Newspapers / North Carolina Christian Advocate … / Nov. 27, 1867, edition 1 / Page 1
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THE EiPISCO-P AL IF I I m.AU lit-v. II. T. 1IITDSOX, Dirrctiu? Editor. OKGAN OF THE NORTH ('Alio UN. I CONTKU I'NCK, OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SOUTH. Rev. AV. II. CUJYIIYUGIM, Publisher. C). 40. VOL. I 11 m .ics:d.a.y, isrov 27, 18G7. . OsiV iJillllcSl Bearer. 1. -i 'i u : -'' !'i,.I.t:i,mi:i .r !. ! ' '; Tii .1 !..;.! a iy c.f" i-.K!-r:.-y. I';,..-:-.-'- . ':. ft t.- l'i'..r. W ti-.Vi''.i:i-jr ht!H'--.vur.l. i ,: , i'ii I'm' w.ty: . . - -ii.iui-i m ik- our Ju; a- ll:U's en a- we in ty. Til--'-' ra.uiv. m ill er.is-e.s 1 .. be !i;ti" i ;i -.T-. We ni-J-st clim! tin -'1 lu.umUins, A i l ill.- .1 1! k-.in.' Viill-.-ys. Ha -.:. !;)- ami lVii.zr.int ui mJows. Will -. iiihi'.ftl in our way: Sin:-:v i--s oil arch tiU.ivi in. !rk ;:'. fe!i hii!e thei'iy. ill ' u- reai'-iauer. Aiih-. t!i:i- -i- piijrrim- . Th- .' .1:1 ci-iiT u.iv i i i-nirinw : u ci w.. uS i L.o- c:ii'.' to k:i v. T ! '- ;:i '.-i-'V w.iy sT'iitt-f. 1 - .i ii-!i---r ! i I l l ' ir T;. i i ::. rt.'viou. ;!':--v;:vi 1mII1c!1 i;:.c - ,ii !!. . ,.r :i- -a- i.-. V.': 1' :'.'V.'.- 1 in iv.vs ,vS!y .,nm.',r: .il ! '!Vv i'!Mi;'.(-l-'!'.-:-;h -.Vi'i'"-" U"i'-i- nfchci' I: 1 t.l- i :r. ' v.tiir !. o itiu il'a-. . . l-.t-.l-i-i t ".i-- mi-' -'.ir '-! I ; c.ir": i . i i' v.i l. 1 -!!Uv it ""' All vi'ar i: -i 1 -a 111 b''ur! CwW ti-t n !;u t i c.trry. Aii'l U'1 iiMiimii; wi;li '.!' rc-t: A'1 .iH-C.UV.- HOW C-l-t Ulli.ll m". I iviSl !.-.'.ii't!u'iii "iiy lircist. (iivc n t'i'iairli!. n :ininu- 1 "kiiic. To tin cinniiu ui'irrnw's ky; If iii!'" lu-'i'i'ow i uv:'i!i th'-e. 1 lr.il! 'iU 1"' tittl.l:ll a'iLTh. (irnii"a-i w.ii-il et' .-ircfit'.i :ei l- wccin.' o ln-'iiiiio t'.u'ir nutii to know! M ac o mist in I'u'.ic-: niia?uif. K-'sunjr oven a 1 I Thin '.! eomioi-.s wilt b-; rinin l:i .nir ho:irt tVom -l:iy to l.iv: I. .ht ami -wcet the iifcioiis 'mri'.vi I J.'-ii- - ivej u- uu our '. I..'i i;- iicvor ;htoi be - routi'm.,' t'-i i-'ia.'.ith o(ii- l"-.iil ;M care: Tii-f'''- :i b, t:-r wuy t j' iini'v . Tlier.-'s a li-hu-r i.iiid b.-iir She 2?u1pit, A SUetcli of I?istp Dosgett's Ser mon at t!f Va. Confereiire. The woath r was all that could be tesh-.d --.: and 2'7-sa'it At an f-arlv hour cr-.iwds cot'ld be seen wit;: anxi-ms f.ic;s weiidiug iheir way to the various churches. At the Washington street ?.. H. Church was assembled the largest audience we have e ver se n, to heir the lie v. lii-h-p David S. Dog gett. All of the Methodist, Baptist, ami Presbyterian pulpits were occu pied by Methodist ministers, and it was truly a day ..f spiritual rejoicing with the people of i.d. We give be low a synopsis of ah the sermons we were enabled to obtain: wastiinc.to.v sti:i:et m. e. cm noil. The sermon preached by Bishop Davi 1 S. Doggett of the M. E. Church, in Washington Street Church on Sab-b-th morning, was one of great beauty and spiritual power. His presentation of the p'-cnliar functions and qualifica tions of the Christian ministry was clear and impressive. We give a sy nopsis of the sermon below, for which we are indebted to a friend: Introductory Hymn, page 191, No. 2l, first lesson, Isaiah Gth eh., 2nd bisson, latter part of the last eh. Acts C-f the Apostles. Text. J tt it ch. Luke, 49th verse. Tarry ye iu Jerusalem until ye be endued with power from on high. According to Luke this was the last direction Christ gave his Apostles while on earth. It is obviously subse quent to general commission mention el by Matthew. Christ had completed all of his redemptive work in the pres ent world. Every jot and every title of it had been fulfilled, and he was now about to leave and take possession of his mediatorial kingdom. To prepare them for their functions no human be ing ever enjoyed such advantage he had formed a school they had been trained three years by precept and ex ample. They heard and saw the truth of ( iod. They had been intimate with Lira, witnessed his miracles, beheld him after his resurrection. Had en joyed what he called an actual ajxtihe o.si.s, had known his teaching and his history, receive i his parting benedic tion, witnessed the seene of his ascen sion. Were they not now ready? There education was complete. Were they not even anxious to proceed ? Was not the world waiting for their minis try ? Did not every day's detention cause the loss of millions. Such was doubtless their opinion and such would have been the opinion of the church and of the world. But such was not our Lord's intention. He would teach a lesson of better preparation. He or dered them back to Jerusalem to stay till further prepared. "Tarry ye," &c. This text presents to our attention a fundamental question. He shrank ' the di sii'ii i'i the o nest ion o- Hi!" power oi ilie pulpit, but would not evade his iiuty. lie then instit ute.l the enquiry: 1st, la wh;it (l-.es it lie? "2.1, How is it dis i tiuguished ? Then; is power from beneath and power from on high. This is clearly , an antethetie expression admirable j indeed, a necessity in some respects. But all this power from below is pro i fessional. It is onlv a calling, even though divine. The earthly power of the pulpit consits: 1st, Iu the truth as it is in Jesus the truth in the lively oracles and all the -ii;4trarucniu?iiies of the present day. But even this apostolic advan tage was defective in itself. It was not equal to the occasion in which, min isters are sent f. rth. Truth, merely as truth, has its own proper dom.iin, pertaining only to the hk -.!! ct. T! lvaclus not to the aiVi '. ion. Ada- mantine walls c: online trntu i'h:-! i Passaoie u-niu.l 1 !K r- tain access-. vle to truth--It would ! mention it few: 1st. J ''''. Th" human mind realizes authority. It is necessary to the functions of a minister. There is a state of things in the world whi'h renders it so. But authority can nev er convert. The 2nd, Accessory to truth is rank. It is no hieraehy, but an order. Ivank is ineffectual for the salvation of men. An archangel would not be suilieient. If everv angel in heaven were to take tip the silver tone of the Gospel, it j wonM be msnfricicnr to convert sin- . ners. yrd. The third iiccessory is ar-j'imrn-laiinn, reasonings from first principles. But the last fortification of iniideiity miy fall before the artillery of logic, and yet no sinner be brought to Christ. 4th. The fourth accessory is el ju ro'-c. Fluent utterance, together with the i graces of imagination. This, though j Holy Spirit best promoted ? not of equal importance with the pre- j Some one has said, that "preaching ceding, yet the public is frequently ta- j is a great art," and if by this expres ken captive by it. But the eloquence j sion is meant the employment of all which brings alternate smiles and tears j our mental powers in the development 1 ic.s ii't " .-;-ie viihi: .- li-nym? if lli'd termor v necessarv tne salvation oi ' meii. Wiiile not (!-;. i--cating tlu.-se ! i , - i gifts, he wanted to discriminate be- ; tween thiit which is gent-rally con -id- . ereii iu bspens able, and that power , which is from on high, which is direct j and continuous, not the power of God j in a theocratic sense, but the power of ; the Holy Ghost, upon man's moral n a- j tur-"'. We would err it we were to con- j round this general with tin; specific power of the Holy Ghost, which was conferred on the Apostles on the day of Pentecost. They were ci inverted in an ecclesiastical sense for the work of the ministry. Ministers are endowed with special power from ou high. The min istry is not entered upon as we would enter upon a matter of ordinary busi ness, nor by impulse, but by a pro found, abiding conviction of duty, mov ed by the Holy Ghost. It imparts special talent. It does not suppose an additional original faculty but a special spiritual talent for the edifying of tin- body of Christ. This accounts for the peculi arities of talent in the ministry. It gives individuality of talent, and this individuality gives effectiveness. The stars differ iu glory, but not in Lmruio ny. This should exclude all envy by one toward another in a different sphere. The next form of power from on high is contemporaneous, it is an assistant in the discharge of their duty, " We preach the gospel to you by the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven." This form of power has Divine results. It is a calling. It is God with the minis ter. It is God in the application. Truth with its accessories can storm the intellect. Truth is said to be pow erful and will prevail. But truth, pow erful as it is in inself, cannot penetrate conscience, will, or the affections. It is the prerogative of the Holy Ghost alone to break the incrustations of a sacred conscience overcome the rigid stubbornness of will, and melt the heart. With this power, it is impossi ble there should be no results. The red hot thunderbolts of Divine truth goes hissing into the citadel of the sin ners heart, bringing him to Christ. He urged the ministers present to seek this at the foot of the Cross. Tlie clo sing appeal of the Bishop was truly el oquent and affecting. The services were concluded by the ordination of Win. M. Jerdoue, Charles E. Watts, Geo. G. Thomas and Beiij. F. Fennille, to tlie order of deacons in the Church. " J. E. M. Never drink in the spirit of one who circulates and evil reports. Th : association vests it with such extraordinary ii'.iii tv :"iud .soleiuii imporiunee, that the iut stiou ji.iturallv .sujr 'ests itself : X 1LV can its eiticit ncy bo best promo ted? As the channel of divine grace we ea anot doubt but that the influence it exerts upon the masses of society is tremendous in its results. Kveiy ser mon that is preached, of necessity be comes, as the Apostle tells us, "a sa vour of death unto death, or of life TUito life," to those to whom it is preached. Its tendency is either to harden or soften the heart, so that the sinii'. r becomes vet more iudii'ieivut to his mora! condition, or subdued th grace of f b)d i i iii tcr man. de a wise aiid be ; ot l lit; p ci.unoL I lid no V wnen ore be pr ov . ,'s; :iii.s 1. : 1 o l -i .-o e r O an hat. Dr. i hew m,-t wh- u u ii-.-r o .,; I a 1 by "1 - i .1 : - .u I . lie ear iv pi o -.t o .-ential lie i cs ei a pi i " ;" asviiiii t.ie re.-ipon-l r, replied: " J )r. S'.aupiiz, it wi.i be my death." Xevert 'ieless, there are s-ouii' to oc cupy this responsible positi m, and whoever these may be, as the ambas sadors of ( rod. they are bound to make. themselves ellicient in the highest de- grce. We will not stop now to discuss that often disputed question the mental an 1 lite! . try qualifications of those who are to occupy the pulpit; but we will take tlie pulpit just as we find it. oc cupied by men of various grades of intellects and literary culture, and we ask How is its eitteieney under the "' divine tintli, or as a system of mliK ! to taeunaie "lie in iu no, w vi m aces pre: arb lei'ni and ruter. ;u t! on " ! ireac: :i!ig is in: lee; I a re til l its efiicieii::y does nor res: m.. re declamation or oratorical plays, or st-nsu-1. .n il anecdotes ; in the pivsentahon of the truth, is- such a wav as wi.t cause- men to iansc, I 1 1 i c-i'isider, repent and behe 'e. We do not doubt but that a iiuenl ihciaimer and graceful orator, or one who is continually interlarding his dis courses with quaint and unlooked for remarks, will find admirers, but we very much doubt the good that is clone the souls of such. Indeed, it is pos sible that preachers, like these will succeed in adding to the membership ! of the church ; but, are they making intelligent persevering christians christians who will grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Sa viour Jesus Christ We bold that the souls of men like their bodies mast be nourished, in or der to become active and vigorous, and the food furni.-died, must be suited to man's spiritual war-is, or t Is.? he be- Christ, ho is nolhiiisr more than a "withered branch lit onlv for the e promi- burning." Perhaps this is tl neut reason why the number of those who decline in spirituality is so stlann ingly great; and here, too, it is likely we will find the true reason why the pulpit exerts no greater influence upon the masses of society, and infidelity iu all its Protean shapes, with bold and defiant looks, stalks abroad in this professedly christian laud: our pulpit exercises are not adapted to man's spiritual necessities, and he goes from the sanctuary with no consciousness whatever that religion is a reality in which he is to be personally interested or eternally lost. The Ministers IIei'utatiox. "Theo dore Frelinghuysen, a year before, he died, said: 'Whenever I hear an elder or deacon talking against his minister, I feel as indignant as when I hear the virtue of a pure woman assailed.' And who does not ? The public position of a minister makes him a kind of public property. He is a convenient target for all gossippcrs. How his heart bleeds and agonizes in secret over such things, only those know who have the experience. There- are trials enough besides such. Let those be spared. Brethren, bo thoughtful and watchful as to this." Always moderate as far as you can, the unkindness which is expressed to wards others. -f elections A OtH'hin- i!,, rcply i ;o:i '.- t.i I'.K'U the t!y does Chateaubriand inquirv, "Is there a b) 'Th( re is a God ! The herbs of the valley, the cedars of the mountain, Hess Him; the insects sport in His beams; the elephant salutes Him with the rising orb of the day; the thunder proclaims Him in the heavens; the ocean declares His immensity. Man alone has said 'There is no Go' !' ITnite in thought at the same istant the most beautiful in i nturo-f supple, that you see at once all the hours of the day and all the seasons of the year; a morning of spring and a morning of oitun ,m! ; - Hi :; i i night bespangled with stars ingtu cevere. t c,it.;i e.'ouu:-; -lowers . !;. l: -1 :y ti:its V...U will have nnier;-e. :i that svhich vault of the I w:u snow !:! !US ,!! Uien "1. .inception of the ou are g ;z!!l''Uoo ghig under the nothcr observer d: lure; liiut ii tun iiiiueu c--.li (;i it PlCOjii CIV; 10 m:ig;c 1 ; .iocs mat :;g--d st;.r, vatic: i ;at:git( d ml biirning in; is siii!-.i::g, te shade of e -U'l in- tlie even in.--, reaii-ar at t slant, ires' i r.nd linuiid, with .he r.isy di'ws of 2:;orni;ig? At every instant of the dtiy the glorious orb is at once rising, resplendent at noonday, au 1 setting in the Y"est; or rather our senses deceive us and there is, proper ly speaking, no East, West, North or South in tlie world. Evert hing redu ces itself to a single point, from whence the Xing of day sends forth at once a triple light iu one substance. The bright splendor is pei'uups that which nature can present thnt is m st beau tiful, for while it gives us an idea of the perpetual luagmSc-uer and resist less power of ( iod, it exhibits stt the same time a shining image of the glo rious Trinity." . i , : Al;irro tr to this . 4: i i ssioii nee at in an Ka-is !.ol It v. in uiv miuu ever :-mce. snegesiive l pasior: one '.-.-. m:i p: is i or snip how tin meaning is enlarged. It con .s oil watchful d.lligence, pa- rental care, pavieii cndur.iiice, persis tent endeavor, Uiiuule attention, and uiiffagging zeal by the pastor. "They watch for souls as those that must give an account." And this sense of responsibility induces that "painsta king" which attends alike te little things and great, and perseverance therein. Truly. Tis no! ii cause nf small hi'iiort, A i,isiii'V eurc ili'iimnils." And he who feels it will be glad of the aid which the bare suggestions! of the words above quoted gives. How much is accomplished by con stant attention to Wile i)tkr-l.i of our jiocks putting in small amendments and taking oil small defecis erasing every "spo!,"' and smoothing every wrinkle"' none can say. As the mountain is inside up of tilonis, so "ihe perfecting- of the saints, tiie edi f .ing of the body of Christ," maybe Rccompli-hed by the watehful care of the pastor over the III lie things that alk-Ci the wc I of the Church. To "be not weary in -.vell-doiug;" to "sow be side all waters, ' trusting God to water the seed: to "labor and wait;" this is tlie wisdom of a pastor. A great ef fort may seem to fail, and a cherished scheme may appear defeated, but we should "try again," and by tol in-j j)oin- accomplish our design 13" dint of perseverance. God bless the Church with a "painstaking ministry !" G. W. H. Jefferson City, Mo. What we Owe to Ciikist iaxs. The late eminent Judge, Sir Allen Park, once said at a public meeting in Lon don: "We live in the midst cf bless ings till we are utterly insensible of their greatness and the source from whence they flow. We speak of our civilization, our arts, our freedom, our laws, and forgot entirely how large a share is due to Christianity. Blot Christianity out from man's history and what would his laws, have been, what his civilization ? Christianity is mixed up with our very being and our very life; there is not a familiar object around us which does not wear a dif ferent aspect because the light of christian love is upon it; not a law which does not owe its truth and gen tleness to Christianity; not a custom which cannot be traced in all its holy, beautiful parts, to the gospel. ki Fail "if al To TEie Kntl.'' When Sir Thomas More lay iu pri son for conscience' sake he was visited by "his wife who was a somewhat world ly wise woman. ' What, the goo.lyear, Mr. ?Iore," s iid she in tlie dialect of those days. " I marvel that you, who have been hitherto always taken for a wise man, will so play the tool as to lie here iu this close, filtlry prison, and be con tent to be shut up thus with mice and rats, when yon might be abroad at your liberty, with the favor and good will both e.f the King and his council, if you will but do as the bishops and tlie best learned men of his realm have done; r.nd, seeing that you have at Chelsea a right fair house, your library, vour b j-';. vonr gallerv, and till other .ies so handsome vol thai yon might, in company with me, v-nr. v. il'e, your children, and house hold, be merry I muse (wonder) wii.it in God's name you mean, here thus fondly to tarry V He heard her out and then said, " I pray thee, good Mrs. Alice, tell me one thing." " What is it?" saith she. " Is not this house as near heaven as my ( wn '" Sir Thomas More had his eye on a heavenly home; but his wife looked onlv to the " right fair house " at Chelsea, lie Was faithful to the end." Are von Yoiua;; Men's Cotivcnlion. A convention is called of the Chris tian men of the State of New York by the ofiicers of the Young Men's Chris tian Association of the city of Xew Yeik, to be held on Wednesday, the ";h day of November, at ten A. M., in the South Informed Dutch Church,. Fibb-avenue, corner of Twenty-first-street. The object is to promote in creased activity among those Christians brought within the influence of the meeting, and the revival of religion among those who are strangers to it. The following topics are suggested as those which should engage the atten tion oi' I he Convention: 1. The unreached masses in our cities au. I larger towns: what more ef fective agencies can be employed to had them to Christ. J. What means more direct than those now in use can be employed to reach with the Gospel people in sparse ly s.-uk-d neighborhoods? o. Lay preaching: is it desirable, what should be its chara -ter, and how rendered most proeluctive of good? -1. How can mission stations and churches in larger towns and cities be best developed into frclf-sustaining or ganizations ? 5. Cottage andelistrict prayer-meet-tings: how best established and con ducted? (.!. Church, prayer, and Conference meeting: how made most interesting and profitable? 7. Sabbat h-fehool literature: what sluetld be its character, and what is tiie duty of Christian people in regard to it ? fc. The special work of Young Tden's Christian Associations: how can the churches best aid them in it, aud how can they rentier the best service to the Church ? 0.. How can direct personal Christian effort be made universal and character istic in the whole Church of Christ? The Proposed Union. The Tennessee Conference of tlie Metheulist Protestant Church, iu ses sion at Unionvillc, October 11-14, passed the following resolutions: Resolved, That iuthe opinion of this Conference, a corporate union of the respective churches is most desirable, if such union can be effecteel on terms mutually agreeable. Jtetolred, That if the great funda mental principles of religious liberty, as laid down in our Constitution, be preserved, we will abide the action of our church in regarel to the proposed union. Per contra, the West Tennessee Conference, in session at the same time at Clarksburg, adopted the fol lowing resolution: Jle.o!ced, That while we, as a Con ference, earnestly elesire the union of all Methodist churches, provided that union could be secured on proper principles, yet we do unanimously anel heartily disapprove of the proposed union, on any terms hitherto offered, and for various reasons which at pres ent, we deem unnecessary to express. These facts we find in the Metho dist Protestant of the Oth. Pardon for Omissions. Dr. Samuel Johnson, in writing to his mother, says: "Yon have been the best mother, and I believe the best in the world. I thank you for your imlulgence to mo and I beg forgiveness of till I have done ill, and all that I have omitted to do irc.'l." So in the prayer he composed at the same time : "Forgive me whatever I have done unkindly to my mother, anel whatever 1 have omitted to do L iidlj." There is a deep meaning in this. Our offences against Goel anel our fellow-men are far gfeat.r in the omis sion of duties than in the commission of sins. Let any one think it over faithfully, and see if the weight ef con demnation does not rest there. And how much point in tlie express ion "omitted to elo kindly:' We might often at least almost as well not speak the truth at all, as to speak it not "in love;"' so it may often hap pen that an act in itself eminently proper, has a dreadful uiiti.ion about it simply because it is not done kindly. What is charity, however bountifully, bestowed, if .-itmHititf be wanting ? It is often positive insult. Without pursuing the hint farther, let each one search for the catalogue of what he has left undone, and strive for a better spirit, aud a better life. It .Never dries lT. I w:is staying at a village on the Welsh coast, where tin; people had to bring their water from a well. Not a single house had a pump. At all hours of the day, but chiefly before breakfast and before tea-time, little feet and great, often unshod, but very active, uiii'ht be seen passing along a narrow land, with every kind of pitcher, ket tle and can, to a fresh-water well. Not a very trustworthy friend, after all, was this village well. ' Js this well ever dry?'" I inquired. "Dry? Yes, ma'am; very often in hot weather." " And whore elo you go then for wa ter?" "I' the spring a little way out of town." "And if the spring dries np?" "Why, then we go to the well high er up the best water of all." "But if the well higher np fails?" "Why, ma'am, that well never dries up never. It is always the same, summer and winter." 1 went to see this precious well which "never dries up." It was a clear, sparkling rivulet, coming down from the high hills, not with torrent-leap and roar, but with the steady How ami soft murmur of fullness and freedom. It flowed down to the high-way side. It was within the reach of every child's little pitcher. It was enough for ev ery empty vessel. The small birels came down thither te drink. The ewes aud Limbs had trodelen down a little path ;o its brink. The thirsty beasts of burden, along the tlusty road, knew the way (as I could see by their tracks; to the well that "never dries up." It reminded me of the water of life and salvation flowing from the "Bock of Ages,'" and brought within reach of all men by the Gospel f Jesus Christ, livery other biiok may grow dry in the days of drought and adversity, but this he avenly spring never ceases to flow. Without waiting till earth's wayside brooks shall fail, let us all hasten at once-, with hearts athirst, to the heav enly we 11 "ivhi'-h never drie tijt. FaEsiisEss ix Seumons. When thirs ty, we .always prefer water that is fresh anel just drawn from the living foun tain. We are not satisfied with that which has been long standing in some vessel of human construction. We wtint it as it comes from the bucket which Goel has made. The Bible is a tleep well containing the waters of Di vine Truth. Anel when people come to the sanctuary to elrink of these wa ters anel slake their spiritual thirstj they do not want their ministers to hand about to them that which has be come stale by long standing in the olel painted buckets of formal theology. This water may contain all the ele ments of thruth. But yet it will taste far better if the minister will just dip fresh from the great deep well of the Bible which God has niaele. Who ake the Meek ? A missionary in Jamaica once questioned a little black boy on Matthew fifth, anel asked, "Who are the meek?" The boy an swered, "Thcs3 who give soft answers to rough questions." Thought on Preaching. Bed HorPiiEu nixc. Bichard Sher idan useel to say: "I often go to hear Rowland Hill, because Ins ideas cotno red hot from the heart." Willi deep and anxious solicitude I have been pondering the question: How can Christians be areuseel to the work of laboring personally for the salvation of souls ? In what way can they bo preraileel upon to go out and bring in souls to Jesus? Does not much of the difficulty lie with us ministers? Do our ideas usually come red-hot from our hearts? Are we not cold, lifeless, sadly wanting in animation and (u-nosto in Ji.ho pwlpit? I sometimes hear ministers whoso preaching makes me feel all tin- time as if I wanted to take hold of them and give them a good shaking. Ne)t many months ago, while listening to tin excellent brother, I felt like crying out to him, " Fire up, brother ! Fire up !" Our itleas must come out tf in burning hot, or they will not heat up the people. Of course it must be the right kind of heat the fervor produ ced by tlie Holy Ghost. Many yearn ago, on the return ef Dr. John M. Ma son from Europe, where it was his privilege to hear Dr. Chalmers, he wan asked what lie thought was the fert of that great man. After a moment's consideration Dr. Mason replieel : -"His is blood-earnestness." Blood-earnest, red-hot sermons will not only at tract people to the house of Ged, but they will also impart to Christians something of the inspiration necessary to impel them to labor personally for the salvation of souls. The Sm Ai.i.i.vr I'm roit the Cuuch. An ciently the Lord's people were reprov ed for selecting lame anel worthless an imals to bring as offerings to the divine service. Similar conduct ou the part of thti latter professed servants of God gies point to the following, which we find in an exchange: Iu a recent trial in the county court tit Denver, England, the judge having asked a witne ss, " What is an ' Antho ny ?" ' he repled, " The littlest pig is always Anthony."' Ou an inquiry why the little pig was so called, the at torney replied, "I believe, your honor, it is associated with the saint of that name, from the fact that, in bis unhap py time, the smallest and least valua ble pig was picke el for the Church." We fear there are to many persons who pick the " Anthony," when they contribute anything for tho Church. The diligent search for tlie smallest shinplaster, the Anthony of the pocket-book, is a familiar illustration. UI have asked Jesus, Hut lie did Not." Our little boy the only one, not yet four years eld has just had an attack of very distressing illness, to which children are subject. One night when in great suffering, lie said to me, "I elon't know what I must do, papa." I saiel, "We must ask Jesus to make my poor little boy letter: j-ou know ho can elo it." In a very sorrowful tone ho replied, "I have askeel Jesus, papa, but he diel not." His answer was like a sword in my heart, but I endeavored to explain to him that God does not always answer our prayers just when we ask him, and just when we wish him; and that the best way is to ask hi in till he does. Ou the following day, while reflect ing upon his words, the thought sud denly flashed into my mind. "Ftol that I have been ! What an irresisti ble plea at the throne of grace has tho chilel given mo ? What a mighty lever for faith to grasp 1" And the prayer went up in something like these words, "Blessed Jesus, thou knowest that I ha vo told tho child over and over again that thou art God, and that thou hearcst anel answerest pray er. Oh, if it be thy blessed wilL for the glory of thy great name, don't let the chilel think that I have told him a lie. Don't let him say, ' I have asked him, but he diel not." Oh, bo pleased to restore him and let him know thou hast done it." Now, mark the result. The child be gan to mend from that hour, and after a week's illness, from its commence ment, is now comparatively well. His complaint, I must mention, too, was one the Doctors say is always three weeks before it is at its height. I will only add, " Blesa the Lord, O my soul, all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his bene fits." Kifcopahat. It will elo you no goo.l to be of the right religion if you be not zealous in the exercises of the duties of that re i ligion.
North Carolina Christian Advocate (Greensboro, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Nov. 27, 1867, edition 1
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