The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-05-23
HOW NOT TO PREACH.


INJURIES.
18th. Make no appeals to the fearf of
sinners; but leave the impression that
They have no reason TO fear.
18th. Say so little OF hell that your reo-
pie will infer that you do not believe in
Its existence
18th. Make the impression that, II God
Is as good us you are, He will send no
one to hell
14th. Preach the love OF God, but ig
more the holiness of His love, that will
by no means clear the imrenitent sinner.
10th. Often present God In His paren.
tai love and relations, but ignore His
governmental and legal relations to His
subjects, lest the sinner should find him
self condemned already and the wrath of
God abiding on him.
10Th. Preach God as all Grey, lest
fuller representation Of His character
should alarm the consciences of your
hearers.
18th. Try to convert sinners to Christ
without producing any uncomfortable
convictions of sin. q
18th. Flatter the rich, so ~ to repel
the poor, and you will convert none of
either class.
18TH Make no disagreeable illusions to
the doctrines of self-denial, cross. bearing
and cruciiiXion to the world, lest you
should convict and convert some of your
church members.
Goth Admit, either expressly or inn
plledly, that all men have some moral
goodness in them, lest sinners should I'M
derstand that they need Il radical change
Of heart from sin to holiness
2lst. Avoid pressing the doctrine Of
total moral depravity lest you should
offend, or even convict and convert, the
moralist.
god. Do net rebuke the worldly tend
nf ha OH ri, Ia I,
feelings, and finally convert some of
them.
2od. Should any express anxiety about
their souls, do not probe them by any
uncomfortable illusions to their sin and
ill desert; but encourage them to join the
church at once, and eXhort them to as
sumo their perfect safety within the fold.
24th. Preach the love Of Christ, not as
enlightened bene, olence, that is holy,
just and sin, hating but as sentiment,
an involuntary and Understanding
fOndness
25th. BE sure not to represent religion
rs u state of loving self. sacrifice for God
and souls; but rather rs free and easy
state of self-indulgence. By thus doing
YOU will prevent sound conversion to
Christ and convert your hearers to your.
self.
Goth. So select your themes and so pres
ent them rs 20 attract and hatter the
wealthy, aristocratic, seli-indulgent, eX-
travagant, pleasurc-secking classes, and
you will not convert any of them to the
cross. bearing religion of Christ.
9th. Be time serving, or you will en-
danger your salary: and besides, if you
speak out and are faithful, you may con-
vert somebody.
2Sth Do not preach with n divine unc-
ton, lest your preaching make saving
impression.
10Th. TO avoid this. do not main vain a
close walk with God, but rely upon your
learning and study.
Goth. Lest you should pray too much,
engage in light reading and worldly
amusements.
3lst. That your people may not think
you in earnest Co save their souls, and as
IL consequence, heed your preachings, Ell.
courage church fairs, lotteries, and other
gambling and worldly expedients to raise
money for church purposes.
32h. If you do not yourself approve of
such things, make no public mention of
vour Misrepresentation, lest your church
should give them up, and turn their at
tention to saving souls, and he saved
themselves
3d. Do not rebuke extravaganza IN
dress, lest you should uncomfortably i'm.
press your vain and worldly church mem.
berS
34th. Lest you should he troubled with
revival scenes and labors, encourage par
ties, picnics. excursions and worldly
amusements, so as to divert attention
from the serious work of sn> ing souls
35th. Ridicule solemn earuestness in
pulling sinners out of the fire, and recon-
mend, by precept and example, II iovial,
fun-loving religion, and sinners will have
little respect fer your serious preaching.
18th. Cultivate fuSti1iouS tustp in
your people, by avoiding all disagreeable
illusions to the last Judgment and final
retrbution.
3Ith. Treat such uncomfortable doc
trines rs obsolete and out Of place in
these days OF Christian refinement.
38th. Do not commit yourselves to
much needed reforms, lest You should
compromise your popularity and ,,ssinjure
your influence. Or, you may make some
branch of outward reform hobby, and
dwell so much upon it as to divert atten.
ton from the great work of converting
souls to Christ.
3ath. So exhibit religion as to encour-
age the selfish pursuit of it, Make the
impression upon sinners that their own
safety and happiness is the supreme mo-
tive for being religious.
10th. Do not lay much stress upon the
efficacy and necessity OF prayer, lest the
Holy Spirit should be poured out upon
YOU and -the congregation and sinners
should be converted.
dist. Make little or no impression upon
your hearers. so that you can repeat your
OLE sermons often without it being no.
tced.
42d. If your text suggest any alarming
thought, pass lightly over it, and by no
means dwell upon and enforce it.
IL J3d Avoid all illustrations renetitions