To Mrs. E——
Disappointment — Our recent interview — Sad change — Fault-finding versus prdiyer — Ministers need encouragement — “Our minister is not popular” — Hai-mful effects — Speaking evil of ministers — A false light — Confession — A stumbling block — “Touch not mine anointed” — A family regulation viith respect to the reputation of ministers.
My beloved sister and myself were both somewhat disappointed on the occasion of our recent interview. But I hope, my dear E has learned to
regard all her disappointments as emphatically God’s appointments. If so, obedience to the command, “In everything give thanks,” has become one of your most pleasant duties.
But I fear that this may not be your state before God. You were unhappy last evening, and not only your words but your very looks expressed unhappiness. The interview previous to that of last evening, which I remember to have had with you, was spent in conversation on the all-important subject of “HOLINESS TO THE LoRD.”
That theme stood absorbingly before you, and seemed to be engraven on all your intentions. Instead of being much concerned about self, and ways and means for the bringing about the consummation of your own wishes, you were mostly concerned in the establishment of the pure and peaceable kingdom of Christ in the hearts of those with whom you commimed.
Fault-finding versus Prayer.
Do I mistake, when I say, I fear that it is not altogether with you as in years past? I believe that my beloved sister wishes to stand perfect and complete in all the will of God, and if so, she will bear with me while I breathe aloud thoughts and fears which have oppressed my heart concerning her. Has not the deceiver, as an angel of light, beguiled you by his sophistries? By turning the eye of your mind so intently upon what you deem to be the failmgs of your minister, has he not succeeded in turning your attention away from “the beam that is in thine own eye?” Had the time which has been spent by yourself, and a number of your friends, in perhaps prayerless talking and thinking about your minister, been spent in seasons of fasting and prayer for the holiness of his life, and the success of his ministrations, he might by this time not only have been eminent as an example in faith, in purity, and in doctrine, but yourself and your friends, standing prominent as you do in the church, might have been greatly instrumental in promoting its purification and prosperity.
The day of eternity only can reveal what loss yourself, and friends, and also your minister, and the cause generally, has sustained by this disaffection which you have manifested toward your minister and his administration. Instead of holding up his hands, which sm-ely, by the ordinary duties of his responsible station must need support, you
Bear ye one another’s Burdens. What have you accomplished T
and your friends have added greatly to this accumidated weight. How, 0 how can this course appear in the sight of the meek, lowly, loving Saviour, who hath said, “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ?”
“But,” say you, “we think him deficient in piety, and though he seems to preach well, yet he has other faults; he is not generally popular, and to us his ministrations are not profitable.” Now, my dear sister, had yourself and friends first went to Jesus, as did his disciples of old, and told him all, had you done this without even mentioning your dissatisfaction to one another, I have little doubt but you would have had one of the most prosperous conference years you ever enjoyed.
Do you think that your expressions of dissatisfaction have in any way improved the piety of your minister? Have they tended toward making him more generally popular? Or have they made his ministrations more profitable to yourselves? If none of these important results have been attained, then there is every reason why you should take shame and confusion of face to yourselves.
But let me tell you, that there are humble, holy souls, in church fellowship with you, who have found the word of life, as dispensed by your minister, precious food. While you have been scattering here and there and gathering nothing, and are now almost starving, for your very looks say,” 0
The Wrong Path. A False Light. Make Confession.
my leanness, my leanness!” these have been feeding richly on the dainties of heaven. 0 what have you lost, and what has the precious cause of Christ lost, by your turning out of the highway into this by-path, and alas for those who have followed you through these delusions of Satan!
I say “these delusions of Satan,” for, tmly, as an angel of li(/ht, has the deceiver decoyed you into this path. If, in your imagination, light beams upon it, beware; it is the glare of the fires of perdition, and it will lead you, if you persist, and those who follow you, eventually to the point whence it emanates.
I see no way to get back upon the right track, but to acknowledge your error, and return. “If we confess our sins. He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” “Make confession!” ‘’Why, this would be coming down from the position in which I have stood, and my influence would thereby be injured, and my attitude be less favorable for usefulness than formerly.” No, my sister, you have put a stumbling block in the way of the people, and in their sight you will have to return and take it up, that they may see that you have pursued a course which it would be dangerous for them to follow. And then the Lord may reinstate you among the leading spirits of his sacramental hosts, otherwise it were not safe to follow yoy,
Christ and his Ministers.” Touch not mine anointed.’
I do not mean by my remarks to intimate that your minister is faultless. I should, on the contrary, think that his demeanor may, in some respects, be reprehensible. But, as ministers are of like passions with ourselves, should we not, in sympathy with the spirit of the Saviour, be touched with the feeling of their injjrmities? The chosen ambassadors of Christ, those who have been called, as was Aaron, must be peculiarly dear to the heart of the Saviour. Their influence stands inseparably identified with the promotion of his kingdom, and whoever touches the influence of these chosen ones, touches the heart of Christ. But must we not speak, in order that evils may be corrected? No, not unless you have taken the case to Christ Jirst, and told him all the matter in all its bearings. And then, if after much prayer, and close communion with the Head of the church, he requires, for the well-being of the church, that the matter be brought out, let it be done with much prayerful caution and with a single eye to the glory of God, and not for the redress of a mere ‘personal grievance.
Personal grievances should, in most cases, be taken only to God and to the individual concerned. Husband and I make it a point not to mention little matters we hear of this kind, even in our family, and often we do not mention them to each other. “Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets
Evils cured by Prayer. Solicitude.
no harm,” stands prominent among our family regulations. In common with others, I sometimes Bee things in ministers, which, for the honor of Christ’s precious cause, I could wish were otherwise, but the more my heart is troubled, the more constantly and earnestly do I keep the matter before God. Among the greatest victories I have ever gained, have been the curing of these evils in this noiseless manner. I have left no room on my sheet for apologies, in view of this plain dealing. Yours, in Christian love.