The Penn's Grove record., 1911-07-21

S%MN@ CdllC0 " IT. GLuCl WAoO uO
will preach for his own In
terests rather than those for souls.
When a nan 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 1t 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 1t
comfort and cheer your own heart. It
is a broad field, a 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.
1t brings peace to the soul hitherto at
war with itself, its neighbor, its God.
Spread it abroad. Make 1t known as
the system of divine truth instituted
lOI Tie Cu4lSnLCuIlCAL VI 6OfOA
rulers, teachers, and leaders of man
kind. They all need this divine en-
1ightenment.
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 Ii
love. Learn the import of this word.
Let 1t melt and move your W heart,
and then pour it out on the people.
1t is a gospel Of pardon. What can
philosophy and physics do for a SIN
ner? 1t might tell him to behave
himself" and keep the law and 1t 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 a ine personality. 1t 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
| atty the profound message which he
is preparing, he will not be thought
L.Yery-much of as a minister. Person
atty 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.
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 a youth he was captured Dy
pirates and chained as a ~galley-slaye'
But Caesar told stories and sang songs
and acclaimed with endless good hui
NOR. Chains bound Caesar to the
oars. but Caesar bound the pirates To
himself. That night he supped VIII
the captain. The second day bis
knowledge of sea currents and coasts
and he 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 fouf
days to take off hts chains and make
himself captain and win a ship! II
was the spell of his personality. II
was the charm of his manhood, Lei
the gospel minister be in his person
atty what he ought to be, and VIVA
| God Is willing to make him, and ne VIII
capture men. :.
The minister must not wait until
he gets in the pulpit to bring the
blessed word to his people, Dut ne
must approach them as he is WALKING
along the street and tell the story OF
Christ and how he shed his blood tna'
thew might have life and have It more
abundastly. The minister must pc 9
soul-winner, and it is rather on I'M
one point that he falls far short OF ms
| privilege. He must possess tha'
"knack' of getting around People ano
talk to them about their SOUS.