The New York herald., 1870-04-04
nGsE H.LL M. (. eEUaC1.
The Art Of Pleasing-Duties Of Miuisters--A
"Oie" mt Sensation Preachcrs-Puipic and
Pew Morality.

The Art Of Pleasing-Duties Of NIinisters-A
ssDie' Mt Sensation Preachcrs-Puipit and
Pew Morality.
This Is plain brick church located In East Twenty.
seventh street. near Third avenue. It can accom-.
modate about !, sou persons The largest proportion
OF the membership and congregation are working
persons, but there Is little sprinkling OF wealthy
ones among them. OF such may be named Mr..
Delamater, the iron founder ana Spanish gunboat
manufacturer Jonn Stephenson, the celebrated rail-.
road car and stage manufa cturer; ex.Judge Kelly,
DR.. White. Mc5srs, Pullman, Perritt Turner and
Others. The Rev. s. b. Sing is pastor. He Is large
man and apparently able to stand good deal of work
The singing is congregational and Is led Dy Mr. Jonn
Stephenson ana a choir accompanied by melodeon.
The sermon yesterday morning was preached from
the text First Thessaopians H.. A. "But as VIC were
allowed OF God ~ be put IN trust with the Gospel,
even SO we SPEAK; not as pleasing men, but God,
VINO treth our iearts,' and related manly TO
TIE DUNES Or THE MINISTRY.
BY way OF preface, Brother Sing SAID his man.
ifoid duties did no: allow HIM to prepare sermon
and WINE he was debating In has mind what he
Should SPEAK TO the congregation about he remem-
beied that he had an old sermon which he mad
preached many years ago and lad prepared witn
great care, and he determined to use 1t; but when
ne examined It he found it like great many peo.
ple-not wnat 1T was expected TO be. 1t mad
Its day but was llnnt for this age Of progress He
had talked " the people about their dulles until
that subject had been well handled, and alter trlv.
erSiDE tie range OF ministerial tOpics he concluded
TO speak TO them on the duties OF ministers as ne
knew thai great many persons are ignorant OF the
every man
TO PLEASE HIS NEiGHBoR
for h9 good, and especially so for Minister'S Some
are lifted to gladden. every circle and to oeauy ev
cry act. But there are others differently consutt
ted and tpey Should study the are OF pieasIug for
the sake Of usefulness We may be faithful sad ne
ana yet kind; firm and yet gentle; as serpents
ana harmless as doves. lhe amenities OF he are
made UP OF tribes but they are not trifIes They
create the most powerful influence that can
be brought 10 Dear In social converse. Ho
knew many men whose influence has Deen totally
destroyed ior want OF those amenities. Ministers Of
the gospel ought especially to cultivate TINS art of
pieasingto De all things to all II by any means
they may save sOme But there limit to THIS art
OF pleasing not as pleasing men, but GOD; always
In subordinalon 10 conscience The apostle seems
aud such Is the Iact. The kind OF preaching
that the people ought to expect must be con.
vlncing, although great many persons think it
should be comforting. But how, he asked, can we
be comforted until we are first cOnvinceds Men are
naturally seli-rlghteous, and the Saviour declares
taat he came not 70 call sucn, but sinners TO repent.
ance. We must frst convince them that they are
sinners before we cap point them to the Saviour.
SENSATION PREACHING.
The ministry must also be spiritual Brother Sing
had evidently read the sunday HERALD for III treat
ing thus head he quoted very largely from Its edto
rial Ideas There Is, said he, tendency IN human
nature to exalt the creature ABOVE the CreatUr-t0
place the material above the spiritual. And IN this
age and day especially the discoveries OF science
tend to materlallze thought and the spiritual truths
about God aud tue soul, the cross aud eternity must
be preached TO counteract and controvert TINS. The
ministry must also oe logical. There III this day a
great Call Tor sensation preaching, wncn speaks
Imagination anJ senslbilIties only, and does not
arouse the conscience or the intellect. Whlle We
cannot set up y standard for pulpit preaching-as
there are di5Gfsitej 81 gs ia tAe ministry 6f TIE
Gospel-he questioned whether such preaching ever
buS 1t does Eot retain them. 1t reminded
hm Of an essay at brickiayng whicn he
made In boyh00d- while he remained to prop p his
wall 1t stood; but as soon as ne Lett 1t tumDled
down. so 1t is with sensation preaching. AS long
as the eloquent orator, or the genial minister, re-
maius the crowd remains also; but when he goes
the congregations dwindle down to their ordinary
number. Ihe balance OF Christian testimony u
against sensation preaching. 1t Sacrifices the doc.
Jrles Of the cross for the sake OF The sensaton II
Is one sided; 1t il iniated 1t ~ ike ship at sea
under iul SAIL, but without ballast; taere ~ no sGa