The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1888-10-27
CARPNG AT THE PREACHER.
[SundaY-School Times1

lrNAunl -1NAOui llIHcc.
The practice of carping at ones
preacher opens before the average
church member or the average church
goer such possibilities of evil doing as
are practically attainable by the aver
age man or woman through no other
method of persistent Devil-serying.
And carping at the preacher is means
of evil doing that is open to a person
who is far below the average in any
ordinary congregation, as well as to
those persons who are far above that
average. 1t requires less ability, and
1t is likely to compass more harm, than
any other form of social SHINING.
As rule 1t is the least intelligent
hearer who is readiest to find fault
with the preacher; and without excep-
tion II is the man whose spiritual tone
is lowest who is unable to get any good
from the average discourse of the av-
ersge preacher. He who is open min
ded and broad minded, and who is
full of the spirit of Christ, will be
likely to perceive elements of strength
and CLEANS of important truth In a
discourse which Is obviously lacking
in uniform vigor, or logical consistency,
or freshness of thought, or fini sh of
style, where an inferior hearet could
not see them. Moreover, he knows
that because of the variety In the tastes
and attainments of the hearers, the
very things that would delight him in
discourse would render Il unsuited
to the needs and preferences of many
another; while that which is distaste-
full to him in the preachers words and
ways is likely to prove a peculiar at
traction to Others whose claims on the
preacher are quite as good as his own.
Only the narrowest mind can hold up
Its own standard of good discourse
as the one true standard.
II Is probably true that in no other
one way is so much harm dene in the
ordinary congregation Of Christian
worshippcrs, as by this practice of carp
ing at the preacher. Many a good
impression made on a hearcr in the
hour of worship is dissipated, in his
mind, before he reaches his home, by
the sneers or the censures indulgcd in
against the preacher by some member
in the church, whose influence against
the truth is thus made to transcend by
far all his influence for good In his
whole life-work. There are homes In
which tho children grow up chilled to-
ward, or embittercd against, the truth,
by means of their parents uniform
habit Of carping at the preacher under
whose ministrations in the pulpit the
parents and children sit together. And
every person who thus carps is suiI-
crer In his personal character by the
evil course in which he indulges: so
that his spiritual life Is dwindling at
the very time, and through the very
means, by which he Injuries the souls
of his fellows and gladdens the heart
of the Devil.
Think of this, every one of you. If
you cannot be an active officer In the
church, If you cannot teach in the
Sunday-schooI, If you cannot bear q
part in the social prayer-mcetings of
the congregation, II you cannot give
literally to all the beneiiccnces which
are pressed upon your attention from
the pulpit, and If you cannot enjoy the
preaching of your pastor on your own
account, sec to II that you do not harm
your follows and harm yourself by
carping at the preacher.