The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-10-05
Dr. Stakely on Preach
 ing the Gospel.
SERMON AT Y.M. (. A. MEETING
Says Minister Cannot Concern Him.
 self With Pulpit Politics.
First Of Series to Be Given Under Az. sociation's Auspices During the Fall and winter
 Months.

Following Is the address on What 1t Is to Preach the Gospel" given by Dr. c. A. Stakely at the Y. M c. A mems meeting at the Orpheum Theatre Sunday:
 These are times when the minister of the Gospel. of all men, should keep his head on his shoulders, but should be just as careful to keep his shoulders properly balanced over some sort of . backbone. While on the one hand he should not invade the sphere of another, on the other hand he should not consent to be driven out of his own.
 We who minister in the word have been intrusted with the most precious of interests. They touch time and eternity. And we are conscious of having this ministry in earthen ves- sells. But our consciousness of the earthenness of the vessel does not blind us to the preciousness of the charge. No one can be more conscious than we are of the divine nature of our calling and the terrific responsibilities of our position.
 It Is newly demanded of us minis- ters that preach the Gospel, and of our respective churches. that they con- fine themselves to Gospel work. Of the motive back of the demand. I say uOtbhnS. WhdtcNCE tnc IlOllVe may D6 the demand itself is a just one. read fly accede to it myself and very likely can speak also for my brethren. But who Is to define the Gospel for us? Who shall tell us when we are within our sphere? Who shall describe the radius for us? And how does 1t happen that all at once, in moment, in the twinkling of an eye. many of our friends are so interested in the Gospel? AS a rule, these ministers in the State of Alabama are conservative men, hard-working and faithful. Very few of them are now fanatical or excited. and. so far as I know, they have never been charged of being on the wrong side of any vital question. Somehow, I feel that we ought to know as much about the Gospel, as our friends know. and have as correct a judgment as to the best way of preaching 1t. I stand for the dignity and liberty of the Chris tian pulpit in this commonwealth of Alabama. Our people are not conn plaining of our leadership anywhere In our churches and we feel perfectly secure In their sympathy and love and In the support they are giving us throughout the State.
 What It Is.
 But What is 1t to preach the Gos- oel?" Now and then you hear persons luote the words of the Apostle Paul 10 the church at Corinth, "I determined not to know anything among you save Jesus Christ and Him crucified'' and say of them ''there is the Gospel. '" Very good! If we take the words as the Apostle meant them, as putting part for the whole, and placing the cen- tral theme over against the "ex- rellency of speech and of wisdom , which he repudiated at Corinth. As ! matter of fact, he covered many top les at Corinth. If we may judge from his Epistles. he had much to say about the doctrines, especially the Resurrec- ton, about church order and worship, about discipline and holy living. The Apostle Is to be read in the light of all his utterances. In his charge to the Ephesian elders, he said: Where fore I take you to record this day that I am pure from the blood of all men, for have not summed to declare unto you all the counsel of God" And to young Timothy he said: T charge thee. therefore, before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the quick and the dead. at his appearing. and his Kingdom, preach the word. ' With the Apostle, then, to preach the Gospel is to declare the whole counsel of God, 1t is to preach the word in divinely intended fullness.
 Suppose we refer the question to the Lord Jesus Christ. He preached the Gospel, didn't He?
 He said: "As Moses lifted up the ser bent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted ap. that who- soever believeth in him might not per- ish but have eternal life"
 And yet this same Christ preached also hts wonderful sermon on the Mount in which there is not word about salvation. The sermon on the Mount has to do with holy living: has to do not with the Gospel of Salvation. but with the Gospel of the Kingdom. Then finally He sent out His apostles under the great commission which is the most solemn and comprehensive order ever issued. With Christ then,