is blame-
worthy. When tho Christian minister
puts forth individual faacies or any.
thing for whic! he has not "Thus
saith the Lord, he is abusing his high
position and prostituting his Office.
1t has been my aim constantly to pre-
sent to you the word OF God as he has
recorded it in the inspired volume.
have ever considered sensationnlism,
either in Advertising preparing or de-
livcrins my sermons as unworthy OF tho
Christian pulpit. have tried to
preach the plain truths OF the Word 10
the best OF my ability, accordin. the