Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1881-08-04
WANTED.

A place to preach, where the church
will draw. | am tired of empty
pews. Our churches don't draw. |
have been preaching for nearly thirty
years, and every church [ have visited
or corresponded with wants frst-class
man, to draw out the community and
build up the cause which means,
have additions).
They are all represented as good
places, and fine fields, to the right
kind of man, and have gone from
place to place in eighteen different
States.
have tried to be eloquent-tried
poetry. and gush, and logic, and
scripture, and science, and eccentricity
everything under the heavens but
falsehood and palaveI | have preach
ed the word reproved and rebuked,
as well as exhorted but it didn't
draw | have been called to places
where old preachers were living, whose
influence had been killed by sneaking
demagogues from careless or guilty
utterances (see Jude 9, 100, with
the assurance that frst-class man
would surely draw. But [ didn't
draw
[ have been called a big preacher
for twenty years, in five times that
many places, and [ drew pretty well
at first; but when | began preaching
Christian obligations and personal
duties, the brethren want a change
for some man that will draw; and [
have finally given it up, and gone to
fishing.
So many Of our preachers are the
same way-men who would have won
derful powers in the forum or in the
political arena-buJ in the pulpit they
don't draw Why is it?
| sometimes think the preachers are
loaded to heavy. The work of Christ
is too big for one man to do, Jesus
seems to think that all should bear
portion, and therefore makes all re-
sponsiblc.
"Let your light SO shine before men,
that Others, seeing your good '0orhs,
may be led to gloryy yoor Fathcr toho
IS IN heaUen."
Oh there is the rub. It is the
church after all, that does the draw
ing. They are responsible for the
estimate placed upon the gospel. I
want church that will draw-one
that deals justly. loves mercy, and
walks humbly; that can work without
ruling-that go out seeking for OPP
portunities. If physicians, they visit
the INDECENT sick without charge, tell
ing them it is for the Lords sake
CT don't mean they should say this
after they find they can't collect it. }
If farmers, how much load Of wood.
basket of potatoes. sack of -four,
or some God-giyen luxuries, presented
in the name of the Master, would do
towards drawing them in. If ladies
of wealth and fashion would doff their
satins and jewelry, and instead of
their fashionable calls. with the accom-
panying twaddie, go and visit the
poor, aad read the Bible to the sick,
and carry consolation to The distressed,
and instruction to the young, [ think
their work would bring men into sym
pathy with their doctrine, and our
churches would soon be full.
If all could get rid of the feeling
that che is our preacher; we hire him,
and must control what is bought with
our money" and would place them
selves under the guidance of MS ex-
perience and study, and permit him to
direct their work in the vineyard of
Christ, [ think there would be better
order, and consequently more success
If | could find church who de-
pend upon their good works to bring
men to Christ-who labor to keep the
unity of the Spirit in the bond of
peace whose favoritism is not based on
carnality (see [. Cor. iii.) but, loving
Christ supremacy, they can work with
either Paul, Cephas, or Apollos, or
any other faithful laborer in the
'ktngdom" (not republic) of heaven
| would like to move there, and spend
the rest of my life. l would not
need any fixed salary. with some rich
brethren to secure the payment, nor
would [ need numerous membership.
| could live.
Any church that can come DeJJ
recommended. for preachers have as
often been imposed upon by renegade
churches as the churches by renegade
preachers, may open correspondence
with CARpOTJ STapE Graen