The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-04-04

grace are affirmed the sources of succass ana safety: Spite of wolves. heretics world, flesh. devil, God is able to buiid up ana to the finally persistent give a tba'. uio,, III tne heavenly Canaan. Yet Ihey are not to be recipients only. They are 10 toll for others, keeping in mind the golden saying of Jesus. here snatchad rom oblivion, and which affrms that The moral gains of the giver in giving exceed one nnaterlal gains of the recipient in re-
 The Teachers Lantern.
 We enter here what might he carad tho climax period of PauIs career-tha Ia st hve years of his life. -'>' We have in this incident the whole E2nesian Hhes ministry in miniature
 Ihls IS one of many farewells-a tvp- lcaI scene We know Paul revisited fne churches which he founded. He said goodbye: and that he exhorted the over seers CT the several Churches may be safely inferred.
 This farewell eludes close analysis. The attempt Is like picking a flower to pleces 1Iather let one enjoy the fragrance of it
 PauI had several (seven comrades on ms ms Journey to Jerusalem. They were of nclaa representatives of Churches where offerings had been taken. Each nrobably carried portion of the money on his person. By this division of the sum the security or the whole was increased. By tnis means also Paul guarded hds good
 
 the money, and all of it, went to the par nes for whom it had been collected Pau olo not presume upon his office or renu- tation for integrity.
 Ernest Seton thompson has shown CWild Animals 1 Have Known ana Lives of the Hunted') the animal lrtnS. oom to be strangely like the human Wortu. It Is no matter of caprice that one becomes the leader of a flock or herd ne ne IS suoh by franchise of his fellows fense. skill in finding shelter and food nere IS the analogy. It is no caprice ttlat one becomes an overseer of tbo Cnurch. He does not belong to a diff aerenI order-is only first among equals. ana that by franchise of all-and on tho ground of fitness the true pastorate rests Anythng short of this may have tha name' but lacks the substance.
 John Ruskin shows the marvellous yer saaiity Of his genius by the cIearness ana exacutude with which he portrays the oifice and function of the Christian ministry C'Sesame and Lilies" J He take; as his text Mllton's curious exnression blind mouths" The two monosyllahIes express the precisely accurate contrarIes or right character in the two great of- nces Of the Church-those of bishon and pastor. A bishop means a person who sees; a pastor means one who feeds. The most unbishoply character a man can nave Is, therefore, to be blind The most unpastoral IS, instead of feeding, to want to be fed. ""A'
 Paul has here irradicated the permanent loeai Of the Christian ministry: l. 1t Ia received of the Lord. 2. Its chter conS aS cern Is to testify of Gods favor in Christ; 3. It must be disinterested; 4. In dustrious; 5. Watchful.
 The character and constitution of the Church aslo is outlined: (a) It is com posed of those who are redeemed bv the blood of Jesus; (b) It is exposed to heresy and schism; (c) The word of grace, the gospel, preached and believed, is the means of its upbuilding; (d) It is to be characterized by phiIanthrophy: its motto that Of the Founder himself, Not to he ministered unto. but to minister