The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-03-25
ssRoul Wiuuiug."

The Associate Reformed Presbyterian gives
q brief extract OF an Interesting sermon
which was recently delivered before the
Theological Seminary at Due West oy the
Rev. J. L. Oates. The Presbyterian says:
.Rro. Oates took for his subject THE Per.
sopsi EQUATION in Soul Winning" Amer
calling attention 70 the fact thai, eccoloink
10 Gods chosen method OF conversation oy
tho spoken word. results are In some sense
some things which are Essential TO success IN
this work. Intellect 10 not the determiplng
factor. The cloth" will not compel resain;
mere well.wishipg - impotenI Tne SOUL
winner must have = Christ-iike love for SIN.
nen, . love which oct Of experience nas
learned g%entleneas towards the erring ano
contact With sinners. Such contact. hov.
sver, must not imply consent; love must DC
welded with Isw. The soulwinner must al
% lead an attractive life. and In order 70 40
be- loyal TO Christ cruci1cd, exal;sng Hin and
not himself believing In Him and presenting
Him a the only saviour OF stnners. Wnen
With Christ AID 10 animated by o holy amoi-
tion for his glory. who can measure the 70
suits Of his ministry"
All Of this 10 perfectly good. and no reason'
sble objection can DO found to IT, except that
10 falls far bort Of the whole duty OF ths
preacher.
Omitting Ia our remarks any reference To
the "Pefsonai Equation" we speak OF "Win.
ming Souls" We DOM know the meaning OF
Personal Equation"
Eafnsstness, or sincerity Of purpose. goes
Q long way 10 bringing men 70 the considers
Non Of the s~ll-impossant question.
The reading OF the Scriptures 10 an import.
ant part Of the service, and when the reading
aAS-As 5000, C.aI. 40 NNARonN
In announcing the service from tho pulpis
In Q temple which has been built and dedicat-
Cd TO the worship OF the Lord our God. II 10
not necessary 10 state whose word the preach.
Or will read, or whose praise The choir will
ding, or to whom prayers will be offered. To
Q layman In the pew IL often sounds like an
ilrsvsfers use ofthe Name 70 speak Of u %
far ,,tsriy - We would speak tho name Of
6.nys Warrington.
In india, or Ia other lands, where Q large
majority of the people are Buddhists, Aoham-
msdans or other crseds " the religion Of
cor Saviour, Il may % we'll enough 70 an
sounos In whose services the vorship 10 hsd;
sus In this country, no such necessity exisss.
III man rises In the pulpit Il II therefore IN.
necessary 70 say ihat hs vill read the word Of
oO0. IL " oAk9Rly hooSoao08 soos ~ WsAs
rsad The Scriptures, nearly everybody would
andsrstand what Wa meant
No preachss oan attain the best results who
makes aippani. irreverent. or unnecessary
ne OF that Sacred Name, before whom oil
sbouid bow, and which NO man should bke
upon hs lips. except In rsversntial ava
The sermon 10 oil very we'll In it, place, bot
The most attractive psFs OF b service, and
shs part which - more efIective In bringing
men 70 the foot OF the oross, 10 . suitable
prayer.
What does the average reprobate care for
ths preachers description Of The Judgment?
What does the sinne care for the preachers
opinion OF the future statsi What does The
preacher know about the question - 70
whether We viii know each other In hadea.
or whslher We will nnd our old associates In
dddlsr's green, or whether our families will
DO reunited In the city OF golden strestsi
For the preacher 70 attempt the calculation
OF such thinga - these 10 70 neglect the
weightier matters Of The Law. Nobody but Q
natural born fool admits or suppoRes that the
preacher osn rsiss the veil and look Into the
future. when ths preacher attempts Il he
simply pessumes on the ignorance Of his hear.
srs, anyone OF whom knows a. msoh Of these
and kindred matters . doss the preacher
himself
A. Q ruls, vs hear too much theology and
not enough Of the pure and unadultsred 70
ligion Of our Saviour. We need 70 DO taught
purity Of heart. A pure heart 10 always s
acceptable ofIsring a. the Throne Of Grace.
Then lot us hear something OF hotter hves
and pursr living.
We need practical common sense In the
effort 70 restrain the evil that 70 within %.
We need to become better men q women.
more EFFORT should be made % better ous
modes o fiivinE. II We arc taught 70 walk 10
the higher and better paths. there will b No
question about "oeiier' and NO doubt need DO
had - 70 ouf sfaith."
Talk Of love OF God 10 the msrsst chatter, |
which no man believes. No man oau truth.
fully say that be loves the personality OF GOD
What hs can say truthfuily, however. 10 that
hs loves The s~ttybutes Of God. A man may
love purity, virtue. honor. truth. goodness
and mercy, which are attributes ofGod. And
Ill GOOD men love these things.
From the pulpit too often comes . long
string Of compliments and aattsry 70 the
Lord. sskinG him for everything on tho bar
gain counter. and then closing up BY saying
II The petitioner has forgotten TO name every
good thing on hand. he would DO glad 70 have
Il thrown In too.
Gods people. Gods church, Gods mission.
aries, and oil such. generally take up ell she
lime Of the petitioner. The poor weak orea-
snrs, possibly with . hungering heart, waits
and waits for bis class TO b remembered. He
hears only prayers for those Who DO not need
them. with only . bare chance fsn incident.
81 reference 70 his class.
Instead Of praying for . blessing on the
church. the prayer should be, that The church
may b . blessing TO mankind.
God people do not need the prayer. Ous
Saviour came 70 ave the other sort OF people
and our pulpin should utter prayers In behalf
Of that class whom our Saviour came 70
save.
The pulpit should pray for the uplift.
ing Of the fallen. II should pray for the 70
turn OF those who possibly may have wander
"a ar from The paths of Righteousness. II
should pray that the sheltering arms Of toe
church may sustain the weak n keep their
feet nom devious paths. It should pray for
HE church to be 70 the r~sprobats a the ben.
con light II 70 the mariner. But Who ever
heard . prayer In the pulpit In behalf OF those
who meet needed the praysrf
II b right and proper 70 pray for every
needed thing. but the pulpit need not sxpend
ali - snerRies in behalf OF those who are safs
from harm.
II the neglected ~reprobates should b. 70
msmbsred ut the Throne Of Grace their hearts
might bs touched. AZ q result they might
a. least In Q degree refrain nom theis evil