Newspaper Page Text
vol. 2.
:■
i MINISTERI AL support.
Our esteemed Brother, Elder
w J- Hardesty, of Middletown,
has requested us to write on
text. “Tiro -laborer is worthy
*t his hire,” ‘ and its correl at ive
texts. It would have been much
teour satisfaction had the brother
U ken up this subject himself and
refreshed bur minds with its im
portant bearings: The importance
i W the subject tor several reasons
that it should be handled
' w jth great care and prudence,
t and this Brother Hardesty would
have done much better than is
possible for us to do. But we
will try to do the best we iiUi,
asking the brother and all who
ma y read this to have fervent
| charity for us, and may the Lord
BY give to us all wisdom to discern
I the right, and integrity of purpose
1 in doing his pleasure.
3 The scripture referred to by our
I brother is recorded by the Evan- ,
.J gelist Luke, x, 7; “For the labor- j
-eris worthy of his bite. Paul <
IA uses almost the same words sou nd
Sl recorW in 1 Tim., v, 18;
laborer is worthy ot his reward.
BTbe sentiment is verily the same.
BLnd tho same subject is had un
n|der consideration. At another
ytirue he presents the same
F thought but in different language:
-Even so hath the Lord ordained,
|| that they which preach
| shon d b.ve of theJMMj
rfK* i 4 •
pleasjUg
Lw 10 a *
I respective duty
nts, who devote
in whole or in
of the ministry,
the counsel of
not shun to
record as a min
d was: “For I
o declare unto
d ot God;” Acts,
faithful servant,
5 that was profit-
Idren. But our
bd, to some ex
m treating this
« duty to do, for
the reason they are not willing to
hear the unjust criticism that is
often m ide against them. It is
I wrong that they should be accused
k -of begging tor money just because
they feel that they must tell the
brethren what is right, what the
Lord requires of them, and what
is their duty to him who labors
for them and their duty to Got
who has required it of them.
There issometing wrong, we think,
when brethren take offense at the
precepts of the Master.
It is well known by all, that the
ministry of Christ are against the
salary system. They preach
against it to their congregations.
«y are n>t money beggars; not
asking nor desiring to be made
birdings at a fat salary of a lew
dollars a year. Bat in
speaking against this hurtful and
unscriptnal practice of men,
*hicb Ins been and is now, breed
ing corruption and fostering vice
everywhere, doubtless our own
* Ministers have not at all times
as careful to tell the breth-
Wn what was right and t.ieir duly
jo their ministry as they should.
instances the impression
been, that it is wrong to
Ki! of Christ «nng.
to him C^'- n J y i Wrong a! ? d
wdl njso Onscriptual as
clearly shown by
k/ (/
She llilflrWsf Sanner.
“THOU HAST GIVEN A BANNER TO
)ur brother’s text to which our
minds are herein called. Our
Savior was a good teacher. He
said, “The laborer is worthy of his
hire.” What does this mean ? It
means that as the man who labors
is worthy of his wages, so is God s
servant worthy to ba recompensed
for his time, and expense, and la
bor, and the neglect of his business
his home, and his family. Jesus
had j ust said to his d iscipies whoir
he was sending forth to preach
“And in the same house remain,
eating and. drinking such things
as they give; (then the words of
i our t,ext)“ For the laborer is worthy
i of his hire.” Then he follows with
, a solemn warning to those who re
> ceived them not, and. will not
t provide for their needs:- “Say,
d Even the very dust of your city
n which cleaveth on us, we do wipe
>e off against you ” Brethren, let this
ka said of anv of US.
Again it is recorded, “Provide
neither gold, nor silver, nor brass
in your purges; nor script lor youi
journey, neither two coats, neither
shoes, nor yet staves: . for the
workman is worthy of his
meat;” Matt., x, 5. 10. If this
does not plainly teach that theii
support was to come from those
for whom they labor in the gospel,
! then I can not understand the
■ plainest form of speech. If the
>
their fahiilies likewise? By no
means. xny brethren, who
love and esteem, for the truth’s
sake, the ministry the Lord has
given you, feel you owe them a
duty, not as hirelings, but as faith
ful brethren, who have come at
your cad, to preach to you the com
forting Gospel of God our Savior;
preach it, I say, without money
and without price, for they havo
not asked how much you were go
ing to give them, or whether they
would receive at your hands any
thing fortheir time and expense.
There is not another people that
can adopt the sama method in
their churches and keep up their
organizations.
s
1 've are taught there should be
3 equality as much as is possible in
3 the church of Christ. Especially
3 should this be the case in bearing
t the burdens necessary in the
, enurch. This is shown fi om what
the apostle himself says; “For I
mean not that other men be eased,
and, ye be burdened: but an
oquaiity, that now at this time i
your abundance may be a supply <
for their want, that their abund
ance also may baa supply for f
your want: that there may be $
equalityH Cor., viii, 13 14. It 1
might be said that this had refer- <
e.icc to ch Irenes in ’heu contribu
tions to th- poor. So it does, but
the principle ; 3 the hup, u mat
ters not for what purpose the con
tribution is to be made. It is too
often the case that the burden all *
rests on a few good brethren and 1
sisteis, who are willing to do their l
wnole duty and more than would 1
be necessary, if all would do what f
they should. This is wrong. It is i
not treating our brethren right. Is 1
it not written, “But this I say, he <
which soweth sparingly shah reap 1
also sparingly; and ho which sow- 1
eth bountifully shall reap also t
Every man accord- s
as he putposctli in his heart to t
DEVOTED to THE cause OF CHRIST
THEM THAT fear it
VALDOSTA. QA..QCT,,,,,,,, -
letl i. n give; not yof i
rnl< iver”llOor.,ix, 6,7. “Hr i
aci-toted according to what > w . n
hath, aadßOt ; " ?col ' l!in " to " '“the
hath not.” It add, strength to our
precious eanse and makes ns all
L-l happy, who love to see order
in the house of God, to see each
and every member of the church
, wilfng and active in dotng the*
whole duty, then everything
’ mores along without jar and d.s-
cord. It is a pleasure to meet <
with such a band of faithful breth
ren. How much easier it is to
>ar these necessary obligations
wh< n all are willing to share a
pert. What is too heavy for one|
to bear is made light when all lend
a piping hand. Are you wilting,
my brother, my sister, that your
minister shall bear all this burden
hi mself ? If he spends all or even
part of his time preaching for
e chi; cches, preaching funerals, of ten
ISS traveling a long distance and at
>Ur considerable expense, and he re
ceives but liitle or no help, bow is
. he ».o support him sell and his lam
. I . S ily? You may say, 0, the Lord
will care for him if he has called
ieU Lira. Let me ask you, Does he
lOS ® c; re for minister in some
’ strange, supernatural, mysterious
w ay, differefitTrom what he cares
for the rest of his children?
are told plainly enough
y ,.- the ministers of Christ who
lives to preaching the
iMk be provided for.
charitable don at'
obligation, and can not & wWi
held without injustice to them and
dishonor to the Christian profes
sio i. Specific directions are con
tained in the word of God
wh ch are designed to instruct his
believing children in all ages as to
his will, and the nature, variety,
aid extent of their duties. The
d uy of the church is plainly set
for hin this: “Or I only and Bar
nabas, have not we power to for
bear working?” Here the apostle
shows that although his own hands
administered to his necessities, yet
he had the right to forbear work
ing, and that it was the duty of
the church to see to his temporal
. wants. “Who goeth a warfare
any time at his own charges? who
pic nteth a vineyard,and eateth not
of the fruit thereof? or who feed
er a flock, and gate th not ol the
nii!k of the floeft? Say I these
things as a man? or saieth not the
lav; the same also? For it is writ
ten in the law of Thou
shall not muzzle the mouth of the
ox that treadeth out the corn.
Does God take care for oxen? or
saieth he it altogether for our
sakes? For our saks no <|oubt,
this IS written.” Then byway of
explanation he says, “H we have
sown unto you spiritual tilings, is
it great thing if we shall reap
y,nr carnal things?” I Oor., ix, 6-
11. This clearly enough shows
that hewas pointing out the duty
of the church to the ministry. Ihe
ox had a right to support from
the se for whom he labored, and
they could not withhold it without
sinning against God, who required
it. of them. The apostle snows that
tho law in question is designed to
contain a general principle for the
benefit of those who labor m spmt
....
X: Will of God that his ministers
shall receive help front th ui breth.
t6n for whom they labor, toceiv-
May be displayed because of the truth.”— psalms go: 4.
Mi bUMurn what is needful for n
We can not repeat it t |
o‘lqn, “The laborer is worthy
d-eward:” 1 Tim., v, 18. v
ten tie ministers of Christ re- a
tltou’ buisness relation q
omit to-the command that is r
wtlieir brethren for their (
bme.arnl labor, and make sacri- j
1 J ces foqthe sake of the cause of
1 k -apd the good of the broth- f
r fen, they deserve to bo more than j
0 a uked|for such sacrifice. Their 4
wives a?p next to widows: their .
■I clnldreniiext to orphans. Who en-
vies th# place? 1
us .all be careful not
to beconje covetuous. The Scrip
tures sg?afc very pronouncedly
against t|is sin. It is a great evil
in Uod’s Mght. “Take heed, and
bowareoicovetousness: lor a man’s
not in the abun
dance of tjiie things which he pos-
I Covetousness is idola-
M||||etassed with some of the
worst crijes of earth, and the
apoatle swg, “For which things’
sake the ifcath of God cometh on
the children of disobedience.” In
speakiag 4f the perilous times of
I the last days, the apostle names
t this evil aj one that shall infest
5 the church. Covetousness is an
J inordinate for gain. This
s may many times cause a good man
s from doing his duty
butheirill.be made to suffer for
iuswrcßg.
o Butilcan not be said that out
e to get gain; to
r. most oL. thQatf. gQI
‘‘trTnrTTFTu
do remarkably
Would any body but a
I mimster of Christ continue to
. preach under these circumstances?
. We know they would not. Men
[ who preach for a salary must have
5 as good pay for their preaching as
> they can make in other callings,
, or they will .quit the ministry,
i Many of them have, and gone to
, something else for a livelihood.
It can not be said our ministers
preach for the sake of popularity
for wo are not popular people in
the eyes of the proud world. The
rapidly advancing religious world
look upon us with scorn and* de
rision. They say we have not chang
ed, that we reject every thing that
is good in the way of improve
ment. It must be, then, that our
ministers preach because they are
called of God. And though they
preach to you the gospel, they
have nothing to glory of, for nec
essity is laid upon them, and woe
is unto then if they preach not the
gospel 1 Thon prove the sincerity
o f your love and esteem so them,,
by seeing they are not refused
what is rightfully Gue them.
We want our ministers to be able ;
to rightly divide the word of truth.
Io do this theyl must read and
study the Scriptures. “Study to
shew thyself approved unto (Ind.
a workman that needeth not to be
ashamed;” II Tmi., ii, 15. They
must have time to study. Again
s »ys the apostle, “Till I come give
attendance to reading.” “Neglect
not the gift that is in thee.” “Med
iate upon these things; give thy
self wholy to them; that thy profit
ing may appear to all;” I Tim., iv,
13-15. Ministers can not do this
and look after the temporal affairs
of this life, They need to study
the Scriptures. Not study to get
op sermons. Our ministry as a
general thing have been compel 1-
e <l from sheer necessity to neglect
this much needed doty* that they
might provide a scanty living for. .
tlieir own household. T hey can
but feel barren and embarrassed
when they arise before the people/
after having spent five days of
hard labor, from early in the
morning to late at nights, trying
to get a living, not having time, to
look in the Bible from one ap
pointment to another. How can
their profiting appear to all?
He can not, as says the apostle.
“Give thyself wholly to them.”
“No man that warreth entangletip
himself with the affairs of this
life; that he may please him who
hath chosen him to be a soldier.'’
1 Tim., ii, 4. But this can not be
said of but few of our ministry. As
we are to some extent what ed
ucation and environments have
’ made us to be, as all history and
experience attest, the blame rests
with those who give erroneous in
struction, telling the brethren they
5 should not care for the temporal
5 wants of the ministry. They
have caused the people to err.
Another matter we desire to
mention here is, the neglect oi the
pastors of our churches, that the
church may do well by traveling
preachers While it is all right to
assist brethren who c ome among
! you from a distance, and it is your
duty, especially so if you have in
vited them, for then duty demands
f t, yet it is wrong to neglect
your pastor. He should always
p be remembered by you. He may
J have been obliged to borrow the
Ll money
*apTointmehs. It may seem to
some that this is rather plain talk
and would be as well not said. It
is a fact, nevertheless. The inspi
ration of the Bible did not cover
up the sins of God’s people.
Neither should we. The way to
right the wrong is to point it out.
One other matter and we con
clude. No churches or brethren
are under obligation to support a
minister in idleness. It is not
enough that he preach only two
days in the week, and spend the
remainder of his time in idleness,
looking to the churches for support
for himself and family, should he
have one. He should have time
to read, to visit the sick, and to
look after the good of the flock,
over which he is placed as a faith
ful shepherd, then if he has any
spare time from these necessary
things, let him turn his hand in
the way of usefulness. He must
not feel that he is too good to work.
But if he feels impressed to give
himself wholy to the ministry, and
there is demand for his labors in
this direction, and he devotes all
or most of his time in preaching,he
should have the warm and hearty
support of the churches wherever
his lot may be cast. As touching
the support of the ministry we
should be governed by the wonl
of God, as in all things else. We
must be, if we would be right.
With prayerful desire that right
may prevail, that error may fast
be rooted out wherever found,
and our people be a blessed and
happy people, living in the light
and honor of gospel truth, the fore
going is submitted in love and
candof
pntMtriV-E Moßitor B? Bequest.
Dawson Ga., Sept. 26, 1895.
Elder A. V. Simms.
Dear brother in the Lord.
I write to ask you some ques
tions in regard to church goyern
mmtorlaws to be governed by.
What is the rule for receiving,
members into the fellowship of
the church? Whore and when
would you receive a member for
baptism ? It is gospel order or
orthordox for you or me to have
an .appointment at a friend’s house
and after preaching, open the 1
door of the church and receive
members and baptize them in the
absence of the church? Who
would such members thus received
belong to? They do not belong to
the church, it is evident, for the
church did not recive them; and
therefore they are in a worse con
dition than before they were bap
tized : for they are now in disor
der, so far as the church is concern
ed. If they belong anywhere, or to
i. anything it must be that they be
long to the preacher who baptized
them; and he cannot carry them
anywhere or to any church. Where
does the power or authority for
baptism rest? Does it not belong
strictly and exclusively to the
church? You know that the Sav
ior’s command to the man that
was cutting himself among the
tombs,was,to go home to his friends
and tell them how great things
the Lord had done for him. He
did not tell him to go to a preach
er and be baptized. If there is
anjjtScripture that would author-
• ize k preacher to receive members
have failed toffn?it7So^youg^b'
dears brother, that I hold that
such is not good order and cannot
endorse such a practice. Please
if there is any Bible authority for
it, write and tell us where to find
it. And if there is none, we
should, with one accord, condemn
it. Otherwise trouble will surely
grow out of it. To be ulain on
the subject, I will not baptize one
only as the church receives them
in fellowshin and require me as
their servant to do so. Neither
ca n I receive one who may have
been received and baptized any
other way.
Dear brother I hope you will
think over this matter, for it is
of no little concern to the church,
and after you have carefully con
sidered it, write me on the subjest.
I am an old time Baptist, after the
order of our fathers as near as pos
sible. “Look you out the old
paths and walk therein.”
Your brother in bonds of the gos
pel
W. T. Everett.
Remarks.
In complying with our dear bro
ther’s request, we will state that we
do not know, nor have never before
heard of such a case as he repre
sents. And in giving our views of
it, we do so without reference to
any particular case of the kind
that may exist anywhere.
It would seem to be a dangerous
precedent for preachers to receive
and baptize members “in the ab
sence of the church.” where
churches are as thickly settled as
they are in Brother Everett’s coun
try. Churches sometimes make
mistakes in ordaining the
wrong man to preach and
sometimes a God-called man
may allow his zeal for the cause tn
lead him beyond the bounds ot
(Continued oh last page)
No. 19