Esteemed by the World by W. N. Glenn

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Nov 13, 1884

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 43.

Esteemed by the World.

By W. N. Glenn

A WRITER in the Christian Union notes the fact that the clergy have steadily risen in public estimation during the last one hundred and fifty years, and as proof of the assertion cites the position they hold in popular fiction: The writer states that "it is no slight proof of the importance which our own day attaches to religion, that its most popular novelist found among the clergy unfailing subjects for his pen." And further, that "it is to Mr. Trollope the clergy owe most; he has given them a leading place in literature and society. He never failed to make them interesting. . . . The cardinal and his staff are gentlemen, and men of the world, and do not lose their temper or courage if disappointed or defeated; and the Anglican bishop, full of Christian kindness and innocent little jokes, is no less admirable."

Especially during the past forty years, the clergy have been seeking the "estimation of the public," and it is probably gratifying to many of them to know that "they have their reward"—from Mr. Trollope. But from a Scripture standpoint the compliment paid by the writer above quoted is a doubtful one. The great "Shepherd and Bishop" (not Anglican) says "that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God," and when he came to this world as a minister, he "made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant." Both he and his "staff" would have scorned to be reckoned as "men of the world," or to be deemed "admirable" for their "innocent little jokes." Of his apostles he said, "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." John 17:16. And to them he said, "If ye were of the world the world would love its own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you."

W. N. GLENN.