Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1908-02-14

fy" Mark f2-37.
By Edward o. Guerrent.

I
our credit that ii cannot be truthfully
SAID of very many of his followers.
suppose it needs no argument to prove
that much Of our preaching is above
the easy comprehension of the com
mon people, or delivered in each an
unattroctiye way that they do NOT
gladly hear this same gospel from our
lips as they heard it from the Masters.
This being the case, we so far fail in
the largest fruits of our ministry, and
are responsible to that extent for our
failure. A few reflections on this fact
may helpus to attain the highest sue
cess in our ministry, and secure the
highest glory of God. We know the
common people constitute the over
whelming majority Of all the people.
It was so in the Saviour's time; 1t is so
yet, and will, probably, be so to the
end of the world. The rich, the great,
the learned, are in pitiful minority,
so that if we fail to reash the common
people, we fail to obey the command
to spreach the gospel to every crea-
ture. . Besides, the common people, are
generolly more easily reached with the
gospel than the rich and great. The
history Of the Church in all ages is
sufficient proof Of this fact. Jesus said.
mot many rich and great are called. =.
There 10 an explanation Of this fact not
far to sesk. They feel heir dependence
ON God more and are less Influenced
by worldliness, the fatal sourf e OF
damage to the higher closes. We are,
so human that we sometimes forget
that God is no respecter OF persons,
that the rich and poor are both alike
to Him; that in His sight the upper
ten" areno better than the CLOVER
Millions Now, let us consider briefly
why the common people heard him
gladly, that we may learn his divine
art and be as our Master In the first
place, he preached to the comaaon peo-
pie. That cannot be said Of all Of us
Some never 80 from the fashionable
and educated churches to the poor and
humble eople, who live in the high,
ways and hedges. lie did. He presch-
ed to both. Blu tho divine authentica-
ton of his Messiahship was III the fact
that he preached thegospei to the POOR;
and he sent his servant not only 20 bid
the rich and great, but to bring IA the
common people fi0m the Streets anG
lanes of the city, and compel the poor
from the high ways and hedge of the
country. Some people haSl more
preachirg in a wees Than othGsa have
ia year. Some PERISH for the Dread OF
life, " nile others are sick Wttb spieitu-
al dy pepsia, from oyer-fesding OF
sort. he Nazarenc pre- ;ched in Jeru-|
salem aud Capernaum, but did not fer
get The villages and country, where the
common people live. He went to them,
and after them, and won thsir love and
confidence, SO that they heard hial
gladly In the next place, he preach ed
so that the common people understood
uiil. ZIG uscu tIclI OWN ihh Su1sN anu
Illustrations. lie made the meaniag
plain 10 the simplest understanding.
The sualimest mysteries of grace were
brought home TO their humble COM
prehensieh. Take the Sermon on the
Mount-his inaugural discourse. How
plain and simple III Its language; how
direct aud practical its teaening. Com
psreit with some learned diseoursss of
some "big preacher" you know, and
sac how small they become In the
presence of Its sublime teaching. In
my younger days, when teacher, l
abolished a reading book from my
school, and adopted the New Tesla
ment instead, not only because itisthe
best in the world, but the best English
That book. which even children IN
derstand, contains the mofsl of all
successful preaching. Study and imi-
tate It Then he preached boldly. He
called things by their right names.
Sin was sin with him, and not a
shortening, or "mistaks." Adult
terry was adultery with him, ans not
''fast living" He called the missr "a
fool" the covetous man "an idolater,"
and the Pharisee hyposrite. He was
not afraid 10 speak tibet ruth. He cared
nothing for popularity. de preached to
| please God, and not men. The eem.
mon people like such preaching. Plain
people like plain dealing. They do not
garnish sin until it shines. They are
sinners and they know it, and w.nt a
remedy for 1t. The gospel Jesus preach
ed is the only remedy, and they heard
him gladly. Let US initiate him. We
are simply his servants TO deliver his
message. Again, he preached loving
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