Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-10-16


rious results; but when the bible truths have
been suppressed or displaced, the pulpit has
waned in power and preaching has failed in ac-
complishing much good
The sermons of the apostles were composed
mostly of quotations from the old testament
Peter and Paul did not preach science, nor
politics, nor civil law, nor philosophy, nor
morality, nor theology Peter quoted from
Moses and Daniel and Joel, made use of all
prophecy, and the Divine Spirit clothed with
miraculous energy" his words so that souls by
many thousands were converted. Paul's might
lest reasonings were based on the assertions of
holy writ, and as result many of the mighty
were made to tremble were convicted of sin,
were brought penitently to Christ, and multi
tudes of the unlettered and despised were
made wise unto salvation" In like manner
did many of the Christian fathers preach, and
with results similar. And whenever the pulpit
has declined from this simple style of preach
ing to indulge in vain speculations metaphy-
sical refinings, refutations of worldly theories
and theological dogmas, then how soon a spir-
tual degeneracy has followed.
The Greek and Latin pulpit never attained
unto such marked success as when its preach
ers were men filed with the Holy Ghost, and
were men mighty in the scriptures. Chrysos-
tom and Augustine would not stand out before
the world as the archtypes of these churches
had it not been for their biblical preaching.
While many of their SUCCESSORS maintained
this primary mode the pulpit was indeed
prodigious power, but when latter men left the
plble Tor truths that were vain and fanciful
this power became pitiable weakness
The same is observable of the English pulpit
in the time of Baxter and Bates and Bunyan
and Ll.axs .I.,.1 L..
close of the reign of James the First the pulpit
was weak and vaclating, exerting but little
spiritual influence it was only the resultant of
the beginning of deplorabe departure from
the simplicity of biblical preaching. That was
truly dark day for England when the pulpit
became the forum for political harangues"
and "exhortations to unity" when sermons in
general were only subtle discussion, wild spec
ulation, and appeals to the fathers" dark until
the time of Whitfield and Wesley, when the
preaching of the divine word revived, and SER
mons were simple, direct, earnest and evangel-
ica.
In glancing at our own country we must
readily see that preceding the great spiritual
dearth from which the church suffered so
much, the ministry of many had been devoted
to other work than that of proclaiming the
word of jehovah But the great awakening
came, the degeneracy of the pulpit was ar
rested, preaching became more universally
biblical, souls were converted, the church put
on new strength and more beautiful garments,
and went forth in the power of her might A
new era was inaugurated. And thus it has
ever been. The history of the public is the
living witness to the fact that the preaching of
the word of the Lord is the power of the minis
try, the glory of the church, the hope of the
world.
An exploring party in the Arctic seas heard
sound of music. AS they listened it grew
nearer and more distinct, sweeter and sweeter,
until suddenly the heavens were lighted with
streaming blaze from the north. 1.-The voice of |
the aurora" cried one. 1t was so. The sound |
had apparently been converted into light. l |
ask if this word of God is not His voice amid |
the worlds darkness, which it is His purpose to |
transpose into spiritual light which shall flood |
all lands and eventually transform earth into
its primeval glory. | am persuaded that any |
tendency to departure from the preaching
God requires was much more eminent few
years than ut present. AS there was combin-
alton of causes which led to u departure, so
there are several causes which have resulted in
a revival of biblical knowledge in the pulpit.
Prominent among these has been the preach
ing of Mr.. Moody, and the wonderful success
that has attended his efforts to save souls and
advance the kingdom of God. By his manner
of preaching this unlettered man has shown
again one of the secrets and conditions of sue
cess in carrying forward the work of the Lord
When the bible is studied in the Sunday school
us well, need the question De asked, "What
shall the harvest beI" The bible is being more
highly exalted in the pulpit; the people are be-
coming more and more interested in the bible;
the ministers most in demand for occupying
the important pulpits are those most biblical
A biblical pulpit, a biblical Sunday school, a
biblical pen! Say What will not be the har-
vest?
Churches of all denominations will come
nearer and nearer together; the hour hastened
when all creeds shall be scattered to the winds
and all see eye to eye; less discord; more har-
mony; less SIM more holiness; the day dawn
ushered when the Lord shall cover the earth
us the waters cover the sea-" 1t is this word of
God which is to mould the age and bring
about the age of ages when the glorious Light
of the gospel of Christ shall girdle the earth
with the shining zone of love-"
III. In the second place we have sought, and
the Lord has helped to proclaim the blessed
gospel of Jesus Christ Note:
l. We did not say to attract, amuse, please,
startle, and win the applause of the people.
There may be some churches where the more
the methods; the more secular the
spirit; the more uusancified the body, the better
pleased the congregation. Their sanctuary
was not erected, the minister not called the
choir not engaged for the purpose of the pro-
clamation of the gospel of Jesus. But, friends,
II the matchless story of Bethlehem is not an
die tale; If Gethsemany is not "a mockery and
Calvary stage; If Christ is not merely n
historical parsonage; if the gospel is not a
gigantic fraud; if man is not ruined by sin; If
the Son OF Mary, the Son of Man, the Son of
God, did not come into the world to redeem the
world. if the business of the Christian minister
is not to beseech men in Christ's stead to be
reconciled unto God; if there is a heaven. and n
hell too, then it is not only beneath the true
dignity of the plenipotentiary of high heaven,
but treason and blasphemous for him to seel
simply to tickle the itching ears, please the
fancy, amuse the minds and win the applause
Of an admiring congregation. Note again;
2. Not to minister unto the intellectual wants
Of the worshippers, not to preach science, or
I. .,1,t |