p. 507 | Ministerial Heroism by Dr. J. E. Smith

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Nov 16, 1882

Ministerial Heroism.

By Dr. J. E. Smith

HEROISM is not wholly a thing of the past. It is the heritage of the church in all time. It animates every Christian heart. It inspires every minister called of God to the sacred office, and imbued by him with the baptism of his Spirit. It will be remembered that decision with most men is made in the days of their youth, when the world's pleasures are most alluring, and when its wealth and honors seem to lie within easy grasp. Many who make it are most thoroughly prepared to contend successfully for the world's prizes; and finally these temptations come to them again and again through the interval of years, often in the hours of their greatest weakness and in the seasons of their greatest despondency.

To illustrate: I have known a man richly endowed by nature, and thoroughly cultured, who has turned away from the most tempting offers that place and wealth and power can make, and is preaching the gospel upon circuits far removed from the refinements for which he is fitted and to which he has been accustomed, and who, for his services, receives from $400 to $600 per year. I have known another compelled to leave a fond and affectionate people at the close of his second year with them, and after a glorious revival, he was sent to "Break Neck Hill," at a salary of $350, fifty of which it cost to reach the place. He was offered by another church in the town from which he was sent, a salary of $1,000 and a furnished house, to remain and become their pastor. But true to his trust, he declined the offer and went bravely on to toil and suffer in his lonely field. I could name another, who, gifted and cultured beyond most of his fellows, has preached four sermons in as many different languages in a single day; yet he is preaching in an obscure church at a salary of $600 per year. And yet another who has never received a salary of over $500, with a large and dependent family, hungering for knowledge he stints himself in every possible way, that he may buy the freshest and ablest books as they come from the press, and thus keep abreast of the age, while his noble wife, sympathizing with her husband in his desire for knowledge, gathers and hoards with the avidity of a miser, the three, the five, and the ten cent pieces, until, after years of effort with these alone, she purchases McClintock & Strong's costly cyclopedia for his use.

These are but a few of the many instances that might be given. They abound on every side. Their annals are for the most part carefully concealed from public scrutiny. They suffer in silence. Their tears, if there any, are shed in secret. They are the successors of the apostles and martyrs and confessors. They endure as seeing Him who is invisible. They are the world's greatest paradox. Though sorrowful, they are always rejoicing. Though poor, they make many rich. Having nothing, they possess all things. For such service earth has no rewards. Weighed against these, the world's jewels are baubles; its gold is dross. It has nothing wherewith to pay for such service and so comes all too near to paying nothing. Meanwhile, God watches their toil and Heaven waits their coming. Already they are blessed, for "theirs is the kingdom of Heaven." —Dr. J. E. Smith.