St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1900-09-05
RELIGIOUS.
Sources of Power In the Local Church.

of this power can we discern in the minis
try and laity of the local church.
We need not marshal the almost number
less statements and accounts OF sacred
history as to the presence of God with
his people, and of his indwelling among
his servants. The presence of God as the
evidence of power and pledge of victory
is the most potent voice Of all history
To Moses it was declared, my presence
shall go with thee" Quick to discern
where real power lay, be replied, IF thy
presence go not with me, carry us not up
hence. For wherein shall it be known
here thatI and thy people have found
grace in thy sight? Is it not in that
thou goest with us?" :. In Jesus
Christ this presence and this power were
developed to their fullest measure. For
in him dwelleth all the fulness of the
Godhead bodily" and because of this all
power was given him in earth and
heaven. This principle of power he
illustrated, declaring that the Father
which dwelt In him did the mighty
works. This principle he reinforced by
every precept, and when he left this earth
in the body he provided for the overflow
ing and abiding presence of the Holy
Spirit, and every prerogative of power
exercised by him was in some measure
made possible to his followers because he
went home to his Father; and when on
the day of Pentecost there came the
Presence which filled all the room, and
the wisdom by which all human hearts
understood one another and were in
ympathy with all, and the power which
for ages "healed the sick, cleansed the
lepers, raised the dead we behold the
power of God manifest in the flesh and
in the church. In terse and
burning language Paul would crowd,
without theological hair splitting, the
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost into
the lives of his brethren. Ephesians
3:16 10. -.
The logical result of this divine in
dwelling is Cody character, which Of
itself is the great force in the localchurch.
1t is seen in the ministry. :. There
are now, as of old, men who wear the
livery OF heaven, who have the mind of
the Master" whose breath the world
feels, and, feeling, lives anew "like priest,
like people," | am sure that our local
churches are supplied with more men OF
the Moses type than is generally con-
coded, men called of God, inspired of
God, and manitesting God. | am sure
that the days of heroism and martyrdom
are not past. $50. Only God can
know what men still suffer for the truth S
sake in the country churches, and it is
only in this way that the full power OF
the ministry is developed. Only as life is
sacrificed can it be impaired; only as
virtue goes out of Gods servants can it
heal the multitudes; only as crucifxion
is continual and complete, can the
atonement be perpetual and omnipo-
tent. -.
Pulpit preaching and teaching is still a
power in the local church. Granting
that it is being supplemented by the
printed page, that teaching, in other de
partments is coming more and more, as
it ought to be, a force in the religion:
world; conceding also that the preacher
has put to sleep many of his congrega
tion,-yet the man who has a message
from God, and who can make it cleal
and plain, will still have power ove1
human hearts. If preacher has ceaseo
to be power in any community it may
be because of the uncertain sound in tn,
call to the conflict; a hireling will til,
flock not follow, but the shepherds voic'
they will know and follow. Holy met
yet speak as they are moved by the HOLY
Spirit, and he who speaks because b.
must will continue to be a force in tn
church and community. Be the messag
new or old it will inspire men. Preach
ing in the demonstration of the spiri
and with power is not a lost art nor
spent force. The men of the Oh
Testament and of the New Testamen
believed that they preached by tn
Spirit sent from above. They uttered
what they felt and knew. AnC
this fact guaranteed and demanded
enthusiasm in preaching. Enthusiasm
OF itself is a power, and backed up BY
godly character in the men behind tn
guns-not too far behind-it becomes
resistless influence. The power to pro
ject thought and inspiration, on thu
human side, lies in the nervous energies
When these fail from lack OF faith il
Emmanuel, or loss of faith in man, o.
even from old age or indigestion, virtu
; ceases to go out of the teacher for tn,
healing of Others. 49,.
; And all this may be true of the laity
The prophets were chiefly OF the laity ant
. but for them the Kingdom of Israe
, would have dwelt forever in degradation
{ and defeat. dead and formal priest
hood might keep the smoke of sacrifice