The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1883-03-07
For the Central Presbyterian.
Presbyterianism-W Why Not
More Aggressive?

If / mistake not there are some who
will soon be convinced there is aggres-
siveness In Presbyterians if not in Pres
byterianism. The present discussion is
but one of several delightful signs that
Presbyterian SIN, as well as the world,
moves. We all have felt that with a sys-
tenn of doctrine and ecclesioloeJ letter
in accord with divine truth than any
other, and more in harmony with the
spirit of our people in a representative
government, there must be some little hy
in the ointment And for a number OF
years the conviction has been growing
that it was just herein our view of the
essential qualifications for the ministry.
| say our view, for it is plain it is not
the Masters view, since hundreds who
could not stand our test are preaching
with power and demonstration of the
Spirit many of our educated ministers
might well covet 1t may be said that
in this day of universal education and
reading, we need able men, So we do,
and we will have SUCH Nature and
Gods Spirit will lead some to the highest
walks Of learning. But others have well
shown why we need some who are not
educated out Of sympathy with the
masses.
1t may be said education ought not
and often does not initiate against the
most popular preaching. Some learned
men are thereby pre-eminently qualified
to reach the ear of the masses. See DR..
Guthrie who added Partisan medical or
anatomical education to his classic and
theological learning. Were our preach
ers all geniuses this might be true. But
they are not. And few have the ability
to resist the sitting process of a sem
mary edu cation. We are 10th, I know
to see ourselves as others see us. Owing
to circumstances, have been forced from
the beginning of my ministry to study
simplicity, and I feel / am still but lust
learning how to preach. But this have
noticed The men who best please the
masses (by no unworthy methods) are
those who know most about men, though
usually less about books. Said a Meth !
odlst minister of one of our most success
full winners of souls, off all the Presby-
terians got down off their stills like that
man, we Methodists would have to look
out for our laurels." Now he is pre-emi- |
nently simple, and repeats his pointed
sentences in varied form till the truth is
pressed home on the minds Of the hearers.
And you can always tell man who has
gone from the bar into the ministry. He
breaches right at the people as when
pleading his case before Jury. 1t is the
courtroom, not the artificial debating
society with its would-be rhetorician
critics, that moulds the manner and style
Of preachers in many denominations.
But our educated men look too often
at their subject, too little at their audi
ence, fear, in preparing, and hence in
delivering their sermons. Again, there
is Mr.. Moody who has no academic edu-
cation even. But he, like the apostles,
shows he has been with Jesus, and Eng
lands classic Farrar has never welded
the influence over the young men Of Cam
bridge or Oxford that Mr.. Moody has
lately done. Let us study wherein his
power lies. Power, that is what we want.