Newspapers / The Biblical Recorder (Raleigh, … / May 12, 1886, edition 1 / Page 1
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After healing tiieobleman's son comes I his visit to Nazareth, where he was ; re-T ted by. the people, (Luke iy. 16-j0).s From, Itbenee he ..went. ;to. Capernaum (Lake It, 31).,: where he called Andrew, Peter, r James, and John, to the apostle ship, and wrought many miracles. J!om this point, as a centre, he extended his work throughout many parts of Galilee. The time of the-feasto-at i Jerusalem came round again-to that city, where: the incident of ,this leasoq jpceurred.,. It is well to note that, in the Revised Ver sion of jkhe Hew Testament, .the,, verse immediately preceding our i4e8on.is properly omitted. . It is the Terse that tells of an angel troubling the Pool of Bathesda, at certain- seasons, and the healing of the one wh afterwards first; stepped into it. That story was a Jew ish legend, which, without1 warrant, erept into some ancient copies of John, but is not 'found in the best manu scripts. E" iJ -: : ; - GOLDEN TEXT. Wilt thou be made whole? John v : 6. THE LESSON. I. Thk Impotent Man Cuato. 5. And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. 6. " When Jesus saw- him lie. and knew that lie had been now a long lime dm that, case, he saitk uut,Q hioi, Will ihou.pe flde whole? 7. The impotent man answered him. Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool : but while I am com, ing, another steppeth down before me. 8. Jesus saith unto nim,' Rise, take up thy bed and walk. ' ' '. . , -9. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked i and on the same day wis the Sabbath.' 1 - 5-7. j Certain Man. Probably one well known. Was there. lu one of the five porches of the Pool of Bethesda, spoken of in verse 2. ' Infirmity. -lle is called impotent in vs. 3 and 7. The nature of bis ailment is not stated, but it was probably paralysis of a portion of his body, brought on by . youthful excesses. Thirty and eight year. Not , all this while at the pool, but this was the dur ation of his weakness. He was now an old 'man, and all ordinary means of re covery were hopeless. Wilt thou he made whole f A question asked of. him to awaken expectation and faith. It is the willing ones, that are. saved.';. IhQve no man. Re was friendless, , hopeless, helpless; but just such Jesus came to save. He bad discovered that his trust in self and in men was vain. Precious discovery! Now the ground is cleared for Jesus to Work." When the Water is troubled. The legend concerning an angel troubling th pool at. certain sear, sons, and imparting to it healing virtue1 for the one first stepping in; is given in : verse 4, and referred to in the Analysis, This man thought of only one way . to be cured, and that failed hint5 Whtle lam coming, etc-There is a rush and scramble for the chance .'of healing, in which the least helpless won, ' 8, 9. Rise. How impossible, yet how possible when Jesus, gives-the word. Take up thy bed arid wa&.-This would give convincing proof ..of his , cure. Every step was a sermon, telling of Ihe grace And power of Christ. The bed was but a mat or rug, easily rolled up and carried, immediately. Christ's cures are not by degrees,1 but "instanta neous. Made whole. The man exer cised faith, .. and , through, it received healing. . It was not a-faith of, great in telligence $ bat a spark of Are is fire, as well as a city , in , , flames. , Took up. his bed and walked. Re . .believed, . and. he obeyed ; and this is-the-heib.t , of, wi. dom. ; f..:,; Hf. ; J f;7 il. Thk FaulTtFinding Jews. . io. The Jews therefore said, unto him that . was cured. It, is tM , sa&bath jday;. i u lawful for thee to carry thy bed. . It. He-answered themjHcj that:. made mej whole, the same said unto1 'me. Take. up thy i iu, miu ww ssja . ;. . ( i, ' - , 12. Then asked they himVWMt titan it that which said unfo thee. Take up thy bed. and walk? ' ' -; ; - 13. And he that was healed wist not who it was: for lesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that placed 10-13,j The, Jew said U is.the Sabbath. The- Jewtreferred Torjwere evidently not;tbe , common , people,' but the leaders, perhaps ,;rnembers.vof, the sanbedrin. To these, form, ceremony, tradition, were dearer than aught else. They were extremely punctilious about Sabbath observance. The bearing. of commercial burdens upon the Sabbath. in the way- of-bosiness,. Was1 forbidden in the Old Testament, (see Jer. xvii. 21; Neh. xiiL 15) and they, in consequence, held that nothintf should be 'carried on that dayi; -Be that nuide me whole, flhe man did n.ot. know, Jesus, bat he rightly judged that 6n who showed sueh grace and power, should be obeyed. What man is thatJeieS Not what man did the benevolent work of- healing thee, but what man, osrht you to i, violate toor Sabbath law t We note the iaolt-flsd ing SDirit that, is obvious of all the. good in the eagerness to condemn. Conveyed himself otoey. To avoid the erowdand the hostility of the hanses. :: a (:.;.. The Jws Psrsecut Jesus. f irJA a(H 14. Afterward Jesus findetb a bias in the temple, sad said unto him, Behold, thoa art made whole; ia so store. Jest a worse Ubing come unto thee. J ,' f-s ui-to . 15. The man departed, and .told -the. lews that it was lesus. which bad made Aim. whole. 16, And therefore did 4he Jews persecute jesus, and sought to sisy mm, Decaue nc.naa done these things on the sabbath dav." " '. . 17. But Jesus inswered them, 'My .Father rorketk hitherto, and I woftethT? nVv f-i -R TKm. tk Tw mrtiiirht1 the fnc to kill bim. because htf sot baiv had broken the -sabbath; . but -said 'alsothat God ?wu kis -Father, making iiimself equal with God.: ;i - 14-18. Jesus findeih him U the Ujn i2c - Whither he may have gone to give itoanks for his healing. -. JSm no, mors. ete. .This eonneeta the disease ) with a vicious earlv life ,'Told the? Jew, t uu doubtedly with , a good. motive, as. be speaks of Jesna making him whole, and not as xeaobiDir bim to violate the Sab bath;- but the act . was ..imprudent. .Therefore did the Jews periecutt Jesus, -i etc. Under cover of their care for the law, Jthey Rented their wrath, and would hare slain the miracle worker, t My father : vwrketh ' hitherto Yeven nntil , now). God Is working stilL and works upon me oaDDatn works of lore and grace; and we may follow his example in ..deeds of.. benevolence and merer. : Sought the more' to kili A ft.-Nothing oniflu aeatn wouicunow snfflce. See the rapid profrress of envr and malice.' tfoarvathisFaiher.Rer.YeT. Called God hie own &Uher. A new pretext is now given-tovutbem to warrant their seeking his death., Now to their minds, he is a blasphemer, for he calls God his own Father, in a very special sense; a' sense, which would make him eaual with tQod, t , The Jewa rightly Interpreted his ciaim, u seen in wnac ioiiowa, espe-: ially in Terse 21-25. .4 They were more sagacious, in ibis raspect, than soma in-! terpreters . now who, glosswver. such, jkassages; as these In their; efforts . to prove tnat Jesus was only & man. . xAppUcatiOf of Growth in Nature, to Spiritual Growth Re ives-. llgiou Work, Jbc. i I)eoreeorder.'Hr-8priog has come at lasVin all its beauty grandeur and sub limity. 1 Objects that , appeared lif eless a short time agos have . heard the voice of Hinv who controls the forces of joa iurevand are. now clothed in living gar ments of green. While God, who reigns in the heavens Above and in the earth beneath, is bringing -life out of , death,; will He not cause tttw seal and faith to' spring up in the hearts of H Is people if they ask Him is. kit His ali-seeing eye watches the growth and developement of the tender lily of the valley, which, blooms, matures and fades within a few months' time,, will He not much, more look, after, the spiritual growth of thn Unuiortal . ttoul, which ia juade in His own image and never fades T It He can clothe .the once seemingly dead oak oa - the hill, . and make it attract ive to the sun-stricken, ; weary work man or traveler, can He not clothe the lifeless : prof essor of religion with His own .blessed, robe of righteousness so that he.mayAttraetsome burdened, sin stricken sou!., and lead him on to ever lasting giory t ' If.iHe can suit, (he seasons to the growth and development of " first , the blade, then. the ear and after that the foi oora in the ear,", can He not give His. people, precUna seasons of common ion with Him, so that they may obtain strength to feed the many, many men, women and children that are suffering for, spiritual food I. The people must be taught the nch truths that will, make them wise nnto salvation. . If they most work out then own salvation," they must .know how to. do it, and the great responsibility of : instructing them de volves upon the ounctay school teacher and the preacher. So then, while all nature is ;undergoing such various changes, and presenting entirely differ-, ent , aspects frpm day to day, let the Spirit of Qod movein oar hearts and natures and effect a teforniation, for " Christ has not found oar hearts per- ect, before, God." I am constrained wore and more every day to believe that t is the man , who spends much of his time in secret meditation, and commun ion with his j Father, whose efforts to teach are crowned with the, greatest; success. ; As we look with admiration and de- leaves and. flowers, and watch them as they are, gradually dipped up by the; morning sun, let us ask God to sprinkle; .our cold hearts-with the precious dews of His .grace, which .cannot tbe, sucked; out by the piercing, rays of even the; noon-day, sun; so .that .we, may , grow strong in the Lord, end be enabled to accomplish great things for Him daring the approaching summer, when many souls ought to be born into the kingdom! pf our blessed Jiedeemer. .While the goocL honest farmers are sowing their different seeds, with .the ex pectation of reaping & rich harvest , in the fall, let,us,;wnose auty jt is to sow the pure gospel, seed, in hearts, do our work boldly , and zaitniuuy, witn tne joyful anticipation of harvesting many souls lorjoeaven wnen our revivals snau take place. -' The P8 winter has Deen exceedingly' unfavorable for wora m most country churches, consequently, almost, double duty comes upon : their pastors since spring has opened so beautifully. Many churches go to sleep as early in the win ter as pqssihle-and the devil persuades thnm thet this la the Tieht thine to do. If they want to be healthy and vigorous the next, spring, f xraring one season ne appoints a tame in, tne. next wnen it win be more favorable' for attending- upon church duties. ; This time rolls 'round, and behold he has thrown a terribly big eroDonhis hands, and persuades him that it, is his moral duty, to remain tit homeland work It.jfiithis way" tiie devil gets the run ana control 01 a v brother's" business. He is a man. ef excellent Judgment, makes himself use ful in various ways, planning, plowing,! cbpping.Vwpnning " tobacco, . and finally the' brother w decides to fitre him part of the crop and be is Just about sharp enough in most instances hence the failures in business in almost everr detartment of hfe. " The devil also deals in drugs . right extensively. ; He has a remedy for al most every disease (meaning some dis couragement to every Christian, in every department of religious work) which he willingly administer to his patients. , One of his urugs fjruess it is cnioroiorm; puts people to sleep." and it does seem that". Gabriel's trumpet couldn't wake themrMThey donnt hear the voice of, God calling in thunder tones, "Awake out of sleep. w ' They are perfectly dead to all that is pure, lovely and God-like. Hay God awaken and stir His people to ' Chapel BOt, JT. a, AprM. ' '1 TTiSmmt TjflAll flf All. .... ft m- 1 il j 1 1 " Z - " ' ' . nilnd then cemes the last and most diti vfleult lesson of love, to make allowances even ior tne uncuariiaoie. wr iuij ; tMlow all that uncharitableness which i an eommon there is often a eerm of . the life of love; ana oeneain tnat intol erance , wnicn may , oil en . woana, ow, reives, a loving and a eandid eye may diaeern leal ior j woo. u a nereiore. 4 av. Paul m wren In the Jews, his bitterest: Joe&v,ihai'they had a jeal for God, but not aeeordinff to knowledae." And, therefore, fit. Stephen prayed with his last breathy Lord lay this sin to their charze.- Earth has not a spectacle 'moM skirioas or snore fair than this Iota tolerating intolerance: charity cov- riE2. aa with a veiL even the sin of the laefecf charity, tiev. jr. n , jtsooerwra. s THE UNPARDONABLE SIN, BV REV. H. O. DE WITT, D. D. a nraached Son da moraine", April 1 n 1800, at to Central tiaptut cbucn, Cbicago.J Thereto s sin unto death. I do not tar that ys shall pray for ft," I John :1ft. ' i : i ;j i I cannot put my finger upon the pre cise sin mentioned in this text. It is difficult to pronounce upon the last act in a. course of persistent and determined apostasy ifrom God, 1 and rejection of Christ, that conducts tbe soul over the' boundary tine beyond which hope and mercy never go to save anj incorrigible; sinner; Perhaps it is not any; one sin,! but that sinful state and condition of soul which, can breast tbe waves of di vine influence flowing from the fountain of Christian sympathy and lover which can stifle the. pleadings of conscience and resist the manifest . presence and power of the Holy, Spirit. . TbeTomce wort or the uplrit is not to complete the atonement of Christ, or; to any defect in' the provisiom Of the gospel.' When in the last moment of, expiring agony our XiOrd - cried, - "It is finished, ''; tbe attributes of deity were not more perfect than . the work. : of re demption. The Spirit was sent into the : world as the last struggle of departing! mercy; as heaven's nnat; erxon to save lost humanity ; sent to give hght to the understanding that was M Dark as chaos ere the infant son was rolled to gether. Or had thrown its beams athwart the gloom pro- lound." to take the things of God and show them unto us. To the coming of this Comforter our Lord looked with the most intense interest as the crowning period in the development$f the divine plan for the redemption of the world. His disciples were to . wait until armed , with this power from above ; and if this enduement from heaven .failed, the last; gleam of hope would go ont forever. , All manner of sin and blasphemy shall, be forgiven nnto men, : but the bias-' phemy against the Holy Ghost , shall not be forgiven unto men. ' And ..who soever speaketh a word against the Son ' of Man it shall be -forgiven him. Bat he who speaketh against the Holy Ghost , it shall not be forgiven, neither in this life or the life to .come." .; Long has the resisting soul asked to be let alone. It is the firm decree of Almighty God, the unchangeable law, of heaven, that the soul shall finally be let alone. The mother's ; last counsel and the sister's last tears will be given. . The wife will rest at last from her long- continued agony. Tne very angels, who pitch their tents around the dwelling-place of the soul, will take their re turnlesa flight, and the soul be forever let alone. " "When the strong man1 armed keepeth his palace his goods are I in peace." Although there is no peace to the wicked, who are like the troubled i sea that casts up mire and clay." there is a false, fatal security that portends. the coming doom, as the dead calm at, sea is a warning voice of the gathering' storm. This sin gains the final mastery, bo that "he that is filthy shall be filthy; stilL" The soul has at last gained its! hell-bound impulse, from which it will never retrace its steps, but be closed up; under the dark firmament of retributive justice for ever. j A great enort has Deen made to de-i fine this; sin, and volumes have been! written upon it, and yet all must feel that the effort has been very unsatisfae-j tory, alike to the speaker and ' to the hearer, to the author and to the reader.! There is a haziness that hangs over.it,! like.tbe dense fogs over the ' low lands,! obscuring the vision and hiding the ob jects of our search. - - j I am told that there are lone rocks tni the sea whose outlines have never yet" been seen. Every safe mariner guides; his vessels so as to make sure he is not wrecked upon the hidden rock. ; In the. of human hie this "sin unto death u the. fatal rocaviar more to be 1 eared because unseen. : I would be glad,, this. morning, .to take your chart and, mark! with red letters and ; crimson lines, tkej trend of influence, that creates a fatal current drifting on and on to; this mit-j covered rock.- '. f !, L -BESISTTHG TRUTH. First, sitting for months and years, unw der a faithful and powerful ministry. addressed with all the variety and pow er of language, having their sins set in order before them, listening to argu ments drawn from timer and from eter nity, from life and death,: and yet re maining secure in sin, nnblest aod un saved. Do you say that this is common ? Oh, yes, but it wears a dark and gloomy aspect. If ye sin. wilfally,' 'after ye have received a knowledge of the tenth,; there remains no more sacrifice' for sin,! but a fearful looking for of Judgment and fiery indignation and .shall devour the adYereary." t. "uor it. is , impossible for those who were Once enlightened, and have : tasted of the i heavenly gift, and were made partakers of 'the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the-world to come, if they shall fall away courenew them s again to repentance; seeing they have crucified to themselves the Son of; God i afresh s and: put him to. an open shame." le who is often reproved. and hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly beeut off and that , without remedy.' .'Thus the gospel proves the savor of! life onto life or death unto death! -By the light of the word, ahining before! yon can you not eee- the .dark shadows that covers- this hidden rock, steeping' noon the waters to; the centre; of the .channel, through which you iarei push ing, to the destiny- of -the : . eternal fu-i tors! .tt'sj, , , r i ,i i H. HABDE5IN9 TODKB BEVItAL tSA , FLUKNCKS, i Second. passing:, throughreneated pure, ..powerful,, neaven-Degotten; revi-j vais: seeine otners . socking, as-clouds. or as doves to their windows, and enter-l ing with gladness the- kingdom,, of our 1 hf m vnn m iaft . "Iih-a a Kaatl in. the desert," - 'an alien IrorA the eouH mon wealth of Israel, haying no hope, and without God, in the world.1 Dr. Taylor, who was once professor at Tale! .College, and who studied -carefully the; wora ox ueorge vvnuneiaanditne pre clous fruits of, the season of '.reylvai un der his, labor, ,ha j left this record worthy of universal .remembrance , as voice of solemn warning. .that mot -one person of mature yews passing nnderi that cioua oi tne gi vine -presence ne saved was ever . after reached ; br the gospel and brought to a t saving ,koowl edge of cnriBt, v inese seasons of "re freshing from the presence of. the Lord are the ;ehoice8t blessings of Almlgl God, and brightest hopes of a perishing world." They are periods of divine vis itation, and no man is given more such periods than he can count on the fingers of one hand.1 They come when a dying mother holds the hand of a' dying child and speaks from behind the veil, and yoti sob out some solemn promise with death and ' covenant' with.' heaven to prepare to meet her above for" that memorable daywhen the veil,' lifting or drawing aside,' revealed the dread; realities that lie beyond, and yon begi ged for life. ; You had counted on long years of pleasure here, and were all un fitted for the world to come. God took you at your word when you promised to; live for him and prepare to meet him In ?sace,' and gave j- you back - your J life.; hen again there comes the time, "yea,' the set time for favoring Zion.You can no more pass these seasons without peril,' than there can be sunshine with4 out light; ' 2afts care! The bitter sobs and scalding : tears of Christ over the devoted' city of Judea was J for this cause. Oh, if - thou i hadst 4 known,: even thou, in this thy day," the1 things; that belong to thy peace, but now theyj are bidden from tune eyes." HL BACKSLIDING. !' -Third, professing to be a Christian, and taking the solemn, sealing ordinance; of the church of Christ, and then, lo, ; formontb8 and years falling away, j sinning against the clearest light - and, the dearest love, breaking the most sol-, emn and awful vows with God, and cru-i cifyiog the Son of God afresh; and put-; ting him to an open shame. Do you say that this, too, is common t yet is it no less alarming, and its sad results enough to make the cheek of darkness pale. IV. STIFLING CONVICTION. 1 Fourth, stifling conviction and return ing to your former deadness and indif erence after having been aroused by the Spirit and the "Word to a sense of guilt and danger. " My Spirit shall not al ways strive with man. Long has he been striving with the delaying and re sisting heart. Often have you beea led to say. "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian." " Almost will not avail, Almost is but to fan. f Sad, sad that bitter wail, Almost, bat lost." 1 The soul comes a long way, but loses ts journey, and the sentence from the' udgment-hall of tbe universe is, Let him alone, he is joined to his idols." Tbe rock upon which the soul Is wrecked is out of sight " The conscience may be still at ease. The spirit light and gay, That which was pleasing still may please, j And can be thrust away. : But on that forehead God has fixed Indelibly a. mark, I Unseen by man for man as jet Is blind and in the dark ; - If yon are drifting upon the bosom of either or any of these currents, be warn-, ed and escape for your life. But if these fatal currents are united, and you have not only. one-bat many flowing into the same channel and drifting with the' fierce and . desperate power of another Niagara) through tbe rapids, on to the cataract, I appeal to you as a soul in danger, f' Turn ye, turn ye, for why will ve die." . " To-day is tne accepted tune. to-day is the day of salvation. To-day if : you will bear his voice harden not your hearts." Dr. Yf ayson assea three young men to visit his study They came and be talked and prayed with them. He then asked them if they wanted to be Christians. They, said no. , He then .asked : " If you were joined to lioa by frail, invis ible threads, which you could bniBh away with your hand, would you do it f" And they said, " No, Dr. Payson, we would not." But said he, " My prayers, my tears and my entreaty have joined you to God by these frail and in visible threads; you are going away and can break the last thread that joins you to God and heaven." They came hack and knelt at his side, that he might pray for them lest they break their connec tion with tbe deity and perish in soul separation from God. So may you, my dear friends, by ways indicated, break the lest link - in the chain that anchors the soul to God, and drift in the current of resistance to the power of truth, the heaven-begotten influence of revivals. The fatal spirit of deliberate, persistent apostacy, and quenching of the Holy Spirit in your own soul upon that mist covered rock where millions have gone down into tbe grave, where the soul that: sinned unto death found its .final burial in that unsearchable and unknow able separation from the favor of God ana tne presence of His glory. . Uh. be ware that thou sin not unto death. i i ..... ' .!-.?.!--; "There is a time by us unseen that crosses every path. The hidden boundary between God's patience - and qis wrauu To cross,. that line ia to die : to die as if by stealth r It does not quench the sparkling eye nor pale the glow oi neaiin." . v4HC: o y -Chicago Standard. How mnff th& Ministry Increase its Efficiency and Usefulness? St HENRt JT. VANDYKE, JR., D. D., JJTBW 4- iouk, to HomUetic Monthly. " " It is a great advantage to have an im- tortant question clearly stated. The Socrates of this Symposium has put the leading inquiry in a snape of admirable simplicity ana, aisunctness. . we are hot i asked to consider whether ' the pulpit is declining in power." ' That question has the introspective, critical, pessimistic flavor oi the " What is all this worthP which Daniel Webster just ly called a miserable interrogatory t Its discussion usually leads to a series of contrasts between the past and the pres ent, which are more curious than use ful; and promotes among ministers that habit of measuring themselves by Them selves, and comparing themselves among themselves,' which St. Paul has describ ed as prevalent among the, Corinthians. And, af ter all, what does It profit us to know that, the, Be. Dr. . Boanerges I preaches to larger I congregations than ever attenaea , upon tne ministry of Chrysostom, or that the present incum- oent oi tsw Andrews finds the limit of his i hearers attention somewhere neari tbe thirty-minute line,' whereas his great grandfather could turn the hour-glass twice, ana sttii nna a patient audience What interest, beyond a purely histor ical one, is there in discovering that the ancient New England divine was always greeted, on his stately walks, with the lifted hats of the passers-by and the reverential bows e and curtsies : of the scDooi-cnuaren, .while . his ,. successor sometimes plays ball with the tUIsm jbjOys, and. rides' through the streets on a bicycle! We aire 'none the wiser," none the better fitted for our practical duties by knowing these things; and by ; trying to draw conclusions from them in regard to the decline or advance of the pulpiti The secret of .the power of . Chrvsostomi or of Boanerges is not to be' found' inj the size of their congregations or in 'the length of their i sermons. . f The old-faah-t toned Lominie, s wltn htfl olack gown and white-wiK has departed: he can neves beireoaUed ; powder .And .silk stockingi &nd silver shoe-buckles- have : gone out the question sow is, f What shall we da with the new-fashioned" JJominle? .. jtob whether we ; maintain that the pulpit has lost or gained during the past hun4 dred or; thousand' years,t we - must iaU Agree, to this, that a steady and , large advance. upon the- present- is the ona thing to be desired, y We must forget! the things that ;are oexund, i. and forward. . Leavei pride and , pees: in . the larch ! together. ! inquire no About more: or Jess in the past ; but fl the mind and bean upon more in th future. -Whatever he may be doin now, we still-need the Irish blessing. of, "More power to ' ie7 And the ; on question which comes home? to tbe, eon of every earnest ana intelligent preacner, of the Gospel; is, this; u How may thej ministry tncretwaits usefulness and efB-j cieneyl" .. . . .. . : ! In the February number of thiBKevieta this question is answered by two writers : by Dr J2.: K, craven in the nret paper oi this series,-and. by Dr., Joseph Parker, of London, in. hia article on the " Guar-j an tees of a Successful .Ministry." It 1st very interesting to Bee how . these two men sodiffierent in character, in pe culiar talent,. and in methods of work ! agree in their thought of . what ia s eceB-j sary for a more efficient ministry. The; one is an eloquent and powerful orator S the other is a profound and accomplish ed scholar : the one writes out of experi-f ence gathered in a. parish which is in the midst of London's busiest whirl, and a life , which has been . largely spent in the public eye, and crowned, with much; DODular honor; the other . .writes from the quiet of his Newark study, where he! has long meditated upon the Scriptures,! and prepared with patient care the food, of , instruction for. the,-flock which hef shepherds; the one emphatically a pro gressive; the other ia nothing if not con-j servative. And yet when, they come to! discuss this question .of greater ' usef ul-i ness for tbe ministry, they ooth Degin by carefully distinguishing between ap parent success and real success, assert ing that the latter is inward and spiritu-i al, not to be measured by worldly, standards. They both point out, as, among the chief means of increasing; ministerial efficiency, a closer personall sympathy with the spirit of Christ, a more profound and constant study of the Bible, ana a more earnest devotion in the private exercises of religion more prayer, and meditation, and ee-, cret communion with God. But perhaps we should ' be more ac curate if we should call all , these the causes rather- than the means of in creased efficiency. , For they have ref erence to that, which lies deeper than j any question of methods. They reach back to the- personal : equation. They touch character and life. .They put the ease thus; Purer, .stronger, better Christ- i ians more truly : useful . ministers of Christ, t This ia, indeed, the? primal and; indispensable truth, the one thing which must never be, forgotten, tbe se cret of the Lord, which' His servants must ever keep within their hearts. A bold, selfish, worldly, irreverent, . clever man may win personal laurels in the pulpit as easily as upon the platform (perhaps with evenless labor, for a very feeble wit and a very tawdry rhetoric wiili suf fice to equip the clerical demagogue). But true- help for the eause .of Christ-j ibe cause of reverent faith and unfeign ed piety and godly living can only come from a consecrated spirit and ,a . Christ like life. How profoundly we feel our per sonal needs in this respect 1 - Unless we can overcome our selfishness, and tread down our pride, and escape from our inmost besetting sins, we can do nothing good : for r Christ. As our temptations are more subtle and our responsibilities greater than those sf other . men, we have more need of grace to help us. We must abide in bim. , Holy Master, if Thou hast chosen us to serve Thee, keep us closer to Thyself. and let Thineown life b$ in us, for we needThee.everjfhourh. -j . S J . - Bat are there not also .certain lines on a lower . plane than this,, which our minds may ; profitably follow when we ask ourselves bow - - we , can ; make:, our ministry more useful f Power comes from Christ alone: but how to apply and use the power, to best advantage, is a question wnich every minister needs to consider and to reconsider not only every year, but almost every day. For new emergencies are continually arising, Blow shall we reaeU , this i man 1 or that manf How can we get access to cer tain classes vof , the community from which we ,- area practically separated t How shall we; cll , Attention to those Christian principles which have fallen into neglect, and oppose barriers to the ticKds of infidelity. . and worldliness which are ever assuming new forms and threatening us from, different quarters t How shall we. bring the Gospel home to every sphere of human life? y You see the question laps us round on all aides. There is not one of tbe de partments of Christian labor in which we are engaged where we may not ask, " How can I do this better!" - And it is because thousands of earnest and de voted men are sincerely putting this in quiry to themselye&j and trying , to find a practical answer, that the Ministry, is advancing ail Along tne una ox its mani fold, work.,; Tbe missionary vwill leArn A new language to reach , the heathen : the Christian scholar will master a new science to . search.; the, depths .for- the traces of God's handiwork, New meth ods of evangelization are devised,: And old methods are revived And enlarged. Professors in seminaries and coUeiresare seeking to make their. Instruction more thorough,, and comprehensive. Writers' of books and editors of rslhrions Journals are endeavoring to, present tbe truths of Christianity, more, clearly,: attractively and convincingly. .- And thus . the. great army .move fwwaid recognizing that the first thing is to be Joyal, and obedi-l ent, but striving also to 4icover the; best lines of advance .and to employ the oest weapons ior aeieuce and attack, -. i. 'But, while, in regard totha. broad work of the ministry as embracing these different , branches, it Ja true that t.h: .quesuon ox enlarged emoiency is a ques--tionof the use, and devising and adap tatlon of methods; in regard to its main and speoiflo work the greater nsefabjess of the ministry depends more upon the cultivation of certain intellectual and -moral qualities.; Ther great body, o: Christian ministers -Is engaged In the stated preaching of God's Word and the pastoral care of souls. . Into this two-; fold work we must throw Ourselves heart; And soul; for these are the- divinely ap pointed means to accomplish' our- ite- aim of bringing men to think and feet and act according to Christ Jesus. This is the system which God has established, which the Church '-has blessed, into which we have been ' ordained. Auxil iaries may be devised, but no substitute The parish minister, the village pastor,! the teacher and bishop of a Christian Hook, is the right arm of the Church; and her true prosperity And success de pends upon the, fidelity And . efficiency with which the multitudes of men whq Are engaged in these humble and quietj abors all over tbe world, do their workJ Are there not certain qualities which be-l lone to us as men which will be esnecial-i ly helpful to us, and the cultivation of which will make our ministry more use ful ? We do not speak now of 1 personal gifts like eloquence or imagination, nor, of . intellectual ; attainments like thet knowledge of languages or . first princi-i pies of philosophy, but of traits which! pertain more 1 elosely to our commonj manhood, and are, therefore, more val-i uable. It seems to me , that there are some of. these which we as ministers! have especial need to cultivate. 1. Honesty Is the first of the virtues in one who is the messenger of the truth 4 Without it, all the others are discredited.; Sheer, absolute, unqualified sincerity we must have and show. Honesty ia transparency of souL Light will shine! through a board as soon as truth through an uncandid mind. i One great obstacle to the success of the Gospel is the vulgar, false impression that preachers are the mercenaries of an unproved cause. It is easy to discover in the history of- the Church the misery able periods of corruption and the hol low systems of mechanical and political religion by which this impression was first created. The injustice of ignor-l ance perpetuates it. . We must see to it that it is never true of us, and do our best to manifest its falsity to all menJ The only way to do this is to really be lieve what we teach, and to scrupulous-; y guard ourselves against all crooked-; ness of thought or in speech. If, as the; ministers of a particular church-we pro- ess to hold a system of doctrine, we; must hold it honestly and open to con-; viction. liet us keep tne eyes of our souls, clear, and search the Scriptures daily to know whether these things are so, and abide with loyal integrity by the results. Let us shun a counterfeit! argument as the pest. Let us handle, the Word of God sincerely, reading the, Bible as if the judgment-bar were be side our desk, and preaching as if the pulpit were before the great white throne. . A perverted proof -text will destroy a doctrine, like the dry-rot. Sophistry is the preacher's devil, as Jesuitry is the pastors. Too much "tact" is fatal. A special pleader may convince, but he can never convert. Faith begets faith. ; Men will not believe what you teach un lessjthey believe that you believe it. I anew a theolocioal professor wbo bad marvellous influence over every intelli gent student that came into contact with him. It was because he was the evident bond-slave of the truth. When he did not know a thing he said so. He always tried to state the opinion of an adversary with perfect fairness. Where an interpretation. was only probable, he, said so. He balanced the evidence fair ly, and reached his conclusion with a candid mind. - One honest preacher is worth a hun dred brilliant advocates. "I believed," said. Paul,' " and therefore have I spo ken." A potent And precious therefore. When the power of -that word lies be hind every sermon, when the spirit of Paul is clearly manifest in the life and utterance of every minister, then the old lie about " mercenaries " will die a nat ural death, the foolish talk about "cryp tic heresy" will be silenced in the presence of unquestionable sincerity, and the ministry will have great enlargement of influence and Usefulness. 2. Positiveness is but a poor word to express tbe second quality of which I desire to speak; but I do not know of any other term which is available. . I mean to say that it will greatly increase the efficiency of our ministry if we culti vate the habit of dwelling upon tbe af firmative rather than upon the negative side of religion ; if we aim at setting forth the truth in its native brightness, rather than at exposing the manifold forms of error ; if we prefer to emphasize the great essential facts and doctrines in regard to which there is no doubt among Chris tians, rather than to discuss the minor points of confusion and controversy among the sects; if we cultivate and en force virtue as the best means of restrain ing vice;.if we seek, first of all, to make men ;Iove the Lord, assured that if they do this, they must hate evil. Dr. Chal mers has a magnificent sermon on Tbe Expulsive Power of a New Affection," and Phillips Brooks has one on " The Positiveness of the Divine Life." To plant one good tree in a garden is great- erwork than to uproot a thousand weeds. Remember what happened to the house that . was empty, swept and garnished. If it had ; only been leased to a Good Spirit, the old tenant could not have come back again. ff There Is great temptation to run around after the devil as he Changes from one form to another (like the Evil Genius in the .Eastern fairly tale), trying to destroy him with argument or crush him with invective. There is great temptation to waste1, time : and strength in confuting and comdemning tbe errors of those wbo dmer from us in creed or worship. But. after all, the true work Of the ministry is not 1 so much ' to denounce the Anti- Christ as to proclaim the Christ. The former work may have greater promise pi notoriety ana applause, for a fight win always draw a crowd, and assaults! Are reported in mil try the newspapers. jut tne iaaer is certainly J ' The' labor that in lasting fruit on tgrowsi i Far noisier Schemes." 7 -;.'.--- t i The great need' Of the . world is more plain and earnest teachinfirof the simple truths and the humble virtues of Chris tianity. Foundation-work must always; be old-fashionedTTThe confutation of ad archheretic may be a striking achieve-: menu, but the .bnmzinir of a little child to Jesus, the building-up of a single life! Upon the corner-stone of truth, is a more; enduring work.' "Who would go a hun-; area miles to maae a Mohammedan dls believe Mohammed r 5, Who would not bq half. around the world to make him believe Christ and know the 'richness of, theBaviorr"" acThev .ministry will gain in usefulness -And efficiency when it centres its strength more heartily on the exposition of the old texts, which are always new.aud the cultivation of the familiar virtues, which -...-I . ...... W .. 'a .. V ' are always lnaispensaoie. Liet ns un derstand that to do our best work with aulet visor and honeful natience. within the little fields "which God has given d us, and straight along the oid liner oi positive faitn and love and good works, the only way to win permanent en and fill the whole Church with harvi 3. Thoroughness is a quality which in creases ministerial asefulness, because 1 always commands respect And yet the present age we are greatly tempted to neglect it. The minister is (or what amounts to the same thine, h thinks that he is expected) to know tflll W i 11 . me - nine oi everyxnmg. - uonsequenuy, ni spreads nimseu over sv snrea jneai ; o: ground, and does nothing thoroughly, He launches out boldly into all de menta of knowledge. He confides in intuitions1 with ' sublime audacity. " H lays every field of history and sden under tribute for his illustrations, an verily some of them are fearfully am wonderfully made. ' Some years ago. I heard the Rev. Dr. Paradox preach ai brilliant' sermon, which 'was lite; sparkling with historic and scientifie usions. , But the difficulty was that mo: than half of them were inaccurate, and gave opportunity to the ungodly whq knew anything about the subject, td scoff. The - omniscient style of oratory! is more perilous than useful. Cheap workmanship and tawdry , ornament bring the pulpit into discredit, j ..... - ;V J Humilitv. carefulness . TOinstaking ac4 curacy in the use of illustrations, as well as in the discussion of current; theories j will win the intellectual confidence of thoughtful people, and elevate the standi ing of the ministry. It is a good disci-i pline for the parish mmister to follow J during his hours of recreation, somespe-t cial line of historical, or literary. : or scientific, study. It cultivates thorough-! ness. 1 know a clergyman, one of the most earnest and devout of preachersJ who has gone to the ant and eonsideredj her ways for many years. Unquestion-j ably she has helped him to be wise. An-j other knows all about bees. Another! can tell you everything about the Hugue-1 note. Another reads Greek plays for pleasure; and another has the history of Jsnehsh Doetrv at his finfrers'-ends.! These are among the most faithful andj diligent pastors in tbe land. Their greats advantage is not bo much in the posses-j sdon of these special fragments of knowl-i edge, as in the habit of thoroughness which lends weight and force to ail that; they say, and makes men honor and! trust them as teachers. The general re-j spect of intelligent people - will greatly! help the ministry to be useful. They en joy this respect now to a remarkable ex tent. It can only be retained' and in creased by hard work in every pastor. study. 4. Humanity is another quality w ministers need to possess and cultivate! for the enlargement of their usef ulness. The studious life has a tendency to makej men remote and cold : the pastoral offioe sometimes develops a feeling of. separa-i tion from ordinary manhood. The his-l tory of religious orders snows that this is true, and proves that those who are; set apart to the ministry .have constant need to remind themselves that they are not set apart from humanity. .They are messengers, but not angels; and the as sumption of angelic airs will narm more than it will help. " uenuine useful piety is always humane. - Charity has red, blood in its veins, and without charity we soon arrive at the " sounding-brass" stage. Luther's heart helped tbe Refor mation as much as his head. He was a man. -. We are not pleading now for-an in crease of sentimentality, or the cultiva tion of rose-water philanthropy among ministers. The world cannot be reform ed by tears or flowers or alma. But, be yond all question, a deep, true; sympa thy with all that is good In human na ture, an Intelligent desire to help those who are oppressed, and e. hearty good will .towards all men and women accord ing to their deserts, will give penetrative power to doctrine and attractive warmth to pastoral service. The minister ought to be as much at home in the fisherman's cottage as in the house of the merchant prince. Above all, no e ringing and no condescension. He ought to feel that there is in this wide earth no man whom he can patronise, and no man who can patronize him. And the only way in which he can keep himself in this tem per and bearing is by cultivating a spirit of unfeigned humanity under the guid ance of Jesus Christ, who "knew what was in man." The minister who will do this must have a potent and growing influence in the community. I never heard a clergy man more highly praised than a plain village pastor, of whom it was said that he was the truest man in the town." Here the space assigned to me is ex hausted. Perhaps Borne one who has been at the pains to read this paper through wilt remark that, after all, it does not suggest any novel plans or large public movements for the advancement of ministerial efficiency. And certainly this criticism will be just. "But you will observe that the leading Inquiry is not addressed to tbe nubile.. but ad clerum. " How may tbe ministry increase its usefulness!" And this brings the question home to the in dividual. For, in the end, the answer depends less upon measures than upon men. . - Ordinary Capacity no Excuse ,..,.,.,,. Jt ..... 4 .... ; The man that missed his opportunity and met the doom of a faithless servant was not the-man with five - talentsvor the man with two, but the man who had only one. , The people who are in dan ger of missing life's great meaning are the people of ordinary capacity and op- ponunity, ana wno say to tnemsexves, " There is so Httlr that I can do that I will not try to do any thing.". One of the finest windows in Europe was made from tbe remnants an apprentice ' boy collected from : the - cuttings of his mas ter's great work.. The sweepings of the British Mint are worth millions. The little pivots on which the works of your watch turns are" so important that they are actually made of jewels. And so God places A value and responsibility on the humble workers-the , people that try to hide behind their ..insignificance the trifling opportunities and the single talents ; and our littleness will not excuse ns in the reckoning day. -AiBonifoioa. 5 frj1-'-.: ! f-.i. 'The Son' of God became the helpless one that he might succor and save the helpless in all mgea, NasJi. Adv. i ;f - , No soul ever transgresses a divine law of morality without injuring some inno cent nemg. jcx. j ) . By Sep. Kern Bi Tufper, Fetmiem Sheet Baftitt Chwrtk.Cnnd Rapids, MUk.y 11 The entrance of Thr words rivetk firhLMhs. ' Travellers tell' ns that ' In" traverslnflr some of our great south-western prai ries there willoccasionally, appear; to them, amid the dreary wildexnesa, in. summer, of faded flowers and withered grasses, abeautiMahdrefreahmgOasis, and upon examining Into -the origin of itltwm be found that it has been pro duced by a subterranean stream : which sends up its moisture through gravel and shale. ' What that stream U to that belt of prahie Is the Bible to true, gen uine eivilizatiotv-lts hidden ; and - un- ' Appreciated, but efficient and unfailing source ox veraure ana Beauty, its prin ciples, Its virtues, Its ' atmosphere, 'its glory, lay the basis ahd erect the super structure of the best social And natlonAl life. ; Compare ChanningX strong testi. mony here. Not to art or. science, cul ture or education,' but to the 'Word' of Gcd, Europe and America are1 indebted for their grand and noble Advancement in those elements that give character to society and a firm, Abiding basis to na tional existence. ' 'And . in our age this truth needs emphatic enforcement. JLat- . ter-day philosophers talk otherwise, i It is contended by some that the. Bible ex cites fear, paralytes inauiry. imDedea freedom of thought and speech; resists science, etc As contradictory to' this position recall Bacon and Locke in phi- 1 W m - losopny ; jtuuer, xiana, . uuner , in science; Galileo, Kepler and Newton in astronomical studies; Milton, Dante, Scott and Addison in literature ; Morart, Had yn, Handel and Beethoven in : mu sic; Raphael. Leonardo and .Angela in art; Washington, . Kent, Garfield and Gladstone in statesmanship. Truly has Robertson said : "Expand the heart and you: enlarge the 7 mtellect" ;! Rven Schleiermacher declared that to riyH the Bible is to pluck up by the root; all that is grandest and noblest in truest civilization. The' testimony on" this subject, of Bacon, 'Bolingbroke ?aztd i&ousseau is remarkable. r-.The Bible is the great civilizer and educator of hu manity a charter of rights "and liber ties as well as an' oracle-of faith and a manual of devotion.- In substantiation of this position look at the part played py tne ciDie in man's life from-three distinct standpoints : r socially , intellect ually and politically. M i ' u-Msmm I. Socially. Look at family life where the Bible has not been, and where it has breathed its vital breath. Compare pic tures by Maurice And Farrar of Roman life before Christ and since -the position of woman and childhood,' tor instance. Ixok also at pbJlanthrowJm Ble landa -Where Bom had nmphllheatms for perpetration ol murder in gladiato rial contests, Christian lands have asy lums, hospitals,' etc' Note' that the Latin word humanitas Add Greek' word agape have taken - new xoeanings in Bi ble lands. The iron age of . misanthoov has been changed into a golden, age, of philanthropy by the Bible's influence. Webster and Newton says about " the Bible's literary elements1 and Influence. Study Genesis history Leviticus' r law. - Job's poetry,; the narratives ; of Ruth and the evangelists.. The Justinian code was founded on the Mosaic law. Moses supplies materials for "Paradise Lost" Scott ; got ' til KebekalL In ivAnboe? probably, from the Bible. nWyeliffe's . influence is seen in " Canterbury Tales.." The age of the Reformation ls'tti4 palm iest age oz .European ' uterature. 'Bun yan's Progre8A9Dante?s j,Inferno, A'KempisV VImitation,? Byron's "He brew Melodies,'; Burns' ," Cotter's Sat urday Night," and parts of Tennyson's 'In Memoriam " are 'Trom the Bible. So in science. Though not a - scientifie book, the Bible has helped to .mould scientific thought." In Bible lands we find the names Locke Lelbnitx, Newton, Pascal, Liinnsus, Morse, Berschel, lsvy - in Bible lands, telephones, telegraphs, steamships, reapers, mowers, etc Also in art. In Bible lands Tintoretti, Titan, Raphael, Angelo, GWbeTti, and Such masterpieces as St Paul's St' Peter's, the Vatican; also the greatest pieces of sculpture and painting. ,.-, .m IIL Politically. The Bible, though not a political work, is a great political power. Read what Mills, Macaulay, Mazzlni and Gladstone say. Talleyrand said scorfully but truly,- "The Bible is the grain of musk that has perfumed all Europe." , Tbe Bible will yet destroy the blighting influence of intemperance, polygamy, rationalism,' vile literature. lioveit, defend it, preach it; 11 needs be, die for it Pulpit Treasury for May.' ChurchlAryalty. . til It is the case far too frequently that certain members whose - eborcbe have , no special meetings, go to other church es where there is a series oi meetings ana neglect the appointment' of their own churches, vye raise ho objection to tasir going to those meetings, at such tiroes as there are no services . at their own house of worship., But. when prayer meeting evening arrives let every mem ber remember that he is needed at his own church. He should consider that his pastor. and .brethren .have greater claims upon him than any other church has. ' When a person joins A church he covenants to do what he canfoeterthein- , terests of that ehurcb.!; He agrees to at tend its various services and personally 'support them, both financially and spirit- : 1ually It may be argued,' that it is better to go to A revival services, and get reviv ed and strengthened, fhan it is to attend theordinary meetings, at. home, where there is no revival On the face of this argument, It seems rather plausible; but . it wiU not bear a elc9 r inspection; for this; reason if a member of . Aachureh ; thinks he;must leave his own church and , -go to the meetings of another eburch, to get revived," lie has but very little re .ligious life and principle to have revived. .And then, After he has been revived, tbe personal product of such a. revival, ia worth but very little either to himself or to the church to which 1 her belongs. There may be exceptions to this rule, but it is a rule nevertheless, t s Tbe truth ' is U a professed Christian, need reviving . he can get revived through, the .Instrn- -' mentalities which are at hand in his own church and bis own "home. And . then, too, if ho be revived, he will prove the worth of his revival by greater loy- alty to hisown church. , He who claim ' to be revived,and yet neglects his duties to his church, is not revived.-r-jr. t v
The Biblical Recorder (Raleigh, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
May 12, 1886, edition 1
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