Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1873-07-05

in Richmond. Where money
was not to be had watches, jewelry, sill
yer plate and lands were pledged.
The biennial Convention of the Gene
raj Synod of the Lutheran Church was
held this year at Canton Ohio. Rey. Dr.
Baumb presided, and about one hum
dred and fifty delegates were present.
The proceedings were characterized by
harmony, courtesy and earnestness.
The reports of the Boards of Foreign
and Home Missions and Church EXten-
sion were quite encouraging, and the |
progress made in these departments of |
effort seems but the earnest of a rich |
harvest which promises soon to be gath |
cred. The anniversary meetings of |
Home and Foreign Missions were well |
arranged, and the speeches made of the |
highest order. During the sessions fra
ternal addresses were made BY delegates
representing the Congregational, Dutch
Reformed and Cumberland Presbyterian
Churches.
Among the subjects discussed at the
was 'sThe Power of the Pulpit-is it
Declining?'' Mayor Robinson rather
took the ground that it was, owing
chiefly to the greater intelligence of
congregations. Rev. Mr.. Butfum re-
piled that, so long as there is a cross in
the world, so long it must be preached.
If the Ministry will leave essaying and
philosophy and speculation and know
nothing among men "saye Christ, and
him crucified," they will never lose their
power The Gospel is to be efficacious
through preaching; there is something
| in the hearts of men which responds to
| the preached word. What is doctrine
but truth-the truth of God? Spurgeon,
Taylor and Hall are doctrinal preachers,
and are they not successful? He be-
increase rather than TO diminish; its in
fuence and its future harvests will be
greater than in the past.
| The CLERGYMAN AND THE INFIDEL.--
Some years ago weliknown clergy
man delivered n series of lectures against
Atheism in town some of the citizens
of which were known to be infidels. A
few days afterwards hetook passage in a
steamer ascending the Mississippi, and
found on board several of the citizens of
that town, among whom was noted in-
fidel. So soon as this man discovered
the clergyman he commenced to BIAS
pheme; and when he perceived him
reading ut one of the tables he proposed
to one of his companions to go with him
to the opposite side of the table. and
listen to some stories that he had to tell
about religion and religious men, whicll
he said would annoy the old preacher.
Quite number, prompted by curiosity,
gathered around him to hear his vulgar
stories and anecdotes, all of which were
pointed against the Bible and its min
listers.
The preacher did not raise-..his eyes
from the book which he was reading,
nor appear to be in the least troubled
by the presence of the rabble. At length
the infidel walked up to him, and rudely
slapping him on the shoulder said !:
cold fellow, what do you think Of these
things?" The clergyman calmly point
ed towards the land, and said, "Do you
see that beautiful landscape spread out
in such quiet lovelness before you ?''
"Yes.'' SIT has variety of flowers,
plants and shrubs that are calculated to
fill the beholder with delight" eyes,
''Well, if you were to send out a dove
it would pass oyer that scene and see in
it all that was beautiful and lovely, and
delight itself in gazing at and admiring
it; but if you were to send out buzz
zard over precisely the same scene it
would see in it nothing to fix its atten-
cass that would be loathsome TO all other
animals. 1t would alight and gloat upon
that with exquisite pleasure" FfDo you
mean to compare me to buzzard, sir?''
SAID the infidel, coloring deeply. "I
made no allusion to you, said the cler-
gvman, very quietly. The infidel
walked off in confusion, and went by
the name of ''The Buzzard'' during the
remainder of the passage.
We hold to earth and earthly things
by so many more links of thought, if
not of affection, that it is far harder to
keep our view of heaven clear and
strong; when this life is SO busy, and,
therefore, so full of reality to us, anoth-
er life seems by comparison unreal. This
is our condition and its peculiar tempta-
tations; but we must endure it and
strive to overcome them, for / think we
; may not try to flee from it.-Dr.
ArnOld.
The little boy held the sixpence near
his eye and SAID: go Motherl 1t is
bigger than the room!' and when he
drew it still nearer he exclaimed, go
Mother! it is bigger than all outdoors !''
And in just that way the wOrldlne
hides God, and Christ, and Judgment,
and eternity, from view, behind some
paltry pleasure, some tritiing joy, OF
| some small possession, which shall per-
ish with the using, and pass away, with
all earth's lust and glory, in the ap-
preaching day of God Almighty.
eve come to Christ for life, and to the
Holy Communion with life. We come
to Christ for forgiveness, and to the
Holy Communion with forgiveness, il
we come to it Alright, for the strengthen
ing and refreshing of our souls by the
blood of Christ, as our bodies are by the
e bread and wine. Food and strength are
for the living. and not for the dead A
dead thing cannot get strength and re-
freshment. 1t must first have life. The
: sinner, by grace, gets life in Christ, and
has Christ for his life; and in the bless.
, ed sacrament obtains from the same
grace, from Christ, and not from the
sacrament, strength and refreshment fol-
n tae soul. The God of all grace works
in the hearts of his believing people, ir
this and all his other ordinances, richly
n 10 our SOULS good. .''-Dr. Gfegg.
Now, to hear any sort of Luxurious
= clergy-elothed in purple and fine
o linen, and faring sumptuously every
. day, surrounded by splendid flower;
> and Tapped in costly music, and support
o ed by people who have to trade, and buy
and sell, to raise the means of sustain
ing these clergymen-and building cost
ly temples--speaking of the world ant
its necessary ways of wealth and com
= merce and social life, as if radically op
/ posed to the kingdom of God, wrons