The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1884-12-13

some of the beauty of heaven and
shine, as it were, like bits of the golden
pavement in the city of our God. And
Oh, how the Gospel would speed along
bearing its seeds of life and peace tc
all nations.
4n0thtr reason why we should
thank God for the hundred years Of
American Methodism is for the SIM.
PLICrrY OF THEIR PREACHING. The
Methodist pulpit has not been noted
for its high learning or culture in the
past century, but one of its chief char
acteristics has undoubtedly been plain
preaching. And well would it be il
other denominations would approach
nearer to their simplicity. By their
plainness of speech they have obtained
greater hold upon the masses than
any other denomination. They have
given utterance to the great vital truths
of the Gospel, and sent them home
with telling effect to the hearts OF
their hearers. They have not endeav-
ored by smooth and flowery language
to persuade men that they are any
thing else than sinners, but their ar
rows have been sent right to the hearts
Of their hearers. And in the marked
success which has attended their prea-
ching, all preachers may read the les
son: GO thou and do likewise" We
need greater simplicity of language
than obtains in many pulpits today.
We frequently hear words used which
are entirely unnecessary to express the
meaning intended. 1t is not the large
high sounding words that truly indi-
cate depth of thought or greatness OF
mind. The greatest minds usually ex-
press themselves simply.
If we would be truly successful
preachers we should strive to so pre-
sent the truths of the Gospel that the
common people will not be in any
doubt whatever as to the meaning OF
our message. The minister OF Christ
is the mouth-piece of God. In the
pulpit he is Gods ambassador to treat
with rebellious men there in Christ's
stead to plead with sinners; there to
declare the veritles of eternal truth and
urge the solemn motives of religion
upon guilty, dying, judgment-bound
men, as one who is to give account OF
his ministry in the last day !; and so all
ambiguity of teaching, all fattery OF
souls, all keeping back of any part of
the revealed message, is simply mon
strous. With what adherence must
God look down upon the preaching of
such an one How can it be other
wise than that the blood of souls will
be found staining his skirts in the day
of final account. How plain, direct,
unmistakable and forcible were the
words which Peter uttered on the day
of Pentecost How terribly in earn
est, how searching, pungent and over
whelming, were the words of John
Wesley Can we marvel, when we
read the sermons of such preachers
that the Holy Ghost came upon the
people, so that they cried aloud {:
"What must we do !" Now this is the
kind of preaching which has been char
acteristic of Methodism. Let me give
you an example from one of Wesley
sermons. He says: Chou ungodly
one who nearest these words, thou
vile, helpless, miserable sinner, charge
thee before God, the Judge of all, go
straight unto Jesus with all thy ungod-
illness. Take heed thou destroy not
thine own soul by pleading thy right
eousness, more or less. Go as alto
gether ungodly, guilty, lost destroyed,
deserving and dropping into hell and
thus shalt thou find favor in his sight,
and know, that he justifeth the ungod-
ly. Thus look unto Jesus He is the
Lamb Of God who taketh away thy
sins Plead there no works, no
righteousness of thine own; no humil-
ity, contrition, sincerity. No, plead
thou singly the blood of the covenant,
the ransom paid for thy proud, stub
born, sinful soul. Who art thou that
now seest and feelest both thine in
ward and outward ungodliness? Thou
art the man l want thee formy Lord.
| challenge thee for a child of God by
faith. The Lord hath need of thee.
Thou who feelest thou art just fit for
hell art just fit to advance his glory,
the glory of free grace, justifying the
unsodly and him that worketh not.
Oh! come quickly. Believe in the
Lord Jesus Christ and thou, even
thou, ART reconciled to God" Oh
fellow christians, we need more of that
simplicity and directness in preaching
today among all denominations.
Another reason (and the only other
reason which | shall mention) why
we should thank God for the hun
dred years history of Methodism is for
its emphasizing CHURCH ACTIVITY AMONG
THE .LAyMEN. One Of the great sources
of power in Methodism has been the
extent of lay activity. They have al
ways acted upon the true idea that we
are all witnesses for Jesus Christ, and
should go and tell the great things
which he has done for our souls, and
thus endeavor to spread abroad his
truth in the hearts of others as much
as possible. All the lay-talent in the
Methodist Church has been employed.