Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1893-11-29

the gospel in the ages to come, and saw that
It's influence would be as far reaching as the
powers OF man. When Milton would soar
into the high realms OF his fancy and pro-
duce poem that might never die, he must
select his theme from the oracles of God,
and thus he gave to mankind Paradise Lost
and Found. When Raphael would immor-
tallze his name he must ascend into the holy
mount and gaze on the TRANSPORTATION, and
upon this production his fame rests. The
greatest OF all the compositions of Handel
is the Messiah. Truly all science and liter
ature and history have been enriched and
glorified by the gospel. He who knows
Christ, and him crucihed, knows everything,
and he who does not know this knows moth
Ing. The preachers theme is as broad as the
universe; embracing the heavens above, the
earth beneath, and the waters under the
earth. For "eye hath not seen nor ear heard,
neither hath entered into the heart of man
the things which God hath prepared for
those that love him." The flower of infidel
oratory fadeth and the grass of sceptical phi
losophy withereth but the word Of our God
shall stand forever. Any gump can doubt,
any ignoramus can quibble about the bible:
any infintessimal specimen of humanity can
hnd FAULT with the minister and the church,
but To preach the gospel is q privilege in
which the angels of heaven would delight to
be engaged.
4. Furthermore, Pauls determination was
an enthusiastic one. Enthusiasm was one
of Pau's most conspicuous characteristics,
This quality is indispensable to success. IL
rules the world. The demand of the hour is
for men on fire with great and stirring
truths, igniting all with whom they come in
contact Before his conversion Paul was in
earnest, believing 1t his duty to exterminate
the Christians After God had struck him
10 the earth on the way to Damascus, his en-
thusiasm was changed into working for this
same despised sect, everywhere spoken
against" He said: "For whether we be be-
side ourselves, II is TO God,n when making
ms defense before Agrippa, and Festus
charged him with being mad with learning,
beside himself, but he declared that he spoke
the words of truth and soberness. In our
day Paul would have been called q fanatic.
Christ himself was charged with diabolism.
His kindred thought him crazy. "No man
can become eminent in anything unless he
work at IL with an earnestness bordering on
enthusiasm" said Robert Hall. 1t matters
not whether the world misunderstands our
motives or charges us with being fanatics or
not, saving men Is an important matter, and
regardless OF what Others may say, we should
preach Christ, and him crucified, TO lost men
with that zeal that will carry conviction to
their hearts, and show that we speak that
which we know.
8. But, finally, PauPs determination was
courageous one. The Greeks loved rheto-
ric and philosophy, yet Paul preached Christ,
and him crucified though he well knew it
would bring him only contemp pit and ridicule.
II tested the courage of a man then as it
does now to present an unpopular theme,
even If he knows he is right Things have
changed since Pauls time. In every congre-
CATION there are many responsive hearts who
love to hear the "old, old story of Jesus and
his love-" The man who does not preach the
gospel today has no excuse for IL whatever,
Tor there Is no such opposition to meet as
Paul had to contend with There is great
need OF courage in the pulpit today. We
need men of moral stamina, who have the
courage OF their convictions. The great