The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-12-07
in THE A. r. P. CHURCH.
A Full Congregation Assembled Last
Sunday Morning to Hear Their For
mer Pastor, Rev. F, Y. Pressly.


After being closed for quite a while the
doors of the Associate Reformed Church were
thrown open last Sunday morning. At the
sound Of the bell devout w~orshippers as
senbied in more than the usual number TO
attend service at this place. The little flock
Of faithful worshippers we're glad 70 meet
their old friend and former pastor, and they
listened with attentive ears to what he had
q regular preacher and added courage to
their long deferred hopes.
DR.. Pressly's prayer was especially appro
pirate and his words were comforting alike
70 saint and sinner.
Itgoes without saying that he prayed for
the first class, who really need prayers less
than those who have wandered far from the
fold. But g large part Of his petition TO the
most need the helping word n the sustain.
ing hand. We would cite only a few in.
stances, without attempting to give any fair
intimation ofthis most important part Of
service.
Hungering hearts were not forgotten.
He prayed.that the downfallen might be raised
mp n that their feet might be set upon the
children Of the Heavenly Father.
he asked for courage TO r the faint hearted,
and prayed for q blessing to those who lack.
ed the comforting care OF loved ones and
kindred spirits. He prayed for those In
prison, as well as for those who had not q
place TO lay their weary limbs.
vi COuEo6 uO cuOTL 10 a. v i0pR OQuCO u
prayer. But we remark upon it as the
most important part Of the service. 1t is the
part which 10 most effective. Anybody may
listen 70 2 sermon, either With attention o.
prayer In their behalf. b sermon, as a
rule. appeals 10 the head, while the prayer
appeals to the heart, and no man Is ind1fer-
s snt to TO the prayer Which "a Is said In oehaif Of
A preacher may take q text, as he fire.
quently does, In which there Is absolutely
nothing, except what he puts Into II. Such q
sermon may possibly interest some OF his
hearers, but 1t does not profit them in bring
Ing :hem nearer to the Cross.
Sermons too often overshoot the audience
in the discussion Of theological speculations
about which they care nothing and in which
the average hearer is not interested. Pull
piteers too often attempt to prove or TO
argue the truth Of our religion, when they
sssu,S simply In oibeE Pf sipcere ths SSsPei should HS
ever undertake to argue with unbelievers.
They should in plain terms, an aounce the
principles and the requirements OF the religion
As q rule, too much is said OF faith. In
childhood we believe what we are told by
our parents. That belief Is based upon con-
ndenoe. But when we have arrived at the
age OF reason, and when we are asked TO have
faith, that is building the house without ref.
erence to the foundation.
When the preacher lays aside his right TO
pronounce the law, and proceeds TO try TO
prove to men OF thought the correctness OF
his position, he makes q mistake. When
he appeals TO reason, or TO our senses, we be.
,1ieve, or disbelieve, according to the evidence.
II we are convinced, we believe. And no
command whatever could affect that belief.
Belief is based Oh faith. Faith Is based on
belief. It is idle therefore 10 demand OF us q
faith which Is not based upon belief. And
belief ia based upon facts, as we see them,
then II the preacher would increase our faith.
he must do so by presenting the facts upon
which to base q belief, which belief Is the
foundation Of faith.
From q human point of view we can be-
lieve nothing which our reason and our
senses do not approve. 1t ia impossible for
man to have faith in a proposition which
is not based or belief, and we can have no
belief in anything which does hot appeal TO
our reason. First-Reasop; then belief, then
faith. But, to discuss thes subjects Is to
neglect the weightier matters Of the law.