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Tho Biblical Recorder. PUBLISH ID EVESY WEDNESDAY," ; ' .. - - - j . 5 EDWARDS, BROUGHTON & CO. ' . EALTIGH, B.C. t-; J " Of&c a Fyttrin Straat, Oppocft afarka 1 ' TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION! . , Oneoopy, one ,,......,............$ 00 One copy, si months,. ...... ........ 1 00 rnluDS of Ave,.,.. .,.,..,,..., ,.4W 00 Clubs ot ten,,..,., ..........20 00 : KemitUncee mast be seat by Begiatered Pot-ofSoe Order, Express ox Draft payable to the order of the Publisher u i 'ianSociety Tho Eiblicd Rccoi'der. , . ; ADTZZTIZ12;3 MAIL 3. Cax 1 12m. llach,;. a do S do 4 do' $1 CO JS CO - $ 8 CO 115 00 125 00 40 00 0 CO CO 00 S3 CO - a 00' a cc 54 cc 10 c: IS CD ft c 15 CO 3 cc: Zl CO 5 CC S3 Co i5 CO 8 CC 10 CC 15 CC 7 CC s 11 Heol'mr C3 CO da do C3 CO 1CD C 170 CO 3 CO 100 coins co 200 00 The Organ of the North Carolina Baptists, Devoted to Bible Religion, Education, Literature, Agriculture , and General Intelligence V - E;edil ITcUc;s 20 ccr'j a line. Ctituarlei e!zv wcrls lor, are inserted free of charge. . .len tiey exved tL!a length one cent for each: word mcst be paid in ad vanee. . ' yoLTJira 44. j : RALEIGH, F. 0., WEDNESDAY, MAY 5y 1880. ." ITuircLii.43. r 5. , . . Lj 1jr .N7 ' .UteRaftraal IMai Scliccl Lect: SECOXD QUARTER, 1SS9; 1 : -. LESSON ra. -MAY 16th. t BY RET J. B. TAYL0B,t 5; r "1 Wilmington, N. a i Xatthewxxll: 1-14. r ... j " Commit to memory terses 11-14. r 1-And Jesus answered end spake onto them again by parables, end said,. , l t jz i The kingdom of heaven is like 'unto a eertein king, vhioh made a marriage Cot his on, - - - i v -i - j I - 3 And seat forth his servants to call thorn , . that were Ridden to the wedding j and they would not coma. " , : i 4 Again he sent forth other servants, say. fag, Tail them vhioh are bidden. Behold, I have prepared my dinner s ay oxen end. my ... fadings are killed, and all things are ready ; - eome onto the marriage. - y 5 Bat they made ligbt of it, and went their way, oae to his farm, another to his mer chaadiaet . - i " 1 z i -1 . 6 And the remnant took his serrants, and entreated them spiUfoUr, and slew them ', ' 7 Bat when the king heard tbereef,he was wroth and he seat jorUt bis armies, ana ae- stroyed those murderers, and bujned up their eltv . . 8 Then saithh to his servants. The wed ding is ready, bat they which were bidden were not worthy.' - . - - - y 9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and i as maey as he shall find, bid to the marriage. , 10 So .those servants went oat into the hishwTs. and gathered together all as many - as they foond, both bad , and good, and the wedding was xomined with guests. 7 11 And when the king came ia to see the guests, be saw there a man which had not on aweddiBv sarment a v: i ; i:- t IS And he saith ante him, Friead. how earnest thou ia hither, not having a wedding garment ? . And ha was speechless. : H IS Then said the "king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, . and east him into outer darkness ; there shall ' be weeping and gnashing e( teeth. . , N 14 For many are eaUed, but few are chosen. s GOLDEN TXXT: " " 3 j " As many as. je shall find, bid to the marriage." Matthew xxll : 9. f .1 t ' Daily EeadlnffS. Monday, Matt 22 : 1-14 ; Tuesday, MatW 23 : 29, 30 ; Wednesday JiUke 21: 6-22; Thursday, Bom. oh. 11 j Friday, Matt. 25: 1-13 ; Luke 12: 35-38 j Saturday, . Ps. 45; Iaa.ch. 62; Sunday; Ber. 19: 1-9: Matthew 22: 1-14.: i :- - 4 " ; Preliminary Note. This lesson ia foond only in Matthew. It is somewhat similar to t the parable 6f ihe great sapper Luke n 15.34,) spoken on another occasion. ' 1 , Comments. Y. 1. Spake unto them again by parable. Tfctey were in the temple - where- Jesus tad spoken the parables recorded In the chapter previous. "- ;::'i: sT" Y. 2. The kingdom cj heaters The phrase here means the new dispensation, Christ's spiritual reign. ; The idea is, God will deal with men in this gospel dispensation as the king did, to. A certain king. Qoi. ' Son, Jesus Christ A marriage for hie ton. Bather, a marriage festival. These feasts were usual, and generally very magnificent in the East The feast here refers to the rich blessings of the gospeL Compare with Isaiah. 25: 6-8 ; Xsa. 55: 1-13, Borkitt says : 4 The gospel fa here compared to a feast, because in a feast there is plen.Tariaty, and dainties ; also to a marriage feast,- being full of j oy, delight and pleasure ; and to a marriage feast made by a - king, as being xuuof state, magnificence and 'grandeur. . t-; if&t'i-pjH': - .Y. Z. MitTrnvanU.- The first preachers of tbe gospeL Atford says they were " John the Baptist, the twelve, and the seventy i" jT call them that were bidden. It is said to hare been usual -. to invite Uts guebU : some." time before the wedding was to come off, and then ito" give them another invlution notify mg them that the time was at hand. The al-: v loskra here, is probably to the Jews whj had long' before" been invited by the prophets' The wedding. Th marriage referred to in verse i ' The same T word is used here as there. They would net come. Did not accept the invitation. Jesus once said to the Jews, " Te will not come to me that ye might have life '" ' ' 7 " ' " v y. 4 He mnt jorth oiher tenants. The in . .TiUtioa is repeated.'. These "other serrants' . may represent the apostle and others presen ting Jesus and the reaurrection."lS thingt ' 'are ready t Every: provision has been made. - The fullness of time bad. oome, the promised -. jMesaiah, the Saviour, had appeared. -." Thia . conduct of the King represents the gospel offer, vlich repeat its messages, and mult!- plies its mesaeogera. Yariooa preachers, ' 4 diJerenfe prpyidenoee, and ' the Holy Ghost Himself, reiterates the call, and press it for ' immediate action. ? Sinners are entreated to , come to Christ,' by every gospel ' sermon every good tract, every providence, and eve ry motion of the Holy 8pirlt In the heart - Everything is prepared for them, inasmuch as Christ has actually died; and the redeem- - Ing work is done, and now they are invited as to a feast, spread and waiting on the table. - Pardon is proclaimed. : The grace is free." 1 Y. 5. ' Made tight- of ft The idea is, not ' that tLey "made fun" of the invitation, but by their course of conduct, treated it as a -matter of bo importance.-This class charao ; terizes the great majority of those who now neglect the gospel o-er. . .... " . Y. 6. The remnant, &e. The rest; tlio .lolhers. This was tine of the "Jews who slew ' the prophets,' and cf the bitter scribes and - Pharisees. : John the Baptist was rejected, .". Stephen was atoned, Peter was imprisoned, . Paul was stoned and beaten, v This class re-', '-'laiods'as aiso cf - those who not merely neg , T'rlect tbe gospel offer, bet- are very pctitlve i and titter in their hostility to the truth. ' y .y. .7., Wroth., Angry greatly displeased. : : Sent forth hie armies, -Tfce r.omans, jsst as the Asgyriah is called 'the rol cf God's , anger.VlaaViPiX" The 'city of Jereaaleni . -and t-0 fecpla vera tL-Eixoj&d by Titm some .-.-. ; forty years afterwai Zz. " ; ; i . Y. 8'.'27at f orV.y. They showel tLelr na-- wortl!- cf t'-s I liT- 'dirt 1 ty f.-'L: to e - ; t' :' -' " i. - ,. t Y. S. " - . . C-e-.t thcror:' vi, l:'.l;r La c. j cr coir.ry. At na'.j ci $-e 4oS lai. AH classes and conditions of peo ple, irrespective of station in life, or previous moral character The gospel is oniTersal in its call. There is no distinction now, as un der the other: dispensations. The Gentiles are addressed as well as the Jews. All are invited to eome. ; r- ' : -'- V V. 10. JBetk lad and Mod." The terrants Invited all kinds', as they had been directed. Abbott says t ' Observe, the inYiUUon is to be extended without discrimination,' and ell, both bad and good, are to be' brought tq the feast; There is ' no condition' f coming to Christ, bat just to eome? ' The bad are tnii ted that r they may be thaee good (L Cot. : -llX ;Of the good Kathaniel and Corne lias are III as trail on s ; of the bad, Uatthw and Zaethaua,- and Sanl of Tarsos. -r ! V.'-iV When tte king cam in to $ee th jfuetU. - This is a most expressive reminder of the omniscient inspection of every profess ed dkcfple of the Lord JesnsV ' We are knows now.- At death Jeeus comes to each man, and to all at the judgment Be eayrt, . Behold, I eome quickly ; and my reward is with Bae, to give every man aooordins: as his work ahaU be." Rev. 21: 12. 4 " - Y. 12. A wedding garment? i. eone snit- fqr roob 0, yeeOtei xlo am no axouae so oaer.-' vf nas uus guest lacked, was righteousness, Both In its root of faith and its flower of charity. lie had not V put on Christ in which, patting oft of Christ both faith And' charity are included faith as, the power putting oa, charity or holiness as the thing put on-IVwici. ,"We sasy and ought, when God calls, to oome as we are ; bat we may not, if we would, see hia face and enjoy his last ' feast remain as we are. lier. - 1. The wedding garmant was something conspicuous aid distinctive, j As soon as the King entered "the room, he de tected the single man who wanted it.?. 2, It was sot a Becessary part ot a man's clothing, bat rather a : significant badge of his loyal ty, s The primary use of the symbol was neither to keep the wearer warm, nor to make him elegant, but to manifest his faithfulness. S. The want of it was a decisive mark of dis loyalty. It is' confessed and silently assumed that the guest had not, bat might have had the wedding garment on." J.rnot ' I ' ; Abbott says t "To be without a wedding garment, implied that the man thought Ids usual attire good enough for the King's wed ding he thus represents those who profess to follow Christ, but who think themselves good ' enough as they are, and de .not seek from 'him that new birth without which no man can see the kingdom of heaven. The lesson,, then, of this incident of - the wedding garment, is, that no one can enter heaven ex eept throBgh humility and a change of na ture; that we most ' sot only accept Jeens Christ : openly, bat pat oa the Lord Jeeus Christ" ; . ; ' v . . L - f :V. 13. SencmU. A different Greek word is used here from that in tho earlier Terses, and therefore does not refer to those who had given tho invitations, bat probably to the angels. 8ee MattflS 1 41, 42., Bi& Mim. The sinner will not be able to escape his pun. ishment. j Taht him away. ; Ber. 21 1 27, 22: 15. i. Outer darkneu.- The figure of a feast is still preserred. the guests being supposed to be ia brilliantly lighted room, sad this one cast into the darkness outside. k- He ia excla- dedfromthejoyof Heaven, from the bright ness of Christ's, blissful presence.:Matt. 8 ; 13. ? Weeping and enaihing of Ue&s. Awful language Bxpressire of ngony; rage and. des pair.,:. Matl 25 : S0. - -x --t. f . t i ; t- V. 14. -Jtfanjr are called (see verse 9, 10). Treach the gospel to every creatura.M, Few orteiaeA, because they do not aooept and come in the riaht -msnner. 5 Jesus says of such, ye will not eome to me that ye might bar life." - John 5 i AO. .This shows that the man without the wedding garment (v. 12) is a type of a numerous class. The in portsnt and striking passage which, consti tutes oar present lesson, may well remlnq as of Olshavsen's remarks that, "parables are like many aided piecious stones, cut ; sof as 4a aet tnota (a wiMa 4ha Mtati rTiTainfr TmnT IV von iuouo as uvo suatu vw. wwavu Surely .this parable is very suggestive, fad we should learn Important lessons from! it. To us, has the invitation been sent, t "AD things are ready, come to the marriage ." Let ns not be as thosa who "made light of it." " See that ye refuse not him that speak eth." Heb. 12 : 25. Soon we will be in the presence of the King. -' Hare we on the wed- disg . garment'- It ia provided for us. We are asked to the heavenly feast, and to us a glorious robe is ojfered. We are "called, shall we ,be chosen t "Choote ye, this day, Dont forget the King's invitation, COME. . r . COMMUNICATIONS. . Reinisiscences cf a Long -Missionary life " NUMUEB 18. 1 I -, BY BEY. M. T. TATES, D. D. Shanghai, Cudia. Itinerant Preaching. The typhoon of 1849, that caused a famine in this rich and populous plain,1 was the means of : bringing from ; the interior cities scores of thousands to this market the port of entry for gram from other sea ports." The foreign settlement, with out the city,, and tne "bell tower within the city, being the lions of the place, we met and preached to many of these interior people. Some of them responded to our invitations to call at- our houses. We talked freely on m sdv su bieets. O ar reh zion ttzj did not understand, and it was evident tney did not have much rererenca for their own systems of religion. They were siaply carious. Acd, C3 rra rcra civil to them, some cf then invited us to go to their p!::i cndl prr?.h ; cct ".that -'they. were at til ictrrr tcJ in tie ?si n-o.'bES tlv"y ticagtt it wonld itniz' z cr. :t f:r ti3 r '3 cftl r t: Crytr.I t - tl 3 f;:.' i r cf x;l:i , 1 - 1 V - - . l-J ' L 1 1 c ,3 :crie3. v e therefore commenced' making short excursions to the nearest , interior cities. An elephant, caparisoned in the grandest style of; an oriental prince, would not have excited more cariosity than oar boat did, as ve passed throagb towns ana vmages. By "some, means, . the news of; our coming went ahead of us, so :that when we approached a village cr town we found the banks of the canals, and! the fine stone bridges, crowded with gazers, men , women and children.: t We were not ions in discovering that the wisest policy, to' avoid being stoned out, was to stand out on the bow or the boat sa that all could have a full length View; What was more satisfactory, was to ( stop the boat and goon share, where i all could have the full gratifications I of ; a near approach to, and a thor ough examination of the . Western man, who was supposed to be hairy like a . horse. " Under these circum stances it was necessary to command the crowd; and ' the only" way to ido that was to, speak to tnem get tne floor and keep it, till I was ready, to return to; my boat ; and thus leave immediately; ? for parts unknown 1 to the multitude- In carrying ont this expedient to preserve order, and pre- vent a not. 1 addressed myself I to the more - intelligent and thoughtfal looking portion of my spectators (in front of me, while at my sides and back; as many as could get to me, were deeply interested in examining; my clothes, and pulling op the leg of my trowsers to : see it my legs we-c really ? covered; with -hair like the lees of a horse. -While thus en- gaged, they were warned by friends ot the danger of being kicked. When they reached their t destination, t l heard their ; reply to the ..warning given, "Why, he is not like) a horse. Ilis skin is whiter; and ..emootaer than ours.". - We have been deceived in . buying tnose nairy. pictures." They had an impression too, that a foreigners7 'legs were, stin, having no knee joint, one thorough exami- .a ....... nation, by a dozen persons, was quite J Bumcieuv to luiurm i auu avuiy. a town, , or a large region ot country. It is passed around from one to an other, that a foreigner is the same as ourselves, except he has no cue, and he eats rice differently. 'They were more than curious to see us take our meals. As yon may. readily imagine, in these early excursions, We preached under difficulties. These attempts served the good purpose of keeping - me still, to be examined, and - maintaining sometiung nrce orderj so that all could be satiated with one good iook, close to. mere was then, a large amount of curiosity that had to bo gratified before , we fonnd it possible to get access to their minds. This is the first mis sionary work that has to be done in anyetrange locality even now. we had to pass through this sort of an exhibition from eity t6 city, and from time to: time, till ,we; found i it practicable by. reqnestiog two tor three ; persons, to keep the barking does away, to ..have; a chancer to preacn to an ; attenuve aucuence. But it is a depressing tnoognc. tnas it takea a Ghinamon, in a ttrange locality, a long time to.hear. what a foreigner is saying. -Not that they do not understand each wora tney have not apprehended the subject he is .talking about. , and their minos, unaccustomed r to, thinking, d6,not leave old ruts very easily. . I remem ber a case in the c British Court here in point when Iwas requested to n- lerpres., tne, -lesumony ; .oi buiuo Chinese witnesses in. a murder case. The judge was on the bench, and the lawyers, reporters, eta, were ac tneir places,' ana tne nrsc witness ..was called. w He was a common country-. man. ' l " asked - tne question t pro pounded by counsel for plaintiff. The witness- replied," Mx do not onaer- "stand?r foreign talkL1 'I hsked the same question? a second time,' and got the sane answer There was a slight commotion;? I asked the judge, to allow me to enter into a little con versation with the witnesr on ray own acconni; m oraer 10 convince him, i that I: was speaking Chinese. I then asked him it he had had his rice 1 Yes."; Where do ? you live t He told,me,How:inanychlldren have yon t hyi he$ saidyon speak Chinese." :.Certainly, don't be alarmed. 1 waut yoato tell, me, what yon know about this murder. I then pat to him the original ques tion, and he answered it, as he did every other. question , put .to, him. His mind , had to oe aroused. Ana it is so with the masses, in regard to our message. .They can hear sermon after " sermon, at first, without ap prehending the subject presented to them. So, when I appear before! a strange audience, I commence with some familiar, conversation, in order, that they may realize that! am talk ing, in their own language, and about something that they can understand. I then tell them what I am going to talk about, and try to make them see that it is a matter in which all should feel an interest; 1 After these preliminary remarks to place myself in accord with my hearers, I repeat a text, or theme for their considera tion, and talk about it, and its Erpli- cability tons, ia this" state 'of sin and death, in a style suitable for a Cab fcath - school class, 'for in rcligiczs knowledge, tbe Chinese era children. The speaker soon discovers ths fz-y who ere abla, cr wto fcivs a r.!nd to fc'bw Lisa. Vi'hcn tsdiccoversthat his bearers are in rlt?ctir?, ta nzzt Z'y cftf r tlcn rith -re 3 e'evis?, cr n lz . !.:ir :"-3 ii tt3 -';:'t, to r ret i:.s.tb3,'cr La vr i'l ti in China must keep two objects' be fore his mind. One to interest and the other to instruct his hearersd It is ft mistaken idea to suppose that the heathen rejoice at the good news ot i tea i gospel salvation by faith. Jhey: would rejoiee at any scheme that: would enable them to secure the means to enjoy the- pleasures of the fiesh, : Bat they do not care to be told that they are sinners and must die. The gospel that requires them to mortify ? the deeds of the flesh, though it promises eternal lift tQ the lithfu!,'ls net at first view, a matter tf rejoicing to a Chinaman, His great ; object,, and the aim of nest cf his religious ceremonies, Is the enioyment ot this life. Oar work tnen, U tre-eminentiy one or i utn and prayer for the blessing or the spirit upon the words of truth which we preach, We sow the seed, and pray and wait ; for j God's blessing. Having been, alone , for eventeen years, I have had ,no time for -itinerant work. .Brethren, "the harvest is plenteous but the laborers are few," eta' When the churches at home & vaka' to the fact that this is their work God will bless it. , i. VN0T13 OF,, TRATEL. A " Sermon Preached by Ber. 6. Wash ' lngton Jones at Gregg's School House. . r . - i ,5 , . " " ' ' A '.'And he came to the first and said."' Son, go work today in my vineyard." Matt 21:28. Tnis parable,my dear hearers, Vas" spoken as a rebuke to the scribes and chief, priests "who d made, a fair show of regard to the authority of rw J . a. i e r ! j. Godjbut alas I their lives were; a constant- violation ;of their profes sion., Jesus shows, that true obe dience is better than a profession 'of loyalty, while the life is real disobe dience. , We better not promise so much and do so little I But it is not my purpose to-day to exhaust yonr patience in abusing those old breth ten mentioned in the context; 'That could not help yon nor them, but it would injure me,for it always injares ia uiau iu ttuuse nuy one. I hope to speak about entering and working in the vineyard of the Lord. This is a practical matter with each of as and should concern ns all or our eternal destiny may hinge upon it. - ; I. Let ns consider the entrance into this vineyard. Of course It most have a hedge about it, or every kind of animal could have free access to it. Hence we1 do not find all 'sorts of characters in Christ's service. If all sorts were sent into the vine yard and they were just told to go in and ; to go te work; we would doubtless have the work done wrong. A man whose life has ' been' spent in the caltnre of cotton or tobacco would make a poor hand in j a vineyard he would- need instrno- tions or ,he: .would:; destroy the vines., So a man whose -life has been spent In sin and . put into the service of Christ without being properly prepared for it, is not likely 10 ao gooa.nrst class ..work, .it is sneer nonsense ana a . woiai nerver- sion of, the Gospel; to tell a man 0 go in and to go to icorfc We had as well tell a slow stupid plow-boy to go to the brickyard and to go to making bricks. - Don't - yon think that he wonld make ' bricks IP The man In the parable told his sons to go and ne anew that they bad bad some training for the work. iA man must be renewed in heart not be like Simon with a "heart not right In the sight of God.' He most be converted and become as a little child, or he c in never enter the vine yard, and without ' this new heart in Christ be wonld -nave no heart to work, even if he could manage to en ter the vineyard. He would be in the wrong element and become, restless and unhappy. An unrenewed man is much better contented in the wave of sin than he ia professedly in the service df Christ Havinz a "name to live while we are dead", is an ua- happy situation may P- ve never reaUze itlr --Wa V- -'This - renewal, of heart-this c be coming a new creature in Christ is a necessary, qualification . before we can enter his services and go to work io his name. Let none of yon try it till yon feel that God's spirit has done his work of regeneration In your bearts. ' - : H. The hindrances to entering the service or unnst. Home mav . sav that it is easy to enter the gateway lnwrxne vineyard. -Tbat there Is no need of crying, -groaning, waiting and praying at the crate 1 1 That is very pretty talk, my hearers, but Jt is not tne isioie way. borne one mav say, "Ah ! is there not a gateway cr entrance into the vineyard and is It hard to pass through a gate V That depends upon several conditions.' It a . ... . -v may do very nara ; to go , through a gate. - , ; , -?r. lu It depends upon the width 1 cf the gate. If the gate is wide and the man is snail, of course he can slide in very nicely, provided he has hoth ing on his back wider than the gate, Cr nothing about him which i3 . un lawful for him to take with hia and against which the gate will 6iut lorever. irtae gat8i3 net wija5; E8 h or cas Eoncttimr Very lara an tia -tic-ildcrs, La rsay find it very csra to zzzezd tlircs-h. Fcr t'-3C s3c:j3co ers.ssr.3, 1 ccr.i cater a ata dene two f.ct vriieritLcutdlZc-lty, tut I czzU est tLss r-.tc cscllj, ir I E-C"-l czz2i to ta3 a tea cf Lsy n ry D2ts f:r ny ecrrcl rony. :::-:r I t':c-:i l-7Z to 1 r? f , T ... .W" ; - - - " -- i, - " . 5. , u - 1 and we must accept what he says,it matters not who may teach to the contrary.U.ear what he eayg. ITatt. 7: 13. "Enter ye in at the strait gate," and also "Strait is the gate ' and narrow is the way : which leadeth unto life and few that be that find it." The word strait means narrow. Hence all may. well remember that they have a narrow & gate ; to pass throngh ; when - they ; go into the viuejard of. the Lord. - ' , '! ' 2. We may elso ask .whether we hava nboat cs aaythin that is on- lawlzl for us to take with us into the Ecrvic j cf Christ and whether.it is hard for us to give it up. . j ;.t. :3 to.ms.thzt the drpraved htart contains many evils within it that must be left, behind, before iwe can be accepted as obedient working hands in the vineyard T or even be fore we can pass the narrow gate. I would name pride as a hindrance? I we cannot take "pride with us. and a proud Worker in the vineyard of the1 meek and lowly Jesus would poison all the vines by the breath of his nostrils.' And pride (or self-wor-, ship) enlarges our hearts : to make them too wide for a passage through the gate ! ' We had as well attempt to take a forty ; acre lot through, a gate two feet wide as to seek to pass the narrow gate with our hearts ex panded by pride!! Alii know that with, the 40 acre lot on our backs there would be some old -fashioned groaning and crying for help before that trip could be made llh-u r r ( ," Some may say that they can easily lay .aside their pride. . This must be gotten rid of before we can enter through the gate, but be who thinks that it is easy to. do it is evidently ignorant of his own evil heart ! 1 1 r ,v Pride-fthis heart enlarging pride, is a part of our very being and has its seat in the heart and we love and we glory in it. It is onr boast and of all the straggles of onr existence there is no one more severe than the one in which our pride is conquered and' onr hearts bow to Jesus and exalt him above all and confess that we are unworthy. It is the work of grace on our hearts, but bow pride resists even the workings of grace ! How low the "Prodigal Son went and how deeply and long he suffered be fore his pride wonld let him say, i will arise and go to my father.? ' Tben another kindred hindrance is onr self wilL . "Ye will not come un- toTme that ye might have life, said t(f cooie-no desirel .vL pray-thee have me excused'' "They would not come." "i" "1 pray thee . have me ex 011864 These expressions from the lips of Christ show the state of the carnal heart towards Jesus. MIf any man will be my disciple'' this indi cates an unwillingness to enter his service. Two wills come in opposi tionChrist's will and man's wilL The man's will must be broken down and he becomes willing to eay, .fTby will done,! before be can enter the narrow gateway Into the. .vine-. yard. . ' ::--,-:: , 4Thl sen-win is so large, so- wiae it can never pass and yet it ' is the j very life of the sinner, or at least he feels that it is and aces Opon it. .And it reaulres the dmue power to sub due this stubborn will and even then it submits slowly and stubbornly. It Is no wonder, that sinners ' weep, pray and wait at tbe gate. , It is on- ly of grace tnat tney , ever enter 7 ac all!' ! And again, my hearers, I refer yon to our eelf-righteousness as an efa- cient hindrance to us in passing the narrow gate. We all can recall the remark of the plowman to the great and rood Dr.Uervey.. . lie said that be could give np bis sins ..and all, but he found it so hard to give np his self-righteousness. Look at the Pharisee in the ' parables-how he paraded his own goodness before the Lord,' and as the grounds " of his ac ceptance, bus neperisnea. trnar- iseeism as seen m tnat man is de praved human nature run 5 to seed, and is found in all of us. And yet our rignieousness mnss rexceea this or we cannot enter the vineyard of Christ. Faul was a Pharisee and read in Phil. 3: 5. 8, his experience. and eea how hard it was for Jum to eettidof it. "I have suffered the loss of all things" was bis experience and he felt this self righteousness tearing bis heart asit was.torn away by grace, nothing in , ns dies bar der than this and yet it must die be fore it can pass the narrow, gate. We see tne strengtn or this bin- drance in the efforts of men to serve God by form and ritual and seek all rather than give it up. One Said to Jesus.: "Ltord I do believe, help thou my unbelief.71 He needed help and cried ont for it, for unbelief pursued him even beyond the borders of faith. When we realize our guilt and. are drawn to Christ by the spirit and are almost ready to lay bold with a firm grip upon Christ s .merit,; our .own seii-ngnteousness. still . pursues us and we say j "Lord help us to drive away cur own goodness and accept thy righteousness; we do wish thine' bat onr own pursues us to the cross.' And long and earnestly some have to cry , before their hearts will bow down to the feet cf Jeszs 2nd say. uur'nghtcccsness is filthy ra ciotn C3 in tc:s3, u ljora, en a ,we shall 1 3 satLIcd." . ' It is essy to t-'.k and tell pecpl?, bat 16 ia zzzltz? V-lzz to do to est ;cat what zzj;---1 tcs.!J jcr.r.r to preacn LTatcrz:;s3 cn fcrivencc 1283' id. c:::rur3 to torsive 029 t:so i:z .:2 r.ircr.i cv... ? ili Ic::l tdc tlcc: "I r:;- Lcrto enter with re: 3 f--3 tL-I cossir rsy o' n I: irtanlcstcrrsy- self. And af cer we have once ' go t ten in and gotten rid of all the hia drsncca, it decs coca coeasy la pass in that we wonder why every body does not come right along intolthe vineyard and go to work. And; we often forget our experience and urge others to come let us ; beware lest we lead them astray lest they cere ly go around the vineyard and con tinue in sin and the work of 'the devil and never enter the gateway that leadeth, into it. It is no wonder that Jesas said, "$trive (a-onize) to eater in ac tne strait (narrow; gate; for many shall seek to enter and shall not be able." 'Do mark thess words of the blaster he knew what he was talking . about and lor u J to represent to prond, self-willed,nnre- generated and self righteous sinners that they ? can put on their . good clothes and step ont of the vineyard f . satan. and into the vineyard of vuns&.as.meir leisure ana ac any time, is to, make Jesus Christ talk twaddle and nonsense in the above Scripture. ; y , ' ; y : - : - I The other gate is broad and iwe may go through with ease and can carry all that is in our. .hearts,' but they must all be left . behind when we enter the service of Jesus.' And it is a struggle to " lay them aside. we have this to encourage us. Jesus is ever ready to help and will help' and he is all powerful and can save. But I have spoken too lone and must stop will preach on the other part jQf my subject this P. M. l-'-- r, - Pi B. " Will Brb! G.1 WasMneton Jones please tell ns whether - among all the strange things he has found. has be fonnd anything more strange than that a man ehonld be allowed to preach who persistently refuses or neglects to pay his just and -: honest debts r J..A. btbadlbt. - Brother Stradley is one ot oar best pastors and a man full of integrity and gooa works and I mast not pass his question by without notice. ;I wii'iees usi a -preacuer" wuo -per-sisteutly refuses or neglects to pay hia just debts7 ia a mystery in the earth. Ale must preach honesty and practice fraud. He claims to be a ser vant of God, while he follows Satan. He preaches toward heaven while he is sliding down toward the pit. - He is a miracle of impudence and iniquity. Bnt I have found two stranger things man tne preacher Himself. 1. That honest and worthy - ministers will as a wortny minister. . 'z. Tbat any cnurcn will listeu toMpreacner who "reruses or persistently neglects to pay his just and : honest i debts.?. When 1 these two etra nee things shall cease from tbe earth, perhaps the aforesaid "preacher9 will disap pear forever. May God hasten the day of his going. , . ' , - - G.; Washington Jokes.: mo deb.n evangelismno. le Brother Editor t . . , , . . - Another objection . to the kind of evangelism urder consideration is, xan me cnecs 01 ine system npon V. A .linMtia. 1 (nfmwfAMM :" .... - 1 do not say that no good is done I by the nse of this system, and that I no souls are ever truly converted I under it; bat that its ininrions ef- 1 recta more, tnan conn terbalance the 1 good. -True, we cannot give statist!- I cal proof t bnt we can point ont the I evils referred to," and let each one decide opon the correctness of, the above opinion. . ;'j . .-z, .r . In the first place, the character of the revivals produced under this sys- tern is oojecuonaoie. it is generally admitted that there is more reason for distrusting these than other re-1 vivais, ! xnere is room tor doubt as to the wisdom of some of tbe pre limlnarie8. The meetings for mntnal confession,1 and tor the settlement Of didcal ties and the removal of aliens-' tions between christians, have not alwaye commended themselves to the judgment of candid and wise on - servers. - The fact that these things have been required by the evangelist. as a condition of his labors, has some - times put an unwise constraint npon church members ; and while the ef - feet has been produced in form, there nas oeen room to uoubt its genuine- ness. cases have been known where professed reconciliation was short lived, and offences that had been confessed and lamented, were soon repeated. A pressure which few can resist is brought to bear npon offend ing and alienated ones, and the sen. siDinties may yield without the heart; ana mere sencimenc, temporary la its effects, may be mistaken for a permanent principle of mutual love. x artnermore, tbe measures : gen erally used on these occasions have a tendency to awaken unauthorized and fallacious hopes of a renewal of the heart. - The influence of sympa thy is felt in Its intensest form ; the pressure,! pervasion Is great ; the appeals to the natural sensibilities are fervid, and made through the Instrumentality of machinery which increases ilzii power; and theccn Eplcaocs2cs3 given to t-csa who are interested Lso a rs!-!:ty csct. All tnese tiisrs cscs'ire toencoar29 hopes which rs2y tare no scriptarsl bscia. TL3cszt;rfwit3 "cf reli:s3 esperiisc-3 r.ra ty zzzzj tzl to tp closs, s.zZ' Cs:-3 13 to tzzj with Lis circs: zzzzzzzzz. -5 jsJ-::tij th9 ct'ccs tsl v:izz 1 c i ' t- c- J t:;a t .2 t:o Ill !.o lz 1. ligions experience. Bat these icon verts "counted" by eccr3, find ad mi soon proved that accn:lcrt!a por tion of them cftcn much the larger part have been misled and decline, This ia surely most injurious. . : i ;' , But in the second place, the effect jupon the training cf the churches is injurious. - Head Horn, i: 15. The principle here laid down is, that the truest and most perfect -edifying cf the church, the body cf Christ, i3 to be attained by the members all wo:--ing together to this end. As a body that is fitly exercised ia til Its parts grows is ttature eel ia rjrnstry, with C.3 fcedy cf C' ::1 A3 tie XCrCC3 La,a ww.u1 XJX t-k3 CH3 case, so in the other. This i3 true of a local church. So the; training of church should be snch as to lead all the members to active,, practical religion in every-day life ; to such diligence in effort as shall promote its enlargement ; and beauty ; to a ready response to every call of duty from the word of God ; . and : to a cherishing and strengthening in the heart of all the principles of vital godliness. !.-.,.- . j Bat this system of evasrslim se- rion&ly obstructs this plan of train ing. iWnerever its working is seen and approved, it suggests an easier way for satisfying conscience' and evangelizing the community than by daily, life-long, self-denying effort. Une will work ia hearty 'earnest for a few days or weeks, if be .believes such - work will produce ' as ample fruit as a year of watchfulness and ton. steady labor Is an inexorable condition, of steady and , healthful growth j and this should be the aim in the training of every church. Bnt tnis system leads to transient im pulses to special effort, which often cease before any fruit is brought to perfection. ,' Tbe churches are , fre quently dead to appeals from the scriptures at the lips of their pas tors, and this system Is largely re sponsible for this deadness.1 Church members are too prone, any wav. to look at the phenomena ot religion. rather than at its interior spirit. The churches do not need these turf ace stimulant so much as they need more root power. Bnt this system aoes not neip, but binders, the train ing of the churches in this needful way. Where this evaneellstio meth od is most jealously used, it is to very little purpose, as to any aerma- ally lack a steady heart for plain duty, which, brings no immediate re ward beyond the approval of con sdencevwv-k,,. wMvf-. In the third place, the rubseanent enecr. or t tnis system upon - the churches Is ioiurioos. wnen a church has employed one of these evangelists, and has been enlarged by his labors, there is al most sore to be a kind of exhaustion of its spiritual vitality. .It is not merely the first reaction from the state of special Interest this may be seen in otner revivals bnt a kind of diminished Ability to walk by faith, ana a greater dependence cpon 1 sight This results from oaerlook- ! ing too much th supernatural and invisible element In the progress of the revival, and depending npon the manifest effect of the visible instru ment. It is not easy to lead such a church afterwards to expect the spe cial divine blessing! npon their own humble and faithful efforts without some extraordincjpy instrument, al though the promise of such blessing is as dear as any outer in the whole Bible. - Ghnrch members are led to wait for one another, before? potting forth personal effort for the salvation of the lost. They must , have some palpable ' movement ; to enconrage hope, beyond -the sure promise of the faithful Lord. But reliance- on anything else than God Is fatal to true faith j and yet without faith we cannot please God, nor maintain !a living piety, or persevere in effort I Hence all impulses to christian la- I bor are transient, if they come from 1 anything else than the discipline and I exercise of our, own .faith : and It I makes no difference whether the re- 1 liance be on self or on another. . i I "Then, again,' in churches where 1 this system is employed, yon almost I always find a weakened sense of ver- I sonat responsiDuiiy.iorme conver- B1UU Vt BtUUClO. . JLUCIO M BKCUU tnat 11 tnmgs get too low, tney can call In an evangelist, and put fcrth earnest efforts, and soon - repair the mischief of sad and; long continued declension. , Besides the danger cf spurious conversions, under these circumstances, there is another evil not; easily repaired : the sew con verts will have the same loir sessa of personal responsibility that they find in the church for the charac ter and type of piety in a church is likely to be perpetuated and the ad ditions will not raise the standard. Besiacs, the self deceptica cf uncoa; verted persons la the church will be conrned by .every sach -seasca thrch which; thsy pass; and thes the csseral isscstsitility cf the church to perssnal obli--t:sa will be stereo typed end contis sd. . r , s , t : ; Ia clczrcics tint fcIloT this ccth oa, iscre vrni cssisiiy ce sens wta dic-rsva it; and thus a divlsica will r-ns z cp tlct will tt least do ts.3 barn cf psutirj a ccrs!:sl t:s.ity cf cilcrt ia t. 3 cs3 cf tia crd r.n rr IJr' cf r. r' -3 cf cc1:-rati S3,. tv.rT eyrts-rr, tso vital re- zzl tsr.tczcr-i J 1 -f - : ' !--rc-;ss': ( ' I ' 7 f. iti-t; 1 1'3 a u i rsr:'-!: 111 much of the matter cf this article, end it covers ths tszrt cf the sab Issti. ... ,5 . I!ziia I'rnrr, ESnCS'SPTAEC'T AT? TVAEE TCH - - V UICCLLLGC t . .The senior rpeskmg at oar College is worthy of rpecisJ mention. It has lorj tccacl-lsssd for W&ia Forest, . that It3 rssrsl IsHscsccs pre v eat a one-elded d3vclss3eat cf her na- tricalatcs j Vzzz the tezd and heart are beta csluvstclusacr hsr fester- is." csra. TLe csssrtioa" cannot t a called la cacstioa. Bat we were prcissnd'.y imrcr'-ed with tta E"na i??7whe3--we cct:eed,ca.iast ci-at" tlsl t-e cLsrssicrlstio cf cash cf Ua . seeches was aa avowed faith ia Eavelatioa and an ' hnmble trust in God.. -4 - -r. j t l . , " Mr. J. LL Davis dispelled from the minds of the audience many of the erroneoas ideas which are sometimes " eatertained about existence. -. Said- her "Life Is jreal, life is earnest." Neither the statesman, lawyer, min ister or doetor can afford to act fic tion as though it were fact, and treat fact as though it were fiction." J 1 . . "2Ir. Ciarlc3 STFarriss has" been on the lcokoat for " the truly sublime in life's great battle." "Where are the true soldiers cf life f$ Ate they confined to a particular class T ; Are tney our great merchants, statesmen, poets, philosophers and divines I , Ka They are found everywhere in life, and they are the great lovers of philanthropy. They are, men and women who believe that they exist to mould and chisel works that are , to live after them."" Mr. B. H. Phillips has been atten- tive to the whisperings of natnTe," and he claims that they " are aids to noble life." His entire speech breath ed the air of christian faith and hope, . and was elevating in thought and feeling. " - . Mr. W. H. Bagsdale did our souls good as he dwelt opon "Hesita tion the Panacea of Life." How often, oh ! how often do we need this panacea. ' '. . Mr. J. T. Alderman flashes around and about us " The Bright Light of nope," ana would, have us take ear harps down from the willows and sing the Lord's song. - We prediet for Lira a life of great usefulness as a teacher. , -, Mr. W. B. Waff discusses a sub ject of great importance, and one wbicn rightly claims more attention than i3 csilly n givea' it-1 The Teacher's Calling." We firmly be lieve that the masses of our people will not be raorally, socially or spir- -itially elevated until the blessings of general, liberal and special edu- : cation are more generally diffused. . Air. j.xi. Holding has fonnd the columns or pillars of exalted dea- , tiny,' and be says they are ' lofty aims., i Too raany grovel in the dost and live oa acorns when they might rise to prominence and eminence and usefulness. . . -. , . , ; Jlr. H. Montague considers "At tainments of National Greatness," afflrming that' they are attained by decrees; that patriotism ia essential, and that national greatness fa attain ed only through the agency of : de Mr.y W; - T. ' Jonea shows us that Society is a chain of obligations, , and its Jinks most sapport each other.!' ,.'-... j. - , Jlr. W. G. Ferebee recognizes the fact that we are individaals, and as a cation are not stationary. We are asected by nuntberiess Influences, and seed to ponder well the qnes lion, Whither are we drifting ?? A question like this was once ask-' edme, "Whyi3 It that a prayer Is not offered either at ' the opening or closing exercises cr saca occasions v Last night we felt like it .would be very appropriate. In a Sunday school meeting in a neighboring county ' recently, after a number of the young rasa freer car beloved Atoa Hater had made some, short talks, a good and influential minister of the Meth odist church was called oa for a . speech. He began by saying, "The ' spirit of these young gentlemen is npt saca as I have been accastcraed to meet In going over oar cc-atry. and I thank God for - Wake Pcrest College, and ( wish that there were many more each institutions cf learn ing in our country. 4 When the boys had concluded their speeches -last night we felt like saying, " The Lord bless thee ; the Lord make his face to shine upon thee. : .,.v. i. .v ; M. V.TSIcDiJTPrfi. .: W. F. CoUeye, April 24,-1880. l ' ' THE PBATE2 OP ECHILLES'S- PATII- XV' vj7 IjlIS aOH. . - , ' O, (Jod, Thou knowest my . poverty "in ; good gifts for my son's inheritance. : Gra ciously permit, that ares as tie w&nt of bread became to Thy son's hu er Etricken flock is the wilderness the pledge of erer- Cowirig abundance, soliewise my darkness may. In Its sad extremity, carry with it the measure f Tby nnr&liomable ligtt ; and, because I e---'ct give ts my son the Last ot t!sssic3, j Thoa give the greatest; because, in my ba&os tiers u not anvtnins, do inou posr ott all tl!-?2 from Thine? ana this um:$ot a new-bora spirit, whioh I cssnos adia even with eartUy ornaiaents of dost rsd tizest da Thoa irrawlate with the c,!:s fc' 1 ac! irrrsert cf Tty presence; and finally, w. tl:t t iace ttzt passeth all ualcrliiJ. ir-.- ' ...m:- A CiiATf 'jr: ;.r Li. J ja3t -.1.1 . rrrer." Tie a? I t:.:l r fa' tl;: ci tre :r :.':sa. At -tie pert L; t ens f " r ia e.9 r ' 3 C ." 3 S 1. 3 it s 'I .3 t- 3 3 ti' t- 1 T . C ! J cr .: ru-e I ccrs I. JY9 t- try: .:r '
The Biblical Recorder (Raleigh, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
May 5, 1880, edition 1
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