HAVING spent at least a score of years in the milling business, and having since been engaged as a laborer in the Church of Christ. I have often been led to compare the former with the latter period of my labors, and I find that a striking similarity exists between the two. Think it not strange, dear reader, when we say the Church is similar to a millstone; even a genuine French-Burr-Millstone; and that in the management of such a stone, we may learn a lesson in respect to the government and advancement of the interests of the Church of Christ. We have dressed quite a number of millstones, and must be allowed to have some knowledge of the business. But let us notice the points of comparison:— 1. A millstone is made up of many different pieces.
So the Church is composed of many members, from various tongues, nations and people, which make up one body, of which Christ is the head. 2. She pieces must be collected and brought to a proper shape, and must be well jointed and cemented together.
So the members of the Church must be collected by the invitations of the divine word, backed by the influences of the Spirit, and must be so shaped and formed by grace, as to become fit subjects for membership. The ministers of the Gospel are the agents employed to superintend this part of the work; and as by nature a stone is not fitted to occupy a place in a millstone; so there is no natural fitness in a man for membership in the Church. 3. The pieces composing a millstone, must, after they are shaped and joined together, be secured by a strong band; otherwise they would when set in motion be scattered in every direction.
The members of the Church must be bound and cemented together by “the bond of perfection,” which “is the love of God.” In this their strength and their usefulness consist. When this is broken, all that can hold them together is sundered, and the connection between them ceases. It is true, they may be shaped and cemented together, and have every appearance of substantial unity, but if this bond does not enclose them we may not reasonably expect any good results. Love, supreme to God, and love to one another, constitute the bond of union. If in possession of every other characteristic, it will profit them nothing if they lack love. 4. The pieces in a millstone vary, as to pourousness, solidity and temper. Some are very open, others very close, while some are soft and others very hard.
The members of a church generally vary, very much in their character; some being free and open-hearted, others reserved and distant; while some possess a pliable, yielding disposition, others are obstinate and stiff-necked. The disciples of Christ were of various temperments, and the history of the Church since the apostolic days, furnishes abundant evidence that such has always been the case. 5. A millstone has but one eye which must be exactly central. In any other part the eye would be an injury, and without the eye, there could be no feed admitted to the stone.
The church must be single eyed. “If the eye be single the whole body shall be full of light.” The glory of God must be the aim of the Church. On him the members depend for that spiritual light and life, which is necessary for their welfare, and on which their very existence depends. 6. The pieces of a millstone must be properly arranged by the maker, and are each placed in a position where they can be most useful.
Thus in the Church: there are various offices and stations to be filled; and God hath set some “apostles, prophets, teachers helps,” &c., “every one of them as it hath pleased him;” and in a class or congregation, the person to whom is entrusted the oversight thereof, should be capable of judging of the talents and tempers of each, and then place them in a position where the they may be most useful. Such position the members should also keep, and be found faithful in the discharge of their several duties.917. To produce good flour, a millstone must be very even on the face; the least imperfection in this respect will cause an inequality in the grinding.
The Church must be “like minded,” “of one mind;” a difference in opinion will cause too severe a discipline in some respects, while others are slighted, for a variety of opinion will cause a division of heart; thus the bond of union will be affected, and evil results are sure to follow. “Let the same mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” 8. A millstone is liable to become uneven on the face by use.
A church is subject to the same evil. In its labors in the cause of God, the patience of some will wear down, while the selfishness of others will stick up, and thus an unevenness will be produced. The difference in temper is the cause of this. Some church members are often inclined to be up, while others are equally as much inclined to be down; both parties require close attention. Bearing “one another’s burden’s” is a lesson not soon learned by some. 9. To preserve the even face of a millstone, it must be frequently examined, by applying the red-staff, or as some call it, the “straight-edge,” to it. This is a square stick of wood, even to a hair on one side, on which a very thin coat of red paint is spread; by applying this to the face of the stone, the parts too high will be marked by the paint, while those too low will not be touched.
A church must be under the constant watch-care of its ministers, who should apply the divine word to them, anointed with the Holy Ghost. They must be weighed in the balances of the sanctuary. Judging closely by this standard, all unevenness and irregularity can easily be detected. The reproofs and warnings will fall upon the heads of the disobedient; while the blessings and promises of the word, will not be participated in by the negligent and undutiful. The Spirit of God accompanying the word, will leave an impression for good or evil; and where the influences of that Spirit are not felt, the cause should be examined into. 10. To restore the even face of a millstone, all the highest parts have to be brought down to a level with the lowest; this is done by rubbing, dressing or grinding, or all of these combined may be necessary to produce the desired result. The lower parts cannot be raised.
In restoring the peace and unanimity of the church, attention should be paid to this fact: that a spirit of humility is necessary, and that the christian’s position should be a lowly one, “not high-minded,” “but condescend to men of low estate.” Church members are not always willing to submit to this: they will not come down, but want others to come up to them; this must not be expected; if you are up you are too high, and it is for you to come down. Instruction, admonition, or warning, or all of these combined must be applied to restore the peace and harmony of the Church. It may frequently be found necessary to apply the rough face-hammer to some of the most obstinate members, and dress them off, to bring them to a proper level, as the high must absolutely come down! 11. One piece of too hard a nature in a stone will cause constant trouble, as it is apt to bring all the rest out of face.
Thus one unruly member in a class or congregation may cause a great deal of trouble, and may require constant dressing down. Such characters are a great annoyance both to the preacher in charge and the rest of the members; and nothing less than a good dressing down now and then, can keep them out of mischief. Mind this. 12. When a piece in a millstone becomes rotten, as is sometimes the case, there is no remedy for it, such must be thrown out and its place supplied.
When a church member loses the vital principal of religion—falls from grace—he is not only useless, but a hindrance in the church, and the rule laid down in the divine word, must be applied to him, which teaches us to “put such away from us.”
In conclusion let us not forget that the hearts of the unregenerated are as hard as the “nether millstone,” and that wisdom and grace from on high, alone can make us successfull laborers in the cause of our God, for the salvation of their souls. Let us be humble, and stoop low down to raise the fallen high up; not being an offense to the little ones in Christ’s Church, lest a millstone be used as a means to sink us in the depths of the sea.—S. Vonnieda.