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

therefore all Christian men are pOPo' here 'ere
1t stronghold OF popery that certain Class e
been selected for the priesthood. All Chrlsuaas -
G palss. but among these several are selected '0'
Peter names the people and the community $50 dis
tncty, and calls them all together royal presth0od,
ana commands them to preach the deeds OF Goa WHO
' God has given three offices; therefore all
@ nave the power 70 preach stand before sn
we see that this is our first duty, nay to publish the
"a CHRISTIANS principal duty is to teach the word OF
Cod Ihat al CHRISTIANS are requested TO teach rs
proved by the following saying You are the royal
you from darkness to His wonderful light Peter not
only gives them the right, but he expressly commands
them to declare the virtues OF God, which is fact
nothing less then preaching the word OF Goa Paul
TO each individual IN particular. Each has Psalms
he has doctrine he has revelation he mas tongues ana
the power OF Interpretations and further you may all
prophesy after another, so that oil may learn ana
be exhorted." WI.
" What does It mean when IL says each onef What
does the little word all meant From these statements
which most clearly prove that Il Is me dHty OF all TS
are called Christians TO preach the Woru OF Goa. -
not only right but also n command" ,.,.
Here Apolos OF whom we read VINO, WILLOW a h
other calling, came TO Ephesus where ne preacned the
Word with great zeal, and powerfully conynoed tne
Jews IT. Is tesTeiSs e 5 OF eu VI Of the WORD
OF God and is himself fit. We have another example IN
ST. stephen and st. Philip, who were appointed 10 tne
Office Of serving tables"
"Has every Christian the Word OF God, he is also
bound confess to teach and publish It, as the propnet
In Ps 81, lie says Of all Christians: shall teaeh tae
wicked Thy way that sinners may DC 5ce
there Christians, he needs no other calling man
that he lisa Christian nwardly called by odS AhoHSo
IL ia then his duty TO preach 10 the heathen anu
who Christians In such case he regards WIN
brothery love the corrupted souls and does not
wait for any order letter from prince or bishop
"st Paul makes 1t the common duty OF al Cnrlsans
TO preach he SAYS Teach and e1hor one another
question here arises whether Ihe Iaity auu S Oh
may also preach, because though 81 ntePaeh VIZ
appointed to preach but 10 distribute charIty SUI
whenever me went to the market, raises eommouon
BY his signs and wonders. But st. stephen stands hrn
preach wherever he may happen be- whether In the
house the market, and does not allow the preaching
Luther is quite clear IN all these statements. Icoud
cite many otner ike expressions from tneOogy uuIlng
going too far 1t Is sufficient to state that men HAe
Martin Chemnz, Johann Arad. Johann Gerhard among
other fathers OF the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries
held these views Toward the end or the Seventeenth
century 1t Speser who revived the almost Forgotten
doctrine OF universal prestdOm. HIS lauOrs' anu
especially the small meetings ConVentcIes cOntensu
by him. helped greatly to intuse new ne ino , tne
Church so also active participation In cburch matters
by the lay has always been on one mana the eause anu
the other the effect OF newly awakened churGh ne
Whenever Christianity became power IN INDIVIDUALS
there also sprang up In them the desire 10 lpaIt 70
others the precious truths they had themselves received
and on the hand when many Christians considered
the welfare OF the souls OF their brethren as Important
the number Of Christians was rapidly increased opeser
sought through his preaching to awaken the desire 10
his hearers for such work. ana his edfylIg heeuugs
became the means of reyvals In the Church.
| IN England men Rowland Hill, Whitehead, ana Others
who tried to introduce practical life into me deadened
| formales of the Church When the Anglican Church
showed itself too beral to tolerate such workers IN ts
other communities And what happenedin England then
happens also Laymen Eyangests Without huioer
trayeoyer the country OF high standing predch 10
their companions and tourishlng communities anu az
tive development in Christian life IL the results.
And In the United States Is III not the same mere
Il NOT The Christian useful also here Sunday-schOo
teacher class of adults aud he derives pleasure from
| it.
Genevese had preserved the established rules OF CALVIN
but longer the spirit which animated Calvin it
uyls iudiy
activity. When this influence increased Evangensts
were also sent out. They even tried 10 restore the
Apostolic form OF Divine service lin the Free Church OF
Geneva and after the sermon TO perform second part
in which the members OF the community might partci-
pate Rich blessings were results OF these meetings
And in wwtemberg It is that part OF Germany thit
flourish best notwithstanding that the cola WIND
OF Rationalsm always swept over the country that a
"PIetistie We're about TO be driven out Of the
country, and an asylum was offered them In
KOrnthal. Through the small meetings, especially OF
| laymen, Christianity took deep root in the nation
These aymen who attend these meetings are often hon-
thai may edited by attending Divine service in which
| the members OF the community participate; Yes we
this with confidence Through the blessing
which God has in this century bestowed upon the work
OF the laity He has set his upon it, Therefore
also rgnt in asserting that the universal recognition
of this principle will be conducive toward revival OF
Christian life. After empericaly proving this blessing.
we shall also test its principles in the hrst place an
objection often presents itself to the pastor. " You
easily impressed by the words OF layman. The vOun-
tary testimony of layman is III itself practical proof
proof that Christianity ia indeed power In him; his
word has already the power OF an example in IT, Be
void relates TO the word that Is preached and not TO the
person preaching It. the numerical increase Of preachers
from the lay will doubtless of the greatest adj
vantage in tine spreading Of the Gospel The Church
will return upon the workers themselves and the re-
ligIOus life Of the Church be elevated. Christian who
takes an interest in voluntarily preaching the great
works OF God will naturally make more diIgent re-
searches in the Scriptures, his attention Will be
directed TO their careful study. and be will be
ed 10
crease the number OF praying persons. he Will
daily help from God. He will be more careful
about his conduct because difference between his
the former, Ii convinced that the Church Will
thereby be inwardy AND outwarily strengthened and
unite TO effect this
In conclusion shall add few words on this subject,
in what manner The dangers arising from the co,
and there an individual may avail himself OF TINS right
preach unbeef but does this not also happen In the
chrchesl We do NOT abolish the clerical office
q number Of ministers disseminate inndeilty Pracu-
cally only such as bear love TO God will devote them
selves 90 a work that requires much sacrifice. Inf
deity or dead faith does not produce such desire.
Perhaps the danger OF unhealthy eneets lies nearer
But this danger is much diminished II the.pastor and
the members OF the community who are called apply
themselves to the work The assurance tnat the ald
given by the ayity will not interfere with pastoral d
ties is unnecessary. We desire to make no eneroach-
ments upon the public duties OF pastors How far ae-
cordiug apostolic manner OF worship the members
may take active part In the services will depend
upon the state and situation OF the derent eommunl
ties In every she pastor Will De tAe spiritual snep
herd OF the cOugregatOnj tne puDc OuCo VI PIcaSut
will remain his exclusively. Universal priesthood VIII
not any set aside the office OF preacher But TINS
has boundess field before IL. The 5nnday-schoos are
perhaps the test places for educating youths ana
making them familiar with Gods word. There are Two
reasons why laymen should preach Firstly, the evan,
gezaton unbeever who does not feel himself eqna
10 task OF exhorting and confirming conversation
OF awakened Christians may still give evidence OF tAe
faith that is in him. The church must go To those VINO
will not to IT, To those who are ashamedto enter
a church the Word be preached IN other places
and on every opportunity For such work laymeh are
often peculiarly qualified This is most necessary when
the clergy do not perform their duty In this regard
Secondly public religious meetings often result IN the
ontpouring OF special blessing Such meetings serve to
C6nnrm the faith OF the believers, and 10 bring them
into closer communion with each other such meet