The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-01-16
Preaehins to Gods People.

! This seems to be the day OF short sermons
A writer from Baltimore says, Twenty
minutes is fast becoming the limit here
Perhaps 1t would be we'll TO do away With the
sermon altogether for fear OF making some
body tired. Just give out the text and thee
pronounce the benedictlon and go home
Associate Reformed Presbyterian.
| Many devout Christians would be sorry tc
have the sermon done awav with. but there
are few so devoted that they would desire
long sermons. To please people and to draw
them 10 the church is no less All art than O
bounden duty. AS we understand, the gospe
should be preached largely for The purpose
OF arresting the wayward, that they may be
brought to the foot of the Cross.
II the services are not interesting, those
who follow their SAVIOUR afar off will not be
found In the church pews, while the martyrs
or Gods people, may assemble In the temple
every Sabbath.
II the services are not made attractive, how
are the ministers of the gospel 10 reach that
class which our Saviour came to save?
In order that the services might be as at
tractiye as possible. We suggest:
First-That the reading OF the Scriptures is
u very important matter. No part OF the
services ia SO interesting or instructive as the
reading OF the Scriptures, and under no cir
cumstances should this part OF the services
be neglected or abridged.
Second-The music and the singing is q
pleasing and attractive part Of the services, q
which we may express our prayers.
Third-The sermons, when boiled down and
shorn OF their surplussage, could scarcely he
drawn out to an hours length. When ser.
mon takes up an hour, the danger is, that
the preacher will do as the lost hunter did
who travelled around and around In the same
track In the snow. II an able man makes
his sermon an hour long every Sunday morn.
ing, the danger is. II he does not repeat. that
he will spread his butter SO thin that the
martyr in the pews will be very weary.
Fourth-The prayer Is an important
division OF the services, and 1t is often spun
out To the greatest length. The Lord IL
asked to bless Gods people In hundred diff
ferent ways. Does petition 60 to the Throne
OF Grace in behalf Of the sinner? Is plea
heard to which his own sin.sick soul may re-
spond? Is word Of comfort or encourage.
ment heard for his increased strength to do
the right? lfnot. then in such instances the
saint in the pulpit taay rest assured that the
martyr in the pew is weary.
Fifth-Prayer is sometimes spun out to an
interminable length, and is concluded like
this: "Oh. Lord, we pray thee to bless us
abundantly above anything that we can ask
or think. II we have forgotten to ask for
everything on hand, please, Oh, Lord. remem.
ber Us, and send as any old thing that you
may have on hand" Long prayers for Gods
people, the missionaries. the civil rulers OF
the country, and petitions for the people
generally may often hit the mark, but who
prays for the sinner who may be In the pew,
or out OF It? Nobody knows how much he
has resisted, and how nearly he may be To
yield to temptation, or how much he may
struggle to fee from 1t. Nobody knows how
his hunGering heart Graves TO be brought
within the scope Of the preachers prayer
May not the wretch whose feet may
travel in devious ways, and who is 80
often in need Of prayer, 60 TO church fol
half year without hearing word on behalf
OF that class TO which he belongs? The ser.
mon and the prayer are too often for Gods
people, and the line may be drawn. Whoever
heard of a prayer in behalf of the man who
was at the parting OF the ways. and who was
strongly tempted to enter upon q career Of
evil? Whoever heard prayer to sustain the
weak brother in his feeble resolve to do the
right, and to forsake the wrong?
Sixth-Why is 1t that we never hear tho
Lords prayer in church? When child we
noticed its absence, and In old age we notice
that 1t is ignored.