The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-05-09
CHRYSOS0TN
Or the Power of Preaching.
Rev. H. D. Williams Strongly Sets
Forth the Points of Strength of
Christian over Pagan.

Sunday at the First Church of
christ Pastor q. D. Williams spoke
on the above theme, the second of a
series of discourses on great religious
characters. He said in part. :
Truth warmed and vivified by per-
sonailty Is the great an-moving
power or the world. Truth in abook
is no less the truth, but to have power
over men 1t must find expression and
advocacy in person.
The power of the tongue has ever
oeen honored and admired among all
nations. Especially was it so among
the Greeks; Long before Christianity
gave its high ideals and inspiring
themes to the world, elouuence was q
mighty power. Orators have had al
most as much to do in shaping history
as nave kings and generals. But be-
fore Christ oratory was secular and
mundane
The priest had nothing to do with
eloquence. He appealed to the gods
Eloquence was for those who appealed
to men. The priest used bloody sacri-
| fees. dazzling rites, smoking incense
mysterious lamentations and awe-in-
spring ceremonies.
But when Christianity came it laid
hold at once on the power of speech.
ut pleased God by the foolishness of
preaching to save them that beIiev-
ed. " To the old religions preaching
was foolishness, because the gods did
not need to persuade men. To the new
rehglon preaching is wisdom, because
Christianity reasons with men and
seeks to move them by means of mo-
tive.
Inc e!oquence of the pulpit soon
surpassed the eloquence of TIE forum
ana the senate. In three centuries
1t dominated the Roman empire. The
christian preachers were not greater
rhetorlc1ans than the old pagan ora
tors, but they had greater truth.
Ihelr eloquence was not that of empty
rhetoric; it was the eloquence of great
truth.
Any speech that does not carry a
great truth is simply play on words
and show of rhetoric. Any speech
that detracts from the supreme impor-
lance OF its message by the flower and
hnlsh OF its language is nothing but
oratorical vanity. Paul said to the
Corinthians, I came not with excel
lency OF speech, put with the testi-
mony Of God. He was making no
plea for mean language. He was
simply saying that he SO spoke as to
make the testimony of God rather
than the Language Of Paul" the most
prominent thing.
| The most striking of the great
preachers of the early centuries was
Chrysostom of Antioch. He was born
In BAT and died in 407 A. D. His
!, preaching career was from 1873 to 4O4.
first at Antioch and then at Constan-
tlnople as the court preacher of the
eastern empire. Thirteen large
volumes of his sermons and letters
have come down to our times. he
ranks as the most eloquent preacher
OF the early church. His wonderful
} influence in his own day and on all
succeeding ages is due to the fact that
he was not pulpit trickster but a
profound preacher. He was master
of rhetoric, but only that he might be
a better servant of Christ.
Three things stand out boldly in
the life of Chrysostom-his consecra-
ton, his devotion to the simple gospel
and his boldness in condemning sin
in high places.
He lived in simplest style, giving
his vast income to relieve the poor and
suffering. He refused to take into his
pulpit any theme except Christ and
his salvation from sin. He con-
demned the sins of the court that
patronized him until the emperor
drove him into exile and to death.
The real spirit of the man appears in
, his last interview with the emperor.
"WiH you cease preaching about the
sins of the empress2" asked the en-
peror. Eyes, when she reforms, -
said Chrysostom.
; "Then l will Danish thee" said the
emperor.
MAY. thou canst not for the world
is my Fathers house," replied the
brave preacher.
81 will slay thee," cried the ruler.
MAY, thou canst not, for my life
is hid with Christ in Cod responded
the undaunted bishop.
81 will take all thy treasures, .
!, threatened the exasperated emperor
NAY, nor canst thou do that, fol-
my treasures are in heaven" replied
!, the doomed preacher.
"Then I will drive thee away from
the abode of man." cried the angry
3 potentate.
NAY, thou canst not, for I have a
Friend in heaven, who will never
desert me. I defy thee Thou canst
, not do anything to hurt me; was
, the great preachers last retort