The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-08-05
all mankind, regardless, If need be, OF tne
spirituality, or Theology, which is therein


spirituality. or Theology, which is therein
| taught.
THE ALMIGHTY'S SPECIAL TRUST AND CON-
FIDENCE PLACED IN US.
All His special marks of affection and con.
fidence our heavenly Father failed to show 70
heather nations. He knew that those people
had not yet arrived at that degree OF excel
lence which enables the human heart to ap-
preciate and love the higher and more sub.
lime character that Is outlined for the Ideal
man, and exemplary Christian.
While we had not reached perfection
yet, because of our superiority as a race
we were the proper custodlans Of his
law and he entrusted the same TO our keep
| ing. II we would be true to ourselves we
must be faithful 70 our Great Beneiaetor
the knowledge which he conferred upon US.
The love of the Scriptures shoul d be cultivat-
ed In our hearts, and we should learn to love
the book. If for no other reason, than for the
beauty and perfection Of its language, the
justice OF It's laws. and the wisdom OF Its
thoughts.
| FOREIGN OR HOME MISSIONS.
In sending missionaries abroad we should
not neglect the home field. Our own men and
brethren should not be forgotten. What mat.
ters II, If half dozen heathen are made
nominal Christians, If our own members
langulshes? What is gained by cultivating
foreign fields, II the harvest at home Is neg
lected?
THE MINISTER'S SHOULD READ THE NEWS
PAPERS.
The minister who fails to read the newspa-
pers Of the day is not fully qualified 10
preach the gospel. and no man who boasts
that he reads nothing but his Bible and his
church paper deserves or can have the respect
AS physician must see and learn the
needs OF his patient. so those who would
minister spiritual consolation to the wants
of a sin-sick people, must mingle with them
feeling. He must sympathise with them in
their sorrows, and he must participate wltn
them In their joys. In their adversities, as
we'll as in their successes, they should be en-,
sweet counsellor. Much of this may be made
manifest from the pulpit as well as from per-
sonal and individual contact with the people,
Christianity is laboring under great dis
advantages because OF an ignorant clergy.
preachers who are ignorant OF the cardinal
doctrines of the religion which they pretend
to preach, and who know little or nothing Of
the people whom they are authorized 10
weary on Sunday morning.
REASON WHY THE PULPIT IS CROWDED WITH
wEAKLINGs.
And no condition exists without a reason.
In the first place. there are always a num-
Der of goody goody young men who have
sense enough to know that they lack the
brains TO enter the contest In any OF the 9th
er learned professions. They know that there
are no failures in the ministry. They know
that there is always congregation ready to
pension them. Thus taking In the situation
they apply TO our seminarie or church courts
for authority to go abroad and preach the
blessed word. Impecunious young men-re-
gardless of their ability-who desire to preach
can always get credit or the necessary help TO
enable them to "get through college" This
help Is always from we'll meaning people
from would
hot supper, or sell weak lemonade-or from
old sinners who would compound With the
Lord for past derelictions-and then to crown
IL all, the Seminaries will issue certifcateS or
charters, authorizing weaklings to represent
and bring into disrepute the great cause Oh
Christ.
homily against the "moral man"-(and who
has not, ever since the days Of his childhood,
heard such sermons)-to put II mildly, ID 1rlt
tering away valuable time and neglectlng the ne
much better If we heard addresses on the sub.
jert OF the immoral Professor" or the Inn
moral Christian.
Christian Is the highest type OF manhood
known TO the human race, and the nearer we
can reach the life and character OF our Great
Exemplar, the nearer we are to perfection.
For Christian to quarrel with the moral
man" Is like the spire in the tower quarreling
with the foundation upon which the structure
rests.
everlasting foundation upon which the church
is built. when the gates OF hell shall not pre-.
vail against 1t.
Wherever we have morality, there we have
a safe and sure foundation for Christianity.
Wherever morality is not, there we have
fruitful field for the production Of "profes'
sors."
And no man who is immoral has any
fessor''-our Saviour called them hypocrttes,
but we are today more polite and more con.
sderate Of peoples feelings, hence we call
them professors"
THE REASON WHY WE SHOULD OBSERVE THE
SABBATH.
Too often preacher who would appear to
be extremely wise attempts 70 prove that for
physical reasons, we ought to abstain from la
Dor and observe the Sabbath day as q season of
rest. Such talk is productive OF an amount
OF evil which no man can estimate.
The members of the congregation may have
as much reasoning power as the preacher has,
and they may exercise their own brain IT.
tie.
They may wonder, II the Sabbath is TO
be observed from physical reasons, why 1t is
that the great bodies that fly In the firma-
ments or revolve on their axes do not cease
from their motions on Sunday. They may
ask themselves If the fountains do not flow
on Sunday, II the rivers do not run, II the
winds and the waves are ever weary, II the
natural vegetable growth does not continue.
III animal lie IL not tHe saHe ou Suuoay DO
on Monday, If the functions OF our body
hunger, thirst, pain pleasure. etc.,-together
with all the senses do not exist in activity as
we'll on Sunday as on any other day.
The fact Is, that no such reasons as are
based on physical reasons do exist for the
observance OF the Sabbath. We should rest
from our labors on Sunday because the
Almighty, In his wisdom, commanded us to
do so. He no doubt saw that In our mad rush
In the battle of life that we would become 20
~ 'uch Unlisted and so much involved with the
affairs OF this world that we would forget the
taking a rest from our labors, and after hav-
Ing time in which to direct our thoughts to
the important duties, we could on the next
day pursue our chosen pursuit still mindful
of our obligation to God and not forgetful Of
our duty to man.
PROFESSORS.
II might not be amlss TO refer to common
expression from the pull pit which may con-
vey more truth than Is often meant. The
words "Professing Christians" and "Pro
fessors OF Christianity are no doubt familia
to all who attend religious service on Sunday
morning; and, further. such persons as do
frequent the house OF divine worship are no
doubt acquainted with some OF the "Profes-
sors" whom they meet on our public streets,
and with whom they may have contact In
the business world.
Since religion has gotten TO be "profession''
It seems that attention has been diverted
from the cardinal doctrines OF our Saviour.
Our Saviour was not professor" He waa
an exemplar OF the divine principles. He
taught a religion OF principle. and had no
not the divine inspiration but who assumed
to wear the outward garb OF Christianity
that they might be esteemed and praised OF
men for virtues which they did not possess
INTELLIGENT CONVICTION OF RIGHT AND