The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1862-10-16
Fox THE CENTRAL PREsBYTCRIAN.
Tsstidious Hearers.

"Estidious hearers" These hearers Of Di-
vire truth, go to church with some degree
Cf regularity, either from early habit, re-
spect TO public opinion, and perhaps, in
some cases from better motives. Bat they
CO not 8crupie to criticise and judge, ac-
Quit or condemn, what they hear, uat as if
they were called together, not to hear the
Word Of God in crder to DO it, but to hear
and witness performance in the depart
ment Of composition and elocution, and then
to exercise their critical acumen, by aDaly-
zing the performance. ard passing a verdict
or its comparative merits. Such hearers,
think, are more likely TO De found in cities
than in the country, but have reason to
know they are not by any means confined
to cilies,-they are 10 be found all ever the
country, especially in the towns and villages.
1t seems to me, that there is hardly any
class of hearers who are more guilty of de-
spisipg the Word of God, or who, by their
conduct, show more the pride Ct their hearts,
and the sinfulness OF their motives in com
irg to the house of God.
Let me conGne myself, for the present, to
these two points: Let US see, ia the Ffa
place, how much they despise the Word OF
God. Perhaps the following Illustration or
comparison may serve 10 make this point
rlain:--
Suppose there is prisoner in conGne
meut who has forfeited his life. lie is con-
victed, and bis sentence is pronounced
The day OF his execution Genes, and he ex-
poets, every m,ment, to see the door ct his
prison opened, and to be called to the place
OF execution. The door opens, and a mes
senger from the Governor comes in to offer
him pardon and liberty. The prisoner pro
fesaes to be exceedingly delighted with the
message, but be objects very much to the
Jcorcr of the message. He is a man Of 10
consequence he is hardly able to de-
liver his message in becoming manner
Instead Of rising up and gettieg out OF his
dungeon, the prisoner still remains there.
dwelling all the time on the disqualification
of the messenger, and wonders why the
Governor should not have sent to him q
man of more talents and Of higher stand
ing il society. lie is reminded again and
again Of the preciousDess Of the message,
ard Of bis obligation to avail himself OF
the kind offer of pardon, and he should
highly esteem and value it, and overlook
those unimportant matters. o yes, he re-
plies, know the message is Of great value,
and cannot but be grateful to the Govern
or for sendisfs-it, anal heyOr him Tor il -
but 8hy did he send such messenger-Why
did he rot he lot rave the olfer Of pardon
printed on parchment, SCI And so he
goes on, never leaving his prison, but quar-
relling and complaining without cessation
about the messenger, and such minor and un-
essential circumstances of the case. The
Governor is forbesring and kind enough TO
send another messenger then another,
and everything possible is done to suit the
mans tastes, but all 10 van. He complains,
and will not be satisfied. Here now, is the
case Of these fa8tidious hearers. If this poor
prisoner had no realizing sense Of the value
of the pardon offered him,-haye these
hearers OF the gospel, any better sense Of
the pardon God offers them2
In the sccond place, it will be as easy to
show that this conduct is the result Of pride,
and that their motives in coming to tue
house of God, are not such as He vill.Np-
prove, but are sinful.
These fastidious hearers do not want to
hear this man, or that man, or the other
man. And if you ask them why2 Do you
think this man unfit for the ministry l-or
do you think that man had better be about
some other business3 sob no." they re
reply, "we think that he may be made
very useful. He will do very we'll in small
tom, or in some country village, o, in the
country itself. Send him ont to the new
countries az missionary-or send him as
missionary to the heather, but don't think
of keeping him here,--he will not answer
our purpose. We must have a very differ
ent sort of man. And then, Ue can pay |
for good preaching; zoe are able to pay a
very decent salary; and zoe are willing to
do it, if We can get man to suit us''-
Such language, you may hear at any time
among a cert lin class of people, and If
they do not say ii in so many words, it is
plainly implied in what they do saY,--and
speaks loudly in their conduct. Now, let
ne ask, does this frame of mind show pride
or not2 Is it such as God will approve,
and such as is likely to be attended with
his blessing?
Such hearers, show by their conduct the
sntulness of their notions in going to the
house of God. From their disappointment,
you can safely reason upou the partcu
lar and ruling word or wants with which
they entered the sanctuary, and which they
chiefly expected to satisfy there. They 60
away disappointed and dissatisfied; and
why7 Was not the subject profitable and
Was it net gospel truth o.
was IL not we'll established and faithfully
applied? o yes. all this it was, no donbt
But it was not SO powerful, or so beautiful
Is composition; it was not as able as it
might have been; it was not delivered with
,he elegance and grace, or with the ruling,
eloquence OF this or that man.
Now, will not make my charge too heavy.
will not say that such hearers are entirely I
by the motive Of hearing di- 4
,ine trnth. | will grant that this is one Of t
heir motives. But it is certainly very a
Inferior one. Their great motive is to be 6
,ieased, to be cnt7taiaed by an exhibition q
{ learning aud taste, and by rhetorical
xercise, The great motive Of such hear C
rs-let ne tell it plainly-is the identical fl
ne from which those men, whom the world
els decent men, visit the theatre, or any G