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1 2 3
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6
UNMUZZLE THE OX.
A SERMON
BY THE
REV. A. B. MACKAY,
Minister of Crescent Siieet Church, Montreal,
Author of " The Story of Naaman," " The Glory of the Cross," etc.
" Thou shalt not muxxle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the com. Doth God
take care for oxen ? "— i Cor. ix. g, also i Tim. v. i8, and Deut. xxv. 4.
2. o\
TORONTO:
C. BLACKETT ROBINSON, 5 JORDAN STREET.
1884.
RECENT PAMPHLETS.
the Bridencea ot ChrltUtuIuy*'
Br R,v. J«« M.ddl.«i«. EW fti^ .,;.„^
"TK* K"»c». rrice, lo cents
By R«^. D. H llMVicar. LL.D Prl». ,
, "It thOttld b« rMll br Mar. P^ V
C BLACUTT ROBIHSOH,
I JoiduSlr«t,Tmito,
fl
r NMUZZ Lii Tnii ox.
A S K R M O N
i;v THE
Ri:V. A. 1'.. MACKAV.
Miniiter of Ciesii'il Sine', Ch:itch, Miiiln.it,
.{utiwr ./ " The Story of Niiiimm." " In,- i',lory <•/ the Cf.m," ,tr
■' Ihou shall :ioi mti::!c the tiu nth of il:c cv th.u tie^.i^th ■nil tin uirn. Dilh God
take ^.^.e for ovi/: ■ " — i Cor. ix. 9, al-iO i Tim. v. i'*, .iiul I)i ':l. xxv 4
TORONTO:
C. BL.\CKETT ROBINSON, 5 JORDAN STRKl.T.
1884.
Th ext ot .h.s S..r.on (, Cor. ix „. and so.- .h,.„hts in it w...
ugKostci „v one pr..ch..,i by a hrotl,., ,nin.s,.r ,„ Kn^-and on l.ehalf .,f
heSustentat.on I.,.„., ..f.He ,,n«lish I'n.sln t.-r.an ('hurch That Fund
has secured for th. n.n.s.ers of .hat Church a nnn.u.un salarv of
Sr.ooo per annum : an.l if the circulation of thisv.-non shall 1. hHpful
towards .ncreasin« ministerial stipends in Canada, t.ll th.v at iLt
-iual th. KnKlish standard, I shall he profoundiv thankful. '
UNMUZZLK TllK OX.
-♦♦♦-
I
DOTH r.(.i) TAKK c AUK i<-K ..XKN ? Vrs. luost assuredlj'.
(i„.l tares for every creuturr He has made. Kt' -it and
small and would have even <!uinl. aiuinals treated kindly.
Therefore Mr K^ive a law forl...ldinK the nrnz/hn^j ot the
oxen while treadniu <>tit the ^'raui. He knew the heart of
nian.an.l its constant tendency to become hard ancU^rasp-
i,,,' He knew tiiat after His people were settle.l m (anaan
-^ti<at land tlowint; with milk and honey-many a close-
hsted farmer would put a muzzle on his ox. because he
urudL'ed the few ears of ^rain it ate while -omK round and
r.,und the threslnn-dloor. Therefore, by tins command.
He, as il v/ere, cries to sucii,
HANDS OFF !
Leave the beast aK^ne. " Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth
of the ox that treadeth out the corn." >t.'t him take his
fill So lon^' as he is working,' hard, the little he can eat will
neither harm him nor rum you. Whereas, if you muzzle
him, you may save a little, but you will do a ^reat injury ;
tor i^t w.Mild be the hei^du of cruelty to tantalize the poor
beast, hour after hour, with the si^ht, the smell, and even
the'touchofthat which he wishes all the time to eat. and
cannot take a mouthful of. Will not that muzzle make
him restive and ill-tempered ? W Uhout a muzzle,
THE OX WILL LIKF: HIS WORK,
-vnd do it well. With a muzzle, the ox will hate his work,
knd do it ill. Hence, this kind and considerate command ;
and It is just a sample of God's goodness to all His crea-
tures The Koval Humane Society of England and
kindred institutions, are often pointed to, and rightly as
instances of the kindly spirit of modern civilization, but he
l)nni2
ICIM <■ I.
Il
>'r.'-"f tt (I 1, . "t.ful.arr? ||. . |o,|,..s tlw
Ml
w
n
'• l,'l\rtli I,, ,|„. 1,,..,^, |,,, ,,„,,,_
"P"" ' l< < . .111.1 ri„,M ,r,, , ,1 - , ^ '' •'" \\-'l'
'''■•'• -r-n s Tin .'r
i^ia out ..ItliisannVnl I,.w of Mosr
^. I'.iul i;cts
S<iMI l||l\(, MoKi;
'ir.i'y.:ii;l''i',:,,;",!;:::'r ';:;■ '-^ •'"-" -i- m.
i'n,i,„„ i ■;„:,'■ f'"'"' V" " '" ^•'"' '•
" llif sak.' (.1 tl
"■ miiiutiis of
I>l'>^v u, hop,., an, lu- 1 ' , 'Y '''"^^•^■^'' ""'^^^''^ to
J'^-v.t.cal law an ■ .j..' „/. '• '"\'n>K-ts this ohl
preted was a ' ^'^'^^ ^'"'^ connnan.i thus nuer-
C.RHAT I-AVOfKITI-;
^Mtlitlie apostle, and often on his lim T • • ,•
Pistles, he (luotes if in tl,o . ^ • ^'"''^' '" '"^'
luuiLs u in tlie same connection. Xor is it
Int.l to sec thr r.-iMsr ..f this. It .lulMMhr. tl.r rr«*l>op-
^bihtvof thr Chur.h tou.it.ls th..M' uliM l.il""it m woi.l
.in.l .l.Mti.u. . Hi .. Iiuui. l.inuliai. -^tiikiM-. 1... mo, .l.lr: a
1,^,,.. u.oreovrt. uiu.;h conncrls tins spm...! ..!..l„^..t...n
loxs.ii.h onr class with thr «|on<.us ptm.iplr ..t (.oils um-
vers..l l.rii. \nl.n..- .nu\ < ar.- f..i all Ills . iraturrH.
I.Mwk.n- at Ihr -p" ti.a, ,n tin- li.L,'lit. wi' Kct valuabl--
instiiHt s t.-.n.hiu: iM.tl. tl..- iMimstiN -t the (.osprlaiM
Its siipp' >l t .
Tliiiil- ..t
Till .IIMSI KV I 'I- Till'. f.OSI'KI.
aslur.' i.t,rir,l .... Tlu !.• is a ininisi.y < ..iMmitl.Mi to
special nuliM.luils. ,. .•,. th.H' is a <lass nt m.„ ... thr
(Miiiirh s.-t apa.t tor a parti, ular (lass ot \vo,k. i.. \slii< ti
thrv atv t<. .lr.,,t.' 111. ...srKrs .^x. lilsl\ flv . 1 i>is is a vrl V
patrnt tart m our -•. . l.aasti. al oru^ni/at.. ... as 1 irsl.y-
Uians S... 1. a ho-lv <.i n.cn <lors exist iii our ( hiirrh ;
,„h1 It is w. 11 that It is s<., tor th.s arran|.^.nu'iit is
NO IHMW I'lAlCK
whuh i.Kiv 1.C altrrr.l h....i tiMic to time. ami. it w y ht
al-olislu-.l: It .sa(liviiH-..nhnance. The existr.i.r ot siicl
a l,o.lv ... m.'u IS. ii..l.'..i. a pn...f ot thr ran- an.l lovr of
Ih,' ns.n llra.l ..f tl..- Churrh. " W lum Hr as.m.h'.l on
rh Ilc-U-<1 captivitv .aptivr. a.i.l ^^avr -ifts uiito mr...
hat .Mtts ? Thr aposth- I'anl l.'ils us. " ll,' ^ave soinr
postl^s aii.l soim- Pn.phrts. an.l s..mr KvaiiKrhsts an.l
soin.- Pastors an^l Tra.h.TS. f..r thr pcrfrrtm- ot the saints
for tl... w..rk ..f thr ministrv tor thr .•.l.fym- ot thr l.o.lv ot
Christ.- ICph. iv. .1-12. 1.1 tl... books of the; New lesta^
ment. w.^ hav thr ministry -f the extra..r.linary ^Mtts <.t
the ris,n Savi..iir in a form ni.nv perte.-t than any early
Chur.-l, enjove.l, and m the servicesof these workers whom
He st.ll ra.ses .ip to ...mister m lioly thm^^s we Have he
or.hnarv-iftsofthis.hspensat.onof-race I '"^;^^^;-J'';^/.
there is' a ciistinrt bo.lv of men set apart t.) sp.r.tua work
in the Christian Cluirc'h. nee.ls t.) be strongly insisted on
in tliese davs, for there is a tendency m some quarters and
under the delusion of a hi-her spirituality, to i-n.^re this,
and to for-et the warning of James, " P-e not many teach-
e s." How manv, wlien they have a mere smattering of
I. .'4
W
Al
s<
tliNiiir knc i\\ 1< (l-f, tliiiik tin III .. i\. j'« t l>.(;tiy culiH'< t' lit l'»
Ktutil Up iikI tcarh every one. How many uiy that they
li.i\ »' .111 11 IK tioii froin al>')vr, ainl kti>>\\ r\t'rytliitiv,', \^ lMt«';iH
tlu- H()i\ >«|)iiil sa\s. " It a Miaii tliiiik«tli hr kiiowttli .iny-
tliiiij,', Ik kiiDwttli iiotlutiK )it as lu; ought to kllo\^ it."
\\ lulr llu If IS
\iiIIIIN(; SACKkDOTAL
III tin- f'hristiafi iiiiiiistiA. .iikI aii\ att( mpt to (Ic\atc any
lloil\ <ll IlKIl into a |>IHstl\ < IStr, .IS it tlK\- Uclf ill a
spt'cial -^t ii-^c tli< lot III (lod, IS ultcrK suli\cisi\c ot ("liris
ll.llllt\, still Ur 111114 IICMI tor^'ct tll.lt It ll.lS ph'.isfd ("lod
to < .ill < Lit. nil incn to otJK i.il positions in IIis ("Iiuk h, .iiid
th.it tlicrfforc the (linsti.in ininistiy i^ st. imped with .i
p»( nli.iiK sacred < h.ir .Kt< i . lo dt'spise it is to despise
our Saviour s ^ootl k''^^' •""' '"' throw coiiteinpt on Mis
iiirnute wisdom. I'.iul. in .ill his l.ihours lor the ('hur< h,
reroi,'ni/e(| this j^'rand f.K t ; theretote it w.is his practu c to
Old, nil eldeis 111 e\<r\ ( hlir( ll, or CUlse them to he or<l.illied.
Nowhere did he le.ive aioiiip.iliy o( ("hristi.ihs without
soinc amoii^i them who should l.iliour in woid .iiid doctrnie ;
who shoiiM rule ;ind feid the floi k o! (iod; who should
(^'ive themselves wholly to this work, and keep themselves
therefore (hsentan;,dei| from the ordinary atf.iirs of life.
Such l.iliourers are spoken of umk'r various ti^,'ures in the
conte.xt. Tlii-y are soldiers, fif^ditin^,' for the ;,'reat Captain
of Salv.ition officers in Ills ;irmy. Some who follow
divisive courses would reor;<aiii/e this army, and have all
officers and no privates. They are ;ilso r7»f dnssirs, tend-
ing the vineyard he has planted and watiTed and hedf^ed
in. Thev are to preserve and tr.iir. and nourish the vines,
so that they may prtxluce al)un<iant Iruil. They an- also
flicplitrds, lo\inL; the sheep for whom the (iood Shepherd
iias died ; feediii;^^ them from day to day under the e\'e of
the (ireat Slu'pherd. who rose from the dead, and lookiiif,'
forward to that time when they shall present each one
l')lameless before the Chief Sliepherd in I lis kin^'dom of
f^dorv. They are also plouf^JiDicn, hreakin}^ up the fallow
f^aound li\' the plouj^di of repentance and conviction, cast-
inf^f in the f(ood seed of the eternal Word, harrowinf,' it
in by prayer and supplication, reapinj,' aiul threshinj^^ tlie
spiritual harvest on earth. They are also called oxen. This
i-
»
it the In.ml.lrst tiK'.rc ustil. l.ut .l .s v. .^ .f.^.n : .m-l .n
"r " tiv. Thr u..rk of the Chriblian muiuM. i . Ukc tluU of
Ihc ox titailing out the grain, it
IMPORTANT.
\V,tl...ut t!.. labutir nf thr nv.n th.T.istrn. tann. . unul-l
1,,,.. n.. 1....1.1: t.umuc ami dr..lh u.m.I.I st..f hnn ..hI
I,; l.nn.K It. th. far*-. So without th- uuu^^u^ -t tl."
(....,,.. nh.- \n"V\r l..-,,sh t.., l..k ..I knnulr.l^;. t v.->
Inuh NMs.l<.in a. u.ll as MM.-.. |...ls ^^h>. h U .1 lo u
. ,h.. l.,^.l..t hlrth.f .s spua.Ml fanuM. ...ul spmtual
.oHs pn.no.uu.a a la.h.n- hv tho.. who hav. "''V-r ak n
the trouble Cither tu record fu-ts or to wn^^h th.-.r wopi .
nil. I.,\TE CIIAKLKS n.VK.VIN
Wis u^ no sense of thr wor.l a Chr.stKin- u.-UtM he coii-
.:.. that there were tw..th.n,s he teU none.. otv.x^,
oetrv an.l reh^ion ; yet, as an aertirate observer <'• '^^t^'
a.l no svn.pathv With those ^rotters, an.l s;iV. iU^a
anv 4 ch ha,>,Hne.l to he sh.pwre.ke.l on <.nr ot tlu- South
ti lands llie.r hrst h..p.- w..uUl U' that the ------
-.,a prerc.i-.l tlifn. Why so? Because, i the "hss o
.ru^s' a.l n..l prcc.le.l tlu m, th.-,r certa.n fat.- wouUl le
fo be kiUe.l. an 1 perhaps eaten : whereas. .1 they had pre-
^c:.lthem;tlK.yw..nl.^.esttreofak.ndreceptuM^
the xvork of the Christian nunister is nnportant W ( ^^^niM
l^V e-en ore : It is uuhsp.-nsable to the Int^hest ^oo.l o
S unuui soul. The w.nk of the oxen nYreaduj. J^^^^^^^
the -ra,n has, m many countries, been superseded. Thresh
ing machines have been uiyeiited, and
'Ill- I '^^i: <)!■ llll-; ox IS ANTIoC
.'.Tl.I),
H)tso ,„,,,.,.., ot(lM,s, S,.l„n.astlH.huMK.nlu.art
ssta.n...!u,t(, sm ,,„,i u. i-ht.-i wul, s(,mnv, s,. l,,,,.' will
H ...I .-> lu.ar t ,.. „1,1. .1,1 story nfj...„s,n„l ll,.-^!..;..
\\ha,v,-ro,,r a.ivan.vs ,„ . ,tn.at,on, r, vh.afon. p-nv..,.
u .i.t,,, u,.,,n.nu. ,lou,tl,..ut tla- nnnislry „f thr (m.s.hI.
1 - nv.m.v..I.,nnolnKn,w,lln..n.cv.sHyfnuls,n>^^
- ..u, uatcr an. h.l.t than u u-,11 tor thr (,os,h.| of
'-is .rar... Notun;^ has .v.r luvn nua.ntc.i that ran
^'k' th. plar.. o, thos... and nothn,,^ . ,at can supc.rs..U.
uMany hn,.,s have iKvn tru.!. have iaUvA, L\ nrv
sum' ^u f ^''"'V'"'!^'' '''' '•^'"'^^ ^'■■'•'•- '""1 ^^'11 -I'arr the
. u ^ neu halloon routes to empty heavens an.l obhterate.i
<m the hearts an.i lives ot nien, the more conlid..nce have
;;- -. us power. Nothing; else is needed to ^Mve peane o
K. co„,„,, ^,„^, j,^,^,^^. ^^^ ^,^^, j_.^^ ^ _^^^^j^.^^. els. on th s
a^th worku,^ constatUly for r.^hteousness? For a holy
ec'ess^^rv ''T^'^'^T '^''''b ^°^ '' ^''"'■'^^"^ -■^^'''•"tV. how
Gosi el S'r^ • '^"^ '^"" ^"«'^'^"'^^' '^ ^'^-' "nnistry-of the
vjosj)ei oi liod s ^'^race.
'he r'osn'l ^■^'"'/'"''IV'^^iV °-'' ^^'"^ ''^'^ °f t'^^ "'i"i^ter of
• ttra't V t/' :^'\ ^^r'' '^ "°^'""«- '" '^ outwardly
a ra< ti e rhou^h they have done more for the ^^ood of
the uorld than any other class of men, as a rule,
THKIK SKKVICKS AKK IGNORED,
anji the.r work lightly esteemed. We have often heard of
tales ana decorations heni- -ranted for the kilhn- of bodies •
whoever heard of the.r heing -uen for th.e winning- of To 1 s P
when -,V "17"."''"" "°'\^^' ^^^'^'^^^ ^^— - --ard. a ,1
a r, ih,y that turn many to n-htcousness shall shme as the
stars, for ever and ever.
-I'
'J
S.Miif ni.xl.ri, aposlKs of suvHncss and li-Iit. some
plu osopluTN aii.i sr.rnti.ts. and nrwspap.r .diiors. l>if,'
with a sriisc (.1 their .,u ii iinp.-i taiur. poolipooh ihr power
ot the (,os|)<'l : and ur ,|,, ,,,4 u,.ndcr at it, for ihrv know
nothin- ot what tluv sp.ak. \Ua who tlial lias tc'lt it ran
ever douhl that thif.ospcl i> the pc.wcr o(" ( nxi unto Salva-
tion. S(,nir rdilors ot dailv newspapers verv coinplacentlv
assert that their mtliunce is iar -reater than that of tlu'
pulpit. Now It cannot he disputed thai most editors
address lar-er audiences than most ministers; but do thev.
dare the\. hrm- the only savin- p<,wer that exists to
l)ear upon their rea.lers' Do tliev know nolhm- anion-
men but Jesus Christ, and Him crucihed ? What then
does their mthience amount to ' All the -alvanic bat-
teries m the world rould not -ive life to a <Iead body, and
all the editorials m the world, if thev i^Miore the (iospi-1,
will never (pucken a dead soul. Nevertheless - it has
pleased God by the fnnlishncss vf pnachin-r to save them
that believe.
THK I'OWKK OI- THK I'RHSS.
so hi-h-toned. so intluential, so independent, is often lauded
'pi^ f n'^^' ^^'^^^ ^^"^'^ '^ amount to in too many cases "
1 he following extract may help to furnish an 'answer.
Hear what John Swmton, one of the ablest and most experi
cnced newspaper men of New York, said at a dinner some
years a<(o. He was called ujion to respond to a toast :
"J he Independent Press, •' and after some hesitation said :
"^Ihere is no such thin- in America as an ' Independent
1 ress, unless it is out in secluded country Knvns. You
are all slaves. You know it and I know it. There is not
one ot you that dares to express an honest opinion. If you
expressed it, you would know beforehand that iL w(-'ld
never appear in print. 1 am paid .Si^o for keepin-
honest opinions out of the paper I am connected witli.
Otliers of you are paid liberal salaries for doin- similar
thin-s. If I should allow honest opinions to be printed in
one issue of my paper, I would be like Othello before twenty-
four hours. My occupation would be -one. The man
who would be so foolish as to write honest oiMiiions would
be onthe street lookin- for an honest job. The business
of a New York journalist is to tlistort truth, to lie outright,
to pervert, to fawn at tiic tt-et oi' Maniinoii, an<l sell his
rountry and liis rar( for his (lail\' l>r( ad, or ior wliat is
al)Oiu the same, his salar\-. Von know this, and 1 know
it, and what foolers' to he; toastinj^^ an ' Independent Press.'
We are all tlic tools and vassals of rich men ht.'hind the
scenes. W'r are jiunpin^^ jacks. They pnll the slrinj; and
we dance. Our time, our talents, our lives, our possibili-
ties, art- all the pro|)erty of rich men."
I know nothin;^' of the man who thus speaks, but I fear
too man\- newspapers are' conducted \ery much as he
describes. Ciod save the world from the }^M)spel of such men.
Yet thev do vaunt themselves loudly. No wonder that
with such the Ministry of the Gospel is lij^ditly esteemed.
A^'ain, like the work of the oxen, the work of the ministers
cf the Gospel is
LAIiOKIOUS.
?.fan3' think otherwise ; many think their life one long holi-
tla\-. X(jt a few j^rumble at them, as if they were only
drones in the human liive. When I have listened to such
f,'rumblers, I have often felt inclined to deal with tliem as
th,e farmer's wife did with hei j,auml)lin<,' luisband, who
was fortiver sa}'inf.( he couldjdo more work in one day than
she could do in three, antl I am pretty sure that if I did so,
the result would be exactly the same. Yet, still it must
be acknowletlged, that a man whose heart is not in tlie
work may be a }.,aeat idler on the Gospel threshing floor.
Just as some laz\' ox, instead of treading out the grain,
wcjuld lie down on the threshmg floor and gorge itself to
repletion, so have I seen and Iieard of sleek ecclesiastics,
who have thought that the great end for which the church
existed was to keep them in ease and comfort. Such faith-
less ministers, like lazy oxen, are a sheer incumbrance,
and the sharper the goad of contempt and scorn witli
which their hides are pierced, the better for the w'ork of the
Lord. Yet, notwitlistanding, to the true minister of Christ,
this work is verv laborious. In innumerable ways his
thoughts, his sympathies, and his activities are continually
drawn forth, and yet tliere is a sameness in his work, like
the ceaseless round of tlie ox upon the threshing floor,
which is very apt to produce weariness and the me^-ely
mechanical performance of the highest fimctions. Oh, it
1^ liO caS^ uOiK i')L Uic iiiiiiiLLCi ui Uic OuSpci tu (lu aii nc
I I
has to do. to do it as il ou^^dit to 1;^' doiii', to do it as he
d^^i^(■s to do it.
I5iit here wc lie also tai:;4ht conct riiinL,^ riii; sti'i'oKT of
THK MiNisTKV. This also IS (hviiui\- ord. lined. .\s cer-
tainlv as ( iod has ortlaiiu-d certain men to preach His
Ciospel. so certaiidx- has he' made prcnision for their support.
We nu;,dit come to this conchision from a consideration
of tlie necessities ol the case. ThiN' \vhcj(hj this work are
mi:n not angki.s —
Juiman beings, having the same necessities, hmitations,
and liberties as their fellows. If, thcTefore, such beings
devote themselves exclusivel}- to this work, it is plain tliat
provision must be; made for them. It might have been
otherwise. Instea<l of men, Ciod might have set apart
angels to this work. Then, thmk of it ; there would have
been no need of collections, or pew-rents, or weekly offer-
ings. There would have been no need of college endow-
ment funtls. Home mission, French evangelization and
F^oreign mission funds would cease to exist. There would
be no aged and infirm ministers ; no widows and orphans
needing our care. There would have been no need to
attend so laboriously to the augmentation of stipends.
Then the labourers would not have needed a cent. " Ah ! "
I hear souk; one say,
HOW glorious
that would have been ! How freely would the Gospel have
been preached ! How much more heavenly and spiritual!
How infinitely superior in every respect to the present con-
dition of things ! How much better tlian this continual
dunning of people for money; this eternal cry of 'Give,
give, gi\-e ; ' this turning the pulpit in»^o a begging-box ! Our
hands are never out of our pockets." Stop. sir. stop; I
can listen to such talk no longer. Let me ask you a few-
plain (juestions in all earnestness. Do you think God is a
fool ? Do you think He has made a huge mistake in
arranging for the preaching of the Gospel by men and not
by angels ? Better tell Him that to His face ; but until
vou are prepared to do so, better hold vour tongue, aye,
and let not even your heart harbour for an instant such an
iiiipious tliiiu;{lit. W
n\' 1-
12
It li.il (
11. IS ;iM,itiL'i(
1 {<
the prcacliiiiL,' nt His ("/(jspcl l.\ Ixiii;,'^ (■(>iii|).iss<'il with
infirmity, l)fin<,^s r«i|itirii!i,' in.itt nil support ? Is it Ijccausc
tlu- aii'M'ls think sik h work
H km; A 11 1 'in-IK liWiMPN ?
Nay, the Iu^Ik st an-t ! iii li; a\(ii uoiiM think it his j^Mcatcsl
iioiKiiir to stand in ihf ))la( i ot th( most ()l)s( uic niinisl( r
ot the (lospcl. prc-acliii:;4 to the smallest aiulicncc in the
world. Is it then iHcausc (iod ( annot spare the an^'cls
from their lnL;her duties ? .\ay, there is in (lod's uiii\LTse
no duty or pii\ ilei^^e hiL^dier than exaltiiij.; the name of the
only l)e;.,'otleii Son oi (iod as the- Sa\ lour of sinners. Tiiere
is IK work more pleasinj,^ to (}od the I'"ather. The anj^^'ls
came with deli;;ht lo roll the stone away from His sepul-
chre, and to lold the linen clothes in which His body was
wrapped. The smallest service for tlu; Lord Jesus is a
work e.xcellinj,^ in -l(jr\-. Is it then because God wishes
this work t(^ be done at
.\S Cni.AI' A KATE AS I'OSSIlii.K,
and therefore puts part of the burden on us ? Perish tlie
thouj,dit for ever in si^dit of the .j^reat sacrifice He has made,
the unspeakable ;;ift He has bestowed, even His own Son
— dearer to Him than all tinnj^^s visil)le and invisible.
Wliat ! does the Almifj^hty need om" help ? Does the
Creator of the ends of the earth need our money ? Na}- ;
but He knows that 7.'e )u\d to learn the Goddike glory 'of
givinp^, of .L^iving for sucli a cause. He would have us
children worthy of Himself, knowing; that it is more blesse(i
to i,Mve than to receive. Therefore, for our good, for our
present and future blessedness. He has committed this
ministry into lumian hands. This is part also of our
spiritual training, an arrangement made for our spiritual
nourishment and growth in grace.
We might also come to this conclusion from thinking on
Gotrs ways. If these are His servants, will He not^'see
that they are paid ? If they are His soldiers, will He send
them a warfare at their own charges ? If thev are His
oxen, will He muz;^le them ? If he takes care' for oxen,
«3
rniirli inoiv will II,. t.ikc rarr fcr tlx- tnini^frs .,f His
(K'spcl. And the iciiKiiil.raiice ot Cods past arraii;,'t-
nuiits makes us come to tfir sanu; coiuliisicjii. When Uv
set apart onr of tlic twcKc- tubes to attend to spiritual
niatters, He made lilxTal provision (,,r them. ]h- ^^ave
them cities to live in. tiel.ls for their rattle, a tenth pan of
the produce ol the helds of their I.rethren. and m addition
urged His people to rememher them with special giUs in
seasons of thankfiiln.'ss.
HAS GOD CUOWN I.iCSS (i FN K kOi:s ?
Is He less interested in the support of tliese men wlinm He
has ordamcd to preach the (iospel to everv creature m the
world tlian He was in the support of those whom He had
onlained to conser\(: the truth in Canaan till His Son
should come ^ Is He less anxious about tlose who are
torchdxMrers to every land of darkness than li,. was about
those who trimmed the lamp and kept it burmn-^ in that
little lan(P Nay. H,. is the same vesterdav. to-day, and
tor e\-er.
^ I5ut. apart altoj^ether (nnn such inferences as these, we
TIIK PLAIN Df-CI.AkATIOX,
iia\c
•• 1 hey which minister about holv thmj^^s li\e of the thinf^^s
.jf the temple, and they which wail at tlu^ altar aie pa't"-
takers with the altar. /•;■;;.' so Imtli the Lnni ardanud that
t!u-v -i.'hicl: f^/riuli the (}i>sfcl sl:oiil>! //;■,■ ,,/ the (h'spcl."
rius IS a matter which Ciod has thus ordained ; therefore,
if any hnd fault, let him kncnv tiuit he Hnds fault with Ood.'
Hence, also, we have tlu^ jilain command. •• Let him that
IS tau,L,dit in the word communicate to him that teacheth in
every ^rood thing." Nothing could be more plain and
emphatic. And remember, it is in connection with this
ccMiimandment that we luive the solemn warning, '• Be not
deceived God is not mocked ; for whatsoever a man
soweth, that shall he also reap." With how many is the
support of the ministry
A MERE MOCKERY?
The Rev. Newman Hall tells the following : " I remember
''"r.« (l.ninf,^ nt th,- hous<. „f :, w.althv ..u.rrh.n.t. who.
K.m'nM.srontnM.t.,,ns..„,iuhosau
-TM.r l.v ...I. nl.a.n;,. that .1.....,^^ thirty vrars h.^ ha.l i.a..l
n. l-w r.nt upuanls of y;^,,.. •8,.3.k„-. ' It was. p.-rhaps
>'.l.- .11 nir |„„ ,ny spirit was stirrr.i to r.-ply : ' Less sir
tl.an fur hlarkiu^. th.. sho.s of your houschol.l.' AuVr a'
pa.,s,,h.ira,iklysai.l: 'That .s' true ! ' Ihranl no more
<>» !<■ payni.n ot p.-w rent as a si^n of -fiu-rosity."
llow many thmk ,f th,.ir own iii.n.sU.r is fairly supporUM
their rc'sponsihihty , vases, as if their httle cornet of the
ymeyartl constituted the whoh- Church of Christ. One of
he saddest s.,^hts in any church, and one of the most hurt-
lul. isthesehishnessofa numerous and well-to-<io conirre-
j^^ation. Not only .lors it-withlmld the money, which is
sorely nee.ie.i. hut Us eyil example ,s imitated and its selfish
policy a<lopted by others, to the hindrance of Christia
iruittulness. Little do they ..ream what mischief they n ay
do ,n the herita,,^e of the Lord. A lar.^e tract of land tn
Glen^^arry. Ontario, has been rendered utterly useless by
he in rodtu-tion ot o;;. y .,„,, into the ^^arden of a Roman
Cat oh., bishop there. From one little plant with a beauti-
ful blue hnyer it has multiplied into millions and overrun
housands of acres, utterly destroyin,,^ their fruitfulness ; and
so the people now call it
THli IJISHOl^'s CURSE.
Selfishness m any slron- con-re-ation is like that vile
weed, and if ,t is not utterly rooted out will work fearful
havoc m the whole Church The bishop's curse is nothir^,'
It 1 he stron^^ need to be reminded that tliey must bear
the burdens of tiie weak, and so fulhl the law of Christ I
was once talkm^^ with a farmer on this subject, and ai he
du not seem to be particularly clear about il. I asked him
if he coul.l repeat the Shorter Cateciiism. •' Yes " sak
^Vv u^'f^'^'K'^ ^\J^e" ^1 I^oy.and 1 have not forgot it y'et -
Well. 1 said, "let me liear you answer this question-
W iKU is required m tlie ei-hih commandment ' ' •• He
^^;'::::'..!!V:.'?:^^'ll^-^"^-^ -^^ f-^henn. the wealth
•• ^top, i said ; " Is
«5
;;■; ,,,„.u >„>.! others:- •• I'.ut .lom .n..st ,.. •..,.!. pm..
,v tlu- eighth ,o,n.uan<l.n.-.,t th.v hav.; f, think ot o 1, r>
t^l^n.sU.vu.srWr.^- "That .s true., li- answcTcl . '• 1
It in that liulit bcfoif.
at a
SCOTCH ri'NKKAI..
There it w;'S the- custom ian<l a very l..-autiful on..> Tt the
fric uls of the deceasccl to carry huu to his las res m,-
ice by means of wooden supports un.ler tl,c coflui.
'ho day happened to be lu)t and the road lon^,^ when one
of those who were carrymf.' noticed that his ne„d.bour
?cened quite cool ami comfortable. He asked for an
;^Zatu,n. " Do you lift ' - lus neighbour wh.spered
^' Yes certainly ; what do you do ? ' " / /<""• »'-'t ^^-^^
the'jcre of lus comfort. 'Hven so in regard to this ^ood
ork ami every other, there are some who lift and sotne- who
can some who labour, and son.e who rest ; some uU
conu- to the help of the Lord, ami some wlw, deserve he
curie of Mero/., and therefore we do w.'ll to rem.-mber that
He who searches the heart is not mo<:ked. but whatsoever
a man soweth that shall he also reap. How many m our
conare-ations, both strong and weak, sow to the flesh ic.
tor prule and show, an.l luxury, and ^uu.l most liberally
wlule the'y sow to the spint-/.c'.. for the n.amten.nue and
rnreac of the Gospel, oh, how niKf^^irdly ' In l|ow numy
c^ses is there spent on the ministry of the (.osp<.-l less than
a tithe of what is spent on
USELESS EUXUKIHS OK HIRTFUI. 1 N Dl' F G K NCKS.
\re vou among the number of these ? Well, fn.-nd, sow
i'' i^;i ns vou%,lease; but remend.er " (.od is not mocked,
for whatsoever a man soweth that shall iie aiso icj. iic
x6
tli.it
ti
'■"..''"^^•"' 1" tl:.' Il.sh shall ,,t ,]„. ,1 I
^•- -.' ^u rl ,:."■;";,"■•",' '""""'^"••"tlH.nnn,
""•"• •' -'-'Aant t \ ""'p'"'^ ' "••'"in tl„.„ ,.„,,, lov -
^^'"'■'Pn.n.J r^ , ';'' "7 ''— ^-n.. s-tnafon.
AN' AKI<.\M,|,,M, .^^■•J-
^ linked ll,c lughcsl KOo,i „| ,|„, |„„„ ,„
;:;'V?"'-'™"'^^^^^i^^ ■•- '- ^ «.
^ "--a .M'araM<l,naMv ,„,! wS vT' . , '"-' "•""'^"■•- "f .,ur Clnirch
;h- fund. „„., v.. nu.;;; :.^;;";;":^ ;:';■;;' ■'-'<7| -^ «.-*,„.. .,;;;;
'"?;;;"■■■ ^' '!-.-.,. s v.i" \:. ■ ' '':;,;;''■'''' --i'' -^^- ma.u. a ;:,o..
1 lusc two id.vis an- not -.t , ' '"^'' '"'^■""■'''1 '
''-Mlu.t.rstoccv.sio, nX,; ':r'''''"^
C'.murv a f,r,„..r tro,„ r . , i '"■■' ^''^^'•^"■•' '
■ A farnuT h,.! th.v,. son ' ' , 'I'^lZ "l:' ''^""-'^^ -'th „n,ch ,U: •
••'!iil i!ii- til!!,! a Im ,r .,.,,.'"'"''' '."' -i "luniiTcr. aiH.thir a thi.r
1- -"t or a con :,u'L^! H,f riu^,;';:;r"" '']^^'""' --■ --< 'i^-
f|>ilouin- will shii\'--
missKjnars nir-tui- i-, this
niaf
''ctor, and h','
;;;^--"-;,'^\"--"''-":"r;-;^^.,:;;
'■an kill as iir likts
',"■ '''^.'-;* • '"■■''■^L' t'"' tdini a rninist.T -.n,l "j,''^ V '"' '-■■'" '■"^■^' ^^'I'lt
'ays. Ileaa.thcMiortorsa tlHkZJ^ '- a In^.'^ar all l„s
■story as they pl.-as... , hut onlv he other P '":"•'•"':"• tl'-ir part of ti,e
and askin^^ if i had to vJ I LJ -'•,'" -'""« '"''^ ■' I'^/aar
<;rned ,n the pros,.cution of this Srv v rk ^V r n"''"'''' '•■'^•^' ^^'^ ""'
sturdy be^f^'ar. ■ ''-'^> ^"'^^' ^he foliowm- decree: ■• \
In re^'ard to the other idei [ s),nii
'I'Wnity uath which a hard-h^adc fn''T "'^'"^^ "'"" '""'^ "f 'njnnd
"t h.s yonnK minister, who -K o 'l?; f'n''' ''"■^''■'■'"''^ '^' '^o action
r^-'if : 'That he should tak sic 1 blrties U T''\T """'"'■>• '" '"n^-
been connekit w, this kirk for ma rno^un?'"'^' m,nd that I hae
wrocht hard Inf / i. . . '"'"^ nor twenty years, and »'-'■- -f^-r,
- -•- :: .ccr.r<v,„///« tor that young man.' '''
«7
IS
as
li-
\ .
i
.„„, ,.11 us tl,..t hr .iHl nol lur of tlu- (M.siu-l. bu .
. . ,1 l,.l..,n..l vvul. Ins.mn l...n.l U. support hnns.lf ..n
is Tnu.. w. nply. Dus .s just ^ - .;x<-.p '.
„,u .....^.•s thr rulr. I'aul states v.ry r.uphatu all t Kit
tins rcnu.uls us of tlic fact tliat sometimes
1,1 K 1U:ST MINISTKRS ARK TUF, WORST I'MD.
MattlK-w Henry, n. lus P'thy -^^y. says that •' a sc.wulal^
.„,,„t.„ancc makes a scanc alous mmts ry » »-"'^.^^-^^^^
,u,t always. No mmisU-r of the Cospel ever ^^;'\^^ '^J'^
UM the apostle Paul, an.l who ever preached better
The fart th a a ma.i receives a bi^ salary is no proof that
h '1'; ^Hthful minister of Christ. ^'^^^^^^^1^'^ J!^]^
th It he is a trimmer and a time-server, able to K'ct tie
soh Mde ofMie rich and keep wealthy smner. at ease.by
prophesying' smooth things, and cvymK' Heace, peace.
" Thc^'":: ^l^ U^l^a n.an receives a n.ere pittance is no
proo that he is an unfaithful or inefficient minis er of he
r^ ,.. 1 It ni-.v onlv be the proof that he is bold as .i lion,
^, dr:t.thl;';'ni.r^ar or forLar. aecia.cs U. .vT^lc^cou,,.
care lo™; Jo .h..n; " I robbed other Churchev_.akmg
of ihal Bospi'l which »ay». It >s '""" X'-'t'I'^ „,hich I have heard
The ""'y P'-;-!''-;,3™";,»«T„" L ;«, worTs aSdressed .o me by
a»ii;:^'e''«.^Lt^''H0^LT^.;:aw .he'rarmers in_.uch a_^„d^
1«
wagesoftlu-.n. to .lo y..u service." A^ain ami a^.u.. ho
LMa7lly n-. .Mvc.l ^'ift^ fm.n tl.<' p-.-.r but l.rl..v. -1 l.r.ll.n .. in
riulmpi. WlMt .1 ,l.-li^,'htful ^low of th.inkfuln.s. IS tl..rr in
that l.-tt.t lu- w.ilrs to tlMU. from Konw .i- knowlr.lum^ tli. it
L'lfts. The m..n.v spn.t l-v tlw m- poor .lis.:ipl.-s on I aiil tlu-
a^ircl. an.l priso.ur oi J.sus (In ist. was not wasf.l. It pro-
UucT.l that rxqinsif .p.stlr to thr I 'hlhl-pians. What
inoiuy couUl huv .1 now or ti'i-lar. it .1 U w. >< lost.
TALK OF INVESTMENTS !
Tliat nion.-y s.nt by Ly.ha. th.- wi.low who sol.l purplr.
atul thr jailor, and iho r.st of them, was ihv brs n.vfst-
nicnt 'hey rvcr nia.lr. They are r.•apn.^; thr interest ot
of i: to-aay. It will yi.1.1 them a .livi.le.ul of i^Uny for ever
a.ul ever. Talk of millionaires. We don't know who ar.- the
nuUionaires when the will is rea.l. Not til ' >- >^"*</' ' ^^
opened ami the record of Heaven '^ jl-,''^''^-'' f^^'' ^^';\'^' "^'
Jhat any .nan is r<-ally worth. W.: have the an hor. y
of the ludK'e Himself that many a man who .lies ri h will
be a pauper forever -unable to command even a .Irop ot
water. There are men ni this world like the
KARTHENWARF. NKJNKV HOXKS
we had when we were chiMren. It was easy puttin-
money into them, but exceedin^dy hard to ^ci any hm^^
out of them. What a trial of patience was it to K';! ""^
a cent We had to put a knife in the sht turn it up-
side down, and siiake till our arms ached. Z;^;^;" ;"' =;[;j
there not members in our churches who will ^Mthe. ad
scrape and hoard all the time; but pity the man that tries
to git anything out of them? He has need of a^tie.ux
far better able to support their ministers. '!^Y\^^^^^f:::^':;Z
..nisters -cl^ puunces - -crab e^.,,,, Uved n^xl^d^ t^ a man i ho
wZs' su:SV^UtXed"miser that^E^.cve^n .rucl.od the food of his .atch
dol and half starved it. Uon't you think, ^h-jh >-ou execr d the
conduct of his master, yet ou^ of compassion Jor_thejjK,r^b^ast^^^^^^
SSS •• Y;:s'r:;;iid ■• ^s^hrdid^.i;e^^^ «ood bone. Th.
idea was the seed of the parable with which this closes.
19
lik<' Job's. Worse than the aching arms of l)oyho<)<l. he
will ^rt many an arlun^: h.art. .itxl .ill his panis will yirUi
l.iit .1 poor rrturn. Ah wrll. th«rr"s a tmx- coniwiK whm
all th.sc inonrv box.s \m11 Ik' cmnty «nouK'h. S..on th<:
hammrr of .hath will f.iU and <hish th«ni m pirrt s, and
then what a s( attcrin^,' there will be.'
This support of the mitust. r should ( oi.ie from the people
who are ministcK-d to. This i . leasoiuible. Th<-y are tho
prople beiiehtted ; therefore, they should support the
labourers. All . luirch history proves that this is the
h.althiest way of <loin^' this work. " It is not whoUsomc
th.it a priestly class shoul<l possess reve-iuies nuU'pen<U-t»t
of ihc peopU-, and it is not whoU-some that the people
should enjoy spiritual i)rivilet,'<-s without bein^' railed upon
to make some pecuniary !-acrihce for tluin."
This supixrl of the .ninistry should ber.KNKROUS.
\VF. PO NOT OKSIRF. RICHES
for mimsters. We liave much sympathy with uhat Kdward
IrviiiK' said to a yonn^; minister m an ordination charge :
"Oh, if thou shouldst become rich; oh, if thou sliouldst
die ri'ch. I will be ashamed of thee. ' And wr do not fear
poverty. However ungenerous the support f,Mven to the
Ininisters of the f.ospel, the work will U" ""• ^*'^'. '« y^'^ ^
true minister of Christ Jesus? Feed him with bread and
water. Clothe him in sheepskins and goatskins. House
him in dens and caves of the earth. I )o you stop his work ?
Do you shut Ins mouth ? Nay- Hear his cry : " Necessity
is laid on me, yea, woe is unto me if I preach not the
Gospel." lint while we have no desire for nches, and lo
despair from poverty, yet we maintain that the support of
the ministers of the Gospel should be generous. Why?
P.ec-inse of the protracted training,' he has to ^'o throutrh
before he can be called to one of our weakest conf,'reua-
Lions ' Because of his capacity and attainments, and the
M imcr lu-ird i ^rntchm:\n who had prospt-red remarkably, and who
WIS worth .1 Krcit .kal of money, but who was by no means noted tor
lilu-ralitv, sav tho following to a friend in ref.Tince to pvin^ : " Man,
Aleck, a'm no Kude at coontin'. When I ^aed to schule I be^.-m w.
' , _; . . . , t u I ., i„o.-r,:„t a" mv life I hae na come to sub-
3tracshin' >et." He will soon.
„,„n..y vain..... ........ ... ..nv "■■I'"-:,,;'',''',';;;:;;:;',;, IX!^.
I
IHT.IUS*- of Ills
roMTIoN IN
H 11 \\
IS
■i\
ll-
;v;,,.;.s:i,,....;,naiiv...i....a.;;; ,,-; ; Vi...
„„.,, ., I---'-;- ■■;;■,;',,;, ,.,,,1. i.v .i. i t.s,..
as tl..- |..i..r.sl, .....1 ■'I'l' . ^1 ,1,1 i„. ,.,.s,
above liuinili.itin^ ;iiiM i nsn.irm^ \
''''1' nu^ht also say 11 shoul.U..- ^''-n.^rous
,.,„< Till. S\KK ol- MIS WORK.
It ^Mll be better done if '' ^ ;\\ . \,i ,^„ ,„,,^,hs oU
ll,.ii,' rill a in.in (OlK.t'Iill «»o .oi m 1^
,„,et. llow can hv prea< h ^ ' " "^ ' ■^;, ,,,,,,, but
a^vth.n^^•• when, throu^^h no a t >r l^ 1 ^^^^
through culpable --;^---,;- . ' ," hat oiu-'n. Ins
has a heavy accouut with ^"^ ;"•.,, „,,,,„ /.,,sM /c-/''",
..^,.a,enrc. In the eonuuns "^ j';^,^^':;'7l ,lv. .i uMuber
the following appc^ired ^'""'^ ^^ "^ •^^''^;., ,. ' ,.^..1 sv!n ^he
"f Dr. John Hairsch.uxh m New Wk.^ - ^^^^^^ ^,^^
alwavs went to hear Pr. ^ ^'^V^'^ T' ' V ,, ,„. Dr. IbV.l
,„swere.l: It does nn- j^ood to ^ '^^ V^^^^^,,, ,,,,t,„,
,s 3ust hke a ,reat ----- 'f^dlui; workers will
.. $io,ooo a year and a ''^^ ^ *;\' \,,^ , • i„u it is har.l
Ko a lon,^ way to produce ^ ^^^ ;",.;„,„ \,h,le he hears
[-t;rs:::;j"h^^^
in .-1 luth. country town, '". V'\\\'. In;;!, t urolhclMu-.n.. h> w..y of
;.t,.r lust h.'fore Kou.« uU<. llu P"'!".):,.. " i.^^cU s.-iut. " Y'-u Know
Riving liiTH .-v hint iis to now nv p'^^'",', ;•••;,.,,,. ...^o sit in such and such
! -^.to^r;^^^ on t;:; ■^"■is.t.K^'Mo... >.... .. n... ,,0..,, ,«.
n
tcoiMjmy I" iuu/vi< tin- ox, ami »t is
MlSFRAnt p. F.CONOMY
,„,,„.,p Th.r.- IS .il.<.ut ..Mr mil. 1st. r ..,. ..( .nm\ tin
•' . \s.t,,n sr.t.on ..f..M, ClnM.l, who n-MV.s 1.-.
;lr, ,!:::.:!! ..;i.m.sn.o.l.r to. lotlw.. work l.u..y
1 I . >. ilUmi' into ,1 )'ioks«'ll«l s stor« . ii»-
■ I II L .f It • 111- necps into .inouii r ,
• iL-...i III) I iii.)k .lIHl looks ,it u , IK l"<l '"
;^:a sth.t,ti. sofa .....t, nans. '•"'-'7'^^';;:;;::;
n. Imu Polit.lv pom's out tlusnrw wot k .ii.-l that mw
Vk t Is . V lul .tul th.y wouM 1.. to hun m pn-pan.^J,'
lu's ulpU. No ..••r.l to t.ll huu th.lt. Ur has hcru
nk u^ .• t.nu.. h..w „.u.-h l. tt.r tl>at -r.no,, wouUl
;";::..„ ,f h<. ha.l l....,, al.l. .. <-onsult tins uuhor y.
,,., „,v.r f.lt .nor. k.-.nlv Ix.w ha.np. r..! 1- V^,. . ,
s.n.Uness of hi, hl.r.irv ainl Ins iM.(.n,r. Oh. how tlu
stn.ilint-ss . wisiirs to havf thcsr works
" ' " ,,M.,.l'.u, , In,,:,,,.. 1,.. , „„>"l ■■■ < "" 'I'- I"-'":
;';,,",Vi:,.,s„,„s:"Ui„„ 1 i,.,v,- ,,;"." y. I i"'> i^^-.
,„iss ...1 tu.1.1 I l-hrv.- tlH-r.' ar. nu-n in ihr poorrr .1 stn. ts
;;':^;;n;;.nh.naurin..n;at.rh,irashu,sthanu^^^
;;;, ,.,/ ,.i ..„ ih..r small st.pr.<..ls IS a woiukr. Were it
„nt for th.' self-(i«'nyni!4 labours <.f
, . , «a ,»,-, T c»rMt deal of eood .it lotnp.ir.i-
wo.-ik.;r ch.ifKes, or, b.-n.T still, l.y ';' ' ''^y' "^j^,, ,. „f j,„. „ inistcr.
our con«rc,.Uions, ruh --l P;;- , ^ rv -, t.'s ifv to its inuncnse
honrttts \V. tiavL ^.. r,^ ., ^ connection with ovt-ry
should lh..r. not ,.lso iH ;^ ^'^^ "j;.;';;\':.>„ ,vasin a Man..-, in a sea-
church"^ V^"''''^\L;' 4 mint '• -ho occupied the Manse, haw
coast town in hcotlan.l. 'l^V,^'' '''/,,,, "^,..,t,. ' Was th.^e no con-
. :.,^,. .1,..,! attained ureal eminence as an . xt k' ;> _ ^.^ ,
nrctUjnbelwccn his valuable critical iauoar, anc; ;iuu :;-:.-; ■
aa
TIIHir WIVKS,
it would ill many cast-s he an inipossihility. A fricMul once
tolil iiu- tlie cxpri iciici; of .i lady of lu-r acquaintance', who
had married a minister. Slu; had t;xp(;ctt'd to lead a very
useful life, in wdiich she could do a j^'reat deal of f,'ood for
others ; hut, she said, " ' find my life is spent in washiiif^
dishes, and striving' to make ends meet." Y(,'s, and she is
doin^f nol)l(,' work, too, if she does indeed make ends meet,
and kt ep everytliinj^ neat and clean. I once heard a
nnnist(;r. in receipt of a very ;,ood salary, say to some
friv,nds, in presence of his wife, •' Well, as to small salaries,
I must say this, when I hej^^an life in a city with $i,ooo a
year, I was just as conifortahle then as I am to-day." " If
you were, I was not," his wif(! instantly replied. He hatl
l)een in the hahit of ^'ivinj^ her all his money, and, there-
fore, tlie wliole hurden of makin<^ ends meet had fallen on
her shoulders, antl so, if he did not know the difference
that a ^ood income made, she did.
To f^ive anotfier illustration of how much the Church
owes to the minist'jrs' wives, who re in many cases splen-
did chancellors of the exchequer : 1 was once dininj^ with
a country hrother, in presence of his nice lar^^e family.
He had heen in his charge for over twenty years, and liad
never all that time received over $500, and had a horse and
hug}.,'y and sleij^di to keep off that. Smilinji^ly he asked if
I could f,Miess how old his coat was. It was a very {^ood
coat, and I felt inclined to say two years, hut I professed
my inahility to tlo so, and was just as f^jlad I did, for he
told me that it was twenty years old. It was the coat in
wliich lie was married. Yes, I thought, and what careful-
ness antl diligent liousekeeping does tliis fact imply ?
CAN WE DO ANYTHING
to remove the scandalous condition of things that exists ?
If we had $35,000 per annum additional to what is now
I)cing raised, we could give eacli minister in the western
section of the ("hurch $750 per annum and a manse. Tlie
(icneral Assend)l\ thinks this should and could he done.
The question may he fairly asked, are the aid-receiving
congregations doing what they might he expected to do ?
And the answer is, they are doing hetter than the self-sup-
23
porting' couf^rcf^ations. Last year, aid-receiving con{,'ref,'a-
tions coiitrihuted for ministerial stipend at the rate of $7. 15
per coMiinunicant, whereas the self-supportin^; contributed
at th(' rate of $4. (jo per coinniunicant for the same purpose.
Were the self-supi)ortin;^' to coutrihute for ministerial sup-
port at the rate of the aid-receivin<,', they would raise
$150,000 more than they are now doinj^. Would it ho
unreasonable then to expect them to raise tlie whole $35,000
additional, retpured for this work ?
In preseiitnif,' this matter to difTerent conj^rej^ations, I
have received much encouraf^ement, and have come to the
conclusion that the matter recpiires only to be fairly stated
to receive a hearty response. After stating the case as in
the preceding pages, one gentleman, unsolicited, promisetl
$200 for the first year to launcii the scheme. A lady sent
me a checpie for$i50. Another gentleman sent me a letter
containing a $100 bill, with directions not to let his name be
known, but to forward it to the most muzzled minister I knew.
A boy sent me $2.00 out of his pocket money, and a servant
girl, probably newly out from the Old (^ountry, gave me two
sixpences. These are a few instances out of many that could
be stated. If a like spirit were general, the thing could be
easily accomplished ; for after all it is not great in itself —
not great as compared with our ability. Yet, in another
sense, it is great. It is great in regard to the amount of
good which tliis money would accomplish. Think how
many cares and hardships and privations it would abolish ;
how much sunshine it would bring to those who, though
never complaining, have a weary struggle to maintain from
year to year. Surely we dare not say in regard to this
work, " Am I my brother's keeper ? " Some there may
be who have no heart for this work, who will never be at a
loss to excuse themselves, and say in the most crabbed of
accents, " I will not give you a cent "' ; but there are
others who, like a good lady, whom we met, will ask
with pain, " W^hy did you not tell us this before, that
we might put an end to such a scandal." Only let each one
lay this matter before the Lord, and all will be well. For
our encouragement and warning, let me conclude with
A PARABLE :
There was a certain rich man whose name was Nabal,
24
an<l his liclcls l.rou^'ht forth al.un.lantly. N<av. it ra.n.^ to
pass ,n Ihc tunr of ha.vrsl. tlial h. rose early. •'•>'1;^^'''\ "
one of h.s tlTcshui- Hoots, a.ul. scH.n- thr ox rat ot .
cars of ^ra.n wh.<-l> lu- was trra.hn;^ '■'>!. -^ ^'^''^'V !
sorf.aiulhcsaul tohissc.vant. -Whs th,. wa>l> 1 .'K'
a nuiz/Jc and himl il on llu^ n.outh ol th.' ox. that nu
snbstance be not wastr.l.' And the servant did a. he wa^
connnande-' and Nabal went h.s way. Now abont noon
Ashel, the ricli nei-hbonr ot Nabal, passed by, and ■
servant mtreated hnn sayny;. •; My master nn, '-•'^■>--'^';
me to mnzzle the ox, and he is very f'-'^' f"\, '^'\ ' ' '^
liot and the work is heavy ; pernnt me I pray thee t t k
hun to thv rich pasture for one hour, that he n.a> eat and
Irntk and lu refreshed." And Ashel was wr^h and h s
countenance fell, and lu. saul. '• Must .nake >^;;1-1 ;
Is it reason that I should waste my substance ni fattenni^
his oxen ? Nav, venly. Ihn.^^ hnn not to any of my
fields." And when he went away an-ry, the heart o that
servant was sad, for he -rieved because of the ox And a
poor .nan, Hesed. drew ni^h and said " (.neve not beea s
of this. Behold I have a little patch ot ^^rass and a well
Uerein; lead the ox thither, and let hnn take Ins hll.
And thi servant said, " The blessing of the .od o Israel
wo spake by the mouth of Moses saym^,' 1 hou shalt not
muzzle the month of the ox that treadeth out the corn,
est upon thee and upon thy house, m that thou dids take
compassion on the beast." So he passed by the rich pas-
tu es of Ashel and led the ox of Nabal to the poor man s
i le field. Which of these, therefore, Nabal. Ashel Hesed,
:.ytd the law: - Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth <.f he
ox hat treadeth out the corn ? " We have seen m what
sense the Holy Ghost makes this law b.ndm- on us all m
these gospel days. Let us take heed then, lest jud^nnR
hers m a lower sphere we condemn ourselves m a hi-her.
r' th^r let us, behildin- its glorious scope, sincerely pray,
.Lord have mercy upon us. and incline our hearts to keep
thi^ law." DoinK thus, there would not trom this day be a
single muzzled ox in all our borders. -So let it be.
v'
HY THE SAME AilHOR,
"THE GLORY OF THE CROSS."
/
vl
" This is a good volume. With careful pains the author shews us the successive
scenes of the crucifixion, and teaches us their meaninRs. He makes his instructions
vivid and bright with well-chosen epithet and illustration, and presses the conscience
with energy to receive the Rospel of lov^."- Bntnh and Foreign Evangcluul Rniew.
" We cannot give this volume higher praise than to say that, happening to read it
aft' r LeiKhton, »#e found it to be redolent at once ot his spiritual. :y and his culture."
—Edinburgh Daily Kevuii^.
■•A choice theme, handled with much reverence and spiritual power."-C. //.
Spurgeon.
"These sermons are rich in gospel truth, conveyed in a lucid, vivarious, and pic-
turesque style, that rises frequently into eloquence. The volume deserves, and will,
we feel sure, enjoy an extensive circulation."— .V^ssc»^'?r.
" Mr. Mackay has risen to his great theme, and has given us a series of discourses
on 'The Glory of the Cross' which, as we read them and mark their pathos and
manly power, makes us hope that he will not fail to continue the literary work which
he has here commenced."— U'cc*/v Revieiv.
" Full of beauty and spiritual power."- '^he Christian.
'• A book calculated for wide usefulness."-r;.e Evangelical Magazine.
" In these sermons will be found the thoughts suggested by this loftiest theme to a
robust and manly faith, tempered by acquaintance with other men's opinions, and
illumined by a sincere and reverent piety "-Aberdeen Free Press.
" An admirable little book. The style is terse and vivacious ; the tRought at once
logical and beautiful , the writing evangelical and practical."-Fr«ma».
■' The perusal of it tends to strengthen one's faith in the Redeemer, and warms our
heart with intenser love to Him."-r/.^ Primitive Methodist.
" The work is one that should win its way to the hearts of thoughtful, earnest
Chnsuans." -Dundee Advertiser.
"This work, on the most solemn, glorious, and blessed of all subjects, is written
in a spirit of believing reverence, and at the same time with vivacity of style and
freshness of thought."— Bntis/t Messenger.
" Earnest practical sermons, vigorour in expression, devout and evangelical in
sentiment."— Z-j/^nir^ World.
HV nil. SAMI HIHOK,
THE STORY OF NAAMAN.
" Ml. Mack.iy \m\> irpmiliiretl \\;v story ot Naainan with such variety of historical
and Kconraphical association';, witii surU Irrshiiess and vividness of iniai^inative
colouring, and with surh fuliu-ss and originality ol moral and religious rcflectieni, that
wc arc half inclined to believe wc are rra<1inK the story for the first time." The
Mtisetik^er.
" Mr. Mackay is an flcwiuent writer, and has iiivcsteil the story of the Syrian
K' with much interest. The lessons with which it is replete are skilfully drawn
a . .'-.ully enforced. It is a book which may be warmly coinmended to the
perusal ol our youn« men and iitaidens. They will find it much more interesting th.m
sotiic of the attenuated stories which are so popular, and much more suited to pro-
mote their moral and spiritual improvement, as well as mental power." — i'mttd
Preshytenan Magazine.
" liinht admirable discourses— biief, but full ol meaning. They arc composed
with inuch fertility of thought an(i telicity of expresr.ion. The Scriptural narrative
ot Naaman is used tor the introduction of vivid historical sketches, and is made
the groundwork of suggestive and earnest spiritual teaching. The production is
throughout excellent and striking, without being in the least degree overstrained.
It is the work of a fluent and really eloquent writer, who ol> ously possesses a
•quick, rich, and apprehensi\e mind, and who wields the power which earnestness
gives." — Outlook.
"The pastor of Crescent Street Church, Montreal, tells the story of the Syrian
leper with earnestness, simplicity and depth of feeling."— Ca/ifJi/u PrtibyUrtait.
" Earnest, faithful, and heart-searching discourses, bringing out in strong light the
stories of Evangelical truth embeddfd in the Old Testament story."— TA* ( hristian.
" Sympathy with seeking sinners is apparent on every page, and we n ust the little
book will p'lide many a sin-sick sinner to that river which cleanses the soul's leprosy. '
— C. //. Spurgcon.
"This is really a very suggestive little hook "—Christian Commonwealth.
" The story is told in a very fresh, graphic, and instructive fashion, and shoul'd be
largely read." — d ien Hours.
"Many practical and useful lessons are to be found in its pages."-- it'ord and
Work.
'■ Very nicely written." — Clergyman'^ Magazine.
"Interesting and instruciive compositions. Thoughtful Christians will love and
enjoy this volume— /'riini/itf Methodist.
MONTREAL: W. DRVSDALE & CO. LONDON; HODDER & STOUGHTON.