The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-04-26
4 PICTURE FROM PROPHET MICAH
An Address by Rev. Oliver C.
Miller.
Graphic Pen Picture of the worldlines.
OF Many Ministers of Gods Word
Strong Appeal to Workers In the vine-
yard to BE Up and Doing, to practices
as Well az Preach tho Gospel.

The prophets were God com missioned
seers, and the record Of wha, thew saw
eonstitutesa mirror in which is reflected
the lives OF those to whom they prophe-
SLED Let US study their visions, since
they are full Of instruet ton and warning.
Micah's message, like that of his con-
temporary Isaiah, was to Judah and Is
rael, but also to us whose sins he has
pictured. It contains the shsrpest res
proof and the most awful denuncistions
OF wrath, interlaced with the most oom.
iorting promises. The prophecy OF God
ls written for all time, and is applicable
Wherever and whenever the conditions
OF human life exist to which 1t applies.
Ior seprooi or for comfort. In the church
OF to- day Is clearly por trayed both shosa
conditions Of heart against which the
prophet pours forth the wrathful denun-
Citations OF Jehovah, and of which he
speaks In mercy g tenderest tones of COM
1ort. The church Of the present dav will
never convert the world; oorruption can
not beget purity. In the great ohnrch
world God has here and there His elecs-
his remnant that have not bowed the
knee TO Baal, nor polluted their gar,
ments In the miro Of cowardice. Oup
only nope Is to hear the words Of the
Propnet. saving: "Hesrken, o earth,
and all that therein lie, and let the T.o,5
be witness against you" To grow In
righteousness We must let the Lord be a
swift snd unsparing witness sgainot our
SINS. through His word and the search
light OF the Spirit. To receive His inn,
age our souls must be "molten unde,
Him." and our hearts las WAX befora
the IRE" OF repentance; that we NAV he
ntted to receive His holy Spirit. Gods
ministers should be like Micah, In sor-
row Tor the sins Of their people stripped
OF SELF and 90 wailing like the dragons.
ana mourning as the OWLS" instead of
cred church, and trembling before ".pir.
itusl wickedness in high places" with
out word Of denunciation. Do the
words OF the prophet apply to the pres.
ent-day church? ia her wound incnr.
able?" said cody minister to me mat
the other day; one who declined n asli
TO wealthy parish because he knew
they would not "endure the form of
sound words" choosing rather to work
Tor his board among Gods poor
MATTHEW 10 TO e.
Enter Ye in at the strait gate: for wide
Is the gate and broad Ia the wav that
!eadeth to destruction, and many there
be which go In thereAt.
because strait Is the gate, and narrow
Is the way, which leadeth unto life, and
few sheIe be that find 1t.
Beware OF false prophets. which ammo
to you in sleeps clothing, but inwardIv
they are ravening wolves.
Ye shall know them by their frui.s
DO men gather grapes OF thorns, or fgs
OF thistles? AS
Even so every good tree bringeth forth
good 1ruit, but corrupt tree bringeth
forth evil fruit.
a good tree cannot bring forth evil
iruit. neither can . oorrups tree bring
forth good fruit.
Every tree that bringeth not forth
the fire. '' "A'o
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall
know them.
Not every one that saith unto mo.
Lord, Lord. shall enter into the kingdom
Oh heaven, but he that doeth the will oe
my Father which Is In heaven.
II rear she church Ia irrecoyerabIv
Ioss' Ii the church is not soon healed
she will be incurable. Go right to orr
communion tables and you can and
men who in the language Of the prophet.
devise iniquity. work evil. practice IL
because 1t Is In the power of their hand.
They covet fields, take them away, or
press man and his house."
GRINDING THE POOR LIKE QUARTZ TO GET
GOLD.
IL man can take all the law allows
him he often becomes a thief. A short
time ago o man come TO me in dtstresa
because he had but four days in which
TO pay the last note Of q hundred dollara
or lose his home. and worst of all the
oppressor was minister Of the gospel.
Know of another commandment OF the
church who has poor girls working In his
factories for fifteen cents per day. He
has lately rendered o fine lot for n
church building. The question 10, who
gave the lot? TO the well.filled church
OF to- day the prophet cries: 10 thon
that art called the house of Jacob. is
the Spirit OF the Lord Strengthened? are
these thy doings, do not nv words do
good to him that walketh uprigh,lvpn
The ministrations OF pulpis and altar
can only do good to such IS would
learn 80 walk uprightly." A man