Christ's ministers are the spiritual guardians of the people entrusted to their care. Their work has been likened to that of watchmen. In ancient times sentinels were often stationed on the walls of cities, where, from points of vantage, they could overlook important posts to be guarded, and give warning of the approach of an enemy. Upon their faithfulness depended the safety of all within. At stated intervals they were required to call to one another, to make sure that all were awake and that no harm had befallen any. The cry of good cheer or of warning was borne from one to another, each repeating the call till it echoed round the city.

Kristi tjenere er de åndelige vogtere af de mennesker, der er betroet til deres varetægt. Deres gerning er blevet sammenlignet med vægteres. I gamle dage stod der ofte skildvagter på byernes mure, hvor de fra fordelagtige punkter kunne overse vigtige stillinger, der skulle bevogtes og alarmere, hvis fjenden nærmede sig. Af deres troskab afhang sikkerheden for alle indenfor murene. Med bestemte mellemrum havde de påbud om at råbe til hinanden for at sikre sig, at alle var vågne og at der ikke var sket nogen af dem noget ondt. Det opmuntrende eller advarende råb lød fra den ene til den anden og enhver gentog råbet, indtil det gav genlyd i hele byen.