One day Henderson went to hear a Covenanted minister, Robert Bruce, at a
communion. He was shy and concealed himself in a dark corner of the
church. Mr. Bruce took for his text, "He that entereth not by the door
into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief
and a robber." The minister having read his text paused, and in
dignified posture, with head erect, scanned his congregation with eyes
that gleamed with holy fire. Such was his custom before beginning his
sermon. Henderson felt the blaze of those eyes. He seemed to be the very
man for whom they were searching. The recollection of having entered
upon his ministry by climbing through a window horrified him. He went
from that meeting determined to investigate Prelacy in the light of the
Scriptures. The result was conviction of the truth and conversion to the
Covenanted cause. Deportation from his devoted flock quickly followed.
He was thereafter found in the forefront of the fight against the
supremacy of the king over the Church, and against Prelacy that upheld
the king in his arrogant assumption of the royal prerogative of the Lord
Jesus Christ.

The minister of Christ is the watchman of the Church. He is placed upon
Zion's walls to sound an alarm at the approach of danger. He is charged
with responsibility for the people. If they perish through his neglect
to give warning of dangers, his life for theirs. Faithful preaching may
not be pleasant or profitable to the minister. Declaring the whole
counsel of God may involve the pastor in trouble, demand sacrifices,
result in hardships, controversies, separations; yet the Lord requires
it, the people need it, no safety without it for either the flock or the
shepherd. Without fidelity no power with God, no comfort of the Spirit,
no approval from Christ. Are they who serve as ministers of Christ
willing to sacrifice ministerial support, relationship, popularity,