The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1902-10-23
suffering from pneumonia-one unaecus.

fact it is not more air he needs at all, but
more lung to be filled with air. We do
not want more of the Holy Ghost, but
the Hoy Ghost ought to have more OF the
church. And sometimes, because His rule
is not followed. He in a measure wlthdraWs
Himself, and allows the forms to stay, but
the power is denarted. The oil IS gone.
but the lamp is there. There are churches
where PRAYER is offered. and the Bible
read. and church-soing reiisiously KEEP: up,
and there is positively not even the sem
b,ance Of power. They are described IN
the words % 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.-
met and his armor on. and his bony finger
c~lasping 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
OF the body to bone. 1t begins by ossify:.
ING little fragments of tissue here and
there. No medical skill can arrest its pro-
eress. Nature is perverted from her
healthy process Of assimilating and nutrl-
| tion 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
pu!sation. 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 sensibilties
OF a soul suffer, when long appealed to by
the services of religion, to which it will
not give back a throb Of responsive feel
ing"
".
II the church is to be governed by the
Spirit. every ofice-bearer in the church
| sbonld be influenced by the Holy Ghost.
Ministers should be filled. Paul gives an
illustration OF one phase OF this truth:
Acts IL: 9-l2-"Then Saul. (who also is
called Paul), filed with the Holy Ghost;
SET his eyes on him. and said. o full or all
| srbtilitv and all mischief. thou child Of
the devil. thou enemy OF all Righteousness.
wilt thou not cease to pervert the right
ways OF the Lord? And now. behold. the
hapd Of the Lord is upon thee, and thou
shalt be blind. not seeing the sun Tor a
season. And immediately there fell on
him a mist and a 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
ishnd at the doctrine of the Lord
The Holy Ghost only fills the man whose
desire is to honor Christ. Philosophy.
poetry. art. sociology. ethics. are well
enough IN their places. but their place Is
not in the pulrit. The Holy Ghost has
pledged Himself TO witness only to the
story Of Jesus and the resurrection; Pau
thought this whole thing out, and while
l. -. .,hoolo1 ~ oil tho 1narninp Of the
day. he said:
"We preach Christ crucifed, unto the
Jews a stumbling block, and unto the
Greeks foolishness. but unto them that
are called, Christ the power of God and
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 j: 10. 10
"Aud as I began to speak the Holy Ghost
fell on 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"
I do not know Of any one in the New
Testament Scripture furnishing us 4 bet.
ter argument for the use of the word OF
God in preaching than Peter himself. Take
the sermon at Pentecost, If You will. It is
simply a string OF texts of Scripture. II
YOU should ask, But is this all he said
I answer: "The words Of Scripture are all
that the Holy Ghost thought worthy OF
record" Peters words would have passed
awav with his own generation. The word
of God abides forever.
Stephen furnishes an illustration OF The
fact that to be filed with the Holy Ghost
does not always mean human success.
Acts G: 5 to s--"And the saying pleased
the whole multitude. and they chose Ste
Dhen. a man fill of faith and OF the Hoy
Ghost. and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nj
canor, and Timon, and Parmenas. and Nj
colas, a prose!yte OF Antioch: whom they
set before the apostles. and when they had
praved they laid their hands on them.
And the word nj God increased. and the
number of the disciples multiplied in Jeru-
salem greatly, and a great company OF the
priests were obedient to the faith And
Stephen, full of faith and power, did great
wonders and miracles among the people"
Acts I: 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
God"
One might b. filled with the Spirit, ard
pass through the greatest disappointment
Of his life, for Stephen was just as truly
filed. although he was stoned to death. a.
Peter. the preacher of Pentecost. Coo
might fill you and then test You: The
great guns which are used in the defense
OF our country are always tested before
thev leave the arsenal.
The position OF the minister is an exalt-
ed one. !. Peter /: pinto whom 1t
was revealed that MOI 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 ange! in the skies to-day
but who would leave his most OF honor TO
take your place and mine in the preaching
of the gospel. The position is a divine
one: Acts 20: 2S-"Take heed. therefore,
unto yourselves. and 10 all the flock over
the which the Holy Ghost hath made YOU
nverseers. to feed TIE church o. God which
He hath purchased with His own blood
1t greatly disniies ones WORK 10 know
that we are here TO do just what Jesus
| would do If He were in our place. The
message of the man OF Cod is in<",rcd:
Matt. 10: ?c-"For it j. no. yc dat SPEAK.
but the Spirit If YOU" Father which sUeai;-
eth in YOU" Mark Is: 10. ll-"And the
Gospel must first be published among all
nations. But when they Shall lead You