# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_Juli 1858_S212
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

212 On the Advancement of Pastors.

now this or that inconvenience of the newly offered office, now the burden
of unremitting labor, now the particular situation of his own household, were
he here or there, and not once merely that he must leave excellent patrons
and friends whom he has in his present position.

But who could go through all these subterfuges? Especially since the
acquaintances and friends one has do not rest, and the devil does not wholly
keep silent and hold his peace, in that the former dissuade him from moving
and make his heart discouraged, irresolute, and reluctant, while the latter,
because he sees that greater harm will be done to him and his kingdom
elsewhere through our labor under God's gracious assistance, contrives delay
upon delay, and by secret whispering throws new postponements, obstacles,
fetters, and enticements to evil into the way, and leaves nothing untried
that can serve to hinder God's work and to close off access to a higher
sphere of activity.

In order, then, that we may take the middle course and stand by those who
have in view only the honor of God and the welfare of the church, and who,
for the sake of giving a needier and more numerous congregation their pound
at greater interest to usury, would accept a lawful call that has come to
them — one not extorted by the pleading of relatives (parents, father-in-law,
wife, etc.), not begged for by gifts, one that is grounded neither on the
mere favor of others nor obtained by any other arts and intrigues — we wish
to remark on a few things that will be of great value for the matter at
hand. For even though a pastor cannot and may not go wherever he pleases
according to his own will, the church can nevertheless, when the general
good requires it, transfer a pastor here or there, since the welfare of
each individual part of the church is included in the general good of the
whole.

And first it is self-evident that we are not here speaking of those who
merely assist pastors and serve a congregation only for a time in order to
develop their abilities there. Rather, we are speaking here of the pastor
who has undertaken the care of a congregation in the Lord, to whom the
flock is also attached as to its shepherd. We mean, then, a regularly
called pastor who faithfully discharges his office and is sufficiently
equipped besides with the competence necessary for the conduct of that
office — which includes both what belongs to the inner calling of the
called minister of the Word, namely, ability and will to serve the honor
of God and the salvation of men, and what pertains to the outward call of
the calling congregation, which likewise consists of just as many parts,
namely, the will to keep him and the ability to maintain him.

Further, the situation of particular churches differs, in that some have
peace and feel neither the fury of heretics nor the persecutions of tyrants
nor the scourges of war or of plague; others are under oppression and must
feel either all these evils, or one or another