Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-05-09

10 appoint ana commission them. NO one Is
called until he is converted. He only who
has himself experienced the love of Christ
can proclaim it to others in an effectual man
ner. God may in preparatory way call men
to preach who have not clear conviction of
their sonships, but who are afterwards led
out into the full light.
He referred to the various agencies en-
ployed by God to lead men into the ministry.
Some are born for the work. others are driven
into it by their own convictions that they must
preach the word or perish. Young men are
often consccrated to the work by their pa
rents and know it not until after the expert
ence of years. He said that it was the high
est position on earth, to preach the gospel of
Christ.
How shall a man know that he is personally
called to preach? lst, by the voice of God in
his heart I'd, the voice of the church; Sd,
The witness of the spirit attesting to his la
bors. How many cherished plans are frus-
trated when man lays aside the world and
takes up the burdens and responsibilities of
christian minister. Perhaps he intended to
be a lawyer or a doctor-thc call is not his
own; it is Gods. The second test is the
thoughts that will fill the mind when the heart
is given up to God. The third test will be the
numerous difficulties that will loom up in his
way. At last the voice within him says ''go,"
and he dares not disobey. What shall he do
when he is called? Let him respond immedi-
atey, begin to work and to study, and not be
anxious to become at once a preacher. When
you see man who is over-anXious to preach,
you may be sure that he has mistaken his
calling. When God calls, the preaching will
come in his own time. When God wants
David he will send Samuel for him, even
though he may be in the harvest field.
Let the preacher be commissioned from
heaven. How the scholar values diploma
from the college or university. This comes
from a fallible source; the preachers diplo
ma should bear the signature of heaven.
Having once entered the ministry, let him not
be turned aside from his great work. If a
man deserves to be lost it is the one whom God
calls into the ministry, but who refuses to
preach.
Secondly, what are we to preach? The
rord, as given in the first chapter of John;
preach Christ in all his glorious offices-eter-
nal father, saviour of sinners and sanctifier of
the soul. In eloquent and glowing words the
speaker here dwelt upon the magnitude and
responsibility Of the great work
He thought that in this day of light reading
the bible was not studied enough. The min
lister must be man of faith. In the midst of
the Latitudenariansm of the present day,
when it is thought that it makes but little diff
ference what man believes, the minister
must be decided and bring out the great truths
of Gods word. The gospel should be
preached with great simplicity. He favored
an educated ministry, but there was a tendon
CIV to talk about Rome and Greece and other
parts of history unknown to the mass, who
desire to be taught, as Jesus taught from the
common things of life. He did not object to
the use of manuscript, or to the rounding out
of beautiful sentences in discourse, but he
would have it set on fire from the altar of God.
The preacher should be cnducd with the Holy
Ghost. The apostles had it, and shall not we,
in our weakness? The words of Christ come
to the heart of every true preacher, assuring
him that it was not he that chose Jesus, but
that Jesus chose him and called him to the
work.
After brief and atfectionate appeal to the
audience to give their hearts to Jesus, the
speaker closed. He was listened to by the
vast audience with the kecnest interest; every
one was impressed with the simplicity of his
style and earnestness of manner.
The following persons were ordained as
Deacons, after which the benediction was pro-
nounced:
James II. Moores, John H. Pillsbury, Ed
win r. French, James H. Mason, John San
born, Chas. j. Clark, Daniel Ilaleron.
In the afternoon Rev. Mr.. Prince of the
Fast Maine Conference, preached a sermon
on the subject of Faith" after which the
following candidates were ordained as Elders ::
Hezekiah Chase, John r. Masterman. W.
II. H. Pillsbury, Melville Il. Cummings, Ezra
Sanborn, John III. Griffin, Israel Dunning.
4 missionary meeting was holden in the
evening, a report of which is deferred to to-
morrow.