Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1885-04-18
GOOD HEARERS.
Synopsis of Rev. Converse's Sun.
day Morning Sermon.

0 rev.. COnVerSe'6 sun
day Morning Sermon.
Take heed how 70 h~ear.-Luke v1n:1s.
Good hearers are as essential to
church success as a good minister.
When a church is we'll filled from Sun.
day to Sunday and the different depart.
ments of church work are in sound
healthy activity we hear much said OF
the minister's success; his sermonic
skill, mode of speaking, tone,' gestures.
manner, personal influence, all come in
tor mention. But most overlook the
large part the audience sustains in
securing success. 1t might be truth.
fully said a good audience makes q good
preacher. Their earnest attention and
kindly sympathy are felt in the pulpit
and stimulate the preacher to better
work. His. heart warns, his tongue
ceases to stammar, his thoughts flow
clearer, and eloquence oft times Is the
child of attention. On the other hand,
many an excellent sermon is often
ruined by the carelessness and "don't
care' air of the congregation.
To be a good nearer should be the
earnest desire of every church goer.
All classes of hearers are found in every
congregation. The Indifferent, who 20
because they have nothing else they
care to do more: The pleasure seekers,
who enjoy a beautiful church edifce,
fine artistic music, sound logic and
faultless rhetoric. The critics are a
smaller class, but perhaps more mis-
chievous, for they delight to build up
their own reputation for sagacity at the
expense of the church's usefulness.
Another class want to hear about relig-
ion, but not to have religion itself
pressed home; in other words, a calm,
intellectual view of truth which won't
disturb their consciences or interfere
with the even flow of their lives.
In contrast with these the good hearer
will reflect OF the true purpose of the
church. He will attend reverently, for
it is to hear Gods revealed word; low
ingly, for the message of a Savior who
loved him and died for him comes to
him there; earnestly, forhere is wisdom
to guide his steps through life and pre-
pare him for heaven. He will ever re-
member that the open church door car.
ries a fearful responsibility with it. 1t
is either a blessing Or curse. Far better
in the judgment day to have been a
heather than to have lived in a gospel
land and have despised Gods word.
These reflections will. lead him to &C.
ton. To hear well one must come
sympathizingly; the Bonded knee is the
best preparation-a few moments of
private devotion beforehand will double
the power and beauty of the spoken
word. Not only sympathy but soul
training is essential. Christianity no
less than science requires that the soul
powers be disciplined before the truths
can be clearly unprecedented. The sci
enlist laughs Mt the ignorant laundering
Of the neophyte; equally absurd are the
mistakes nf-many who approach the
deep problems of religion without this
soul discipline. It can only be obtained
by doing the truth. When q duty is
clearly zen it must be performed.
Performance OF duty, steadily and con.
scientiously ~persevered in until it be.
comes q habit, throws floods of light on
every religious problem. Neglect oil
known duty is the science of the capac.
ity of being a good nearer.