Nevada County picayune., 1890-04-16

The Apostle nere condemns ob- scene language, levity and testing. It is somewhat remarkable to say the least that the former part of his in- functions are generally observed, while the latter part, which has ref erence to testing, is almost univer- sally disregarded. If we arc capable of understanding the import of hu- man language, it is evident that all light, vain and foolish conversation, as we'll as all levity and witticism, are forbidden. Are We at liberty to set aside or ignore any part of the di- vine revelation? That this is done by an overwhelming majority of the church, almost without any protest from any quarter, is too obvious to admit of denial. But the worst of it is, even the pulpit itself is not free from this defiance of divine au- thority. So-called evangefsts are perambulating the country, convert ing the church into place of clown ish amusement and irreverent slang. No wonder that at the close of such performances, lasting usually from ten days to two weeks, collection of from five hundred to three thous and dollars is taken up, after which the clerical buffoon betakes himself to new pastures.
 Such slang and levty and wit draw immense crowds, and they are very profitable pecuniarily to these sportive and ilippant evangelists, but they are reproach to the cause of true Christianity, and are destroying the taste of the people for the plain and unyarnished preaching of the Gospel. It is reported that Sam Jones took in three thousand dollars at the close of his recent ten days meeting at Fort Worth, and that he has already amassed fortune by his pulpit entertainments. His preach ing consists largely of slang, intem- peratel abuse, and a species of droll testing, for which he is celebrated. There is but little of the true spirit of Christianity in his pulpit efforts. He seems to give special emphasis to the sins of avarice and intemperance, especially the latter, and from all ac- counts he is better fitted for the role of a temperance lecturer than for the ministry of the Gospel.
 Surely if lcvity and amusement were justifable in the Christian min istry, we would be able to find some warrant for it in the Bible, but you may search from Genesis to Revela- tion, and yet not a single instance of this style of preaching can be found. David and Paul, the one represent ing the Old, the other the New res- tament, are always serious, always reverent, and our Savior in his pub lie utterances never indulged in any thing which even bordered on frivol- ity or levity. It has been reserved for some of these latter-day evange- lists to inaugurate a style of preach ing which disregards all the proprie- ties, and competes with the circus and theater in providing amusement for lost and ruined world. Verify, they have their reward. They draw immense multitudes, and reap large revenues of money, while we are free to confess that meciful God may and sometimes does bless his truth, even in such hands.
 Llfe is serious-life is earnest-no room for mirth or trilling here, when life so soon is gone. Life is battle with the world, the flesh and the devil, and spirit of seriousness and earnestness are much more favora- ble for success in this battle than levity and merrimeut. When a man is beset by enemies before and be- hind, when dangers environ his path way on every hand, the jest of the buffoon is out of place, and tends to destroy that reverence for sacred things which is so essential to spir- itural frame of mind. Soldiers are never mirthful in the midst of the dangers of the battlefield. They are serious and thoughtful, as all persons ought to be whose lives are in imminent jeopardy. The man and his family who are aroused from sleep to find his house on fire, does not indulge in mirth and merriment while he is endeavoring to escape from the threatening flames. So the soldiers of Christ, who have put their armor on, do not fritter away in fool ish mirth the precioms moments of