The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-07-20

Paul and his co.laborer, Baruabss
were in Antioch. While here they
went one Sabbath into Jewish syna.
gogue. After the Jews are through
with their religious exercises they invite
Paul and Barnabas to make few re.
marks. Paul takes the opportunity to
preach sermon. The Jews, whom it
would seem were already getting little
jealous, did not invite Paul to come
again, but some of "the Gentiles be-
sought that these words might be
preached to them again"
1. They did not ask for u new Gospel
but they wanted to hear about the same
theme again. The world does not need
new Gospel, or new Savior, more than
it needs new sun in the heavens. If
it were possible for rubbish to accumu.
late between US and the sun, hiding it's
rays from us, we might wish that rub.
Dish removed but we would not clamor
for new orb | do not wonder that
men ask that some Of the theological
rubbish which has been brought between
them and the Sun OF Righteousness
might be removed Further than that
novelty is unueeoed. The world still
calls for the " same old story"
:. Paul iustructs them to take care
and not allow the interest in their own
hearts to die out. Persuaded them to
continue III the grace Of God" You
have heard the truth You are greatly
excited by it. You are all enthusiasm.
You think | am the greatest preacher
you ever heard. BE careful that this
docs not cease very soon. 1t is one
thing To get al excited like this over
sciigion and il is another thing % to con.
tiuuc in the grace of God" Nearly
every preacher has had just such expert
ence as this He gu,s TO a new field of
labo:. There is certain class who will
say =" He IS the greatest preacher that l
ever heard | never took such interest
IN religious matters as now. In fact, |
never used 20 go to church" These
persons attend church regularly about
Blk weeks and then we see their faces
there nc more forever. a heap of shaw
ings on fre they made a good deal of
smoke bur had.no steady blaze.
The famous picture Of Michael Angelo,
"The Last judgment" eicits the ad
duration of all artists IN one of the
art galleries OF Europe there is an
apaytment known as The studies of
the masters Here you will find slips
Of paper upon which Angelo wrought
experiment after experiment before the
picture suited him For instance, here
rs a humun haod III this position, there
one III another there one III still another
until az last you see Il hand IN an atti.
tudc that corresponds exactly TO Il hand
as II rs found in the completed picture.
Patiently the great artist tried again
and again before he could get even so
much as ,hat small part OF bis painting
TO salt him Angelo not only begun his
work, but he continued until all subsc
quent ages have admired his genius
3. The next Sabbath came almost
the whole city together to hear the word
OF God The fame Of the preacher has
gone forth aud he does not lack for
hearers. Learn from this, first, that TO
preach so as to produce sensation does
not imply q perverSion of the truth
Not preacher has drawn a crowd but
the cry has been raised, " be is Il sensa
tioualist - ask you to consider that
Paul's preaching IN Antioch created
sensation. Almost the whole city"
locked TO hear him He did no, secure
these crowds by holding back any of the
truth K stunned not to declare unto
you she whole counsel of God" You
see the excitement he produced. TAX
ing Paul as my model, | am forced to
the conclusion that preaching which
does not produce a sensation is not Cos
pei preaching. Secondly, learn from
this that the human heart naturally
longs for the truth. As In the old for
est you will find the trees along the edge
of the woods sending out larger and
longer branches toward the sunlight
than they do toward the darkness in the
interior Of the forest, so the human
mind ins'inctiveiy shrinks from the
darkness and reaches out for the light.
When Paul holds up TIE light of the
gospel in Antioch nearly the whole city 4
Is attracted to il.
TO say that tue human heart is too
depraved 10 hear the truth Is very
convenient way for preacher to account
for a dearth OF hearers. Why, then, did
they flock to hear Paul? The human
heart is no NOR! depraved now than
then. verify believe that this repug.
nance to the truths of the gospel is
owing largely TO tie way in which those
truths are presented. | never yet saw
child that did not like candy. meet
little child on the street, and instead
OF presenting that candy in the proper
way | attempt to stuff the candy down
the cbilds ear The little creature will
object then say, "How depraved
that chiid's taste So we preachers
bv our awkward or unnatural presenta.
ton of the truth ind that neooI. oh;oo,