The Democratic press. (Eaton, Preble County, Ohio) 1860-1865, 1862-03-13

was that which was common to
them all, namely-their operative
holiness. They were in harmony
with the truth as it is in Jesus ;
and such must all the preachers
for the people be, if they would
succeed. AS God has, in mercy,
limited His omnipotence by His
promise to save all who, like Jacob,
are resolved, in faith, to obtain the
blessing; it is the privilege Of the
preachers for the people to live
much in prayer; digest the great
truths Of the Gospel, and hold the
Deity to His promise to save and
urge men to be reconciled to God.
The preachers who live and die
thus, will have power with God
and with men, and will prevail.
The preachers for the people,
should be very careful to preach
the whole truth as God has reveal
ed it, and not as men have pervcr.
ted it; and to bear. constantly in
mind that the Spirit is ever present,
not to form a Christian character
for moral agents, independently OF
their own endeavours, but to stim.
ulate and sustain individual exer,
tons; working in them that which
is wcll-pleasing to God. The di.
vine influences become more or less
effectual, just as men cherish them
and yield to them. These hol y in.
flucnces are promised in and thro.
rgh Christ. Hence it follows, that
all who yield to the Spirits stri.
' wings, should, if they would excel
; in holiness, live and labor in His
strength through faith; and act in
all their intercourse with society,as
persons filled, led, and governed by
Him. 1t is the privilege ofaIl min,
listers and hearers, who believe in
the truth of God concerning his
Son, to be filled with the Spirit
AS the Spirit is ever present with
his own word, the faithful minister
will he careful not to Illustrate his
gracious influences, by spending
his time, as many do, in proving
{ that sinners are not able to believe
in Christ, or to repent Of sin, and
that therefore they must wait until
+ it please God to give them grace to
believe and repent. The men who
preach these and kindred errors,
are guilty of high treason against
that God, who commands all men
to repent and believe, just because
all moral agents have power to re-
pc 1t and believe and therefore, the
preachers for the people, must
preach the preaching that He bids
them; and if men will not repent
or believe the G ,spel, thcir sin re,
maineth, and none but Themselves
can help it. - -
The earn rst minister who is resol.
we'd, under God, to save himself
and all who hear him, must bear
in mind, that there is no end to i'm
prOyement; and influenced by this
f great fact, it will he his privilege to
add daily to hisstore of knowledge;
but in order to do so, he must think,
reflect, and reason habitually, earn-
estly, and consecutiveIy. Reading
is not thinking; talking is not
, thinking; gossipping is not think
, inc, The mind, like other things.
must be keptin exercise; otherwise,
it will dwindle and starve. The
, Bible is book Of divine thoughts
expressed in human words; but
these thoughts must be re-thought,
by all who would make full proof
{ OF their ministry. Reason is the
grand faculty, whose province it is
to lay hold on ard grasp revealed
thoughts, as well as other facts OF
t daily occurrence and work them
! so as to bear upon the people, like
; a mighty torrent rushing to the
ocean; carrying all before it, and
losing itself in the deep abyss
The, preacher who really means,
and therefore labors to save his
hearers, will be sure to have his