The Louisiana populist. [volume] (Natchitoches, Natchitoches Parish, La.) 1894-1898, 1894-08-31
Editor Louisiana Populist:

Editor Louisiana Populist:
DEAR SIR:-I wish to drop a
few thoughts in regard to preach
ing for money. Alas! alas the
truth is too often told and more
forcibly impressed by actions than
words; so it is with the preacher
that will not preach for church or
people without stipulated salary.
They say it is through means of
the gospel that sinners must be
saved, and so it is; but if they, nor
any one else will not nor can not
preach it without a certain amount
of money, it must follow that it is
money salvation, but Christ and
his holy apostles declored that sal
walton was by grace and that, free
grace. Oh, brethren, what is the
value of an immortal soul, is it not
worth a life of toll and labor ? We
have often heard that one soul was
worth ten thousand worlds like
this. Jesus says, "For what man
profteth if he shall gain the whole
world and lose his own soul,D or
what shall man give in exchange
for his soul. Jesus gave his whole
life, suffered hunger and persecu-
ton, died the ignominiOus death of
the cross for salvation of poor lost,
ruined sinners. But some of his
professed followers holding higher
offices than cOald be given by men,
will not give from two to four days
out of each month without demand
ing certain sum from Gods peO-
pie as a remuneration for their ser
vices, and in some instances receive
a pledge of the church for the sum
demanded. Consistency, oh! con-
sistency thou art jewel. Would
the truly converted soul when it
first felt that God for Christ sake
had pardoned its sin, have stopped
to make such demands, would that
good brother when he first felt that
impression of the holy spirit to 60
preach the unsearchable riches of
Christ have halted to consider
about his salary. No, in the name
of Jesus, would be the unanimous
answer of every truly converted
and spiritually called gospel minis.
ter in the land that such demands
together with the motives that
prompt them, signify a want of
faith in a threefold sense is certain.
First, a want of faith in their own
ability to WELD an influence for
good. Second, a want of faith in
the integrity and spiritual interest
of the church and people to- serve.
Third, a want Of faith in the prom
Use of God made through Jesus
Christ.
Oh, dear brethren, go preach
Christ and him crucified to poor
lost and ruined sinners. Take God
at his word and no longer doubt or
fear; take no thought for your life
what We shall eat or what We shall
drink, nor yet for your body what
ye shall put on, go in meekness and
in love teaching the truth as it is
in Jesus, remembering that he has
promised to be with you always,
even to the end of the world, truth
like its author, will prevail. Jesus
has said, IL am the way, the truth
and the life" he then being the
truth it must prevail, for he has
declared by his holy apostles that
to his name every knee shall bow
ana every tongue shall confess
again. The Lord says, look unto
me all the ends of the earth and be
We saved for am God and besides
there is none other, again all shall
know me from the least to the
greatest. Truth must and will pre-
vail, for God has said so and his
word is truth. Then brethren let
us labor not for the meat which en-
dureth unto everlasting life.
III. ID. PREUETT.
We publish the above for what
it is worth. We believe in giving
everybody a chance to express