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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