New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-11
LAY PREACHING.


All Christians of the present time agree that
an unbounded field OF labor lies open before field for
which the actual laborers by far too few. The Mas
ter, command Pray we the Lord Of the harvest that he
send borers 10 the haryests" requires not only 70
pray for faithful ministers for missionaries TO bear the
joyful tdings foreign lands but It also requires US
70 find out how that bear the name OF Chris
ans are To be endowed with the spirit OF Chris
tanitv An increase IN the number of clergymen Will
certainly greatly assist in causing outward religious
conduct but aside from the fact that would be difficult
to find the requisite number OF persons for the actual
number OF ecclesiastical offices, We learn from
experience in Roman Catholic countries that
too large number OF clergy also iail TO produce
better Christian manner OF living The necessity OF
having additional help TO conduct the missionary work.
other occupation. VIII devote themselves to the CONVEX
sion OF souls is daily becoming more ana more pressing
1t is held by some that TINS Is not admissible we are
convinced that IL would be great blessing lor tue
Church II many Of its members would, In addition TO
their daily labors, assist in the FORMULATION or the
Gospel truth 1t is reasonable for US to investigate aud
see now this can DO authorized.
The Bible gives particular directions for the organ
izaon and government Of the Church; 1t confines IT.
self 10 laying down general principles OF salvation upon
doctrine dedueed thereIrom' Wneh me iounuatIOn oi
visible Church was to be laid the Lord sent twelve
apostles selected among men endowed with special
gifts on special mission as chosen INSTRUMENTS OF the
Lord TO publish the Gospel TO Jews and heather.
The apostolic mission was means employed only
once to build church out of chaos. When later the mum
Der Of enlightened Christians was increased the duty OF
communicating what tDeY udu received ucNONeu upon
them But that the preaching oil the poor Tor conform
ing aud reuning the believers as well as for converting
the heathens and hardhearted might never
be discontinued, the Apostles appointed elders
over the different communities, and this
to- sdf he Present day Se apostles up the duty
OF serving tables in order 20 devote themselves more
wholly the preaching OF the gospel seven men were
chosen to attend to the distribution or charity But
these men began TO preach Christianity ana what
were the results Thus also Apollo began 10 preach
freely and afterward associated himself with Agullla
and Priscilla (who took him TO themselyes In espOusing
the way OF God with stilI greater zeal MOST mpornt
is the forming Of church at Antioch, the nrst
prosperous community among the heathen ana those
who first took the Of Christians IL neither
apostles nor eyangelists but simply Chsans scattered
by persecution, founded this community. While
with great difficulty resolved TO go to the heathen
these men from Cyprus ana Cyrene spoke the word 70
the heather and preached to them the gospel OF the LOrd
Jesus. When the apostles heard what had happen
they sent Barnabas, who rejoced when he saw the
grace, and eXhorted them To remain steadIast IN the
hope. He had To the spirit Ia
work IN which he had not hlhseil GoopeIae1; ING ui
cult ih chapter OF the First Epste to the Corinthians
is full OF instruction upon that subject We act upon
the supposon that by prophesyns is meant
Of Gods word and 1t certainly Is different from the gft
OF tongues, the power of speaking foreign ang9ages
which the Christians and apostles received ON tue day OF
Pentecost and which was held1n nigh esteem In conse
quence OF its wonderful manifestations The apostle
says plainly, would that you al prophesIed, FROM
the the chapter it certainly does not follow that
prophecy gift which Christian received without
anything else falling to his share 6ut one ior when we
are all strive Whoever received this gift 10 was his
duty practice it. In The ancient form OF divine ser
vice, described in that wonderful chapter several
members could ofciae during worship, and the reyela
of God by His holy spirit, was not confined 10 those
In orders Only women were excluded from speaklhg
whence we conclude that all men, without any distnc
ton, allowed to take an active part. And Paul
expected great blessing from this. for he says that
an unbeieyer entered he would be reproached by all
In strict explanation OF Paurs saying, would
bring forward three texts from Holy Scripture,
which though they not exclusively relate 10 our
theme, still show us In general manner That
all testimony for Christ is acceptable. There have
everywhere been zeaots who hndered and suppressed
the preaching OF Gods word it not done according
70 tner approved systeus What says the guardian OF
the Jaw III tne Old covenant When II was known that
two men, Edar and Medal, had remained in the camp
quest: My Lord Moses forbid them" But Moses
answered. Art thou zealot for me. Would TO God
Lord pour out His spirit ' upon Ot the DeSt IL ao
What does the great apostle to the heather further
some also OF GOODWILL the preach Christ OF conten
zion, not sincerely surprising TO add affection
the defense OF the Gospel What then NOtwiths tand-
is preached and therein do rejoice yea aud will re-
joce. phil. lS-lS) Finally what does Lord and
Him that they had seen man who out devils In His
name and did not follow them. and they had therefore
forbidden him. But Jesus says You should not do IL,
for no one do anything in my name then speak
evil OF In passing in review the history OF the
formation insuhcent but still that the orig
ina Of worship continued TIL the middle af the
pate was separated from the eldership. While the
former regarded as continuation of the apostolic
office that OF the preacher Is st designated by the
latter In connection with this great anlmostes were
gradually formed between clergy and laity. This
duced caused the laity TO abstain from partici-
patng in the services. Even this change was
toward the end OF the second and commence
ment OF the third century distinctly stated that aymen
were also preachers Later the most eminent fathers OF
the Church insisted upon this. Chrysostom, who
iabored rs bishop OF COnstantinOpe In 5y showed what
blessing IL was TO bring others TO the kingdom OF God.
desire and pray" says he that you may all belong
IN the number teachers aud only 10 that hearers
Int that you also teach others the Gospel when we nave
nreached you and lead the errng God VIII then in-
crease tho OF believers the more brethren you
win me more grace from above Will you receive" In
another place he says, "Let one take the Holy
scriptures la his hand and call his neighbors aud
friends" These principles appear again Iii clearer aud
more determined form during the Reformation. when.
unfortunately the Church had occasionally 10 point out
some dead orthodoxy. when the members OF the com
munIty willingly left "those who held the Office" 30
mat while they were themselves not Obliged, the
prnciple OF universal priesthood s unequYOcal as may
be seen In the swiss aud the German Reformation AS tho
reiormers views put the lay element altogether IN