The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-03-31

hs ye 30 -. preach.
Alter His resurrection, when He parted
from them, His last recorded command
was, Go We into all the world and preach. "
MARK xvi 80
In the book of Acts, devoted to the
founding of Christ's Church upon the
earth, the inspired penman finds room in
the record for three sermons preached by
Peter Zone of which was followed by the
conversion of three thousand souls) and
several by Paul-one preached at Antioch
in Plsidia, after the reading of the lar,
Gas in our modern churches -one on
Mars Hill, etc. Paul and Barnabas said,
at Lystra, ave preach unto you" at
Derbe, When they had preached, the
gospel to that city. etc.; at Thessalonica,
Paul says, This Jesus whom | preach, -
etc. at Troas, Paul preached unto
them, and continued until midnight. -
What tax on their patience" would
some modern hearers regard this Pos
slbly, what "a waste of their time -
What more striking answer to the query
OF the great Apostle, How shall they
hear without a preacher ?" than the ac-
count of the eunuch, blindly cropping his
way toward the light, when the heaven
sent evangelist met him on his way, with
the question, Understandest thou what
thou readest?' That helpless cry, the
echo OF our common need, How can I,
except some man should guide me, " found
thus its answer and its relief" He
preached unto him j esus."
Important as the ordinance of baptism
is regarded, Paul thought that his mission
was rather to preach the gospel: Christ
sent me not to baptize, but to preach the
gospel. Believing, as he did, that it
brought Sa(Uatioa, since /" 1t pleased God
by the foolishness of preaching to SAFE
them that believe, how could he but ex-
claim, with a deep sense of his consecra-
ton to this high calling, Woe is unto
me, if preach not the gospel Notice
also his solemn, adjuration to his own
son IN the faith ''-Timothy-"I charge
thee before God, and tn. Lord Jesus
Christ, who shall judge the quick and
dead . preach the word" When per
secuted, imprisoned, stoned, for preach
ing, what inspired the Apostles to suffer
and endure, as they ceased not to preach
Jesus Christ HE commanded us to
preach, said they and Eve ought to obey
God rather than men" Surely, in view
of such examples, "of whom the world
was not worthy, a Church which makes
boast of being apostolic should not de-
spise or dispense with the preaching of
the word. have heard the plea brought
forward by the advocates of the No
Sermon theory, land it is the only JUS
LITIGATION which | have ever heard at
tempted) that 1t is written, my house
shall be called a house of prayer" etc.
But such persons should reflect that lit
eral and slavish adherence to this would
Danish the reading of the Scriptures, and
hush the voice of praise and thanksgiving
Would they be content to limit the ser
vices OF the sanctuary to prayer. all i'm
portant and needful though it be? We
say Mo- God forbid that the voice of the
preacher should be siIenced Still let
him, like an householder. bring forth
out of his treasure things new and old. -
Still let him, with lips touched with a
live coal from the altar, "expound the
way of God more perfectly "-and, as an
ambassador for Christ, pray sinners
in Christs stead, to be "reconciled to
God" Still let him, with potent weapons
drawn from the armory of the word, ham
mer at the Hinty heart, until it breaks
and melts, and opens to receive the Sa-
viour Of mankind How beautiful are
the feet of them that preach the gospel
Of peace, and bring glad tidings of good
thln9s 5. b. ID.