The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-22

evil in preaching. Its only result must be
nerveless sentimentalty and hardened
hearts 1t was to the sons of the prophets
who abandoned themselves to extraVagant
ecstacy and habitually catered 10 the In
fictitious religious enthusiasm of the crowd
that Hosea addressed mis- Singing pnllipplc,
The prophet is q fool, the man of the spirit
is mad
1T is a serious mistake to conclude that
emotion is the only or chief form OF CON
seriousness in which the baptism of the Holy
Ghost is manifested to the Christian believ-
er. 1t is significant that in the margin OF
the revised version Pauls list of the virtues
which are the fruit of the spirit is made to
close with self-control. Not an ecstat1c
state of feeling, but new understanding OF
the truth and quickened remembrance OF
his teachings are the offices of the COM
forter as promised by Jesus to His disci-
pies. Not religious delrium, but marvellous
facility for making themselves understood
by the mixed multitude in the streets OF
Jerusalem was the token of the Spirit
presence with the apostles at Pentecost. Not
and self-possession CT an angel did the Spirit
Stephen in the hour of his martyrdom;
Ezekiel of DID, overcome with emotion. fell
prone upon his face before the glory of the
Lord, but WheR the Spirit entered into him
He restored the prophet to his Self-posSes-
sion set him upon his feet and gave him
some sober practical work to perform The
parting promise of the ascending Christ stlll
holds good for His servants to-day .Ye
shall have power not rapture, when the
Holy Ghost is come upon YOU. 1t was
touching the work Of the ministry that Paul
reminded Timothy that the Spirit ~-hich
comes from God is one of power. and love,
and discipline or, as the margin reads,
SOLDERING
1.-The rightly qualified minister ought to
be man of practical affairs. Not dream
er among shadows, but q man among men.
Nothing was more clearly destructive OF the
preaching of the Hebrew prophets than that
their messages were always in touch with
the realities of human life about them.
They were intensely interested students of
men and things. The social and civil prob
lens that vex our own day were living issues
in their minds. The burdens of the poor,
drink evil the corruption CT courts of JUS
tice the raVageS of epidemic diseases, the
decline of true patriotism and whatever else
pertained to the deepest interests or human
burden of the world was heavy upon the
prophetic heart in the ancient age. some
one said, but it is intellectually heavier to-
day The Christian minister whose COM
passion is not deeply and caaselessly stirred
by the physical and social as we'll as by
the religious needs of the community is
faithful only to part OF his divine commits
sion.'
Lastly, while the activities of the minis
ter must be in the most intimate contact
must always be hid with Christ In God
The prophetic character to-day, as always,
is nurtured in solitude. The divine word
comes to Moses at the back Of the desert, to
Elijah the Tishbite, in the seclusion of
Gileads lonely hills, to Gideon hidden from
the world in the shadow Of the winepress.
to John the Baptist in the wilderness of
Judea to John the apostle in the exile of
PatmOs.
"If chosen men could never be alone
In deep midsilence. open-doored to Cod,
No greatness ever had been dreamed or
done"