The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-10

the New Testament. Christ. the Savior.
and the goodness that comes through faith
In him, are more or less clearly set forth,
and that In beautifully varied aspects.
There are many useful points about the
preparation and presentation of pulpit dis
courses. bat most of these the young man
viii hear fully discussed liz the course Of
his special preparation. No scientific
knowledge, no classic, no learning no hui
man truth GENES amizS TO the preacher.
yet there have been many men with lit
tie Latin ard less Greek" who have might
Ey Influenced the lives and aspirations of
their fellows toward the kingdom OF God.
The best cardinal rule l can think of is
TO know your Bible tthe English versionl
thoroughly. Know 1t so wei that you can
draw readily on II for apt quotation 10
enforce and emphasize your points. When
IL comes TO uttering 0 grand truth, or
vo.cing an eternal warning, the language
of the book is more forcibie. more con-
vincing. sticks more firmly I'm the mind OF
the nearer than any You can command.
The tone of the preacher In his pulpit.
In my opinion. should be positive, not ar
gumentativc. We are not philosophers find
ing on, things. we are expositors of a rev.
eiatlon that settles things. When Jesus
said, II am the way. the truth. the life,
no man coneth TO the Father but by me-"
he spoke positive truth. which II Is our
business 20 echo. Let authors. poets and
philosophers have the field OF speculation
and Imagination. We my brethren. give
ourselves 10 another task. We are to d.
rect human pilgrims. according To settled
and fixed commandments from The Lord.
into the way that leads through the gate
Into she city.
That part of his duties comprised in his
work as pastor the young man reeds 10
be especially reminded OF. 1t IL the side
of his work that he is likely TO hear ard 10
think least Of during his period OF prepar-
alton.
To fill the requirements Of his place In
his congregation the minister must know
his people. How Is he TO know them?
Obviously the best way To make their ac-
quaintsnce is 10 go 10 their homes. TO see
the family where the family lives and
converse with tharn In the freedom OF
their own homes He may direct this part
Of the wcrk as his special situation makes
Ii seem best, but he should go among his
people as much and as often az he can.
Any ordinary minister who is to do spir-
i.ual good 10 his people must love them.
Ordinary men found their aifectionare in.
terest On acquaintance. II il not love In
general ard In the abstract that makes
channel 10 the human spirit, but love TO
individuals into whose faces and In some
degree into whose hearts ycU have locked
All This VIII make the pastor better
preacher. man tells y3u Of his life
his sorrows. perhaps his sins: his lips qsiiv-
or ard MS eyes overflow tn the recital
II you have sfse first elements Of a min
listers nature in you you must feel and
speak TO that man ever more with kor1e
influential memory OF the Interview.
II may be added that the life Of a
preacher is 10 be In harmony With ,he
truth that is taught. He must salow BY
his walk and his conversation tina. the
message he carries Ii true 10 himself.
firmly believed and sincerely acted Upon
Let /; be said In conclusion. that ma
terssi success j. not 20 be measured by
the aaiteace. the crowd, the popularity
u the preacher, TIE fashionable. wealthy
and attractive congregation. but hy the
spiritual results as seen by TIE Chief
Shepherd and Bishop Of Souls. In ssrang-
ers 10 the Lord brought into hts family
fed with the sincere milk 81 the word
JOHN HALL