Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-10-05
The Ends of Preaching.

Baxter, In several places and in several forms,
expresses the idea, that if he did not believe
that men must be converted or perish forever,
he would sooner be scayenger than preacher
OF the Gospel. 1t is this grand issue of the
Gospel dlspenSation which gives importance to
the work of the preacher. And if this issue is
left out, and the Gospel made no Gospel, wheth-
er In the minister's creed, OR in his purpose of
preaching. his preaching degenerates into q
work which every honest man ought to despise
and abhor And yet how easily, and we may
say how extensively, is this purpose lost sight
OF by preachers who think they are preaching
the Gospel?
The truth is, if we are to have much success
In our ministry, this main purpose, the CONFER
sion OF men, must, in the topics and treatment
of our dlscourses, be kept steadily in the eye.
Few ministers have ever equalled Baxter In his
success; and yet few have exhibited such con-
centratlon of aim toward this result His pub
llshed books, many ofwhich are mere collections
OF his sermons, preached to his people, are but
different forms Of the argument for conversion.
One OF his most mastery books, his Treatise on
Conversion, was printed from the shorthand
notes of his sermons, without his revision. His
Call to the Unconverted was another series of
sermons on the same subject. Then we have
his Directions for Sound Conversion. Indeed,
We cannot spare the space to give the titles to
tuo Duueiouo uooho Hc pIUuuceu ITOtn MS SER
mons, OF which conversion was the immediate
theme. This fact of itself shows the secret of
his success. But just read specimen of the
expression OF his feelings on the subject
Beloved hearers, L am not come hither to-
day OF my own head, nor in my own name, nor
on my own business but in the name Of Christ,
and on the business of your salvation know
this great assembly will all be shortly in another
world ; and We shall meet, ere long, in far
greater assembly, at the day Of Christ's judg-
ment, which viii be upon US, for all the SEEM
ing delay, before the careless world is aware
That you may be ready for that day, and stand
converted world stands trembling and amazed,
as overwhelmed with the unexpected terrors Of
the Lord, this is the business that came a.
bout to day,-no less no lower business, than
this. That have not trifed with you, and
filled your ears with witty toys aud strange mat
ters, hope you will easily pardon me, when
you have considered your condition, and the
business of our Office. | hate that preaching
that passeth over the one thing necessary, and
only tickleth the ears of miserable men, when
it should endeavor their relief. If the town
were On fire, it were no commendable matter to
be fddiing and dancing, when you should
quench it, If | saw you but sinking in broken
vessel, and ready to drown, if you had not help,
it would seem no part OF wisdom to me to make
q learned Grafton to you, when should be help
ing you out of present danger. / must tell you,
therefore, that [ come not hither only to talk
to you, that you might go home and say you
had heard fine or learned sermons but I
come to help you out Of the misery of an un-
converted state. | see the gulf of remedies 9
destruction little before you and | come to
require you in the name of the Lord, to make
a stand, and 60 no further.
Now, if there be any preachers among US who
write and preach with the intent that their
hearers may go home and say, We have heard
a fine or learned sermon it Is enough to say
that such was not the way with Baxter. nor
Paul, nor with any others who have had the
true spirit of the ministry. And yet We greatly
fear that this very mistake as to the end of
preaching, is doing immense mischief among Us.
Heresies are to be deprecated, but this heresy,
which may conceal itself under the most Or
thodox creed. may do US more mischief than
any other. For by palsying or perverting the
efforts Of those who preach tie truth, it gives
to the truth itself the effect of heresy. If to
hold the truth in unrighteousneSs be sin, much
more is it a sin to preach the truth to such an
unrighteousness purpose, and 10 convert the
balm of life into deadly poison. Terrible will
be the reckoning, in the final day, of those
ministers who have so wickedly forgotten the
purpose of their preaching