Encouragement to Ministers and Their Wives.
By Jemima E. French
As I have realized, in a faint measure, the great sacrifice these servants of God make in order to feed the flock, and lift the warning voice to the transgressor, I have felt a longing desire to be able to speak a word of encouragement and thankfulness to them. Dear Brethren, be assured that you occupy a warm place in the affections of your brethren and sisters, and when you go forth to breast the cold storms and the bleak winter winds, and to meet the frowns and scoffs of a wicked world, remember that in a little while this cold and dreary earth will be lit up by the sunlight of God's glory; the scoffer will forever have perished, and you, if faithful, will have received “glory, honor, immortality, and eternal life.” What could you ask more? Yet there is much more in store for the faithful servant of God. When you are tired, cold, and hungry, and your lot is cast among strangers, where your food will not be the most healthy, perhaps, your accommodations poor and inconvenient, and your spirits sink with discouragement, and your hearts ache for home comforts, remember, at that very moment, perhaps, faithful brethren and sisters are pleading your particular cases before the Father, that your very name is upon their lips, that voices, both at the family altar and in the prayer-meeting, are beseeching the Giver of all good to give you strength of body and mind, to encourage your heart, and make you an effectual laborer in his vineyard. Yet a little while, and the dark clouds will all vanish; you will be safely housed in those mansions above, with the privilege of eating the fruit of “Life's fair Tree.” Then these little trying scenes will scarcely be remembered; for the joy of that land will know no alloy. When you stand up in your weakness to warn your fellow-men of the coming danger; when you see the eyes of hundreds upon you, many watching for the purpose of finding fault, others to criticise your language, remember where your strength lies. In that assembly surely there is some honest soul who will hear the word of life; and if you can be the means of turning one sinner from the error of his way, you will have saved a soul, covered a multitude of sins, and won a star which will shine forever in your crown of rejoicing. Then I would say, Labor, faithful one. Many will rise up and call you blessed. The people of God will bless you as you go from place to place, giving them meat in due season. There are so many encouragements and blessings for the messengers of the cross, that time and words fail, and I can only say, Endure to the end. Soon “He that is to come will come and will not tarry,” and you will receive the rich reward which He will bring with Him. Now, my dear sisters, what must I, what can I say to cheer your lonely hearts? I know it is but natural that you should feel cast down, and almost forsaken at times, and I do not wonder that you almost murmur sometimes, and think your lot truly a hard one. How often, as I sit by the fire of the long winter evenings, while the drifting snow fast covers our time-worn earth, and the wind shrieks and howls fiercely around our dwelling, does my mind wander off to your lonely hearthstones. There, in my imagination, I behold you with your little ones gathered around you, and you trying to soothe and comfort them, while your own heart is aching with a burden they know not of. The one heavy thought presses upon your mind, oh, where is my poor husband! What is his condition this cold night! As I behold you thus, gladly do I drop the sympathetic tear; but let me tell you, my dear sister, even in this lonely situation you are highly blessed. Your case may even be worse than I have pictured, wasting sickness may take hold of your dear children, and even death itself may enter your dwelling; yet you are a highly blessed woman. But you will say, oh! you know nothing of the real trials we undergo in giving up the companionship of our dear husbands, and bearing the hardships which must necessarily come upon us. It is true, perhaps, in a certain sense; yet I ought to know something of these trials; for, long since, death came to my fireside and snatched from my side the one to whom I had fondly looked for support and protection, and I am now left to battle with life's ills alone. My dear sisters, you should rejoice that you have the privilege of making so noble a sacrifice for the cause of God. You must remember that the church is daily lifting the voice of supplication in your behalf. Your kind husbands never forget you in their secret devotions. I know that the heart of every Christian is filled with gratitude when they hear the words of life, and they feel thankful that you are so noble that you will give up your husbands to go from place to place, bringing that instruction and encouragement which we all so much need. If your brethren and sisters so kindly remember you, think you that you will be forgotten by the great God? I tell you nay. The angel of the Lord encamps round about you, if you put your trust in him. When your faithful companions are rewarded, if you have nobly borne your part, he will in no wise leave you out, but you will share in their crown of rejoicing. As you look into the happy faces of your little children, feel that to your hands is committed their salvation. O let neither friend or foe keep you from being faithful to your charge. While your husbands labor for the salvation of others, strive with equal earnestness to bring your little ones up in the fear of the Lord. Teach them, by precept and example, to obey God and keep his commandments. Then, when your companions receive their bright, and starry crowns, your own may not be a starless one. Princeville, Ill., Dec. 23, 1866.