Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1882-05-27
ONE FAULT OF THE DAY.

Oho S'S"I auIt vi Ine pulpiC III our
day is "A cold, formal sermonizing and
pandering to "the enticing words" of
mans wisdom, rather than to primitive
plainness and simplicity. In this man.
ner the gospel is geperalized and secu-
larized instead OF being made matter
at personal interest and vital concern.
The apostle Peter preached the first
sermon under the great commission.
He appealed directly and personally
to the very mob before which he had
covered and denied his Master only
fifty days before and charged upon
them the murder of the Christ. Con-
viction was irresistible, and they cried
out, "Men and brethren, what must
we do ?"
Philip made direct personal appeal to
the Ethiopian eunoch, and his testimony
acc cImpIished the purpose wherewith it
was directed. Paul presented the truth
In like manner to the Phillipian jailer
with a like result. Again he appeals
pointedly to king Agrippa, who under
the direct logic of Inspirations greatest
orator exclaims, "Almost thou persuad-
est me to be Il Christian" He next
appears before Festus, naughty Ro-
man governor, who was so stirred by
PauPs direct preaching that he could
stand it no longer and exclaimed:
Paul, thou art beside thyself, much
learning hath made thee madp He
also addressed Felix by name, and rea.
sOned with such direct force that he
too cried out {: go thy way for this
time, when | have convenient season
| will call for thee" Truth thus pre-
sented proves SAVIOR of life unto life,
or of death unto death, for it forces
men to action.
The folly of Felix on this occasion is
made favorite charge against the sin
ner in this day by some ministers, who
fail to present the truth as did Paul to
Felix, and it having failed to make the
sinner tremble as did Felix, he is
charged with his delay. What has the
world right to think of minister
who breaches for fifty odd Sabbaths
in year in cold, formal way,
sermonizlng to bis own fancy,
and postponing action for the
sinner until some convenient" re-
vival season appointed by man for the
fifty first and ifty,second Sabbaths, at
which time if he is aliue and does not
accept the long deferred benefit he is
told by the over Jealous minister in his
selfappointed time that he is guilty of
the folly of Felix? 1t is freely ad-
mitted that il is a great folly on the
part of the sinner to delay the matter
when the offer is made for his accept
auce but once year; but what are we
to think of aven-commissioned min
lister who breaches an ever present Sa-
vior, and that "to.day is the day of
salvation" and yet makes the offer of
acceptance only once year?
Every sermon should be preached
with direct reference to immediate re-
suits. Whenever and wherever the
word is preached an opportunity should
be offered then and there for its accept
ance. No minister has the right to
postpone action for the sinner to re.
vival seasons, or to any other occasion.
The command is, "preach the gospel to
every creature" He that believeth
then shall be saved and he that be.
lieveth not shall be damned. 1t is the
prerogative of the sinner alone to post.
pone action, and he alone is response
bic for the postponement. If the tes
timony of the truth were thus present
ed with demonstration and power the
results would be immedate-as under
the apostolic preaching to which we
have referred.
THE MISSION is ONE.
Again, the mission of the ministry il
to preach the gospel alone, and not t,
teach school, practice law, or pursu,
any other avocation among men. Jonal
fled from his post as called minister
to preach to a perishing people, bu
his escape was one only into the whale
mouth. The modern JOndhs are NOR
fortunate in having the schoolroom a
5 a place of refuge, but are none the les
censurable for the fight.
When Simon Peter, and Andrew hi
brother, were called into the ministry
"they straightway left their nets an,