The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1881-02-19

. y
looks on. Prayer in the closest is worth a
thousand times more than prayer at the
bench. In the closet you will never become
a Pharisee, there you will never become o
wolf sheep9
What would you think Of physician, who
instead Of administering medicine in the
sick-room, would carry his patient and his
medicine out into the public street and there
quackishly offer to cure him What of a
preacher who carries on his work in this
charlatanical manher9 They threaten the
poor souls with eternal punishment If they
do not come to the bench They march up
and down the asles and even transgress
every law Of deceHcy by Whispering into the
ears of men and women, trying to persuade
them to come to the bench No wonder
that people loose respect for the office Of the
ministry. Such men bring the Office into
disrepute. Titus H. Is.
declare such mode Of conversion a
spiritual and unbiblical deception of the
people. Why do not such people convert
their own chldren2 A Methodist preacher
once asked me this question and then ans
wered it himself al suppose they see too
much at home" 1t 10 the work ofthe preach
er to teach and not to drag the people in an
excitement, and stormy anxious bench ex-
perience, into false conception ofthe truth.
Why the depreciation of confirmation in
neighborhoods where the anxious bench has
been introduced7 Simply because anxious
bench work makes the people superficial.
A certain writer calls such neighborhoods
"burnt districts"
Why is there so much disorder in church
cs making use Of the bench, and why is
there no disorder in other churches7 The
the bench and therefore there is disorder in
the entire house. There is perfect babel.
Why do they not sing the old, well-tried
and spiritual hymns at these services7 They
are too spiritual and will not lead the reo-
nle to the altar therefore they have intro
duced new, lively and exhiirating, shout
ing, bandclapping songs. These answer
the purpose better. Why do they not use
the organ at the bench? The music Of the
organ is solemn, soft and sweet, but the SER
vices at the bench are harsh and dscordant
there could be no harmony.
Those who profess to have been saved al
the bench, are all spiritually proud, vain
conceited. They have grown so large in Sc
short time. They pride themselves thai
they understand the Scriptures, better than
even an educated minister. These are moi
converted but perverted. Why do such
backslide so soon? They lead my steeT
away from me to the bench, and then they
soon backslide and go out into the world al
together. But they say that we have M
sheep in our fold they say we are all wolves
r This is not true. Have ever said that II
the church across the way they are al
wolves2 May God forgive them But why
do they 50 numerously backslide? Because
their misleading emotions produced by thu
nervous excitement at the bench will soor
die away and then they naturally get unde
the impression that there is nothing in re
ligion. This causes them to despise religion
and multiples sconers. Wherever thcs,
new measures have been introduced ther,
unbaptzed scolfers and infidels abound.
False doctrine is at the bottom Of th
whole anxious bench system. Their doc
trines on conversion, regeneration, faith ant
baptism are all radically wrong. Pasto
Brobst said This great evil must be earnest
ly attacked. They do not believe in origin
al sin, (erb-suende). They deny the tota
depravity Of men. They teach that maj
has power in himself to save himself.
! But enough of this. Those who will no
believe me may think what they please
q But they say that am against conversion
Do not tell you in every sermon that 70
, must bo converted ? Do not warning
I urge it upon you'
S Bnt there is one thing must not forge
{. This is needful. The discipline must be en-
forced. Let us be honest. Let us not cove
up our sins. We have sinners in our churc
: great sinners We have whoremonger
adulterers, drunkards and other great sin
ners But others have them too, only the
know better how to hide them. They hav
a better sheep-skin to cover themselves will
But the truly pious can see the claws site
out. Right remains right. But let us nC
! think loo highly Of ourselves. Let 1
. be truly humble. have mover yet bee
i, afraid to call myself sinner. But nm o
a the track.
+ / wanted to say something more abol
a conversion. Jesus Christ regenerates |
IS through water and spirit. and you mn
v repent and DO converted. But there is
>. vast difference between conversion and r.
n generation. Conversion means turnir
v around, but that is not yet rcgeneratiJl
y Never again say that do not preach col
version ! have a place for everyihin
q Neither do ignore the sacrapents. Ho
could love God and his word and despi
r The sacraments. | am speaking too lon
IS But one thing more. The discipline wi
h now be enforced. Dut this grieves me-
sorely grieyes me A few years ago cot
!. firmed a member of this church at this a
y tar. There she sat. Now she hAs been le
il to the bench in the church across the wa,
= How can preachers sneak INTO the hous'
and persuade people to leave their church
d They are not honest. 1t is not right The
!, say they want to convert them, but 1t is NJ
true. They want TO increase their member
p ship. They want to rob other churche
g They say have been going from house
house also. Yes; but not to proselyte, bu
d to do my duty. Now love all, but can
n not believe with you all. But you have II
right to be angry with me. Gladly will
/. appear before the throne Of God to be he'll
a responsible for every word spoken here to
l. night. But have been badly treated
= have beeu oppressed. They haye takei
h away from me that which Is mine. An,
G this grieyes me so. But, my friends, yol
I must be converted. But you need not g
to the bench. o, do not sell your birth rgh
e for a soupl Remain faithful until the end
/ Afer the sermon the preacher expcle,