The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-05-12
PULPIT DUTY.

mind of faithful minister OF Christ when he
enters into the pulpi-to impart instruction to his
audience, and to exercise holy influence over
their hearts In order to do this, it is absolutely
necessary to practice rigid self denial. We
must, in the first plass, esseavo& Sight OF
self, and exclude from our breasts any lurking dis
position to enhance our own Importance in the
eyes Of others. An apparent self-consciousness
may not seriously interfere with the acceptability
of discourse. A certain degree of it is readily
forgiven by congregation otherwise favorable
But it is generally fatal to the spiritual influence
of the speaker We must not expect to please the
Master, or to promote his cause, by learning or
eloqueuce ostentatiously displayed. supreme
desire to serve him and to save souls must burn In
the heart, and appear in the words and manners of
the preachers
Entering the pulpit in this spirit, our first aim
is to impart religious knowledge to the people.
They are pershing for lack of this very thing. 1t
is the ignorance that is in them that has to be re-
moved, before faith can be exercised. tits, there
fore, the sacred duty Of conscientious minister
to throw as much light as possible upon the minds
and consciences of his hearers. The truth must
be so presented as to be readily grasped by the
feeblest intellect before US, and We should address
ourselves especially to those who stand in the
greatest need of such instruction. 1t is just here
that so many signaly fail. We are apt to seek
out the most appreciatiye element in congrega-
ton, and to fix our attention upon a few of the
more intelligent auditors. But in this we forsake
the example of Christ, who sought continually to
instruct and save the lowest Of the lost.
Again, the next object Of the faithful minister
is to persuade men to believe and obey the gospel
This is the highest aim of the orator, to influence
the life and character of man by his persuasive
art. But such result can never be produced by
eloquence of the highest order, without profound
earnestness in the speaker, which enlists the conf
dence and sympathy of his audience. And this
deep earnestness viii be most effectually displayed
by the faithful presentation of motives. There is
wide difference between present entertainment,
and permanent reformation We may hold con-
gregation spell bound for hours, and yet leave
them as we found them. And the permanent re-
suits may not be in proportion to the temporary
impression. A sermon unattended by visible ex-
element, may yet be followed by deep and lasting
changes in the character ofthe people who listened
to it. The kind of impression we should endeavor
to make is, therefore, conviction of the truth
1t proceeds, according to the apostle, from faith
to faith. The faith of the speaker propagates
itself, as it were, to the minds of the people,
The establishment produced by the preaching of
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thority, and not as the scribes. The people felt
that profound sincerity attended his utterances,
and were therefore the more inclined to believe in
the truth of the doctrine he proclaimed.
But here is great difficulty, Such is our natu,
raj corruption, that We find it almost impossible to
dvest ourselves of personal motives that continu-
ally mingle with our hottest services. On entering
the pulpit, in spite of prayer in spite of resolu
tiOn in spite of the fear Of God some tendency to
regard the appreciation of man will arise in the
mind, and mar the holy conservation becoming
the place. We think of ourselves as objects of
interest, and subjected to criticism. We feel
natural desire and relish for the esteem and admi
ration of Others We are painfully anxious to per-
form the service of the hour, in manner that
shall not offend the taste of the refined, or provoke
the disparaging comments of the captiOus. We
think of the audience as body of spectators who
are to be entertained and delighted. We watch
their movements and expressions of countenance,
and would anticipate the verdict of their judgment
upon our performance. Such, we say, is the ten
deney of our hearts, and such, in fact is the opera
~. H. ,pk of
higher and nobler principles How sad and hu-
initiating is the reflection How earthly are the
earthern vessels by which the grace of Heaven is
conveyed to dying world
Who is sufficient for these things? Thanks be
to God, we can do all things through Christ which
strengtheneth US. His Christening grace, by
long, painful discipline, can humble, purify, and
spiritualize our services. This kind goeth out by
prayer and fasting Much effort, reflection, and
are required to overcome and eradicate
this pernieious disposition that pervades our min
Sterial exercises, and renders so much of our toll
fruitless to mankind
Relying upon the grace of God as the source of
our strength, we may find certain means adapted
to relieve our infrmities All that we would now
suggest is, that the principle of displacement, so
well known in chemical manipulation, furnishes a
remedy worthy of our attention. Our minds
should, in other words, be pre0ccupied, when we
enter the pulpit, with those great truths of our re-
hgion which are the objects of faith. Considering
ourselves we should remember our original insig-
and our natural turpitude-that we are
pershiDg worms, crawling at the feet of the Crea-
tor, and utterly unworthy of his regard. Consid-
ering the congregation before which we are about
to appear, we should also bear in mind that we are
sent to them on a mission of mercy-that they are
lost and ruined, helpless and hopeless mass of
dying humanity, the objects of divine compassion,
whose condition we ought to commiserate, rather
than covet their applause. Filled with such
thoughts as these, and humbly imploring the help
of the Holy Spirit, we shall enter upon our sacred
duties with lowly self abasement, and an earnest
desire to be fundamentally efficient in saving sin
ners and furtherng the salvation of the people of
God
Rev. DR.. Moore.-We regret to learn that the
health of this beloved brother is so impaired by
his winter labors in Nashville as to render rest
of several months necessary. His expectation is
to visit Georgia first, and afterwards try the brac
ing climate of Minnesota. May these means
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