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VISITOR
Strir
"ONE LORD, ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTI8M"—EPHE8IA NS IV: 6.
KBV SERIKS, VOL 2-NO. 28.
COLOMBIA, S. C„ WKDNKSDAY, MARCH 10, 1870.
OLD 8KRIRS, VOL. IV.-NO. 81.
$$« $uflj«an VKsitdt
IS FURLISIIEI)
EVERY WEDNESDAY
BT
RUDE_& MILLER,
TERMS:
Tit brrouus Vnrron ie fnmitlied to tub-
^(ribia »t $3.40 per j-«er, If peitl in ndr.oce.
A,toymen, their tTi.knm, end StoJeuU of
me charged $2 00 per reer, if paid in
^mS^TImwo who do not par wlthiu three
■ SL^ih. time their year trfyiiv, will, in
oue, be cherged toy eoata additional.
.ATM or ADtrCKTO!*a:
f* oee iq**™ t 00 * ** °« “'«“»> *
rim lawman. ■ » 76
0ce Month 3 60
Hi! meelha.... 7 00
Twatre Moetha. »• oo
On ndrartteeneiita e< three wjuaree end up-
val *a a duKount ua JO percent, uf UrarqaeM
ud opearda. JO per cent, of ten aquere* owl
u»w«d>. 40 per ml. and of one half column
aud upward*, M per cent will be deducted train
tl>« Rbo»e rale?.
OWttt»riei mon tl»»n five line*, ten
MiQta lor etel*« *«***. in atlvanc*.
^^Vetjure—Fire eunba per quarter.
rap Pleaut wotetnhei *11 humuce* hit Mrs
diouM he wUroacd to
* Ur A. R RIDK.
tM.wAm. a. a
Original.
Tho Duti* of lUliaff Eldert
, a. . - ■ — •-^
•mope and eternal in its great oouse- J govern them and apply the law* of
quences. Tlio ruler in the State may , Christ's house aa to bring all by de
err, and it is bod enough. Yet time greea to oouform in fraternal bar
will soothe, heal and obliterate bit j mouy.
error. But wbo shall look to Uieeutl i 1st. They have to ibvklo trim are
of un Hitler’s errors, or weigh all the ( and who are not enUtled to member
consequences of bis actions I He is a , ship in the visible church. But they
worker together with CitrisL Uc is , cau ia*t sets the la-art and know
steward of the most high. He holds j w bother the image of Christ is there
commission from him who said, “ l or not. They mmi only Jndgt- from
lutt he which liveth and was dead, j profeasioos Mid external evidence,
aud behold, I urn alive forevenuurv, Whilst, therefore, they an- ta eon
tuul have the keys of hell aud of tinued danger of receiving into the
death.” fie is chosen to office, as we fold, wolves in sheep's clothing, and
have seen, by the people, (alter an ' thus of assisting men to deceive them
appeal to Uodj casting lots. Bat selvee with a name to live while they
U J 1 ** >» cast into the lap, let tbs are dead—(for it U a most fearful
whole disposal thereof is of the Lord.” truth that many do put great coo-
And he is i mine tod into office by tbe | fldt-ncc in the mere tact of church
Holy Cihost himself. He, therefore, uu-mliership for their salvation) they
stnuds the fhlly at-crediUHl represan- | are in cquul danger of rrj.-ctiug aoaic
tative of him who said, “all power weak lamb of the fold, aud thus of
is given uuto me.” lu the temporary causing a little one to ulfeial. Ami
absence of the Head of the Church, ' the Master says : “Whomever sliall
the Elder is one of his agents, to offend one of them- little ones whkli
guther up the lambs of the fold, tuul' believe in me, it were better for him
np aqnarsly to ao impartial clmscun
investigation, is no easy task. Bredi
ran, if you frwl fully compatant to
the heavy task, you an- not dt for
the sacred office of Hkier. Il ware
batter to be a doubting Thomas, than
a arlf-oonldent profsae Peter. The
civil law very ulaaly amkea a friend
or rriativTD mi im-oapeteut juror.
And the tiaa of sstsm are no leaa
strong and |*»wi-rftil with a chwreh
officer than with a civil eitisen. Hut,
far the time, the Eldar maat ignore
nil natural ties, bo io to know ao one
after the dealt. His mother—his
child is to stand beta* him on the
same platform with the atrangar,
equally snl.ject to the Infirmities at
our natare uud fetfaw-heira of tbe
grace of lifu. The KU«r » sacredly
huuad down to the ean grant idea—
“JtmtJmttiHm rwmt fhmi.* And who
can ha sufficinit far these things!
No otto! With nn ay* ta this aatar
(hut, Obthrt has urgaidasd his rhnrrti
with courts of review and nppollaa
place himself stpiareij between them that a mill stone were hanged about jarimlietiou. nml made it the privilege
and every prowling wolf, wbetlier in his neck aud lie cast into tbe mitlsi of the humblest tinteger, if he lerl
wolfs or (dieep’s clothing, and say to of the sea.” Hcoce the Killers who aggrianwl, ta entry Ids cast, by appeal
the flock— hold In part tbe keys of the kingdom to the higher court, and on still to
•Now fof my trws.1*' auS bratbrau* aoivs, must not only couiiunue m mb witli tbe kigbeat court known tothschurch,
P»m» bo iu tim fU **y." | tlit-ir own hearts before tlwl, and no where, entirely among strangers, fan.
But while he occupies tryiug, reapon tiee the workings of grace in their cam* may be imamd upon by the
sible gronnd it is his to know that be , own souls, so that they aiay detest umobinml aimluai, piety and im|aw
fit Sermon pretided at Ebenezrr,' occupies also guarded, sacred gnuuid. its existenee more readily iu others, tiality of the whole eburah. Then-
Gn.,J**. «*, 1870. By the Pathr, lie toils to prop, no falling, to bolster but must also take herd to all the can he no favoritism. Hut sithough
get. ft. O. Phillip*. PeNuheH bp no doubtful cause. Fur he is on that J flock so that they may be familiar the alsna have swmsa/
rrepint of the Elder*.]
——
Yon know that eases always
i imrtwotu and whWy »eat-
ia the unpopular work ot discipline ciders,
in any of its forma, except as the’exist,often
moo Lb-piece of the beawua, then of u*rrd, and the jdlstAr is often left to
necessity, from, a uniform low of our And them out casually or, if yon please,
nature, will he and the church and Igr instinct, anti members are grieved
alt the means of grarC together, be
4snne unpopular with the very parties
wbo most nead those men ns, and that
which hi laiaa hi not headed, but
turned oat of the way. Hence God
him appointed a claim of Ruling Klders
who do not labor in the word aad in
doctrine, to taka and keep this whale
matter in band, in ordar that disci|i.
line may he dispensed, the parity of
the chnn-b maintained, and yet the
High Prieat be regarded not aa an
wustrrv Judge, bat ns an sffectioantr
father. Brethren, I speak as onto
w|ar men, judge ye what I say.
Resides a thousand agreeing dr-
cumstances give the. Rnling Elder
if be is not promptly there, ft
his solemn duty to bo there if he <
Deacons in their duty. For it is ia
aoch circumstance* that Christianity
display* it* bland attractions and
makes its deepest impressions. The
Killer wbo does his duty even to the
careless around him in their sfflh-
tion*, need not wonder when thev
H«t it is bis privilege to expert to he are restored to see them accompany
•caf for. Aud •owctiaic* be ought to him, and bear them say: “I was
be allowed tbe beneflt of a --lawful glad when they mid unto me, Let os
exm»e." But If he had no other go into the bonne of the Lord. Our
duties to' |M>rform, and if his sinews 1 feet shall stand within thy gates, O
were iron and bis nerve* brass, be
oould not fierform the physical task
of visiting as many eases ns often
emidoy from three to Are faithful
physician*. I make these remarks
neither iu self-defence nor for per
sonsl ends. “The past is secure,*
| and I am willing to meet its record.
But I make them to Impress upon
—....» the mind* of Elder* their duties iu
great advantage of the preaebiug tbe premise. Tbe sffiicted in the
Elder in this work. Elders are in Oiurcb and rommssi/jr must be at
teatHaialty chosen from and kmausl tended to. And Unwnl shall he he
ia evesy qssrtrr of the charge, in
urder that urn- or more of them may
Iw mvr to and very familinr with
every mcmlvr ami have Ms ootid
deuce as a neighbor Aud these
strung tie* ef ureghbarhoad, unreel
intorrourae, daily faaiiliarttr, |mt-
hd|M» relationship, mutual sympathy,
in pruapre-ity and esperially ia ad
versity, era huaiae** ties, as well as
his Mwcrt-d office, stake it sn easy
thing far the Eider in any wise to
to whom it thal! be said, “I was
sick and in prison, and yon came
unto me." Trne, for him wbo Inn
(pushea ia aMietton man can do hat
little. God'* Messing must do alL
Means of uature rather than of grace
are needed. There is far more bene
fit iu the tender aaanluitiea of the
careful nnrse (haa in the labors
of the cknn-b officer to try to torture
the Already seeling bruin, call back
wamlrring reason to her throne, or
foundation to which the Muster re with all tin- external evidence in Jnrisdicthm over the|K7voteOicmlaw, rebuke Ms m-ighlior and not suffer force her to give vent to disturb'd
fcrml wheu lie said, “ on this rock 1 each individual * ‘ 1
_ may have their df^sion* almted,
*tvi» W, thersfarr. to ywralm nnJ to j will build my church, aud the gate* ■ Htill farther, they are both judge* nm-ctcd, or even rqvruw-tl hg the
■fi tin 9u«» ^ ** l,u *- T r,ho '’ of hell shall not prevail against her.” and custodian* of the vested rights higher
tad s«l»70a onnen \cu xx.38. ^ Such living your position, you do of the infant, unable yet to demand
We take or grant , to-tlay, »vrt*ll to attend to the exhortation— the sacred privileges whieh G.al in of their owu action. A mawkishreu
. tr,,st w,,a h ; “Take heed, therefore, to yourat-lvc* his faithfulness has been pleased to timeotaksur may say, “I hatred the
UMie.1, in tbe former t is*onrses, via. f „, u ] to nil tH.u -L tin, «i.i.-k Mimi.nt t., i, tv,... m„.t it uuiQf anil |wvft*fxtxl to refer it ”
Well to attend to the exliortatiou—
positions
. , . ... Ml .and to all the. flock aver the which
V-*-- ! Holy Ghost hath mad. you over-
seers.” By which tl>« A(MMrfl« uieaus
that Elders should consider w ho and
what they are, uud the position they
court, that dffiw not retirve
them from all the fuU|wnpoaailMlitic«
chock on earth; that he has ap
painted specifically all her means of
grace—her laws, forms, ordinances,
ufaces ami officers; that among
these last he has appointed a class ot
fading Elders, ouc grade below the
HKhifag Elders ami one remove
•love the Deacons, and that he has
nude the office js-rpetiml and cirenni-
mnbed it by its well defined laws.
Today wa are brought iu the or
der of our discussion* to enquire
into lie dutk* of Ruling Elder*.—
Paul, in his last missionary trip,
when at Miletus, sent across to the
neighboring city of Ephesns, w;here
hi itself hat! organized a church in
must difficult circumstances, and re-
quested tlie Elders of tlsd chnreb t*»
meet him at Miletus. They came af
ooec and found that bis bnsiness
was la give them hi* last address,
•very word of which is replete with
instruction far you to-day.
He was not igtKiraut of what was
Issibre him in the near tnt.tr.-. Me
state* it with cktarnesa. And whether
to tod, or not, 1 alto red for them
with aU the ability God had given
hist, far tweuty-twi> yxsuw, seeing
twovfull benches of Eiders fall into
the grave around him, still be felt
•hat Ike pad, if latthing else, gave
the right to speak and to advise
to the future. \Y hon lie first visited
the* be was young, strong, ami
tooynat Life wa* in prospect.—
Hit brain wfiu clear, bia eve bright,
hw nerves firm, hi* heart hopeful,
and b» work before him. And 1
tocy that I see him standing like
80 * e great moral Gibraltar, against
which the boiling sea *f popular
phreozy lashed aud heat in vain
when it “cried out for three hours
together, great is Ilian ah of the
Ephesians.” But now his work is
nearly done. His head is silvered
with premature age, his laxly emaci-
*ted with toil, stripes, and imprisou
wients, and hunger, his eye dimmed
with watching and sorrow, and hLs
ohl limlis tremble from the cold
height of chains so often borne, aud
the dampness of so many dungeon
* n wBieh they liave laiD. These
■were the visible claims which he had
npon the attention of that assembled
^ aw>n - When he liegan to mWretw
1 l< ' m ' he was borne along on the
fDAuhig flood tide of his theme, his
tni-HioiT grasped tlie eventful past,
faith scanned the pregnant
he saw the church like the
little cloud on Carmel’s
i’El He saw her struggle.- aud con-
•ris, and the part whicli tlie Elder’s
Wfiuld take in her warfare, and he
•“•toon* them for their position and
'lubes by this language: “Tako heed,
“W»«foro, to yourselves and to all
jhefloek over the which the Holy
“•tot hath made yon overseers.”
H® thus shows that their duties
•J® twofold, first, personal—secondly,
Native.
ttemsel
Tee. , The office of Ruler in
occupy. They are “ cuxuni|des” to
all the flock. “ So walk as ye have
us for a n ensau»ple." The flock «hould,
and do look to them for example* of
ehristian deportment. And »hat a
moving consideration is this, that not
only the di*eriminating of the flock
look to them ftir a ehristlnti irmM,
but the parent wrill turn the attention
of the ehikl, while yet in its formative
state, just taking ehareefer for time
anti eternity, when lessons of exam
ple distill upon its opening mind like
rain on mown grass or showers that
water the earth, to the same sonrre
and any, “ there ia an example whieh
God ha* placed before yon, follow It
and it will lead to honor anti happl
ness m this tife, and to a world of
rest in the life to come.” The Apos
tie give* us in one grand sweep his
idea of nil Elder. “ A Bishop’'—the
same word which, in the text, is ren
dered orernerrn, and is often translated
Elder—“ A Bishop must be blame
less, the husband of one wife, sober,
vigilant, of good behaviour, given t#
hospitality, apt to tench, not given
to wine, no .striker, not greedy of
lucre, but patient; not a brawler,
not covetous; one that rnleth well
his own boti.se, having his ehildren
in snbjection with all gravity. More
over, he mnst have a good report of
them which are wfthont.” He mnst,
in one wovd, pot on the whole armor
of t 'heist, that whilst his words des
cribe, his life may point out the way
whicb leads to fairer worlds 011 high.
With the word of God for hi* guide
and its lessons living and working m
his own heart, with the finmo ss of n
Christian soidier and the meekness of
a babe in Christ, with proper feeling
of his own Weakness and ignorance,
yet of the dignity and saeredness of
his office, he mnst stand before the
clroroh nod the world as n city set
upon an hiM. He mnst be a living
epistle known and read of ATI men;
and all w hd regard Ufa are to take
knowledge Of him, that- lie has ten
with Jeans. That mmd ffinSt he in
him which \,fts also in Christ Jesus,
and so must he walk. Vhn iln no
are iu file way tt> take hefal M’tto*m-
uriveav
2d. Riders hare, secondly, to take
hoed to all the ttoek. Ami here their-
roal trials Ik-gin. The vbdlde chtrrch
wa* never orgunizoil for sanctified
saints—for peraomr who have paifited
beyond the Teach of at! weaknesses
and error*. Such persons have ltd
place in the visible chnreb, but nre
transplanted to the glorious ehnreh
triumphant-. And theft place in the
militant church is to be filled by- new
recruits from ike world who are yet
balm fa Christ, that they too msr
jfit)\Y ap into Min beoil rtf'* i* gHIornlly TW
, ... ... IP|IL,M and snbjeat to it* fafltfalties, -dHHcnl-
They are first to take heed to tic*, difference* of opinion and of in
terest will ariae, and ofltofae* rnnto
^family of Christ is a most trying need* aome. And the Ubh-iw ore the
a! “i*e*pomible Office—infinite in its hernia *f; this family, and have aa to
covenant to It. They must locale it issue and preferred to reft* it.” Bat
and determiue for it whether or not the true chriatiau Khh-i will never
it belnuga to the fold ami baa rights any ho. Uc will any, “ in a\ jralg
there. For if the sheep are not
Christ’s, the hunt)* ate tiom out
of the fiild and cun lie iutrodurct)
only by the action of the good Bhcp
herd himscTf. But If the aliecp are
fhristx by sit fhe taws of God aud
imtnre, the Intnl* are bis, born iu I
the fold anti entitled to the shield,
protisious ami mark of the Add,
rntrif theaiselves straw wirnner from
it. And the Eiders mnst th-tcrniiue
whether or not |Mm-nta furnish cv
hlence that they are CTtrist’s aheep.
Ami this they can do only when
they careftifty take heed to all the :
flock.
uieMt 1 may Lave rryrd. but ls4uie
Gud toy heart «a* haiu-Ht and right,
and I wait for light tftw-e that I nae
wrong.' l ivtlwn, fagardiimr right
ifi private judgment p* you do the
apple of the cjc. You see that the
discipline of the rliureti 1U1|SM * iuusI
trying duties u|sui the Ehlers—alnties
from ahn-li they wight well 4utuk.
tint they are dntiea Winch hate to be
•huukfa-rcd bj aonu- js-rra-us iu the
•■barge. Aud we aaw. 1 trust, that
It is the right of the flock to «u> by
tlu-ir election » ho tlusc pu tic* shall
be. , . , >,«. . - , y ,
I wish to advaoor an miditlouai
He who wrongs his follow-man, idea here. Aod would that 1 could
aide to know and maintain his rivet it forever on the mind of every
own rights, Lt verily guilty. But elder in the brand rhnrcli of Christ,
that session or individual who shall It iu theirs ami theirs eafjr, to take
interpose between the immortal, lierd, ojfhei*il/g, U> The ruuaisteut walk
hrfnttt, unable to s|ieak for itself ami ctsiverwatkai of all the flock,
and the privileges covenanted to They at*tbe grand inquest. Ily some
it by (hr faithfulness of Abraluun's strange ovarwight—rather a failure
God, assmnes all the n-iqiousiliility lo see at nil, it U #pw regantotl aa fifi
in the j>n-niise. That may by great official duty only of the I’rrachiug
or It may be 'LmgUcd at as naught. Elder. It u not iu dmtp, it it act fits
But it is a rv*|<on*ibility from whu-h prirUrft. God fie'er made him a
I humbly pray Almighty God to «»v* divider, a tracer out of a-amUls, an
me when I am cnlttsl to stand before ipfonner, or an accuser of the brvth
him in Jiidgiuent. If any of you are ret*. TV hat think you of that dauina
either thoughtlessly or intentionally hie vretth, who, caliad jntlge, forget*
assuming It, I twweerhyoa to examine his poaitioo, difigrucaa his ermine,
carefully every Inch of grouud you ignores tbe (act that he is the repre-
occapy. An angel would tread soft- sentative of the State, and of every
Ij where yon staled. The jguuud . citizen, roiwa down from the bench
M holy ground, Thom- voices w lpeli and goes before the grand jury to in
fife now heard only in tlie uicrrj . form against the prisoner at tmr or
Tangh or the Inajticulatc cry of pain, about to he brought to liar! “ O,
wilt wring out bill and clear at thy my anal, come Wot into his habita
hqr of Go<l. It may then be forever tlon.” '
too lnte for them to demand their Ho'Sacredly doc* God's law guard
rights, but ft wfll mit be too late this point and role the Preaching
for them to tell their wrongs Buf«- FTder, entirety out (Sim initiator;
Ty the session who havy charge 'to dfarijiiine, that If I were •“ Uficoine
this whole matter “will due inquest an Itlfiirtner, you w«»uht liave tv np
make* snd see to it that ev ery child pent to a ^igtier court 1
■ in .ill th* flock" li.i* il* rights. tion to try and an umpire
aeeortb-d (o it, or throw the onus . No! Brethren, von are-the grand iu
wfltere nature plan s It. on »he jm quest, to make free presentment,
rental shoulder. But if they do np And the reason to too dlmoTtwfo need
they mi:*! t.ik< Le d to all tin t!c« v k. remark. If a inwnber have fallen, or
2d. Again, afterrecelviugthvi wem belflie-te fall l*tfb hurtfol errors'of
bera fhe P.Mers have them to govern doctrine or practice, the Preaching
iiftb® chim'li. Laws anrst he ap KMIer may, hy HTi4-me can tion abd
jffl^d.' Dl^erertiw* will lu i'se. *Yud sA-irt mmfldenee, 1 Ar> Touch gmsl. Br
inertbcrH'ought always to settle tlies.• 1 tiimfi wh.l utirW’.iifrvrtiiiy'tfaain
long* tliAh»< l\ eK. 1t ic iivn is eg >■ snd far argnemtt, he may rA«4ahti tbe
[■IIS.!
Efiprji dixjs-
1 to decide.
afaflt
pttelf. ^Ifthy brother shalt tre spass errtnfa He should, at fafikt, Ay.
agaW4t t(nM‘, go nmf left him lii* fault Bat,~ however aodtioas Ufa preacher
between and him alone; if he may bay Iheaa fa danger fha* thafaft-
hhsTI hear thee thou liast gained thy >uff «n*e, if ho be not aaatonst fat. isat
hrothifr, but 1^ be will not hear tliee fc leant in n remdition to taka eoaep
then take with thee o6«- or twp more tiua# to ovsrvihing. and will became
thht liCthe (nohtK of two or three Oflfendtsl and fibaaat tomaalf enttsely
wKneMTs, e\i#y word may be.es'tab _ from Ufa luvaas to grace, and thus
lltitiofl. "And If he shall in-glett to* Iwctuue teat to himself, to she ehnreh.
hear them, theu tell It To the cLiircb " to She world, aad ta Gad. , I know
Then tlfl* Itefadbb—fJotfs eoprt in tW , IsAh. from reason aad observation
ehnreh mnst he the ttinpiflr. And jf] tlfat Ufa preaahar can da saawtbfafa.
does not cvni though but httlftf with the erring,
itl Whk^J
ill di-slye ] nud doctrine. He ahouhl 00b nor
ent-h party nt vnrianfe
HFdl'Ai
take, they wt
sitferytseif vriidily' In the righlj w7i|cb" outfada to hi* SaqreU work ia wwrd
ise, tney win uesire , nuu uociriuc. Jie hih-uhi v
the body. And hoingTet In the flesh *nrt expert the s*‘ 4sion to declnra | doe* lui fcar wm. U- were
though
loflgnr wait, but how little none run
tall.’’. re»7.to» . o.i ih.D SOI t,\oA\
But .tart hare 1 state a truism, and
hold yon to It- In She atteetiew* of
the Church, aspectslly In eoantry
coagregstiana, a iUtered over a wide
among his friends and kiuified, some] pvuiacr, uitpopufai and ». stuaitaling aero, too ataefa fa generally expeated
of w'hAiil itmT bp IntiJWS^ m come' block*, {hit if h^ Br piwhafi farwaad to the p nachfir and tea little to the
them *0, ntid ; feign bffoncc, If it is npt i f1m did. JBto he aboahi tear making
dom*. *' Hitch tt fldbr, erring hitman J the mean* to gttfafo to wfaich b* fa
miltfre." Ahd fbrfifi ETder, esjs-eially . reoognufad «® Ufa uxpaaairt nod dfa-
" J * - Jl “ |- *■ ejpguses, uqpopufar aod » sruaibbng
p
sin apoa him. lie eaa do it with no
danger of giving offeor? or produe
mgevU results. Hy “a Word fitlv
spukru” aa any one of those oppnr
tone oonasMtos ao enmiaou to him, he
con qaaah. jurral. or heal ia iarip
wary, oue half the aud ten whieh, if
Wt ah am, would grow into scandals,
aad by pradeai maaagetneai. can
give sarh shs|ie to the other halt
ami such |>rep*ratkNi to portico, as
to leave tbe Hcasino, m such, hot
bltle to do, except to are how good
and bccoraiug it fa far lirrtbrea to
dwell together fa ufitiy. Bo imm bine
eon work well unless all Ms parts
are property adjusted together, xfinl
eerfa performs Its own proper ftme
re wttti tire
ttoas wMlwaft Pro 11
rent. KaprcinHy fa
roai|iMrated machinery of the ehnreh.
Aad know ye. It fa the ft met km of
the Elder, not the Pastor, to take
heed to oH the flock for pwrposis of
disri|iline. Christ a|>poiated Pastors,
lint he niqwinted alas ‘-help*, par
rrnment*. And listen at thedoetrine;
“BretJusn if an; of jxm do err from
the tnitli and one convert tom, let
him know that ha wtorh eonvertath
• staaer from tbe error of his ways
shall save a anal from death snd
shall ludo 0 malt node of afas.”—
'-IhwtUren. if a fana be ortetekea fa
• fault, ye whieh are faerttool restore
sack aa oo* in tbe spirit of meekness,
ncauderiog thyarlf leal Uraa also be
tomifiad.” A ebureh amy be killed
b> dmrtplioe—it may die for want to
A b requires the most strict Chris
Use pratb-nt-c. It eaa exist ooty
when the U<imw take lined to thewe
vagaries. I have no Very great
eon fide nre in death bed consolations,
aud almost none at all iu deatli-bed
r»-p«*nt*n«-e and converaioiM. Such
things aie ponible with God; and
to prove it, Kevehttiou furnishes one
example. Such things are not coat
»<>« with God; and to prove it,
Revelation furnishes hat one example.
And 1 verily believe that cohired
U«»cTi|>tions of death-bed triumphs,
bv well meaning but misguided men.
aad flippant, disgusting, cuntemjiti
bte new spaper arcount* of dealb-bwl
(xuiverskms, which never took ptere,
have fame niorv- barm to tlie Church,
the world, the great cause of Bible
Christianity, than Paine’s Age of Rea-
•am, Vefawfawh fisbss. Home's Soph is
this true to tbe try, and Gibbon's Hirturie Facts. O,
what a vast number have been aelf-
deceived anddecaivedevta Ire ehnreh
officers, iu their doath straggle*, and
art gone—“whither. I dread to
think—but they are gone!”
Tell me how year friend tired, aod
i will preaeatly tell yon bow he died.
if be lived a fool, an he died—
whatever the last ravings ef his
fevered brain, if be lived a Chris
tian, ao be died, though his son of
sum may have ceased to shine and
left him in darkneSa. His pilot
through that ralWv has long since
said to him, “1 hare called thee by
name; thou art arise. Wlien thou
pa asset through the waters I will be
' with thee, and through tbe rivers
1 bey shall not overflow 1 thee.” In
hte day of cool, esh-ulating re non
be Koid, “Come nml let us join our
stove* uuto tlie Lord in an everlasting
stoves ami to all the flock. • : covenant not to he forgotten.” And
3d. Remark figaia; Tbo Kblere »»*» iw Ms day of pltyweal weakness
have to take lived to all the flock in
their uffifilnms. 11 ton I with Preoeh-
utg and Baling F.klerwhnvv their own
speeifin duttea, sun*-nous and oner
otm. 1 qmik not rady from the
word to Gad, bat from moumfnl ex-
perfaure. A* puatar to a eharg.*
covering ah arcs of thirty tulles
aqnnm, swahraefag asorc than a Hrm
dried fiimUh-s, in aaigkly dime, where
“death nigna,- and -wham mroeif
have ton gmvea Ailed ia a oeore-af
years—afiUetfaaa are oar birthright
—our only sure lutttMneny. Ami no
vme knows better Unto ntyarlf, baring
learned in the sekool- to aqs-rinre,
eonscqnent rtoling re-aaon, he
may rave and ixitsp and deetroy his
own lift*. But that “covenant fa
oniered in all thfngsand ram-.” And
thoagii he rave and die, yet “tto me
Jerusalem.” “He who would have
friends, mart show himself friendly.”
He who would draw friends to ebris
tenuity, must show that it begets
love, sympathy and kindly office*.
II i* otily thus that churrbe* are or
ean be built np. And that ehnreh
in which a foil bench of Elders shall
do their whole duty in this matter of
visiting, will prosper aud grow, and
eventually become an immortal TVrra
in the religions world, though the
Pastor lie weak and inefficient. Bat
if the Elders throw the work entirely
uIkhi tbe Pastor, the chnreb mart
dwindle and die, tt Paul himself were
Pastor. For tbe work is not only
too much for him, but to a great
part to it every Pastor most be
unsuited. It therefore mnst be un
done, unleas the Eldars take heed to
all tbe flunk.
4th. It ia the duty to the Eider*
also to take heed to tbe doctrines
with which all the flock ore fed both
from tbe ;mlpit aud from house to
house. They sltould see to it, that
no poison fa mingled with that food.
T do not mean that they may stand
as censor* over the Pastor and order
him what, where, or when to preach.
No, to his own Master he stands or
falls. He were unworthy the name
of proaeher if he could or would
accommodate his doctrine* to the
wishes of any. He stands free and
nntrammeled. and should; for be fa
pledged to God and the whole church,
and is, nraler God, subject to her
alone. Even there he retains the
sacred right of private judgment—
But the Apostle forewarned the
church that some would depart from
the faith aud taring in damnable
heeeriea. And as tbe Elders are.
members of all the higher court* of
Christ’s house, of whieh the Pastor
fa a member, and .to shich be fa
answerable, they should be strictly
careful to be always present, at least
by one of their number, in each
meeting of those courts. And if the
Pastor has taught wlist fa contrary
to sound doctrine, tlie Elders are
bound to carry the matter up and
report it In those courts—“tell it to
the ebureh,” that he may have trial
by his peers, and if guilty be cut off
from the congregation of IoraeL—
Thus the ehureh will not be reapon
sible for his error*, and purity of
doctrine will be maintained.
Besides, tbe Elders, by their inter
course, each with the people of his
quarter, may know the peculiar
views, diflk-ulties, stumbling-blocks,
trials and mental condition of each
one; and may "thus be able to make
suggestions and give informatiuu to
the {motor, which will powerfbily as
sist him to give shape, point and
adaptation to liis public ministra
tions, and give to each a |K>rtion in
due season. „
3th. And tills introduces the re-
die hi* death, and let my last end be mark, that, in order to take heed to
litem hie.” lint tt*e revelations of tbe
Itoal d*y wltt show that to the vast,
overwhelming majority of those over
whose denth-bed- conversion a shout
Was raised. Slid of whom flaming
ot tit mny notices appeared in the
public prints only to deceive others,
it wttl be snidt “Depart from me,for
I never kuew you; for I was an
hungered, and ye grt-c me no meat
tbe pnw ettel ooopmwtion and ana- attend, and yn gave mo drink; *
touting faiaenc* efrotiugrtdrra, who stronger, and ye took me hot in;
feel and do their-doty in the affile i naked, sod ro eloftied me not; toelr,
throe to. tbe aeng.'fgatteii. Yon hud rate JO rim ted mem*," But church
two such. Bet they ere gone forever 1 offieens roust do their duty, and fan ve
—one 4o titH'hnn-li trionspbont. the the rest to Ood. J And one of their
irthnr tit a iHrtant ”~ 1 - 1 *-*— -•^br’’ duties is hi rish the sick,
flrah rents.from hi* la Imre, but lis nfllicted and dying. And it is a*
works follow itiai to dear, hs hi* so* nmeh the doty Of esoh BWer as of
token np the lead which. Imm fallen | the pastor. like him. they have the
tion, such ns musing, medical atten-
ti«t, Ac., la whieti tbe Bhler is
also to minister. He has alao to
fern* out and visit the poor and
destitute, and ail the objects of the
ehnreh’* ehsrity, so as to Atree* die
all the flock, the Elders mnst be as
much as they can with thpt flock at
their own homes. Eiders 'must visit,
at least, each in.hie own quarter. I
need net say thnt with the I’reselling
Elder, Jhi* is rather a sacred privi
lege than a duty. But it fa on*
w hich he cannot often enjoy to tbe
extent desirable to himself, or to the
flock. For kfa field fa not simply one
section of the charge, but the whole
flock, however widely .stuttered.
Besides, the overwhelming majority
oC pastor* ore more cramped and
troHidled by efrcnmatauces than are
the generality to Elders. IV) tho
cause of this 1 need not refer. And
still farther, though tho pastor suiy
desire to visit from house to house,
to see the home-happiness of the
flock, to enjoy their cordial liospi-
frow the fotbra-Vi »hi wider. Tlie - right' to erpetf to be sent for. If
otlier still “fabora tlmt lie may rest.” , • .
But he fa sln-edy ranludmed In a i it. Nor ere tliey to watt
thotisond ohrislian licufla. To both 1 but ore Iwuad to altead both iu the J
v«n will one day hear the plaudit, J . specify to friend, neighbor and
“Servants of God, art! dooc ” Bat BWer. IJsten fit tlie Aphsfle : “fa
their mantle and a don We portion I dfif t let him mil for the halers
to their spirit ought to foil a port of the ibtm-h, and *kt tlffiffi ) ,rt V ,
rtm «ko are Ml behind. ■ They' «.w him.” And whatever efae t.my labor, it fa not the most important
' v«*. oftVe » Kttlc be taught ia th.- phrase, “anoif.tiog
him with ott,” it evidently inelndeS-
j desired, but they may not waif for tality, to togridiste himself with the
ted Wren and yooth, to take counsel
with the {tarenfs and rejoice with
those who rejoice, and weep with
those who weep, and often may do
much good in that way, and though
this is one legitimate part of his
t imp
part. And when tt is utterly im
{•ossihfa for him to do all, then the
the aaetephysfrte means ftw restore- Gees must give way to tbe mere
important duty. The Elders must
do thnt part which is dearly in their
sphere to duty and give the preacher
chance to do that which devolves op
him glone. He may not daub God’ll
1 -mse with HEttscr 'ted mntar, nof