The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1902-10-30

toned to such scenes declares that what
the man needs is more air. but in point OF
tact 1t is not more air he needs at all, but
more lung to be filed with air. We do
not want more of the Holy Ghost, but
the holy Ghost ought to have more of the
church. AND sometimes, because His rule
is not followed, He in measure withdraws
Himself, and allows the forms to stay, but
the power is departed. The oil is gone,
but the lamp is there. There are churches
where prayer is offered, and the Bible
read, and church-going religiously kept up,
and there is positively not even the sem
blancc of power. They are described in
the words of Scripture as having a name
to live, but being dead" They remind
one of the guard found in the excavatcd
city OF ,Pompeii. He stood with his he!-
clasping his spear. and yet not living. 1t is
just the same with the church.
"A little thing at first may result in loss
Of power in the entire church. A wrong
financial policy might do it. A spirit of
criticism might accomplish it.
There is an insidious disease which
slowly and secretly turns the vital organs
ing little fragments of tissue here and
there. No medical skill can arrest its pro-
igress. Nature is perverted from her
healthy process of assimilating and nutri-
ton to the creation in the system Of moth
ing but bone. What should be life to mus
Gle and nerve and sinew and arteries,
turns to solid and lifeless bone. at length
the heart is reached and vital parts of it
become bone, and its beautiful work OF
pulsation. by which life. is sent in red
streams to the very tips of the fingers,
ceases and death ensues. Such is the
moral induration which the sensibilitiea
Of soul suffer, when long appealed to by
the services of religion, to which it will
not give back throb Of responsive feel
ing"
Spirit, every office-bearer in the church
should be influenced by the Holy Ghost.
Ministers should be filled. Paul gives an
Illustration of one phase of this truth:
Acts l3: 9-12-"Then Saul, (who also is
called PauD, filled with the Holy Ghost
set his eyes on him, and said. 0 full of all
subtilitv and all mischief. thou child Of
the devil, thou enemy of all Righteousness,
ways of the Lord? And now, behold. the
hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou
shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a
season And Immediately there fell on
him mist and darkness. and he went
about seeking some to lead him by the
hand. Then the deputy. when he saw
what was done, believed, being aston
ished at the doctrine of the Lord
desire is to honor Christ. Philosophy.
poetry, art. sociology, ethics, are well
enough in their places, but their place is
not in the pulpit The Holy Ghost has
pledged Himself to witness only to the
story of Jesus and the resurrection. Paul
thought this whole thing out, and while
be was schooled in all the learning of the
day. he said:
owe preach Christ crucifed, unto the
Jews stumbling block, and unto the
Greeks foolishness, but unto them that
the wisdom of God"
Peter is another illustration: Acts 4: s.
'"Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost,
said unto them: Ye rulers of the people
and elders of Israel" Acts II: Is. 10
and as | began to speak the Holy Ghost
fell OH them. as on us at the beginning.
Then remembered / the word of the Lord.
how that He said, John indeed baptized
with water. but We shall be baptized with
the Holy Ghost"
[ do not know Of any one in the New
Testament Scripture furnishing us bet
ter argument for the Use of the word of
God in preaching than Peter himself Take
the sermon at Pentecost, if you will. 1t is
simply string of texts of Scripture. If
you should ask, "Buf is this all he said?"
answer: 'sThe words of Scripture are all
that the Holy Ghost thought worthy Of
record" Peters words would have passed
away with hts own generation. The word
of God abides forever
Stephen furnishes an illustration of the
fact that to be filled with the Holy Ghost
does not always mean human success.
Acts 6: to Sand the saying pleased
the whole multitude and they chose Ste
Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nj
canor, and Timon, and Parmenas. and Nj
colas, proselyte of Antioch; whom they
set before the apostles. and when they had
prayed they laid their hands on them.
And the word of God increased. and the
number of the disciples multiplied in Jeru-
salem greatly, and great company of the
priests were obedient to the faith. And
Stephen, full of faith and power, did great
Acts Z: 55-"But he, being full of the
Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into
heaven and saw the glory of God, and
Jesus standing on the right hand of
Cod"
One might be filled with the Spirit, and
pass through the greatest disappointment
of his life, for Stephen was just as truly
nlled, although ne was stoned to death. as
Peter, the preacher of Pentecost. God
might fill you and then test you. The
great guns which are used in the defense
of our country are always tested before
they leave the arsenal.
The position of the minister is an exalt-
ed one. I. Peter l: l2-"Unto whom it
was revealed that not unto themselves,
but unto us they did minister the things
which are now reported unto you by them
that have preached the gospel unto you
with the Holy Ghost sent down from heav-
en-. which things the angels desire to look
into"
There is not an angel in the skies to-day
but who would leave his post of honor to
take your place and mine in the preaching
of the gospel The position is divine
one: Acts 20: 2S-'sTake heed, therefore,
unto yourselves. and to all the flock over
the which the Holy Ghost hath made you
overseers, to feed the church of God which
He hath purchased with His own blood"
II greatly dignifes ones work to know
that we are here to do just what Jesus
would do if He were in our place. The
message of the man Of God is inspired:
Matt 10: 20-"For it is not We that speak,
but the Spirit Of your Father which speak
eth in you" Mark Is: 10, 1l-"And the
Gospel must first be published among all
nations. But when they shall lead you
and deliver you up, take no thought be-
forehand what We shall speak, neither do
We premeditate, but whatsoever shall be