Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-03-22
From the n. Y. Independent.
Preaching the Gospel.

ticle in the Journal Of Commerce, which 10
gether with some recent events, has gwen
me no little trouble. The able editor OF That
Journal has told us ministers in his PLAIN
way that il is our duty to "prencii the Cos
pei" and that we are not to meddle IN o'ner
matters. lie also hintcd quite iGtellglbly TO
our congregation that if we do not STICK 10
our appropriate calling, they had better put
us out of our pulpiis.
Now feel very anxious to retain my par
ish, TO please all men, to he a good man,
and confine myself strictly TO the "preach-
ing of the gospel" Accordingly for some
years, did so preach. discussed the doc
Irine of the ntonemcnt in fifty sermons i
preached one hundred times on the doctrine
of the Trinity, reiuiing every errorlst rom
Marcion to Claiming; and times without
number on election aud regeneration. All
| this time our parish was as quiet ns grave
yard. Every one potted me on the buck, as
one does well trained spaniel.
After n while | became n little unensy
| as ! perceived that intemperance increased
around me with frightiul rapidty, and that
many of our church members were engag-
ing in the traffic. So after much fear ana
doubt, ! ventured TO preach on the matter,
aud with many apologies TO my audience iOr
lntrrding the subject ON them, | limited as
gently as | could at the wrongiulness OF the
business. But the very next day my good
deacon called in great trepidution TO beg me
not To give any more offence to such lniluen-
iial men as Esquire F'illhouo and Col. Rum
lug: and hc had hardly lett the house when
these two gentlemen came IN, aud after
many protesa,ions of profound respect for
ministers, so long MS they adhered TO their
sacred duties, limited to me that il meddled
any more with such profanc and secular mat
tiers as the rum-traflic, my situation would
be very precarious one. perceived my
error, aud betOok myself again 10 "preach-
ing the gospel" and had tile high gTntfica-
ton Of regnning the favor of these iniluen-
tial men.
Some time elapsed during which was
compelled To see awful results aud deaths
from iutemperauce in my own congregation.
Deeply affected 10y these events, ] wrote
sermon in the most cautious and prudent
manner, in whiclrI limited tenderly ut these
tragedies, aud very gently begged our young
people to think of the pledge OF total absi
nence. But alas though my people loved
and respected Inc so much, yet OF Sabbath
evening there was n sort OF informal indigna-
lion meeting, at which vote was passed,
"tbat the Gospel says nothing ahout,piessser
or total abstinence; that our minister he re-
quesied TO conine himself entirely to his APP
proprate work Of preaching the Gospel; that
IL he persist in meddling with other peoples
affairs il " i'll be our duty 10 roll his black
coat in the dirt" These resolutions were
handed to me by Mr.. Soakwell, MIR. Black
eye, Mr.. Beatwife, MIR. Ragwindow, and
MIR. Rumiul. | assured the deputaiion that
| had not designed TO give Ofiense 10y my
preaching and hoped the matter would puss
off without any farther agitation. For the
next twelve months, preached over all my
old sermons on the atonement, election, per-
severance and free agency, aud gave univer-
sal satisfaction.
Ii so happened that an anti-slayery agent
came 10 my house, and had considerable
conversation with me on the rights and
wrongs of the slave. / must own TO the
weakness of having felt some sympathy for
my cOlored brethren us lac spoke with me
for up TO that time had considered il my
duty to have nothing to do with so delicate
a matter, especially as my neighbour Rev.
Mr.. Truthful, had recently lost his place by
meddling with it. But thought that with
my well known discretion l might manage
TO suggest the topic to my hearers. So in
one OF my old Gospel sermons" put in
new brief head, hniing that il we had the
spirit of Christ in us we should feel for the
slave as Christ did for the wretched. But
oug ut to have known better for at the sound
of the word slave, every sleeper in the
house actually opened his eyes aud stared at
me and Esquire Hateback got up aud walk
ed out OF the house. That very evening my
old Deacon Smallbrain came in TO inform
me that my whole congregation was in n
ierment, aud that unless could abandon this
course lie feared must leave; that the peo-
pie wanted TO hear the Gospel preached aud
not TO he annoyed with "Digger talk F" and
begged me to desisr. He limited that there
was some talk of 'society meeting You
may he sure ! was thoroughly frightened,
aud took good care not to commit the same
error agaln.
Without further detail, will merely men
| ton that | once alluded 10 gambling, aud re-
ceiyed the next day rather threatening note
asking me if the bible forbade gambling
and bidding me "preach the Gospel" aud
not neddle with peoples anuseneuts.--
| Again once limited at the gay and dssipat-
ed balls and dancers among the church
members, and was reprimanded by Hon. Mr..
Worldly for getting ont of my sphere, and
was assured by him that a minister could be
| respected only so long as he continued at
his appropriate work-that of preaching The
Gospel. Once in "Fast sermon" ventur-
ed TO speak of the political sins of the day,
and by so doing actually drove away from
the congregation MIR. Seekoffice and MIR.
Denngogue, who swore they would never
hear man preach who outraged his audi
ence by meddling with politics. ~ ~ 500
Now, MIR. Editor, think am perfectly
cured of the slight taint of fanaticisnl that
once endangered me. l now preach "aoth-
ing but the bare Gospel" have Just finished
a course of ten sermons on the genealogy of
Christ as contained in the " Gospeln of Mat
thew. have discussed the whole doctrine
of mans inability in thirteen sermons, drawn
from that "pne Gospel" text, "Witiout mo
ys CON do nothing" DR.. Bushnell's book