The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-01-14

Church going back by scores
In preaching sermons sufficiently
pointed to awaken hardened sinners,
some of course, that are easily impressed
or nervous, through the use of stimu-
lants or otherwise, will be more or less
excited and be ready to do anything,
and 90 with the current into the Church.
Let them have time to quiet down so
they can use their reason and discern
their state
Young people like to go together, and
children usually think it nice thing TO
join the Church. and can then be persuad-
ed by dozens to do so. In place where
multitude of children had been swept
into the Church in revival, and all fell
back, such was the reaction against child
religion, [ could not induce the people
to let their children attend my very quiet
childrens meetings. 1t grieves me to
find many places in Virginia similar to
this. Shall we continue to use such
disastrous measures? A prominent min
lister says he once received three hundred
persons in this hasty way, and found,
few years after, only fourteen had stood.
| said once to church, You have one
hundred members; think six of them
are converted" don't think 1 was far
wrong. In some churches these uncon-
verified members so have the majority that
no pastor that pointedly exposes their
sins, can be retained. I think I have
seen ministers afraid to speak plainly to
unconverted membership they had built
up about them. When the New Eng
land Churches were thus filled by the
half way covenant, evangelical minis
ters were driven out, and Unitarians
called to preach philosophy and scep-
ticism. Shall we repeat the direful his
tory of those churches?
There is little hope for an unconverted
man when he once gets into the Church;
he feels secure then. 1t is certainly safer
for the soul that man should be outside
the Church and converted, rather than
inside and unconverted. 1t is better for
us to err on the safer side. There is.
however, difference in people; while
some are too forward, there are some
that no doubt need to be urged to ioin.
The minds of young converts should
be gwen wholly to practical piety, and
not be diverted the moment they obtain
hope, to books of controversy to decide
which Church they shall join; great in
jury is often done in this way. 1t did
Moody no harm to wait for several years,
and [ feel sure it did me none.
1t may be said, at least receive those
you are satisfied about Immediately. 1t
is not easy to draw the lines exactly, and
if we discriminate against some, while
others are admitted, we may unnecessari-
iiy wound their feelings and do them
harm. Better let them all wait little.
John Wesley saw the necessity of delay
and adopted the plan ofreceiving members
on six months probation. have no
fault to find with the probation, but that
word receiving-to what? The Church,
of course, and the world considered them
church members and asmultitudes turned
back, great harm was done the Church;
hence by the M E. Church (South) it
has been discarded; would it not be bet
ter to give them little probation out
side the Church? I hope 1 shall be par
doned for alluding to my experience, 81
could not well give my reasons otherwise.