Part 31

Declaim against foreign missions, and prepare to give the State Board twenty-five dollars if the Board will send them one hundred dollars worth of preaching. After they treat a preacher in this way a few times, he is compelled from absolute necessity to abandon them. Thus, isolated, forsaken and helpless, they take no publications, know nothing of what is going on, pine away and die. This shows the utter fallacy of little, weak and helpless congregations keeping themselves isolated. They should act with their brethren, report themselves, be known in all their efforts, and send in their contributions, no matter how small. The ground of complaint here is, however, more on the part of preachers than any place else. In all our preaching, we should inculcate a missionary spirit, the importance of acting in harmony, unitedly and with energy in all our undertakings to evangelize the world.

THE CONVERTING POWER.

Men are talking of justification by _faith alone_; but the main trouble is, that they have no faith. They have no confidence in the gospel, the power of God. They have no confidence in preaching the cross of Christ, the power and wisdom of God. They have no confidence in preaching Christ to save the world. They never preach Christ with any animation—any spirit or power. They have deserted God’s ordained power to save men, and are dealing out their insipid theories of spiritual influence, their views and philosophies, which have nothing in them to save, if they were all true. Preaching theories of the Word or of the Spirit, of the mode of the Divine existence, or of anything else, has no power to convert or save any one. All the preaching of Calvinism or Arminianism, of Trinitarianism or Unitarianism, of Necessity or Freedom, or all the other theories ever preached, whether true or false, never saved one soul of our poor fallen race. But the preaching of the gospel, preaching Christ, the cross of Christ, is the ordained work for the Christian ministry. This is unequivocally the power God has authorized them to exercise in saving sinners. We know it will save sinners, from the following three reasons:

1. The Holy Spirit declares it to be “the power of God, to every one that believes.”

2. The apostles and first ministers of Christ preached it to the salvation of thousands in a single day, and millions in a few years.

3. We are preaching the gospel almost every day of our life, and find it bringing sinners to Christ. We have all faith in the gospel, the ancient gospel, preached in its purity and simplicity, as the only means of saving man. It will save men. It is the power of God to save men. We realize this more and more every year. The blessing of the Lord is attending every man who has faith in Christ, in his word, and preaches the gospel honestly.

But we know that those brethren who oppose us in this, are wrong, for the following reasons:

1. The Lord never said that their theories upon any subject, were the power of God unto salvation to anybody, either Jew or Greek.

2. The apostles never preached in their style.

3. They convert nobody when they do preach.

4. The church dies under their preaching in every instance.

Brethren, have all confidence in the gospel of your salvation; preach it, advocate it, propagate it; perpetuate and hand it down to the future generations. We have all confidence in it; expect to lean upon it while living and when dying. “We commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and give you an inheritance among all them who are sanctified,” said an old saint, when leaving a church, and when assuring the disciples that they should see his face no more. The gospel will live; and, those who have confidence in it, love it, preach it, and practice it, will live co-existent with the years of God.

IMPERFECT MEDIUM FOR A PERFECT REVELATION.

Human language, perfect or imperfect, is the only medium through which a revelation to man ever was or ever can be made. We do not claim for the _medium_ that it is perfect, but the _revelation itself_ is perfect. The imperfection of language and instability form the occasion for new translations and revisions. Revelation, when first given to man, was perfect and the language employed to convey it to the mind of man answered the purpose. In the providence of God, the original languages through which revelation was made died, and consequently ceased to change. But, in the very nature of things, a living language is always changing. The circumstance, however, that language is an imperfect vehicle through which to convey divine things, is no objection to the divine things thus conveyed to us. It maybe a reason why our knowledge of revelation will never be perfect in this life; but certainly no reason why revelation itself shall be considered imperfect. It may be alleged that revelation to man is more difficult on account of the imperfection and instability of language; but the same difficulty lies in the way of every kind of communications to men.

The true state of the case is, that the medium of language is sufficiently perfect and entirely adequate for all the purposes of a revelation to mankind. The communication from God to man found in the Bible is sufficiently clear and intelligible for all the purposes of its original design. The man who will make an honest effort, can understand the will of God concerning him—can discriminate between good and evil, right and wrong, the way to hell and the way to heaven. But the man who will not make an honest effort, would not be a Christian if one would rise from the dead before his eyes. If he had seen the Lord in person he would have found occasion for caviling. The seed of the kingdom must fall into a _good_ and _honest_ heart.

It is useless to fall out with the medium through which revelation has come to man. The best medium in existence was employed, the very one through which we communicate man with man, and the one with which man is more familiar than any other—the medium of _language_.

OVERLOOKING HUMBLE BUT GOOD MEN.

We have lately been reflecting upon an opportunity for doing great good perfectly within our reach, to which many are paying but little attention. Who among our brethren are thinking how many humble, unassuming and comparatively obscure men we have, who are actually doing a great work, and not only doing it at their own charges, but doing it without thanks or even credit from their brethren? While we are paying much attention to a few men of popularity, influence and fame, we are overlooking a large number of the best, truest, most self-sacrificing men the Lord has given us. These, too, are the men who are doing the main body of the work, and they are the main supports of the cause. They are men of good sense, piety and devotion; men of excellent character, an honor to the cause and a credit to the brotherhood, who are penetrating the private neighborhoods, preaching in private houses, school houses, barns, shops, and open groves, and bringing thousands to the fold every year; and in the place of the brethren making any arrangement to support them, or even saying anything to encourage them, they are saying discouraging things of them, such as that “they can’t preach”—“they are little preachers,” etc., etc.

Now, we desire to hear of some old church, where wealth abounds, instead of monopolizing money and talent in preaching in their midst, where probably they can do but little good, making arrangements outside to sustain some good man, such as we have described, to visit those by-ways all through the land, where most numbers may be converted and the work of the Lord greatly extended. We have the men to do this work, good men, men in whom we have all confidence, who desire to do this work, and are doing it measurably without charge. These men do not desire large wages for their work. Indeed, they have shown, in many instances, that they will work on, pay or no pay. But they could do vastly more if they were supported. Now, the idea of our fixing our eye upon a few talented men, paying them large salaries, and wholly neglecting these, is manifestly wrong. It is sinful. We saw six or eight preachers such as we allude to, together in Mexico, Missouri,—and we find them in every community, and we vouch for the fact, that more than one-half of all the accessions reported are from men of this description.

We live in a time when humble men and good men are overlooked; when working men are forgotten and neglected; and we desire to make a plea in behalf of these. They are the men who are willing to go into all the highways and by-places—to preach in the private house, the school house, the barn, the shop or the grove. A large proportion of all the work that has been done is the result of the sacrifices, labors and toils of this class of men. They are the men that will now do the work, do it well, and with less expense than any others. There are hundreds of men of this description that have never received one hundred dollars in a year for all their hard labor. We have in our mind several of this class, who have brought into the fold large numbers every year, and have received for their labor comparatively nothing. Will not the brethren make arrangements to do something for these brethren? They are willing to go among the poor, the destitute, and preach to them the unsearchable riches of Christ.

If those who have means to expend for the cause, will look to this class of men and to their work and aid them, they will do one hundred per cent. more with their means than is generally the case. These will go where another class of men will not go, and do a work that another class of men will not do, and yet a work every way as important to the conversion of the world. Send these men all through the land, and convert the country, and then we can easily convert the city. We have a large number of this class of men who can be employed for two, three and four hundred dollars a year, to preach a great portion of their time, and they are the only men who can and will penetrate all the nooks and corners of the land. The Lord help us to appreciate these good men, and see that they are aided in their labors of love and work of faith.

SUGGESTIONS TO A YOUNG SCEPTIC.

A young gentleman had called for the reconciliation of certain points in the New Testament narratives, which, to his mind, seemed incongruous. After noting each of the points separately, in the _A. C. Review_, for May, 1859, the editor added:

But, my dear sir, the reconciling what to you may be apparent discrepancies, is no reason for your becoming a Christian; nor should you think me unable to reconcile them, or should I really be unable to reconcile them, or should all men be unable to reconcile them, that would still be no reason why you or any man should reject Christ. The inability to reconcile these matters may arise from our ignorance and not from the fact that they are irreconcilable. It would not be a reason for rejecting the gospel, if the statements of these witnesses were really in themselves irreconcilable or inaccurate. The inaccuracy might easily have found its way into their testimony, in translating, transcribing, or interpolation, and Christ still be divine. The whole matter rests _upon Christ_, and not upon the congruity or the incongruity of the sacred narratives, unless their consistency can be so impaired as to destroy their testimony concerning Christ. The matter is not whether you can reconcile all the statements of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, whether you can show their consistency and understand them throughout, but whether you believe in Christ or not, whether you will receive him or not. Can you say, sir, that you are pondering in your mind whether to regard Jesus as _divine_ or an _imposter_? This is the question for you to fix your eye upon. You have not time now to study the whole Bible and decide upon a sentence at a time, whether you believe it or not. It would take you a long time to become a Christian in that way. You should not go to the Bible for that purpose, but go there to learn all about Christ, the purity of his life, his wonderful teachings, his miracles, his perfect knowledge of what is in man, the fulfillment of all the prophecies in him, with an eye simply upon the question—is he the Christ, the Son of God? You can shape your inquiries in different forms, though constantly bearing upon the same question, by inquiring as follows: Was Jesus perfect in his life? If he was, he was more than man, for no mere man ever was perfect. Were his teachings perfect? If they were, they were not of man, for no mere man ever gave the world perfect teachings. All merely human teachings, in all the world, and in all ages, have been imperfect, and, it is a miracle in itself, for a perfect being to appear among men, in human form, or a perfect system of teaching to be presented by him to man. He emphatically _spake as never man spake_.

Can it be possible that you, my dear sir, are vacillating in your mind whether Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God? Can you doubt whether he was the friend of man? whether he loved man? whether you would be infallibly safe under his guidance? Can you doubt whether he was good? whether his teaching was good? whether it was safe? You must feel conscious that he is the Christ, the Son of God—the friend of man—that he loved man—that he went about doing good—that you are infallibly safe in following him—that his teaching is good—that it is divine. You would not now deny him for the world. Your eternal all is in him. If the worst things infidels have ever said of him were true, it is better and safer to follow him, than them; for they admit that he was better than they, and his teaching better than their own. As you value your soul, follow him.

DIALOGUE ABOUT THE PREACHER.

The following dialogue between Dr. Pietus and Dr. Fastidious, occurred in a social company, in a parlor, and, thinking it might be profitable to some brethren, and even churches, we have concluded to publish it entire, without recommending or condemning it; therefore, we let it speak for itself:

DR. FASTIDIOUS.—I have, for some time, desired an opportunity to say a few words, though confidentially to you, Dr. Pietus, touching our preacher. I think he is not a suitable man, for such a prominent place as this. You know that we frequently have men of distinction here. Besides, our city is one of prominence, and we ought to have a man of distinction.

DR. PIETUS.—I think our preacher is a good man, Doctor, a sound man, and a man of great moral worth. I thought he gave us one of the best exhortations at the prayer-meeting, on last Wednesday night, I ever heard. Did you not think so?

DR. F.—I was not there. He is so uninteresting that I but rarely go to hear him. I know that he is a good man, and sound enough. But then, he is a very _common_ man, and not sufficiently showy and eloquent for us. We need a first-class preacher in a city like this; a man who can draw out an audience.

DR. P.—I never think of such a thing as a preacher to _draw Christians out to meeting_. The Lord draws me out to meeting. He has promised to be there, and I have never found his promise to fail. I am never disappointed, for I go to meeting believing that he will be there, and I always find him. But those who only go because they love some preacher, frequently get disappointed; for the preacher being a fallible creature, often fails to attend. But I do think our preacher is a good preacher. I do not know where we could get a better man.

DR. F.—We need a man of distinction and notoriety, who will attract attention, and draw out an audience. I would then go out and try to do something. But, I have no faith in doing anything, till we have a more attractive preacher.

DR. P.—My dear sir, we will never get a preacher who can draw out an audience, unless _we draw too_. As much depends upon a church in drawing out an audience as the preacher. No preacher can draw out an audience unless the church does its part. We must do our part as a church, or no preacher in the world can do us any good. I still think our present preacher has done about as much for us, as any man could have done under the circumstances. It is not a different kind of preacher we need, but a _different kind of a church_. We need members that will attend the public worship, sing, pray, exhort, and stand at their post. In one word, we need a church that will stand by the preacher, encourage, sustain him, and hold up his hands.

DR. F.—I never saw such a man as you are. You can be satisfied with any kind of preaching. I never saw you present when any man preached, when you did not appear satisfied, no matter how bungling he was.

DR. P.—I think but little about preachers, have fewer favorites, and more rarely speak in praise or complaint of preachers, than almost any man you can find. I am not thinking of the _messenger_, but of the _message_.

DR. F.—I can not bear a prosing, stammering and dry preacher. I have not heard our preacher present anything _new_ in three months. I like to _learn something_ when I go to hear preaching.

DR. P.—When were you at meeting last? I do not recollect seeing you for some three months in the meeting house.

DR. F.—I have been pressed with—I have not been very well—the preaching has not suited me, and there are many in the church that should have been excluded long since.

DR. P.—No wonder you have heard nothing _new_ from our brother; for you have not heard him at all. If his preaching had been the best in the world, it would have done you no good, while you did not hear it. I will tell you, my dear brother, how to make preaching better to us: Read the Scriptures every day; pray night and morning; talk to every one you meet _about religion_, and your heart will be full of the theme. You will then like to hear any man who can preach at all. Attend all the meetings, participate in the songs, prayers, exhortations and all the other parts of public worship, and you will then be interested in all that you hear from good men.

DR. F.—Your notions of preaching will not do. Our city is one of intelligence. This community, you must recollect, is highly enlightened, and we must have a man here that keeps pace with the age. We frequently have statesmen, lawyers, physicians and men of the first rank in attendance, and it is useless to think of interesting these with any _common_ talents. We must have a man of taste, refinement, and highly accomplished.

DR. P.—When did our Lord ever try to arrest the attention of the elite of this world by _show_, by mere human _polish_ and _flourish_? Never, never, Doctor, as you certainly know. Are you not aware, my dear sir, that the wisdom of God is not in this vain and worldly thing that you speak of? Sensible people, those truly enlightened and great, can understand the gospel, appreciate and receive it, when it is simplified and made appreciable to the masses of the people. Not only so, doctor, but the class you aim to please, though enlightened in the things of the world, and accomplished, they are more unenlightened in the things of the kingdom of God, than many that you never think of pleasing. I am for a preacher that will try to please the Lord, whether he pleases your distinguished men or not.

DR. F.—We have had some of the best speakers in the world here, and the truth is, the people here know what good talent is, and they will not be satisfied with ordinary men. The people here have been well taught. No man can attract attention here unless he is a superior man.

DR. P.—That the people here have heard some men of good preaching talent, is true; but that they are well-read and well taught in christianity, is far from true. That they understand Jesus or the apostles well, is far from true. Many perfectly country places and rural districts contain far more gospel light than may be found in the bounds of our congregation. We presume that we are wise, while many plain men from the country are astonished when they converse with us, that we are so ignorant. To be plain with you, my dear brother, I know of no place where there is, at this time, more need of plain, old-fashioned, New Testament preaching than here. It is not worldly show that we need; we have that now in abundance. We need the simple teachings of Jesus, solemnly and affectionately impressed upon our hearts, by some good man who loves us and will try to save us. In the place of being inflated with the conceit that we are well taught, far advanced and highly elevated in christian attainments, so that no man except one of the most exalted accomplishments can teach us, we should be sensible of what is the true state of the case, viz: That almost any plain and good man who preaches among us, can teach us many useful lessons that we do not know.

DR. F.—I can not agree with you. I have had my face burn more than once, in listening to some ignorant brother, blundering and trying to preach, who evidently did not understand his mother tongue, and that, too, in the presence of some distinguished persons. I can never countenance such a state of things.

DR. P.—Doctor, I had rather hear some good man, who can not speak his mother tongue correctly, tell the plain story of the cross of Christ, in the love of Jesus, and in the spirit and power of a holy man of God, a thousand times, than to listen to one of your _showy men_, who can preach a beautiful sermon without any Jesus, Holy Spirit, love of God, or anything else, but _the man himself_ in it. I desire preaching that will convert men to Jesus—to christianity and not to men. The converts will then love Jesus, meet and worship him and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. We do not want a man here to _worship him_, but to preach Jesus to us and teach us to worship Him.

DR. F.—With your views of the subject, we shall never do any good. We shall never draw out an audience, nor accomplish anything. I am in favor of procuring a man at a salary of $2,000 or $2,500, that will command the respect of our city. Then we shall do some good. I am willing to give liberally when such an arrangement can be made, but I do not think our preacher is doing any good, and shall not give anything for his support.

DR. P.—I am sorry to hear you speak so. Nothing, in my estimation could be more disastrous to us. This would consume about all we could possibly raise, so that we could not raise a dollar for missions, for colleges, the poor or anything only to pay a man to preach _to us_. At this rate our large congregation would only just be able to support itself and bear its own weight! Who is to convert the world at this rate! If we can not do anything more than sustain ourselves who are to support missions, build colleges and take care of the poor? If you had such a preacher as you want, he would have to do everything himself, or you would not be satisfied. Not a brother in the church would ever pray, exhort, or do anything that would call forth a gift, or develop any talents that might be among our numbers. Hence in all these city churches where some great man is the center of attraction, they rarely ever bring forward any young preachers, or develop any new talent. They simply monopolize talent brought out and developed some place else. I am in favor of preachers of ability, not only in our city churches, but as far as possible, in all the churches. But the way must be opened among us for the development of talent in the church. Our pride must not despise incipient efforts—plain and humble men, nor human weakness. It is in all men more or less, though not always developed in the same form.

DR. F.—I think if we had such a preacher as I wish, we would draw out an audience, convert many people and greatly extend the cause in one year.