The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1849-03-31
For The Columbia Democrat.

Peryading worlds hath reached my bosom too !!
Yes, in my spirit doth thy spirit shine,
As shines the sunbeam in drop OF dew"
HAVING noticed, in late number of the "Dem-
ocrat," some "EIints to teachers" by Nondescrpt,
shall notice one of his remarks, viz z:-Perhaps
no very valid objection can be brought against
written sermon, though prefer them fresh from
the heart, if methodcal and studied but il writ.
ten, let them be committed, or at least carefully
| read and re read"
| Now could unite with the Authors prefer.
ence, were it not for the adjective Studied" but
am Of opinion, that there can be very valid oh.
ectlons brought against " writen and studied SER
mons, for this is the wisdom Of man, which repels
the light OF Christ. Let Franciscus Lamberus
bring an objection "Beware that thou determine
not to speak what before thon hast meditated,
whatsoever it be, lest if thou so dost thou lakeSt
from the Holy Spirit that which is his. to wit, to
direct thy speech, that those mayest prophecy in
the name of the Lord, void Of all learning, medi.
tation, and experience, and as if thou hadst stud
died nothing at all, committing thy heart, thy
tongue anu thyseII, "hOllJ uhlo hIs eP'N al"
trusting nothing to thy former studying or medit
alton but saying with thyseli, in great conf.
dence OF the divine promise, "The Lord will
give word with much power TO those thatpreach
the gospel" But above all things be careful thou
follow not the manner of the hypocrites, who have
written almost word for word what they are to
say, as il they were to repeat some verses upon
theatre, having learned all their preaching as they
do that act tragedies. And afterwards, when they
are in the place of prophesyng, pray the Lord to
direct their tongue but in theneantme, ,shuttingup
the way of the Holy Spirit, they determine to say
nothing but what they have written or studied
But here il will doubtless be aledged, that di.
vine revelation has ceased, for without this obcc'
ton, they must certainly give way to the teaching
Of the Spirit. And what proof is there, that di.
vine revelation has ceased Because the wisdom
and councils Of men have decreed it so Because
those who,as LambertUs says determine tosay moth
thing but what they have written or 'tudied-have
nothing revealed to them? AS it a Random shot,
Nondescript may, upon reflection, see the lncon-
sis'eacy of his position. 1t will be admitted that
God influenced patriarchs, prophets and apostles
by immediate and divine revelations of his Holy
Spirit, and why should we suppose that the fol.
lowers Of Christ are now deserted by it 1t is
true that we have the scripture Of truth to teach
US. But why should we prefer the light OF the
moon borrowed from the sun, to the lnmedate
rays of the sun itself? 1t was not sufficient for
the Apostles to know, that Christ did for them
but they sought to become more obedient to the
"stiIl small voice" within which to the light
"that lghteth every man that cOmeth into the
world" Yea, and Christ commanded them to
take no thought what they should say, for it should
be given unto them. 1t is this light to which the
scriptures direct US. 1t is this light must save
us. And without this scrptura and divine light
within our souls to guide and direct our feeble
understandings, we can never become experiment
tally acquainted with that Power, under whose
divine influence "neither death, nor life nor an
gels nor prncipa palites,nor powerS,nor things pres
ent nor things to come, NOR heghtn depth, any
other creature shall be able to separate us from the
love of God in Jesus Christ. Heather men have
come to knowledge of God by this spiritual light.
Cicero was sensible Of it,and says cannot be alb
ropated, neither can any be fred from 1t, neither
by senate or people it is one eternal, and the
source always, to all nations so there is not one
a, Rome and another at Athens: Whose obeys it
not, must flee from himself, and in this IS greatly
,ormented, although he should escape all other
punishments." Many other instances might he
quoted, in which heathens became sensible OF the
"way of life" for which they were denomnated
philosophers or lovers of wisdom.
This il the ,CisdOnl that sells at naught the
! heology and creeds ofman; this IS the wisdom
hy which true Christians in all ages ct the world
/ have been led and influenced Without the TEA
: chngs of this uisdom-~ithout divine revelation
a man cannot be- a Gospel minister, although ne
may have natural talent and eloquence sutncieht
to excite the minds Of superficial hearers, YET
such cannot "bring forth fruit to the glory oil uou
We read that the letter killeth, bur the spirit
giveth life With those school.taught divneS'
50 called, who not having received Immediately
from The fountain Of this UiSdOm-and cannot
freely give even of their own coined stuff, whose
object is the fleece and not the flock, 'who love
greetings in the market places, and the highest
seats in the synagogues," will dobues' be verified
the saying of the prophet, 81 sent them not, nor
commanded them; Therefore, they shall not pro.
fiji this people at all, saith the Lord"
A SCHOOL BOY.