Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1911-08-09

"A HSlk N Tic DeInVe ne
wv takes it up he should feel
49, called to it, otherwise he
will preach for his own in
terests rather than those for souls.
When man is called to the ministry
he should preach the gospel and not
philosophy nor physics; we have men
today to teach these subjects, and the
world Is full of books that they may
be used for that purpose. But the
philosophy that the minister should
preach is the gospel OF Christ Bind
yourself to it with all the power that
you have in you. 1t is the only cure
for the Ill of this sin-cursed world. Do
not preach literature, as such. nor
yourself, nor any other man, nor any
thing else. Preach the Word. Let ii
comfort and cheer your own heart. 1t
is broad field. rich pasture for the
sheep, and well supplied with living
waters" 1t is the gospel of peace
peace on earth and good will to men.
II brings peace to the soul hitherto at
war with itself, it's neighbor, its God.
Spread it abroad. Make 1t known as
the system of divine truth instituted
for the enlightenment of governments,
rulers, teachers, and leaders of man.
kind. They all need this divine en-.
lightenment
Always Gospel Of Love.
1t is a gospel of love. God is no
where called Justice" though he is
just; nowhere called "omniscience."
though he has all knowledge and wis.
dom; nowhere called "immutability."
though he is without variableness and
shadow of turning; but he is again
and again called love" This is the
greatest word in the Bible. God is
love. Learn the import of this word
Let 1t melt and move your own heart,
and then pour it out on the people.
1t is gospel of pardon. What can
philosophy and physics do for sin.
ner? 1t might tell him to behave
himself" and keep the law and it will
be all right with him. But he has not
kept the law; he is a sinner and al
ready condemned. What can philoso.
ply, physics or literature do for him?
Nothing. He needs pardon, and until
he finds it, there is no hope for him.
In order for him to be a good and
efficient minister he must be a man
with fine personality. Il is the man
In and back of the sermon that is the
source of power. He may know
creeds, languages, and may be called
an expert philosopher. but If he doesn't
know how to make vital with person.
ality the profound message which he
70 preparing, he will not be thought
very much Of as a minister Person.
ality is the minister's asset BY being
a Christian he can make others such
as he is. He can recreate men. He
can conform them to himself
Power Of Manhood.
Men are made by men. David made
Jonathan. Elijah made Elisha. We
will take an illustration of the power
of manhood over men and show how
personality rules. Take the story OF
Julius Caesar: When the great Roman
was still youth he was captured by
pirates and chained as a galley-slave.
But Caesar told stories and sang songs
and detained with endless good hu.
NOR. Chains bound Caesar to the
oars, but Caesar bound the pirates to
himself That night he supped with
the captain. The second day his
knowledge of sea currents and coasts
and the route of the treasure-ships
made him the first mate of the ship.
Then he won the sailors over to him,
and put the captain in irons and ruled
the ship as a king. What was there
In this youth that enabled him in four
days to take off his chains and make
himself captain and win a ship? II
was the spell of his personality. 1t
was the charm of his manhood. Let
the gospel minister be in his person.
ality what he ought to be, and what
God Is willing to make him, and he will
capture men.
The minister must not wait until
he gets in the pulpit to bring the
blessed word to his people, but he
must approach them as he is walking
along the street and tell the story OF
Christ and how he shed his blood that
they might have life and have It more
abundantly. The minister must be a
soul-winner, and It is rather on this
one point that he falls far short of his
privilege. He must possess that
"knack' Of getting around people, and
talk to them about their souls