Heb. xiii. 17.

Beloved Brethren and Kind Readers: --It would be preferable to hear from some one of riper years and more fully authorized to speak out. However, in view of death and my duty to Christ and to you, I feel that my imperfections must not hinder a few words designed for the welfare of the church and the glory of God.

We poor imperfect mortals are weak and liable to extreme views, injurious to pastors and to churches. Some of these dangers are now to be mentioned in the light of divine truth, with kindness and love to all.

Sometimes one or more brethren become heady and self-exalted. They may not think or intend to be so, yet they seem to claim as much authority and right to rule as the preacher. Now this state of things in a church is contrary to the word of God and therefore is wrong. Such claims for the mastery increase the many difficulties and burdens of our dear minister in his solemn duty to rule or lead the people of God. When God makes a man a leader, his obligations are greatly increased. So much is justly re­quired and expected of him, he is made to fear lest he lead into error and bring trouble. In view of this, none should desire to be leader, for if he lead those depending on him into wrong, he must bear the greater blame, and their blood will be required at his hand. Ezek. iii. 18.

In every way of life some one must rule. From the Bible, we learn that God has made it the duty of gospel preachers, especially of pastors, to rule over the churches. In I. Tim. x. 17, we read, "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor." And in Heb. xiii. 7, we read, "Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God." Therefore, it appears that the church should do nothing of importance without the counsel and concurrence of her pastor.

Our ministers are not to rule rashly nor by force, being self-willed, but they are to rule in love. We expect them to set the example of humble submission and thus rule with prudence, not "being lords over God's heritage.” I Pet. v. 3. The gift to thus rule is one of the very necessary qualifications of the gospel ministry; if a teacher has not this gift, his pupils will have their own way in the school room. If the husband possess not this gift, his wife will rule him, his children will rule him, and if a preacher the church may rule him. So where the preacher has a family and his wife and children do not obey him, we find that as elder he also fails to "rule well." Since his family or others under his care are not restrained by him from evil con­duct, as strife, speaking against others, or several talking at the same time, we may expect to find the same sort of confusion or bad behavior in the house of God during worship, in conference and others affairs of the church. "For if, a man knows not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?” I. Tim. iii. 5.

Following the example of Jesus in calling servants to teach and to rule His people, you call a man to teach your children who has the gift to discreetly rule those put under his care. You do not choose an infidel to train your child. For, as the teacher, so will be the scholar. If the parent or teacher tattle, the child also will carry news. If you contend with the child, it will quarrel in reply. So you do not want an im­modest, dishonest servant, or one given to van­ity and jesting. No. You desire a model ruler to set noble examples before your children and train them to all that is good and true, as humil­ity, virtue, industry and honesty. Now, if this servant for a while bear with the child's com­plaints they will often quickly cease. Should this pouting and blaming others continue, cor­rection is needful; and the sooner done the better. For the child will keep fretting if its servant encourage or carelessly allow it. Thus a peevish temper will grow into a habit, and the boy will become an unhappy man. But if early checked, the child is saved from all this trouble, is more loving and happy, and all present feel better. How fitly all this applies to the church.

Thus we see firm ruling as words of love, mild rebuke, or pointing to presents, will check the child's evil dispositions and avoid much family trouble. So also in the church, words of love, kindness, and pointing to the gift of Jesus Christ and to the many favors received through His suffering and blood, will soothe our sorrows and heal our church troubles.

Finally, we sometimes see a pastor whose influence seems too great. He has the church to obey in what is wrong. When such preacher goes into extreme or hurtful things, he leads the "Flock over which the Holy Ghost has made him overseer” to admire his extreme views, and so he destroys their peace, Thus churches are con­fused and divided, and many hearts are caused to suffer bitter grief. Truly, "The leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed." Isa. ix. 16. There­fore, we must take head to not obey or follow our ministers in wrong things. We must follow them in what is right--as they "follow Christ,"

Remember Jesus "humbled himself, and be­came obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." And now, dear brethren, as we now enter the first year of the 20th century, let us all try to humbly submit ourselves to God and to one another.” "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." Phil. ii. 5.

May the Lord lead our ministers to rule, not with pride, but in the fear of God. And may we all have grace to heed the words of the Spirit, "Obey them which have the rule over you." Yours in love,

Sparta, Tex. M.D. DENMAN.