The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-04-09
The Ministry OF Men.

We talk about mems neglect OF one
ar.rtrs lives. n certainly there Is
s....h 81 IT, They so their way saying
each other. IN some utterance of their
renee. Am my bIother's keeper
ur recognize how terrible il is because
re see chat. as of old. he who scorn-
t.uy tlsoWucd his brothers care. really
was Dis brothers. murderer. so always
ta who thinks he has no duty Of help
.r other men. certainly binders them
and does them harm. But beside all the
DID, 90 seeing how men disown the care
t..lr fellows. there is another pain
v.l.h Is often yet more painful as we see
r wep who DO attempt % help their
.r...-.n help them an wrong, with such
rIrt and clumsy hands that they
l3 chem more harm than good. NEEDLE
-u.u.ss. arrogance. foolish indulgence,
n.rtnu severity. wooden insistence upon
way ri g0odnesS which God never
r.4.t for the man whom You are trying
OIL, make good. opposition 20 good i'm
ses because they happen 10 be IN other
Ines than yours. fussiness. suspicion.
lousy. AN Of these evils come in, and
IS with them. 20 make sometimes
worse than worthless the most sincere
-e of some good man TO help and guide
r~cirhbor. Blind leading the blind
...-lNheret What. IL seems 10 me, all
-.. GOOD people need is this: The larger
r..u NJ fhe life that they are anxious for.
Cher. is ID mystery about this man which
cannot fathom. And this man is "A
..r7 If God. You say, Il might feel that
.t some inspired child whom / was
.-r.- Gu teach. How can I feel it
....- This poor sot whom l am trying TO
t..p or ~ the grog-shOp; or this poor
t-s-- and lounger whom / want TO bring
500 .-.arrsva nrffh rhn
shattered nerves whom l must watch
lss- he show throw himself into tie fire?
can 7 count his life mysterious;
him a child Of God?' Unless you can you
cannot he,p him with any truly deep help.
Son mav keep him unscorched and pre-
s.-t.tI.. but the shattered. broken.
wasted lie ~ the centre. where its real
exhaustion lies. Will get no reinforcement
from the man who has no reverence
for f. and no sense Of Gods love for 1t.
The moment that Moses forgot that
OH. people be- was leading were Gods
r~-.r'.. and sm1te the rock, crying,
"H.ar. % Israel. must / bring you water
from this rookie that moment his hlshest
he'n g. them was gone He could give
-.am water still. l.t the water which he
save as q u were his gift, and not Coo s.
WIS an Insult both % them n 70 Co..
and from that day his death began.
and n we ask what viii be the charac-
t~.-istics If the ministry of any man. VINO
while he renders help 10 other men feels
cheese truths deeply about the men TO
whom ne ministers. the answer Will be
..ar II will have the qualities which
v- can easily imagine 70 hav been In the
---atment Of the child Jesus by his
mother after her experience In the Tenn
II will consist in general inspiration
moro than in special direction, and II VIII
more. OccuDied in removing obstacles
Growth than in debating the forms
ana directions i'm which growth snail
r-.v The best advisers. helpers. friends
,a,.s are those. not who tell us now
a.. io snecial cases. but who give us,
- Themselves. the ardent spirit and
..e-a 20 act right. and leave IA then.
.-.- THROUGH many bluuders, 10 hnd
,r.t our own form Of right action IS
.-a always the best thing you can DO
orv brother. I am more ana more
.-vtrca7 is 10 try 10 keep him from
..-- "a bad man. and so give Coo a
....oe u, make him a good man IN What-
nav he may choose. This takes
,.v +ra e1rarior and patronizins tone
.t..b g. the blight Of many a man 5 most
.ircera desire 20 be useful. Ihls leaNes
.. r--hlast free 20 help the highest.
49,. -o,so may pnaw the Hons net, but
So docs no. ask the freed lion 10 craWl
t... 3D.. y.an with him and live a mouses
TO-. Ga Won may help a strong man 10
shake Of his vice. but when ne Is at
rt.-fv leave him 10 God 10 learn Wn"t
r,. Cod made him for. and be hankful
l.4. IS eomething "A great deal larger ana
-.er than YOUR own.-Phillips Brooks.