Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1891-12-16
A BIantOn Sermon.

I'D. INDEX: desire, in all kindness, to make
the following statements in relation to the du-
ties of religious teachers or preachers; and
while may speak plain, hope no one will be
offended, for no offense is intended. Our OBJ
ject is for good. We sometimes attempt to
speak in the name of the Lord, and if we have
made any mis-steps, we will thank anyone who
will correct us, tor we do desire to be tried"
Now the time of year is at hand when
preachers, with but few EXCEPTIONS. wink at
most any plan for raising money for them
selves. Such as church parties, ratings,
gamblinRs, donkey parties, etc., hoping by
such exhibitions to draw big crowds, which
not only makes merchandise of the house of
the Lord, but it grinds the faces of the toilere
and sqaeezes the last dime and nickle out of
the poor, to keep themselves well fed and
clothed. In these times, when the laboring
and producing classes are struggling for their
homes and their very lives against heartless
monied conspiracy that is robbing both saint
and sinners alike, to which these spiritual
guides don't seem to take the slightest notice.
l can't understand why there are so few
preachers who ever take the lead in any re-
form. Christ and his apostles were reformers.
Most people have been educated to believe it
was their duty to keep their preacher well fed
0fIU WOA OtObAOus JUDI Aux I'll uOuE VI SWO VI
services on Sunday. and then to remain idle
the balance Of the week. This is a great mis-
take. which the following testimony from Ho-
ly Writ will show. We will quote from the
great apostle to the Gentiles: Neither did
we eat any mans bread for nqught. but
wrought and Travelled day and night that we
might not be chargeable to any of you"
I'll Thess. iii 81 "But to make ourselves an
ensample (example) unto you 10 follow u.s."
verse 81 For we hear that there are some
which walk among you disOrderly, working
not at ALL" verse III 1--WE command that
with qlnetness they work. and eat their own
bread" verse 12) YEA, We, yourselves
known that these hands have ministered unto
my necessities, and to them that were with
me-" (Acts Xxx 3D HE (PauD was of the
same craft; he abode with them and wrought,
for by their occupation they were tent max.
ers." (Acts XIV iii 81 See what noble exam
pie Paul has set for us to follow. This course
was to exalt labor and make it honorable but
the course now pursued by the clergy is the
reverse. He further said: ~ preach the Cos
pei; may make the gospel of Christ without
charge" q Cor. TX 49, He carried out the
command LET the Bride say Come, !" without
money and without price," But again he says:
II have showed you all things how that 80 la
| boring ye ought to support the weak (Acts
Xxx 3d. This will apply to all Including preach
ers when In distress but more particularly to
poor women and poor girls for they indeed are
the weak. Paul no doubt received assistance
from brothers that was able to minister to his
wants when he were in distress, sick or out of
work. The same case should be followed now.
The command to work is as much to preachers
as to any one else, Paul himself having set
~.
some will quote from Paul in another place
that "they which preach the gospel should
live by the gospel" Il Cor. TX 14J We say
those div1nely commissioned, paul was di-
vinely appointed) and could "forbear to work."
a. his right, being an apostle, but having no
divine command to not work, he worked with
his own hands. setting US an example to fol-
low; therefore much less have we the right
to 1--we by the gospel directly or indirectly 1
know Of no exsmple in the Bible for paying
preachers 9 salary, but which was followed
by . curse. We ind that the principal cause
that God had for overthrowing the Jewish
state by the King OF Babylon, addressing His
words to Jerusaleml said: The heads thereof
judge for reward, and the priest thereof teach
for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for
money, MAC. iii III; and in the next verse the
prophet tells them therefore shall Zion for
your sake, be plowed as field and Jerusalem
shall become heaps" This prophecy was liter
~ carried out, for the very reason stated ''for
your sake" for ''divining for money" Paul
tells Us that "these things happened unto
them for ensample ttypesJ and they are writ
ten for our admoution." II it was q great
sin to preach for hire then. it Is no less 30 now
Whenever preacher gets to preaching for
hire. he soon gets to having Etching palms"
Oh Tim ~ ID, and win have 70 preach
smooth things,' Elsa. Xxx 1O). Such sermons
- viii please them that pay for them, but If he
follows the example of Paul, and works for his
living, then he is independent, and can get his
fire 'sae nints preaching q pure gospel TO
both high and low he then can .'cry aloud
tandls spare not rs faithful servant Of the
Great King" know that all who carefully
examine this subject by the light of the scrip
lures win become ashamed TO hold out q soft
hand 70 receive aims collected from the poor
n. 3. BLAEzox