Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1894-05-18
.,n reading punoent.

'ovh, reaulng pungenI,
sharp writings, cannot be expected to
come and hear our ecclesiastical hum
drum.
If "a man Stays at home on Sundays and
reads the newspapers, it is because the
NEWSPAPERS are more interesting. We
need. my brethren, to rouse up and stop
hunting with blank cartridges. The
church Of God ought to be the leader,
the Interpreter, the inspirer Of the age.
It is all folly for US to be discussing old
issues-arraigning Nero, hanging Absa-
lon, striking the Philistines with Sham
CARS OK goad-when all around about US
are iniquities to be slain.
Did ! say that the church orSht to be
abreast Of the times? 1 take at back.
The church Of God ought to Oe ahead
of the times-as far in advance as the
cross of Christ is ahead Of all human in
vention. Paul was 1000 years ahead Of
the day in which he lived. The swift
footed years that have passed since Lu-
Their died have not yet come up to Luz
theirs grave. Give iniquity 1000 years
the start, and the feet Of Christianity are
so nimble that if you will but give it full
swing it will catch up and pass it in two
bounds. The church Of God ought to be
ahead of the times.
a Church That Converts.
Iremark, further, that we have tried
here. in the love and fear Of God, to build
q church that would be characterized by
conversions. l have heard of very good
people who could preach on for 10 or 90
wears and see no conversions, but yet
have faith. 1t takes a very good man to
do that. do not know how a man can
keep his faith up if souls are not brought
TO the Lord Jesus Christ. That church
that does not bring men and women to
the feet Of the Saviour is failure. l
care not how fine the building, or how
sweet the music, or how eloquent the
preaching, or how elegant the surround
ings-it is a failure. The church of God
was made for just one thing-to get men
ont of the world into the kingdom Of
heaven.
The tendency in churches is to spend
their time in giving fine touches to Chris
tians already polished We keep our re-
ligion too much indoors and under shell
ter. when it ought to be climbing the
rocks or hewing in the forests. Then it
would be a stalwart religion, robust
religion, a religion able to digest the
strong meat of the word, instead Of be-
ing kept on the pap and Cruel Of spiritual
inyaidism. 1t is high time that we threw
off the Sunday clothes Of sickly senti-
mentality and put on the workday dress
Of an earnest, active Christianity.
Here is Brooklyn, here is New York,
here are the United States, here is the
whole world, to be converted. 1t is 1894
years since Christ came, and yet Europe,
Asia, Africa, North and South America
are still uneyangelized. More people
born every year into the world than are
born into the kingdom Of God. At that
rate ask any one who can do a simple
sum in arithmetic to calculate when this
world will be brought to Jesus. At that
ratio, never, never, never! And yet we
know that it is to be brought to Christ.
But the church will have to change its
tack and take a wider sweep with the
gospel net than any it has yet taken. !
believe that the great masses Of the peo-
pie are now ready to receive the gospel
if we give them chance.
A boy goes along the street at night
and sees a fine house beautifully lighted
up end hears music, and he says, Il wish
l was in there, but l have not been In
vited," and so he passes on. Here is the
church Of God, lighted up with festiyity
and holy mirth, and the world passes
along outside. hears the music and some
times wishes it was inside, but says that
it is not invited. Oh, invite the world
to come in! Go out into the highways
and hedges. Send a ticket of invitation
printed in these words, Come, for all
things are now ready"
Some years ago 200 men were buried in
the Hartley colliery Of England. The
queen Of England from her throne tele-
graphel, rs there any hope for the
men:7 After awhile the answer came
over the wires: mo hope. They are
dead" Here is whole race buried in
sin and darkness and woe. The question
that thrillsup to the throne Of God today
is, is there any hope for the mem" An
swcring intelligence comes back from the
throne Of God, thrilling through the
worlds darkness, thrilling through the
worlds woe: YES. Hope for one, hope
for all. Whosoever will let him come.
And the spirit and the bride say, Come
And let him that is athirst come"
\ Message From the Almighty.
We have had conventions all over the
country discussing the subject, "How
Shall the Great Masses Be Brought to
Christi They have passed splendid res
Citations at the close Of the meeting-a
long list Of 8, 10 or 10 have been read,
and then the presiding officer has said,
"All those in favor Of the resolution for
the conversion Of the world, purifying
the cities and redeeming the masses and
making everything all right say aye"
"Aye, ayew say a thousand voices. "All
opposed-no.7 THE ayes have it" There,
the whole world is converted! All, we
do not seem to get along by such proc
ess.
If this world is ever to be brought to
God it will not be by the handful of
ministers we havein this country. twill
be by the great masses Of Christian men
and women discharging their duty. If
the private church membership Of this
country would but put on their armor
and 90 forth, l believe that in 10 years
this whole land would be redeemed for
Christ. Would God that all the people
were prophets! lam never afraid to hear
a man say that he is going to preach. If
he cannot preach, people will not go to
hear him. If lie can, he has message
from the Almighty, and l would have
him deliver it. Look out how you inter
fere with him.
Since we have been together as pastor
and people how many have been pro-
NOTED to the glories Of heaven? They
died sweetly, calmly, as only Christians
80, IL pbo,- bova mt down tha staff