The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-01-04

] ,hn md MS wlfee" Ifthera is one speech
more foolish or more incu:r"cr, coming rom
the pulpit, than talk about "SlEhern ana
"Christians," or about "s'rn"rs' nnd 'G"u
people," we have Eo; heard II. Our saviour
did not come to call the ri.htcnuS I" repent
ance, but he came as a prcpitiatlt9n for our
snS-that is to say, for lhe redemption Of
"snuers." He is our Saviour and 1t II neither
c0nd theology nor good manners or the rigid
righteous to claim monopo oi the favor OF
the great Friend oi Sinners.
Those OF us who are struggling nGtinst the
weaknesses that beSet us. while "" arc trying
to come nearer to the Ccoss, might he better
men, and we Nigh; acquire :ae Mastery over
our evil natures, II the s'rvics was made
more attractive. l., instead "i being made
uucomf0rtab!e In The hoy Icrpic, we were
made welcome TO tn" sanctuary, ana II the
sermon appealed To our hearts instead oI
leading our minds off after th"oI"Sich
will-o'.the- wisp, the hurg"r!nS heat might
be- fed, the brother at the pa".ing OF the way
might be so strengthened rs TO enable him To
remain steadiasi and with a little helpth f'l.
eu might rise, so thai they might he again oar
brothers and chi dren of the heavenly fathe'.
II the good sheppard is more concerne"
about one stray sheep !han about tie nln"tJ
aud nipc who are safely In the iold, why
should not the wayward brother be called
back? Why should he be ignored In the
prayers?
Why should those who walk with level
head and stendtast eyes he held up as para
CONS when compared 10 uS poor. sinful ana
unpretentious sinners VINO f"et that we are
scarcely worthy 10 occupy for an hour the
humblest seat in the LoriS holy temple:
If lhe.way ward received other notice thnn
sneers in the sermon, and il they We're
remembered in the prayer, the chulch
would be more attractive to them nnd
tue service would be more praiitlh!c IL those
who may feel that they are Eow treated A.
outcasts and unworthy Of notice. When the
hayward are not made conf mf1ra5le is II
reasonable ioex?ect them at cnnrch:
When the Lord is In his holy tempe he is
nore the less the Lord Of the wnndcrer from
The Cross than he is the G"d 81 those wh"
iraw the skirts of their garments about Them
when those of Us who are unworthy to call
His name come near 10 them.
Our Savior never intended to transport 10
nat beautiful Rtuu out eeN vi us N''
while those sinsick souls who loDk u Him
With longing eyes ard wishful hearts are
left to perish on the barren rocks.
1t may be true that We "sinners' fall
very far short OF the stnudnrdS which oui
righteous neighbors may Sci up for us, and
while those of US unworthy brothers ma!
never find favor In their purer eyes, yet We
may in our imperfect way, api!eai 20 The
Sreat Friend of Sinners 10: "A! least a huma.
recognition and divine forgiveness.
If we heretcs are not regularly In the pe@s
~ Sunday morning, whose fault is It? II
se attend divine service and are Ignored,
while others are extolled TO the SIX les, and II
,ur minds are bored while our hearts are neg
Iected, is ii any wonder that we reprobdtes
are not more frequently at the service? If
our hearts were fed and if our minds were
edited, would we not be drawn there. Ami
mails, If led at their masters crib, will re.
spouo every time 10 The call, but If not fed,
the call counts for nothing. If the soul OF
man Is not fed, and if his heart is not made
glad IN the hoy temple, 1t Is but natural
that he may c. ase TO heed the call.
In the above we have not Intended TO
crlticise or find fault with anybody, but We
would be z ad 10 help those on to perfection,
who are striving to benefit mankind.