The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-09-19
been to college and some professor has
put a kink in you, the Conference will

end OF the pulpit to take up. Don't
you think so? Don't you think a young
man should begin with a hard charge?
Well, you shall have it. l said to a friend
OF mine: What would % do II some
a should come to your altar and
say, I want to be saved?'" He said:
Il can't conceive Of such a thing oc-
curing under my ministry
We must have another school in>
Methodisrn, a school az to how to read
the Bible, to do evangelistic work, etc.
I want a school true to the John DEM
ster plan
After all the theological training.
last year our great Church paid $24, OO0,-
600 and got 1850 preachers. but only
16, 900 converts. and most OF these came
Brothers, the everlasting trend Of
human nature Is down grade. The
preachers must check this down grade.
There ought to be a day Of humilia-
ton and prayer In u Church., and no
other Church is better off than our
Church in this respect. In one denomi-
nation 1000 Churches did not report q
single conversion. This Is on the oppo-
site side of the usual address made. but
it is true.
Then, after theology, you begin to
make mo When o make SER
mons. first get a library. You have
h largest publishing house in the
world. Take the heart out Of q book
and grind it for yourself; that Is not
plagiarism. Buildthe thought into your
self in your study and hen give 1t to
your people. If your ermo don't move
them. burn it. for that is the only way
1t will eve get hot.
What shall you preach? Preach the
Gospel of Jesus Christ.
First, Holy Ghost will be in every
congregation.
Second, some hungry heart will be in
every service, somebody that wants
that morning to get back to God.
You preach what God gives you and
not allow official board or congregation
to say what you shall preach.
How much shall you preach a Gospel
that can do anything for human ma
ture that human nature needs to have
done. There is q devil in everybody.
Do you believe men can grow into
piety?
Human nature is corrupt. Jesus
Christ can take that corruption out.
The blood of the Lord Jesus can take
any corruption u OF human nature.
If h devil has put anything In human
nature that Jesus Christ cannot take
out, then the devil is greater than
Jesus.
I will ask you IL you expect to be
made perfect in this life? II a Con-
ference should vote a man in that does
not want to be made perfect, I would
not ordain him.
There is not more said now against
holiness than fifty years 6 a said
against regeneration. Now, everybody
says you can know you are saved.
A preacher ought to study four and
one-half days in each week and visit
his people the other time. Never be-
gin to preach or study until vol talk
to Jesus. If you have no purpose but
the glory Of God you will nave a good
time.
Write sermons, but I would rather
you not read them. Preach so as to
bring men to God. Preach to win souls
and not fear blunders. I rather a
man to blunder twenty-five times in an
hours sermon n save a soul than to
be eloquent and nobody saved Move
men. When preparing a sermon you
will cry from God giving you new
thoughts and shout for God. Your SER
mon must move you, or it won't move
anybody else. I can't see how a man
can preach a red hot sermon and his
eyes nor face not change expression.
You say SO many foolish things are
said and so many men profess and
bring disgrace. This is also true OF
conversion. You say there are so many
fads. I grant that. Don't drive people
out Of your Church. We are ourselves
pie are going where they are fed. You
have hungry people and must feed
them. Let's train our people. It's not
honest to hit people who profess holt
ness. Some poor man can't read, but is
saved. Don't hit him. Don't wound
people from the pulpit. / learn that
some Methodist preachers don't believe
in REVEALS, but our Church, the Bible,
God and I do.
Talk about excitement in revival; see
the excitement of trusts and business
of today. l never knew anybody that
don't like our Church but was willing
to hang around our door and take the
n doubts in the pulpit. Al Methodist
preacher that will raise doubts without
settling them is not fit to be a preacher.
A man who will receive an appoint
ment and then attack the Bible and be
paid by Christians is a fraud. This
thing of playing with men - the grave
before us. A Methodist preacher in
taking in a class OF p~robationers, said:
Il have not bothered you with the
Jonah story" and one OF that class
was made skeptical. I think you had
better stand by Moses. Jonah and the
Bible and preach the truth. I had bet
ter stay here asd get the right kind
OF holiness. Don't get the fighting kind.
get the richest God has to give. That
kind is catching. This will make you
Episcopal preachers.
Build your sermons. No man can
preach a sermon In thirty minutes. I
like a big circuit, SO you can preach
your sermons over like Bishops and
Presiding Elders. / don't care how
many times a preacher breaches the
same sermon l have preached come
fifty times.
You must know the discipline; you
must know men,; study human nature.
Men show in their face and heart What
they are. Manage men like a woman
manages her husband. II you will take
men into your confidence you can do
anything with them.
Some laymen here that never lack
anything. Everyofficial board has some
Of Gods off oxen on it. Never pac
your board and never turn any out
until you have to. Manage the man
and pray for him.
Learn how to lead a prayer meeting.
Announce prayer meeting subject. Get
somebody to pray who thinks he can't
pray. Go to Sunday school; attend the
teachers meetings; study Church soci-
cites, missionary and all benevolent So
c%ieties. Fill yourself with them and
h people will get the best you have
n you will get the money Taarp