Smyrna times., 1901-06-26
PAPER 1.-THE PASTOR THE
LEADER OF HIS PEOPLE. /"
READ BY REV. RICHARD WALSH OF
SMYRNA THURSDAY EVENING.
Al the Interesting Convention of Bible
Study" Held ia Asbury Methodist Epis.
cOpaI Church by Rev. j. Gilbert, D. D.

cOpaI Church by Rev. j. Gilbert, D. D.
We are being brought out of the
dark room as the photographer would
say, when we take up the developing of
Bible subjects, from the natural to the
spiritual light. We often hear the as
sertiOn made, ''well Idon't understand
it." regarding the teaching of the
Bible. Well the Bible saying is still
true, out of the eater came forth meat,
and out of the strong came forth sweet
ness. So to-day, as we search the
Scriptures, out of natural darkness
comes forth spiritual light.
1t is given to my charge to-day, to
give unto you true explanation of the
ties which bind: "The Pastor the
Teacher Of His People," The people
being Christ's own, they are bought
with price. The pastor is instructed
to be a Moses unto them, delivering
them from the bricks without straw,
and from the pots offesh, leading them
from the snares of the tempter and the
angry billows of trials and tempta-
tions, so that we may pass them through
the deep waters into the heaven of rest,
the promised land. When we wonder,
look back through the ages, vast in
distance, history revealing only the
outlines, we can trace the dim lines of
the destruction of the Garden of
Eden. The cause of its destruction,
is the wonder of natural man at the
present day.
Adam and Eve were the people, even
Gods people at that time, and we can
understand, even now, the need of an
advisor, as they were in the garden.
Can it be possible that, had there been
some heavenly man there in the role of
pastor, to disavow that story of the
serpent, and with smile of love, laid
before them, the promises which obe-
dience would have brought, his prayer
and teaching would have prevailed.
Therefore [ would say, that the
presence of pastor with the people of
God is a necessity. Moses was a true
pastor, he obeyed, and he abided in
the presence of the King. Aaron was
a false teacher, he listened to the
clamor of the people, who for the time,
were without pastoral care and for the
guilt of the false one, they were scat
tered and destroyed.
! A pastor cannot be a general, because
"a general is sent to command and will
compel obedience with all force of
arms, pastor is sent went witk gen.
eral invitation as he calls and leads by
love.
A pastor cannot be Judge, because
a judge calls for justice by the law
and condemns thereby. A pastor will
seek for mercy and in the spirit of
charity, forgives. A pastor must be
the good physician, to allay the fears,
soothe the griefs, and heal the sorrows
of the soul. To be full of good works
the pastor will need to divide his peo-
pie into three classes, first and very
important is the Sunday School, he
will find there the garden of the Lord,
in it, the children of the King before
him will be the lilies of the valley, the
roses of Sharon, the future cedars of
Lebanon.
They are in their tenderness, they
will be susceptible, his ear must be
the keenest, his eyes must be on all
sides of him, he must hear their whis-
pers and answer them. They will need
watering in the dry season and must be
supported in the changes which are re-
volving around them.
Second and great in consideration.
are the young men and maldens Of the
church, there be will be need to act the
part of Lapidary, for in their midst he
will find the Emeralds, the Sapphires.
Jaspers, Chrysolites, Topazes, and
the sparkling diamonds, there will be
some that will shape into true form
alton, some to round, some to make
obloug. Then the polishing, that will
be tedious, polishing and furnishing
day by day until they shine from the
lnmost parts a spiritual life. They
will appear strong in themselves, then
the greater need of inceasing work.
the good pastors work must be in force
against him.
And the third and most glorious
class will come to the front, when the
pastors hands are lifted up, and the
burden is being lightened, when the
David's with slings and stones are
gathered around, and the Samson's
with weapons of prayer and faith, are
his armor bearers, and the Solomons
with builders of temples and the gath
erers of gold, the Mary's and Martha's,
the Peters and Johns all coming as
gospel host to show the PASTORS fin
ished work. The harvest time will
come and the cleaners will be busy