The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-10-20

Before discussing his text, the Pastor
answered the queries Of some who ask
why he does not preach fashionable
sermons, and give his audiences a d.
gest of his readings in the leading
magazines, or some dissertation on sci
entifc progress. public parks. better
housing for the poor. etc. His answer
is that this field is already over-filled
with laborers: and besides that he has
a different commission, which reads,
''The Spirit of the Lord God is upon
me: because He hath anointed me to
preach the good tidings to the meek;
He hath sent me to bind up the brok-.
en-hearted."-Isaiah GIL.
Others, again, ask the Pastor why he
does not preach more against intem-
perance. the social evil. etc.-occasion-
ally smashing chairs for emphasis. His
reply is that the Master and the Apos-
ties set the standard which he believes
should be followed. Their preaching
was neither rant nor cant. st. Paul
emphasized this in writing to Timothy,
saying, preach the Wordr' st. Peter
emphasized it when he said, "Show
forth the praises Of Him who hath
called US out Of darkness into His mar
velous light" Jesus 1nculcated this
when He said, Feed My sheep" and
again, Search the Scriptures-they
testify of Me-"
The Pastor declared that he breaches
NNNfrinpl unrY1npe hnooI1cn h. PO1lo-re,
the example of Jesus and the Apostles,
not considering himself wise enough
to improve upon their methods and
example. Jesus preaching was doc
trinal, though along the simplest lines,
because none Of His hearers had been
begotten Of the Holy Spirit The Apos-
tolic Epistles to spirit-begotten Chris
tIans set forth holy doctrines.
The Divine thought is expressed by
the Apostle that beginners in the Chris
tan way, as newborn babes. should
desire the sincere milk Of the Word
that they might grow thereby, while
advanced Christians should feed upon
the strong meat. Thy Words were
found and I did eat them" Is the Lords
way of representing the growth in
grace and knowledge of those who are
begotten Of the Holy Spirit as New
Creatures.
How very few Christians today un-
aerstand the very simplest doctrines
Divinel How few could explain justi-
6cation by faith versus justification by
worksl How few could explain the
Bible doctrine of sanctifcation! How
few know anything about the hope Of
the resurrection Of the dead" or any
other Bible doctrine! Truly the Bible
declares of. our day, My people perish
for lack Of knowledge"; and again, II
will send q famine in the land. saith
the Lord God-not a famine Of bread.
nor q thirst for water, but of hearing
the Word Of the Lord."-Hosea 4:6;
Amos S:11.
Unrequired and Undesirable Sacrifices.
God never requires sacrifices. AS our
Creator, He has a right to make such
demands of US as He will, and we
would be obligated to obey. But such
obedience could not be properly termed
sacrifice. The word sacrifice signifies
that which is voluntarily offered to God
outside Of any Divine requirement.
The sacrifices and offerings Of the
Jewish Law were privileges. BY the
offer Of bullocks and goats the trans
gressions of the ~Israelites were covered
year by year in advance, and thus they
were permitted to have a continued
standing with God. But our text tells
us that the sacrifices were not wholly
satisfactory to the Lord. They were
merely typical of better sacrifices"
and were acceptable only as types.
st. Paul is quoting from the fortieth
Psalm ". 6-S). Through the Prophet
David the Lord declared that the sacri-
fees of the Law, which could never
really CANCEL sim e not fully to His