Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1893-09-07

men as having been valiant soldiers in the
army Of the Lord. They fought a good
fight, finished their course, and kept the
| faith. Now, they wear 1.-THE crown of
righteousness" which was 50 safely laid
up for them, and which is SO sure to all
Gods children.
There has been great change in Maine.
and probably in all New England. with re-
gard to public worship on the Sabbath; q
very great change in ministers of the 'old
school" tn my buyhood DAYS they
preached two long sermons each Sunday
An hour aud half was not an extra long
sermon, and TIE morning prayer was fire.
quently thirty minutes long. and the whple
congregation stood on their feet in PRAYER
time In city pulpits. probably. the ex-
ercises were not so protracted and weari-
some to the audience.
In Maine, when was a boy, there were
10 Sunday schools reported in sny paper
that fell into my hands, and there was
only feeble beginning in cities and large
villages. Bot very little was doue for the
moral and spiritual welfare of children,
except - read a portion of the bible. and
some OF them had 10 commit TO memory
anu recite a short lesson from the cate
chi>m.
How changed, Now we have but one
sermon during the day. and then shout sn
hoar is given to the children In the Sun
day school. The Sunday school is conSid.
cred hv many Of as much Importance as
the sermon, and by the children. Of more
! Importance. The children feel more in
terest in the school than in the preaching
| II IS their meeting, and the children are
/ right.
! Many of the ministers, in nv boyhood
/ al
! iouS things, and because no one could com
| preheud their preaching their sermons
/ were called deep and and profound"
/ / be preaching In those days was largely
d0ciiinal, and many OF their propositions,
| though learnedly and eloquently discussed.
| were not comprehended by the preachers
themselves. They failed to make any SUB
| ject clear and possible of apprehension
70 "the common people" They lid not
"hear them gladly" on that account
They discussed such subjects a. Gods
/ forekuow ledge" eternal DEGREES" >" ''limit-
ed atonement, personal election, "''eifeCt-
ual calling" "once in grace always in
grace. At present-as a rule-we have
preaching that Is more sensible, spiritual
and practical. and better help to right
understanding of the Word OF God and
the duties Of life The fact Is. thirty-aye
Il
good sermon. II IL all that = n ordinary
congregation can ''iawa1dly digest" and
Il is far too long for poor sermon. one
that abounds in words, but IS lacking in
valuable thought.
When the change from doclrinal -
more spiritual and practical preaching
commenced in New England, read Of 4
church IN need Of q pastor, and a man
WAS called wAo had an excellent reputa.
tion a. 8 church worker and pulpit orator
The first Sunday he preached au admirable
sermon, and laid out the work OF the
church in glowing language, and no one
could fall 10 understand him. The church
was much delighted. They thought they
| had called the right man aud no mistake.
/ They spent the week in prai>iug their new
pastor, but they didn't attempt To do the
work he had laid out for them TO do. Tne
second Sunday he preached the same ser
mon. They were somewhat surprised,
and wondered why lie should do 20. They
kept qulet aud made but little talk about H.
The third Slnday be preached the same
sermon again. Then they could bear 1t no
longer The church committee waited on
him and inquired III he didn't intend 10
preach a new sermon" Certainly" said
the pastor, II shall preach 4 new sermon
just as soon as you put in practice the one
| have already preached"
That minister was probably rather &C.
centric, but his head was not much out Of
| level. for he wanted 10 be pastor of a
working church, whose Hight would shine
out upon a dark and sinful world. The
change In preaching, especially In many
parts OF New England. has been yery great.
Now We hear but very little said about
liberalization. personal election, limited
lion Nn,y nn,h{n.,,s - -
I'D, Ios, .. ,,n ,...r., -, -, ..t'S,t
f,,unda.jnn of the ,yo-lt
Tbesa dortrir.s IA, h.a-, ,,-,a..,,..t
when I was a hnv ami uhirh III, ran,
wears swer,.ins,illei ill.,, rr, ,.,n,bf,i ,,l,,t
have now ,Ir,,,nad III, of ~. ,,,..aat,i,1,,t
nearly ali New Epp,and r,irisi,rs ond o,,t
OF the cr.ads NJ he chnrcba. ,,.r,araI,,.'
The prench,rp to.d,v NAV No. ~. -,
scholarly more metsnhy.;c,I M nhiI].t,-
phicsl. but /, l. NOR, sar.ihl.. iniri,nsl
and biblical To d,v nm, y.rv ~, ,,'t,,i
men who hold IN. nnr.a .,r},g.g ,-o,,li
support. tlnapcially. the toctrin.s I'D,
were preached in NV boyhood davs. nor
would they listen u such pr.achin., vim
feelings Of iov ana pladn.s.
| we'll remember the ,i,n. uhar ~
Beecher. of Boston r.nndistad Am. 10
the doctrines of RPS. Jonathan Edwards
The sermons of Dr. Beecber were npb.
li>hed lu part IN the Christian u;rror NJ
Portland. and commented on hv ~. .ti,or
Rev. DR.. Cummincs Nv prapdfo,her ,b.-n
an old uastor of liz congrare,inrsIr rhurc,,
Mount Desert. va. m1ch dj>,rns.,I
on account or Dr. Rearbar H.. u.ni II
cal his ureachin, ..<.,v Epyisni ~
olorv." lie ma II ~ ..I ~ hro,b.r
Berrh.r /. serinnsly iniur,pg ,ba chnrcb -.
| We'll remember what he said but was no,
MA enopyh "a kpo,, y,ha, Lf. ,,,..,,, -
was all n mystery "a me ,her ,-Ia1
yancrd in wears and heard doc,-iras a.
cus.ed nv dif..renr ruinis.srs saa o,,.nr
Iv IN. canse of NV f,rsndfs,h..r,s 80,
faars Tha fact Eos psv r. r.!
with Gods helm ha.t got bIs ey1s ,r.,,,
Ana was crayylir, nnt Gf th.. nlt ,haoIn,,i
cal rnts And II frigh.enad a graa, M,
oood Naw rng,sr5 dir;,o, ,T];,in.,a,
Iiph, has hrokan IL ,,,on ,ha chnr,h n,t
sha bas changed Ill cra.d asnoa.taii, ~
J NV FnglsnG and 49, ,,;n;.,er. ;,.;,t
few exrentions o.. nraonh;ra 49,.
.crin,rrsl ,hanIoay ~ in -. ~
to,sns thars - 49, ;o,;a, ~ VI w
Inusl,i, and ,,hri.,Jao - '''' i'''
W. ,ros ,nara Iah H., NJ ~
lana c,'urchss 80 h.', ii,,Ie
n,iss;on. T., fo,.+ H. -,' - ah'o ~
n,issinrs as -. ~. ~ ioirI5h
| inri,v NJ ,h,. tnrns ~ 49, 9hlnot - iii'
4 III ahAIN