Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-11-22
on HEARING SERMONS.


the Letter of the Rev. John Newton. it
points out some evils which probab!y y exist
10 a greater extent at present, than in thc
dav of the writer.
As the gifts and talcuts of ministers are
different, advise vou to choose for your
stated pastor aud teacher one whom You
find most suitable, upon the whole, 10 vour
own taste, and whom YOU are like v 10 hear
with the most pleasure and advantage.
Use some dclibcration, and much PRAYER,
in this matter. Enncat the Lord, WHO
knows better than YOU do Yourself, to guide
you where Your soul will be best fed: and
when YOUR choice is fixed, YOU will 10 well
to make a point of attending his ministry
constantly, mean, at least the stated times
of worship on the Lords day. | do not
say that no circumstance will JUSTLY your
going elsewhere at such times caslonalIv;
but think the schooner you are absent the
better. A s:aed and regular attendance
encourages the miniscr, and affords good
example TO the congregation and Il hear
er is more likely 10 meet with what is di-
rectlv suited 10 his own case, from Il minis
ter who knows him, and expects to sec
him, than he can be from one vino is 4
stranger.-ESpecially, would not wish
YOU 10 be absent for The sake Of gratifying
your curiosity, to hear some new preacher,
who, YOU have perhaps been told, is very
extraordinary man. For in your way,
such occasions might possibly offer almost
every week. WAat have observed Of
many, who run about unScasonabIy after
new preachers, has reminded me Of Prov.
xvii. s: As bird who wanderclh from !,
her nest, so is the man that wandcreth from
his place." Such unsettled hearers seldom |
thrive; they usually grow wise in their own
conceits, have their heads filled with notions, |
acquire dry, critical and sensorious spirit: |
and arc more intent upon disput,ng who is
the best preacher, than of Obtaining benefit !
to themselves from what they hear. fyou |
could find man, indeed, who had 4 power
in himself, of dispensing blessing to your
soul, you might follow him from place to
place; but as the blessing is in the Lords !
hand, YOU will be more likely to receive it !
by waiting where his providence has placed !
you, and where he has met with you before.
But as human nature is prone 10 extremes. !
permit mc to give YOU caution on the .
other hand. If the minister, under whom
you statedly attend, is made very acccpa-
bic to you, you will be in the less danger OF
sighting him. But be careful that YOU do
not slight any other minister ofChrist. Ii,
therefore, when youcome to hear your own
preacher, YOU find another in the pulpit, do
not let YOUR looks tell him tilat if You had
known he hal been there You wold 10,
nave come. wish, indeed, youmay never
hink so in YOUR heart; but though we can-
not prevent evil thoughts from rising in our
minds, VIC should endcavor to combat and
them. Some persons are so GU
,iouS. or rather so weak, that if their favor
tie minister is occasionally absent, they
hardly think it worth while to hear another.
\ judiciouS and faithful minister, in this
case, instead of being delighted with such Il
mark of peculiar attachment to himself,
ill be erievcd to think that they have pro-
nAl no more by his laborS; for ii is his
uesi. to win souls not to himself, but to
Ohfls,' hope YOU, my friend, will always f.
a''eiio 'N ordinances with view 10 tie /
LORD 5 PH>ence: and when YOU arc il
your plOPti nE.rc consider the preacher /