The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1873-12-04

to preach Christ es, all to preach
Christ But before we proceed further,
let us explain what we mean by preach
ing Christ. Preaching Christ is to ex-
hibit his person to the minds and hearts
of others, first, by holding forth the
truth as it is in Christ Jesus, and second
| ly by proving and illustrating the truth
by thinking and feeling, and acting like
Him In these times we have associated
preaching with sacred place congre-
CATION of worshipers, peculiarly con-
structed arrangement called pulpit
There is kind of an idea prevalent now,
that unless a man lifts his voice and de-
liVers long discourse, upon a raised pull
pit, he is not preaching. This is mis-
take. The first method of preaching, as
exemplified by the disciples, was conver-
sation. Of course, there are good reasons
beside it being fashionable, for this
formal method of preaching to the mass;
but it seems to me that preaching has
lost much of its power since it ceased to
be living communication between mind
and heart, but a mere matter of rhetoric
and elocution Our Lord could set on
well and preach to one woman.
Well, exelaims one, if this is preaching
Christ, am up to my duty. l have con-
versed with sinners about their souls
welfare, and the love of Jesus. Yea, 1
have exhorted sinners to turn to God
that they may be saved. l have labored
at the altar, and have told my expert
ence of the love of God shed abroad in
my heart, &c.
All this is we'll; but unless we are
really transformed into His image, that
Christ's character and person be reflected
through our own, we cannot preach Him
effectually. There is nothing that COM
mands greater power over the minds of
men than character. Works have much
more power than words 1t is the life of
a man, and not his words, that leaves its
impress. This thing of being very re-
ligious and noisy on Sundays, and during
religious meeting, is not altogether the
thing needed to exhibit Christ to dying
souls. No, we need more. Christ is to
be preached behind the counter, in the
workshop, and at the market. 1 do not
mean that a Christian is to talk about
Christ and religion, at all times, thus
making hobby of it. But he is to ex-
hibit, constantly, in every day walks of
life, Christian character Character is
power in itself Two characters coming
in contact will make impressions on each
other when not word is spoken So if
Christ dwelleth in us through his spirit,
there is an influence emanating from us
that will be sure to leave its impress
on others. 1t is Christ in US as reflected
from the mirror of the gospel, that is to
tear down the strongholds of sin. The
skeptic can sooner be silenced by godly
life, than by logic and arguments
And let me remark, that all effort to
counterfeit christian charater is a fail
ure. 1t will be detected as by instinct
1t lacks that dignity that commands our
assent and wins our admiration All
men are Physiognomists by nature. Mans
greatest power lies not so much in what
he says as in what he is, not in what he
thinks he is, but what he is in the eye of
Omniscienee. Therefore brethren, let us
forget those things which are behind
reach forth for those things which are
before, and press toward the mark for
the prize of the high calling of God in
Christ Jesus.