The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1873-10-08

most faithful disciples. And the only cauS
of his enmity was, their determination
I propagate the gospel. But this enmity
!. the human heart is the same in every ag'
And when Christian minister is fully ser
e sible of this fact; when he knows that tn
c message he is about to deliver, has so muc
, opposition from the world to encounter, b
is strongly prompted to change the aspect Q
. that message; and to substitute little
his own wisdom for the wisdom of Cod
And this he may do in manner very in
sensible to himself. It's not necessary tina
he should say anything untrue. h ma.
keep himself within the bounds of orthodoxy
and yet, by insisting on those parts of th
system, which are least unpopular, he ma.
keep back those truths, which humble tn
pride of the humai b.srt; which show thu
exceeding sinfulnsss of sin; and which
make the sinner feel las entire dependence
on the sovereign mercy of God. The same
principle of accommodating the doctrines o
the cross to the sentiments of the world, has
often given rise to the most dangerous spec
ulations and refnementsin divinity, and thus
led the church into most destructive errors
This has undoubtedly been the cause of thai
tendency, which the church has manifested
in every age, to turn aside from the simple.
ity of the gospel.
There have been, as it appears to me, but
two periods in the history of the church, in
which the pure gospel was extensively preach
ed with becoming pungency and fAithfulness
One of those periods Immediately followed
the resurrection of our Saviour. But it was
not long before various mixtures Of heather
philosophy were sought for, with view to
make the gospel more, acceptable to the
world. The other period of pure preaching
was that of the glorious Reformation: and
this period too was soon overloaded, and
apparently from the same cause. The
churches of Germany and France were soon
filled with refnements and speculations, by
which the purity of divine truth was de-
faced.
But while disposition to accommodate
the gospel to the taste of the world has per-
verted the matter of the Christian ministry,
it had still more injurious effect on the
spirit of preaching. When the ministry and
the church entertain favorable expectations
from the world, this insensibly leads to a
spirit of formality, and false security. But,
on the other hand, when minister feek that
the enmity of the world is against him; and
that, unless God is with him to bless his work,
both the message and the preacher will be
rejected with contempt; bcn he has the
strongest motives to life x faith aud pray
er. Under this impression, in his closet, and
in the preparation of his sermons, he will be
frequent and earnest in his supplications to
the throne of grace. And in the sacred
desk, all his dependence will be on the bless
ing of God. l believe that this impression,
that help for the dead in sin can only come
from God, is the very life and soul of
Ministerial faithfulness; and l would rather
have one sermon prepared in the fullness of
efectual fervent prayer, than hundreds Of
sermons prepared with much study and lit
tie prayer. And | further believe, that this
impression, that help must be had, and that
help can only come from God, whether per
tanning to temporal or spiritual things, has
been the handspring of efectual prayer, in
every age of the world. 1t was this i'm
preston that gave to Jacob that persevering
faith, which would take no denial; 81 will
not let thee 60 except thou bless me" This
impression has pervaded every church in our
own day, Immediately previous to revival
of religion. Professors have seen and felt,
that the spirit of the world was gaining
ground, that piety was sinking in themselves
and others, and that, unless God should ap-
pear, all would be lost; and this has brought
them to throne of grace, with that humil-
ity and holy Importantly, which God always
approves. 1t too often happens, indeed,
that when a revival is progressing with pow
er and majesty, the church soon falls back
into self Independence and security; and then
lamentable reaction ia kes place.
1t is also worthy of particular notice, that
all those men, who have been distinguished in
8trumentS of good in the church, have been
remarkable for prayer. Just as much dis.
tinguished for life of prayer, as for life
of usefulness. This fact has been mentioned
of Luther, Of Calvin, Of Whitfield; and We
know it was the case of Paul himself, and Of
all the apostles. These men were placed il
circumstances which made them feel their de-
pendence on God at every step. They saw
the church full of weakness, while its enc
mics were powerful and active. But are We
otplaced in circumstances which require th'
same reliance on Almighty grace? Is no
the church always weak in itself? Wer'
our eyes opened to perceive all the working
of the human heart throughout the world
we should see the church of God, as it were
on the verge of a volcano and nothing bu
that power which governs the wind and tn
sea, restrains the secret fires of that volcano
from bursting forth, and overwhelming every
thing that is sacred.
have dWelt the longer on this point, a
Monld. if [ could. persuade the ministry