The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-04-09

1erent things. The former is a legiti-
mate theme for pulpit treatment. The
latter is not; it is the theory of The ap-
plicauon of A particular Kind of iegis-
lation to the regulation or rather the
exclusion, Of the liquor traffic. 1t is a
question of political expediency in gov
eminent, and the minister is no safer
guide in matters Of public expediency
than many another class Of profession
al men; in fact We not infreuuentiy find
as result Of the nature of their duties
they are given TO visionary and erratic
rather than practical ideas. If the
pulpit were to take sides in this cues
ton or any other of similar nature. it
We're TO assume that the particular an
plic3tion q the plan of bringing about
a condition of general temperance
which it advocated were the right one
and that allothers Were wrong, an AFRO
giant assumption Of divine authority
that is, in our judgment, wholly I'M
warranted.
The sphere of the pulpit, however, in
relation to this as in relation to all
other questions Of morality, is to teach
by and with the authority of the word
OF Scripture the necessity of temper
ance In all things IL emphasize the
sin OF all indulsences, in fact the sin
fuineSS of all vice. 1t is the particular
sphere Of the pulpit to breathe a purer
lIIdH iildi WHICH IL 10 De IOulG any
where else. Its teaching is to be has
ed on a higher sources or plane. il IS to
teach a spiritual cleansing of the inner
heart Of the individual man and when
the individual is a temperate man.
virtuOuS man. society with is composed
of the individual units will be temper
ate from the highest PURPOSE that man
can have. The pulpit is to feed the
man upon the pure and the true and the
srfr h, II
ening food of the word of God: it is TO
reach his reason as well as his heart:
1t is TO teach the wisdom of righteous
ness and the fooliShness of sin.
Further, the interference Of the pulpit
IN secular affairs detracts from the in
fuence of the ministry. 1t embroils the
pulpit in contentious with those that
1t calculates to reach; it often unneces-
Sary makes such its enemies. 1t does
more. 1t presents a false idea of the
Christian religion to the world. | find
that some of the most moral men that
know are outside Of the church for
the reason that they have never learned
to regard the church as other than "A
mere organization calculated for the
ciViliZing of the race, with a. system or
scheme of moral philosophy as a basis.
1t is the duty of the ministry to present
Christianity as a new life: to teach that
man reformation, but is based upon
spiritual regeneration; that the Chris
tan must depend, not upon human
vows for carrying out new life and
forming and developing his Christian
character, but that he has the promise
Of Divine grace by the Holy Spirit to
nourish and guide him in the same.
Christianity is not a mere system of
ethics.
Tho responsibilities 90 ;,+a,l;oo-,t ~;
are incumbent upon every one.
The moral principles Of good citizen
ship are a legitimate theme for every
pulpit. More, the minister should no
more fail to cast his ballot than should
the politician or the lawyer. There is
a civil sphere for him. He too, is citi-
zen Of the state. But as an instructor
in the pulpit he is the instructing repre-
sentative Of a higher kingdom; and to
choose a, political theme for his sermon
is keen reflection upon his apprecia-
ton of the dignity of his calling;a keen
reflection upon the riches of the word
Of God as a reservoir of pulpit subjects.
If his people demand a political or a
SenSa tional topic of any kind because
the Gospel is too dry. woe to the spirit
ual appetite Of that people. And if the
minister caters to the demand of that
abnormal appetite and gives to these
kSt'Ii itudlly VI
spe2ixing) that which they desire rather
than that which they need, woe to his
Judgment. He is a poor physician A
Speculator in this city told me recently
that were to rpeach on the silver ques-
ton he would come to hear me. But it
did not take long to learn that he al
ready knew much more about finance
than ] did, but he seemed To know COM
paratively little of Christian truth,
h
very much more than silver.
No. my brethren, let us seek to keep
the pulpit free from POLITICAL discus
5ionS and entanglements. The tariff,
suffrage, prohibition. the silver
question, no MATTER how interesting
these are in their places, can never be
r. substitute for the eternal Gospel of
Christ as the pulpit's theme. When
our members, or those that are not
within our walls on the Sabbath day
hey want to leave the perpleXities of
'iVil and professional life outside. L
always pray that my hearers may do
10. They want to hear the riches of
revelation of truth that will comfort
heir hearts, already oyerburdened with
hat which pertains TO secular duties
md secular misfortuneS. They want
they need something, that
Kill cheer them in sorrow, that will
make them stronger in righteousness to |
resist temptation, stronger in their |
owe for the great brotherhood OF hui |
nanity, stronger in the heart of char |
~ and tenderness and sympathy such |
S the Master exeInplified III his words |
nd works of Diyine-human compass
ion when the unfortunate came to |
i'm and found Friend, a Savior. Our |
'eople do not want, neither should they |
rave the mistakes of lawmakers etern- |
lily 6rummed into their ears from the |
ulpit; but they do want, and they do |
iced to have their minds and their |
carts prepared by high and holy |
thoughts in their Lords day worship TO |
meet all the questions that come before /
hem during the week. with Cody |
rust and dependence. When a congre-
alton receives such preaching steadily |
or years il will be prepared in spiritual |
trength, in the healthy, moral lives OF |
IS members TO grapple with the ques-
ion of morality in the civil sphere.
here may not be phenomenal growth
4 members but there is strength of in
ividual life.
We have hard recently some one here
peak OF the regular Lord $ day service
: a dress parade" Now il is possible
pr them to become such. but am salts
ed that the services of the one VINO
lade the remark are not a dress
arade" if they receive the ability that
e is able 10 put into them. If our ser
ices become a mere show whose foult !
; it? / choose rather To consider them |
: feast; a place where the Worship
er receives that which will give him
ioral and spiritual strength and
rowth: that which VIII cause him 10
row toward the fullneSs OF the stature
Christ. in a love for the true ami the
God and in the same proportion grow
the hatred Of that which is evil. The
Dlnmon custom of making the pulpit
nlatfnrn for hdranging al kinds of