The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-05-27
IS OUR OBEDIENCE DUE
TO GODS WILL OR MANS?
Opening Sermon at Convention of Diocese of North
Carolina Preached by Rev. Milton A. Barber,
Rector of Christ Church, Raleigh.

(, John we are forcibly reminded
,,f that great conflict thai has been
going on in this world Utmost from
the very beginning. 1t was here be
fore Christ came n 1t is mere sun.
u IL the conflict of man with God;
man's Will set up in opposition 70
Gods will. 1T has assumed. and II
still assumes. manifold shapes and
forms. But in every case. when re-
ducnd to it's last analysis, 1T simply
means rebellion against Coos re-
yaaled will. The particular form II
ssumes in the context is a Struggie
civil command and an en-
Hghtened Christian conscience. 1t is
this form of the conflict that has
given to the church her noble army
IT martyrs.
The incident from which the text
Is taken is graphically portrayed In
this fourth chapter of the Book OF
the Acts OF the Apostles. TIE Jewish
S~anhedrin is determined to put a
stop 10 the teaching and preaching
"f ST. Peter and st. John. and espe-
cial,y since the impotent man was
made whole in h name of Jesus
Christ OF Nazareth. The council call
cd the Apostles and commanded
them not to speak at all nor teach
IN the name Of Jesus. But Peter
and John answered and said unto
them, Whether 1t be right in the
sight Of God to hearken unto you
more than unto God, judge We. For
we cannot but speak the things which
we have seen and heard HOw could
they be false Or disloyal or dis
ebedient to their Master? Dare they
place the command Of men before the
command of Christ?
These Apostles had been chosen
n commissioned to be witnesses Of
Christ and His resurrection. A My
Father hath sen Me, even so send /
you. He that heareth you heareth
Me, and he that heareth Me heareth
Him that sent Me- Go We into all
the world etc. Now they are hidden
ty these Jewish rulers to stif1e their
TO teach and preach the saving
6;ospe. OF light and love, and be false
to themselves and to their risen
Master by keeping silent. But the
injunction OF the council was given
in vain. These Apostles resolved to
do Gods will, to speak the things
which they had seen and heard
the things they were sent by Christ
70 s~peak--cost what it might. When
there was any conflict between Gods
authority and mans. the Apostles
had no doubt as to which should be
obeyed.
$50 much in the way Of introduce
ton.
"Now. I wish to point out, in the
way OF deduction from the text. q
lesson for the Christian preacher and
. lesson for the Christian .layman.
1.-The Lesson for the Christian
Preacher.
Tho temptation to the Christian
preacher. especially to one with al
n receive their adulatiOn, is I,
preach platitudes; to ignore the sin
If the day. and especially the one
that are conspicuous in the cOnlmun
ity; and deal only in g~eneralities
TO honestly. honorably and cor
ScientiOusIy please his audience. mus
bring joy to any preacher. Of course
But to please them by ignoring o
minimizing their | is a prostitution
of his sacred Office, the qualification
OF his WI manhood and a dishono
ut the Master in whose name h
speaks. He Is sent to teach. to eS
hort, to reprove, to rebuke when nee
counse OF God. He is not sent I
call bitter sweet and sweet bitter b.
cause the people love to have it s.
Why should a preacher refuse
preach against dishonesty and gan
bling for instance, because for SCOT
there nay be dishonest and gan
bling men in his congregation
WIN ais AiON OS oil OiSSiN COZ
Why he shOnld preach against the.
sins? Or why should he refuse
preach against irreverence in Coz
house because many in his congreg
ton are too indolent. easy-going Al
seif-indulgent to make their bod
render homage to God their Great
IN the public services OF the church
Or why should he fail to plead f
civic Righteousness, for homes go
national. state OF local, f
fear of offending some sensiti
Politician? The controlling auesti
with him should be this: Are the
things for which 4 plead right
Gods sight? and are these thin
against which l protest wrong i'm +
sight, IL that question can be a
swered in the affirmative. his coul
IS clear.
The preachers true function is
speak for God: to please God u
hctp G He should rise abo
personal abuse and vituperation. it
true bu he should he honest "a
fearless. preaching the truth with,