The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-09-07
IN THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
DR.. J. L. Martin Conducted Religious Services Last Sunday
rMorning-A Sermon on a Sermon.

love, and our Saviour eXempll1ed that
quality in all that he did. He appeal
ed to the heart. He would raise up
the fallen. He would strengthen the
weak. He would set u feet III the
better paths, and he would save us
from condemnation. He woul Tor
give II sins, and bid us to forget the
past, and he would teach us hence
forth to live holier and purer lives.
The only scathing things that he said
were of or to those who thought they
were too good for any purpose, except
the Kingdom of Heaven. To the err
ing he spoke kindly, and in loving
encouragement he spoke to the sinful.
Even those who were, so to speak,
buried in sins, found in him a friend.
He ignored non 1t is just to say
that DR.. Martin, while making many
references to Gods people," spoke
but once of that class at whom Gods
people are presumed to turn up their
noses.
Aside from the text Sometimes
we have heard people lambasted be-
cause of their absence from religious
worship, and the fact that many per-
sons seldom darken the door OF a
church is not to be denied. There is
no result or effect without a cause.
Why are our people not at church
more frequently? Is it mate per-
versement of heart? Or, is it because
the service does interest them? But
without attempting to decide this ques'
ton one way or another, we suggest
that if "sinners' were treated as chill
dren of the heavenly father, and if
our preachers proclaimed the brother
hood of man, and if such as are now
treated as outcasts and unworthy OF
respect, were remembered in the ap-
peals to the throne of Grace, that in a
short time, fewer pews would be
empty on Sunday morning.
If appeals to the head were aban-
doned we would have fewer %agnostics
and fewer unbelievers.
The preacher who attempts to prove
the correctness of his religion by the
Book. and not by the lives of the
faithful, is at once at a disadvantage.
No preacher should attempt to argue
with unbelievers. But every preacher
that would bring souls to our Saviour
should appeal to the heart-not to the
head.
The reading of the Scriptures and
the prayers are the most important
part of the service. The reading OF
the Scriptures should be without add
ing to or taking from the holy word.
The lowliest, as well as the highest,
should be remembered in our prayers.
Discussions on theoretical theolo.
gical hair splitting is Improbable.
Talks about Goods people" and sneers
at "sinners" are not very effective in
bringing people to church and in fill
ing our souls with gratitude to God.
The preacher who would convince
his hearers of his piety, should not
speak of the Almighty as irrevently as
he would call the name of George
Washington, and that Name should
not be heard fifty times in thirty min
utes. That Name should not be taken
upon our lips except in reverential
awe. The lippant and irreverent use
of that Name, we believe, is almost
universal among our preachers. The
preacher who would use such express
sions as Goods earth" should be re-
CURED to answer before the church
courts for his transgression, and forhis
violation of one of the command
mems he should be called to account.