The Washington times., 1894-11-11
A PREAcHER,s ups ANp powNs.


IBy the pastor of the Ninth Street Christian
church,
Our human life has its varieties. The road
along which We travel is not a smooth. level
road, but has its ruts and jolts, its hills and
valleys.
To-day is bright with anticipation, to-
morrow is dark with disappointment one
hour we are down, graphing with failure,
the next we are dizzy with success; to-day We
sing the songs Of hope and OF JOYOUS conf
dence, tomorrow our songs are dirges of de-
spair Everybody has his ups and downs. and
the preacher is no exception.
We see our Lord upon the Mount Of Trans
fgurstion, clothed in garments lustrous be-
yond the fuIler's art, his face radiant with
celestial glory, talking with the inhabitants
OF heaven, the approval OF his Fathers voice
ringing in his ears. A few hours afterwards
we find him in the valley wrestling with a
demoniac, troubled by his faithless disciples,
and bearing upon his shoulders the burden Of
the worlds sin and sorrow.
We see Paul exalted to the third heaven,
and hearing there unspeakable words; but
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bunsted by Satan's messenger, and praying
unsuocessfully for deliVerance.
The preacher has the ups and downs com
mon 10 all mortals, aches or pains. trouble
with the cook, ice and coal bills, putting up
the kitchen stove. mosquitoes, etc. If there
is baby In the house, of course he has his
ups and downs, and some nights it is more
up than It is down.
But must speak Of the ups and downs
that are peculiar TO his profession.
The man Of God must bear the burdens Of
the whole congregation. Every preacher is a
father confessor. In his ears are poured in
dividual secrets, family troubles, business
perpleIities, bodily Affections, and all the ills
that our fesh is heir to.
Then there is the pastoral visiting. As the
preacher starts out be feels decidedly down.
The people viii not be prepared TO receive
him; he may be intruding; they are busy and
do not want TO be bothered; he may be taken
for huckster and have the door slammed in
his face. He would rather take a whipping
than ring the first bell. When he turns his
face bomeward and remembers how be was
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family, how he visited some who were becom-
ing lukewarm and gently admonished them.
how he helped a sister whom he found in
great need, how he obtained promise from
a gentleman that he would soon decide for
Christ, he is so much up that he feels as if he
were walking in the air.
There are foes within as well as without.
The preacher has his peculiar temptations
There is Iaziness, the disposition to waste
his time 10 borrow his sermons. to shirk his
duties. There is no professionalism; danger
that his public utterances may become mere
Zip service; that be shall offer prayers that
are not prayers; that he shall teach truths
that be does not believe, and give advice
which he does not pretend to practice.
There is danger Of self-seeking and seli-in-
portance. he may learn to love the salary
more than he loves souls. He may seek the
applause Of men more than the glory Of God.
He may cater to the whims of the people, and
overlook their sins, and become trimmer
and time-seryer. II he be true minister of
God he must battle against these and many
other insiduous foes, lest having preached to
Others be himself should be a castaway.
Though the preacher may be pressed on
every side, he is not straitened; though he
may be perplexed, it is not unto despair;
though pursued, ne is never forsaken. Like
Paul, he knows in whom he has believed, and
is conscious Of the presence and help Of One
who has promised to be with US always
EDWARD 3. BAGBY.