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Preacher's Magazine Church of the Nazarene

9-1-1944 Preacher's Magazine Volume 19 Number 05 J. B. Chapman (Editor) Olivet Nazarene University

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Recommended Citation Chapman, J. B. (Editor), "Preacher's Magazine Volume 19 Number 05" (1944). Preacher's Magazine. 215. https://digitalcommons.olivet.edu/cotn_pm/215

This is brought to you for free and open access by the Church of the Nazarene at Digital Commons @ Olivet. It has been accepted for inclusion in Preacher's Magazine by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Olivet. For more information, please contact [email protected]. September-October, 1944 Managing Editor’s MESSAGE ANY of our readers are issu­ Volume 19 ing regular church bulletins Number 5 M September-Octcber, 1944 for each Sunday in the year. These bulletins may be of value to the church, or just a waste of effort and time, depending quite largely upon how well they are prepared, and also on their appearance. Just on the CONTENTS "QT”—some of the mimeographed bulletins I’ve seen are so messy “that Providing for the Unusual it would be better if they had not J. B. Chapman ...... 3 been born.” Preaching, Lecturing, Haranguing! One of our readers assumes that J. B. Chapman...... 4 most preachers are interested in im­ proving their bulletins in appear­ Word Pictures in Ephesians Olive M. Winchester ...... 6 ance and content of message, so he suggests that we encourage a bul­ The Idea of Inbred Sin in Paul’s Epistles letin exchange idea. That is, he Neal C. Dirkse ...... 3 would be interested in exchanging Dr. Adam Clarke's Letter to a Young Preacher his own bulletin—and he issues a (Abridged) Dr. Peter Wiseman ...... 11 very good and attractive mimeo­ Sacred Oratory graphed bulletin—with a number o) Dr. G. W. Ridout ...... 13 other pastors who print or mimeo­ Immortal Money graph bulletins regularly. Dr Paul S. Rees ...... II What the M. E. (that’s short foi Managing Editor) would like t( The Preacher’s Intellectual Life J. Glenn Gould ...... 22 know is how many would be in­ terested in such an exchange of bul­ Spurious and Genuine Demonstration letins. If you’re interested, writi E. Wayne Stahl ...... 25 the M. E. and tell us that you are The Pastor in His Study And, there is no better time to writi H. C. Li tie ...... 23 than right now—better send The Business of a Pastor sample of your bulletin in your let A. S. London ...... 38 ter. If we receive a sufficient re sponse, we’ll try to work out som kind of exchange service. * * * * D e p a r t m e n t s The M. E. is always happy to re Searching Truths for Ministers ...... 40 ceive suggestions for the improve Quotable Poetry ...... 42 ment of this magazine; for, after al The Preacher’s Scrapbook ...... 44 Sermon Outlines ...... 46 it’s your magazine. He will be gla Missionary Department ...... 62 to have you tell him what you war Illustrations ...... 64 included in the paper, what sub Book Reviews ...... 66 jects you would like to have dis cussed, what additional features yo would have added, or what yo would discontinue of those we nof J. B . C h a p m a n , D .D ., Editor D . Shei.by C orbett, D .D ., Managing Editor have. That suggestion you ar Published bimonthly by the Nazarene Publishing House, 2923 hesitating to send may be the ver Trocst Avenue, Box 527, Kansas City 10, Missouri, maintained by one we need to enable us to giv and in the interest of the Church of the Nazarene. Subscription price: $1.00 a year. Entered as second class matter at the post better service to our readers. Don office at Kansas City, Mo. Acceptance for mailing at special rate hesitate; write us. cf postage provided for in Section 1103, Act of October 3, 1917, authorized December 30, 1925. Address all contributions to The Managing Editor. Preacher's Magazine, 2923 Troost Avenue, Box 527, Kansas D . S h e l b y C o r l e t t , City 10, Missouri.

2 (274) The Preacher's Magazir Providing for the Unusual

/ . B. Chapman, Editor

OST of our time is of necessity ious giving helps, anointed preaching helps, M used in preparing for the expected and whatever helps should be utilized as and the usual. All good meetings require needed and used or left out as the main to be “prayed down,” but most of them objective dictates. also must be sung and preached up. The When I was a young evangelist I was object in the whole process is to create an called to labor in a camp meeting with that atmosphere in which the Spirit of God veteran preacher, A. G. Jeffries. I can work, and in which the spirits of men preached in the first service which I at­ can readily co-operate. “I want you to tended. The meeting had already been give the invitation at the close of the going for a few days, and Brother Jeffries service,” said the preacher in charge. But had been preaching three times a day. the meeting, proceeded as a drab, flat al­ I arrived at noon, and was appointed to together usual affair, and when the time preach at the afternoon service. A t the for the invitation came I knew that such a close I presented the altar call and about conclusion to such a service was alto­ seven responded. But the afternoon was gether incongruous. “You take the of­ warm, and there was little soul burden on fering for us. We want to underwrite the anyone. We prayed for a few minutes, and expense of the whole campaign today,” then Brother Jeffries arose and said, “I said the president of the campmeeting as­ think we had better all go now and get sociation. But the good man spiked all a little rest and do some private fasting the guns and tore up all the machine-gun and praying. It is evident that our skillet nests before he turned the service over is not hot enough to pop corn, and you to me and then seemed to think I could know we want the corn to pop out white.” win the fight with both hands tied behind That illustration about the hot skillet im­ me. “We are hoping for a break and a pressed me, and I have recalled it many great altar service this morning,” said times when preachers have seemed to ex­ the pastor as we entered the pulpit on the pect unusual results from just usual con­ middle Sunday of the revival. But he ditions. brought some special features of the Sun­ The exhortation of this paragraph is not day school program over into the regular often needed, but yesterday I had occasion service, took a heave offering for running to practice it, so it is fresh on my mind. expenses, had us “favored” with a variety Night before last the altar service ran until of special songs of no particular conse­ three in the morning and ended with a quence, and then gave me an elaborate genuine breaking up and breaking through. (introduction in the midst of which he re­ The tide was still on when the eleven iterated his hopes for a big break and o’clock service came on. The devotional fruitful altar service at ten minutes until leader could not hold the tides of testi­ twelve o’clock. Unplanned and unwelcome mony and praise back. As a final effort Interferences do not usually hinder, but at the appointed time for preaching, the when a man deliberately snaps on hobbles people were asked to stand and sing. When he deserves to get beaten in the race. the song started I suddenly realized that But since the object in it all is to create I was expected to preach in a very few 9n atmosphere in which spiritual results minutes, and I realized that if I preached ten be obtained, we should work deliber- I would just be preaching the meeting itely for the bringing about of such an down, instead of preaching it up, for I stmosphere. From the very opening of could scarcely expect to reach a place of the service to the climax the objective so much manifestation of the divine pres­ should not be lost sight of, and whatever ence as I would have at the beginning. I Joes not contribute to that end should 'therefore stopped the singing long enough oe avoided as much as possible. Spiritual to give a brief invitation to those who iinging helps, fervent praying helps, unc­ wanted to seek God for pardon or for tuous testimony helps, faithfuL and hilar­ sanctification. The result was a well-

5eptember-October, 1944 (275) 3 filled altar and no sermon at all. Why Of course lecturing is not disgraceful. preach if the result is to be repression Men are more willing to learn than they rather than inspiration? But last night are to repent, and hence many will come I had to preach against strong pressure— to hear a lecture that would resent being depressions follow inflations in the spir­ preached to; and I do not say that they itual as in the financial world—and I had do wrong who announce lectures in the to preach the meeting up. And while this hope that there will be popular appeal in is hard to do, it is the province of the such a caption. preacher to do it. But real lecturing is primarily an offer­ I say the exhortation of this paragraph ing of truth in the abstract, and its appeal is not often needed because it is not often is to the head, rather than to the heart, that the tide lifts high enough to make and its purpose is the diffusion of light, it possible to dispense with the means rather than the infusion of love. Those elected for the purpose of lifting it higher. who are affected by lecturing are wise, But when such times come, leaders should rather than good, and the lecturer is an be glad and willing and wise to stand aside intellectual, rather than an evangelist. and to forget the program that was in In its place lecturing is perfectly hon­ mind. Special songs, special sermons and orable. But the idea is that its place is special everything should be subject to the the classroom or forum and not the pulpit. overrulings of the Spirit. It is a mistake The pulpit is the throne of the evangelist, to strain the meaning of an atmosphere and and the king of that throne is not sent to make as though there are liftings that merely enlighten men’s minds, but to call are not really there. But if and when men to change of conduct and change of they come we should be on hand to wel­ heart. come them and give them full sway. We should be ready always to set the usual The harangue is the left wing of public . aside that the unusual may have the un­ speaking. Just as the lecture goes to the disputed track. And if I were allowed but right in concession to reason, haranguing one prayer for ourselves today it would goes to the left in ignoring reason. Of be that God may favor us with more and course no honest speaker ever thinks of more outpourings of the Spirit in such full himself as a haranguer, and in spite of the measure as to make everything regular fact that his fault is that of neglecting and usual in our program stand aside that logic, he is likely to accept as insult any the glory of God might have full sway. suggestion that he disregards the require­ That is the old way, it is the way of Pen­ ment for sufficient evidence before de­ tecost! manding agreement with a thesis. It is enough for the true haranguer that he be­ lieves what he says and has actually said + what he thinks. He expects that others will follow his lead without bothering to Preaching, examine even the evidences that convinced him. He would do the research for all and make announcement of his conclusions Lecturing, sufficient foundation for others to build upon. Haranguing! But since the communication of knowl­ edge is one of the functions of preaching, B y t h e E ditor and since, also, demand for decision and N WHAT seems to be just a passing action is the work of the evangelist, there I thought, Elmore M. McKee remarks are somewhat of lecturing and somewhat that preaching which does not grow from of haranguing in preaching. But it is the worship is not preaching at all, but is just extremes against which we are warned. lecturing and may even be haranguing. Perhaps we should say it is m ere lecturing But the distinction seems to me to be and mere haranguing that are forbidden. worth more than a mere statement, for I And thus we may say that preaching, good think it is not clear to many who would preaching, is light and heat in proper be very much humiliated if they were told combination. Often we have had the lop­ that their public effort is not preaching sided preacher pointed out as “a good at all, but is either only lecturing or ha­ teacher” or “ a good stirrer,” and in each ranguing. case we took it that the one was “deep,

4 (276) The Preacher's Magazine but dry,” and the other was “fiery, but In fact, the type is the pattern which best fossilized.” fits the preacher who fits best into most We are all preachers who write and places of ministerial service. The preacher read these lines, but we should know there is better for being a scholar, if he balances is danger that preachers shall be unduly his scholarship with divinely bestowed offensive. When I go to church and listen unction. to a labored effort to prove some thesis or, worse still, listen to a threadbare dis­ + course of an uncontroverted subject, my heart’s inner cravings are overlooked, and I am offended by the preacher’s tacit in­ In Nothing Be Anxious timation that I am dull and need enlight­ enment, and that I do not have a soul No anxiety ought to be found in a be­ after all. When I go and listen to a liever. Great, many and varied may be preacher give out some thesis of which I our trials, our afflictions, our difficulties; know little, and then after little persua­ and yet there should be no anxiety under sion, condemn me as a nitwit if I cannot any circumstances, because we have a follow him, and consign me to the pit Father in heaven who is almighty, who if I dare disregard what he says, my in­ loves His children as He loves His only tellect is reflected upon and I find that begotten Son, and whose very joy and preacher offensive because he intimates delight it is to succor and help. that although I probably do have a soul, We should attend to the word, “In I certainly do not either have or need a nothing be anxious, but in every thing head with which to think. It’s a doubt­ by prayer and supplication with thanks­ ful compliment when a listener says to the giving let your requests be made known preacher, “You make me think, but you unto God.” do not stir my heart.” And it’s not much “In every thing,” that is not merely when better if the listener must say, “You stir the house is on fire, not merely when the me, but you do not direct me while I am beloved wife and children are on the brink stirred.” of the grave; but in the smallest matters I would not posit preaching as some­ of life, bring everything before God; the thing between lecturing and haranguing. little things, the very little things, what Rather I would think of it as having some­ the world calls trifling things— everything what of the elements of both in balance — living in holy communion with our and combination. Knowledge without zeal heavenly Father, and with our precious is a corpse. Zeal without knowledge is a Lord Jesus all day long. And when we spook. Bodies and spirits normally belong awake at night, by a kind of spiritual in­ together in this world, and we do not stinct again turning to Him, and speaking know just what to do when they appear to Him, bringing our various little matters in separate forms. Perhaps we should put before Him in the sleepless night, the dif­ two of Paul’s phrases together in making ficulties in connection with the family, our our picture of the New Testament preach­ trade, our profession. Whatever tries us er. In one of his descriptive passages, he in any way, speak to the Lord about it. set the preacher out as being “apt to “With thanksgiving.” We should at all teach.” In another he exhorted, “Do the times lay a good foundation with thanks­ work of an evangelist.” The “teaching giving. If everything else were wanting, evangelist” is the pattern. This is the this is always present, that He has saved preacher who has the least of which to be us from hell. Then, that He has given us ashamed in his calling; and I am not His holy Word—His Son, His choicest gift thinking of offices, but of types. The — and the Holy Spirit. Therefore we have pastorate demands the type, just as other abundant reason for thanksgiving.— G eorge forms of ministerial service demands it. M u e l l e r .

A sufficient supply of strength is at hand but not within ourselves. Even though children of God, we need to know that we cannot depend upon our own strength to win against the evil forces that oppose us.— The Cumberland Presbyterian.

September-October, 1944 (277) 5 W ord Pictures in Ephesians

Olive M . Winchester

The Manifold Wisdom of God

To the intent that now unto the prin­ we see an adaptation of means to end. cipalities and powers in heavenly places The green fields produce food for the beast might he known by the church the mani­ of the earth, and in turn both the field fold wisdom of God (Eph. 3:10). and the beast produce food for man. Thus is wisdom discerned, yea we might also HE glory of wisdom is set forth in say, love is clearly seen, for the abundance T scripture. In Proverbs she is per­ of the provision indicates that it is done sonified and represented as standing in with a lavish hand. the streets crying out unto the children of Job, in the confusion of his thought, men, telling them that “Whoso hearkeneth feeling that God had taken away his judg­ unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be ment, after his friends had been put to quiet from fear of evil.” Then many prac­ silence, began to muse on the ways of tical admonitions are added in her exhor­ God. Although he could not understand tations. God’s providences, yet he could see divine Wisdom in this connection would seem wisdom present in nature. He asks, to be in close kinship with Deity, in fact, “Whence cometh wisdom,” then in his would appear to be none other than an at­ soliloquy replies, “God understandeth the tribute of Deity. Thus considered, we way thereof.” Continuing, he gives illus­ may reach a clearer understanding of its trations of divine wisdom, in that God nature if we differentiate it from knowl­ made “weight for the winds,” and weighed edge. As for knowledge, we all are able the waters by measure, moreover He made to define its content, it is an acquisition “a decree for the rain, and a way for the of facts. But wisdom goes farther, it car­ lightning of the thunder.” ries the connotation of “the practical use of knowledge.” Moreover, one writer adds None but the blind, the spiritually blind, another thought and asserts that wisdom in can fail to discern the divine wisdom in the its deepest truth is “the practical use of world of nature even though it is beclouded knowledge for benevolent ends.” Further­ by the curse of sin. None can fail to recog­ more, since it has benevolent ends as its nize the abundance of God’s provision, thus ultimate goal, it is rooted in love as well evidencing to us His loving care for oui as the intellect. Thus we arrive at a welfare. knowledge of the wisdom of God, but our I n P rovidence main purpose extends farther; we would While in the natural realm it is com­ seek to note its manifold expression. paratively easy to discern the workings of In C reatio n wisdom, when we enter the domain of The psalmist, contemplating the works providence, it is quite different. Here of Jehovah, exclaimed, “O Lord, how more than in any other sphere is man manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast troubled; at times it would seem as if God thou made them all.” Although the blight had forsaken His world of human beings of evil has touched nature as well as man, and left the powers of evil in full dominion. yet despite its destructive force and seem­ A fundamental difficulty in understand­ ing chaos there can be discerned the work­ ing the providential administration is that ings of wisdom. our horizon is too limited. We cannot see Looking out upon the world of nature, afar off. We look out upon the world with we discern that like always produces like. its dominance of evil, yea, particularly so When we sow the seed in our victory in this present age with its carnage and gardens, we are confident we shall reap bloodshed, and it seems as if there were in keeping with the kind we have sown. no justice or equity. But we cannot see There is an ordering throughout the whole all. If we go back in the history of em­ natural realm in this respect. Moreover, pires, we see like conditions. In the days

6 (278) The Preacher's Magazine of Isaiah of Israel, there was the mighty I n R e d e m p t io n tyrant in the form of the Assyrian king­ dom which was as a crouching lion to de­ While the manifold wisdom of God is vour all the petty principalities along the seen in creation and underlies the minis­ shores of the Mediterranean including the trations of providence, yet it is in connec­ kingdoms of Judah and Israel. Might and tion with redemption that it is manifested force appeared to be on the throne, and the most distinctly. We might, before go­ the rights of human beings to live were ing on to discuss this particular phase, trodden underfoot. Yet in the midst of ask the question, “What is the connotation this the Lord Jehovah addressed the enemy of manifold.” It was a word coined by the thus, “O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, Apostle Paul and is not found again in and the staff in their hand is mine in­ Greek. The apostle had a thought that dignation.” Therein it is indicated that needed a word of its own to express. Assyria, although she knew it not, was Seeking its meaning especially in defin­ under divine direction. She had no such ing the wisdom of God, it is given as in­ purpose, to be sure; this likewise is in­ dicating the different forms in which the timated for the Word of the Lord con­ divine wisdom manifests itself. tinues by saying, “Howbeit he meaneth not Coming with this significance to an in­ so.” terpretation of the divine wisdom in this particular passage in Ephesians, one writer While to the Hebrew mind as he looked describes it thus: “In different ways had out over the world, it seemed as if the God dealt with men, with the Jew in one will of the tyrant was supreme, yet could way and with the Gentiles in another, in the Hebrews have seen above the mists of the long course of the ages. But in all the lowlands of vision, they would have these he had one great end in view. Now discovered a divine purpose in it all; they in the Church the realization of that end were being chastised for their sins. A l­ is seen, and in the great spiritual harmony though they worshiped Jehovah nominally, angels can perceive the manifoldness and yet their hearts ever wandered after idols. majesty of the divine wisdom which by Moreover, could they have looked down ways so diverse had been working to this across the centuries, they would have great result. That angels have an interest obtained a different perspective. The A s­ in man’s redemption and desire to look syrian monarchy today lies buried in the into it is stated in I Peter 1:12, where it dust; where once its glory lay, there are is indicated that they are capable of an only sand mounds to tell the tale of its enlargement of insight into it. former splendor. The hand of divine judgment fell upon her, yet the Hebrew Similar in thought yet with added ex­ people live on. positions is the expression of another writer who comments, “The wisdom of God Thus we might infer regarding our own is made known to angels and principali­ time; the might of the tyrant has reigned, ties in the various dispensations through has trampled underfoot the eights of small­ which the Church has passed. The angels, er nations, yet the day of retribution lies when they compare the past with the in the offing. God still rules, although present, and again, the present with the for a time his power seems to be recessive. past, the choosing of the Jewish olive, and When the appointed time comes, the forces leaving out of the rest of the trees, and of righteousness will triumph. anon, the grafting-in of the Gentiles from Besides these general and more or less the wild olive, and the casting out of the universal providences in the world, there natural branches, how much they must are the particular providences in indivi­ have admired the singular variety of God’s dual lives. These are very baffling at dispensations, when they know, as cer­ times, and often we may pass through tainly they do, that His grace remains the life without having them solved, yet faith same...... They mainly see the wisdom finds a way; it trusts, it knows that God of God in His Church, in the Church’s works all for man’s good while he trusts, covenant head and representative. When even though the heart may be weighed first they heard that the Lord of life and down with grief. Then there lies out be­ glory was to be made flesh and to dwell yond the hope of an immortal life which among us, how they must have admired .will more than outweigh the light afflic­ the plan of heavens going down to earth tions which are but for a moment. that earth might come up to heaven. The

September-October, 1944 (279) 7 manifold wisdom of God is made known to New Testament by heart, but many of the principalities and powers in the conversion people had not seen a Bible for fifteen of every child of God. That ingenious years. toy called the kaleidoscope, at every turn What can be the explanation of such neg­ presents some new form of beauty, so the lect of this wonderful book which, from different converts who are brought to the standpoint of literary quality, ranks Christ by the preaching of the Word are foremost in the world? Within its pages every one unlike the other; there is some­ are to be found passages which belong thing to distinguish each case; hence by most intimately to every living being, them, to the very letter our text is proved, wherein the individual may browse at will the manifold wisdom, the much varied and formulate therefrom his own interpre­ wisdom of God is displayed.” tation of life. Many points of interest gather around A little allegory may serve as a reminder about this expression of truth. The fact to some of us that we cannot take our that the angels in heaven acquire an un­ most treasured possessions for granted, derstanding of God’s wisdom as manifested and that which we value as of little worth in His mercy and grace extended to all already we are in danger of losing. A men awakens thought. The fullness of the book entitled “The Eclipse of Faith,” which wisdom of God had not been revealed unto appeared in the middle of the last century, them. It had been hidden in the “Eternal describes a vision in which the hero Mind,” hidden down through the ages. dreamed that the community where he Then when it was consummated in Christ, lived suddenly awakened to find that every they became cognizant of its extensive Bible had become a blank. The type had comprehension, its manifold variety. The been expunged in a single night and purpose of redemption had been from nothing but blank pages met the eye, much eternity, and only in this last dispensation to the consternation of the people. was made known. The operation of that wisdom goes on throughout all the ages A universal interest in the Bible, now to follow its manifestation on Calvary, and that it was lost, spread among them. Many finally will reach its ultimate consumma­ were the excuses given by those who tion when heaven and earth have passed wished to be regarded as Bible lovers. away, and time shall be no more. Then One individual faced the loss with un­ shall be revealed the ultimate triumphs of dimmed faith in the truths that still were divine wisdom. treasured in memory, though expunged from the printed page. The others resorted Thus while in creation God’s marvelous to all sorts of expedients in an attempt wisdom is manifested and calls forth the to reconstruct the lost treasure, but in vain. admiration of man by its intricacies and The dreamer awakened to find the morn­ scope, in providence again it is made ing sun shining upon the precious promises known, although here often beclouded; of the open Bible which lay on his table. yet in redemption is the great finality of Those who believe that the Bible has no its revelation. Its contemplation chal­ practical message for them and that it is lenges the highest intelligences. No small of greater importance to keep posted on wonder is it then that the apostle ex­ changes in the world’s markets, would do claimed, “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” well to reflect whether it may not be some­ thing far more precious than all the world’s treasures, the value of which remains + constant and never fluctuates, is already theirs, close at hand and only waiting to be read. Who Reads the Bible Today? Word comes from Russia that many Christians today are hiding away in caves Ninety per cent of the people of a so- called Christian community admitted to to worship and study the Bible as did those an investigator that they had not opened a early Christians. Each book of the Bible Bible for ten years, reports the Christian is being learned in its entirety so that Science Monitor. One businessman to be should the Bible suddenly be denied them, sure had read the Bible that very morn­ they still could teach others.—From The ing, another claimed he knew much of the Union Signal.

8 (280) The Preacher's Magazine The Idea of Inbred Sin in Paul’s Epistles

Neal C. Dirkse

A U L ’S idea of inbred sin as revealed surance of immortality because of which P in II Corinthians is in keeping with man's life is underscored by divine pur­ his development in other letters. The pose (5:1-10). With the temporal and the mind of Paul was thoroughly versed on seen as basis for evaluation, naturally, one the various aspects of this thought, for he glories in appearances, in the outward rings all the changes on the subject. The rather than the inner (5:12). It exalts it­ inspiration of the Holy Spirit is clearly self against God (10:5), and finds comfort seen as that indefinable influence exerted in association with sinners and a kinship on the apostle’s writing, noted in the in­ in relationship with evil (6:14, 15), it direct, yet definite, manner in which the twists the imagination (10:5). subject is treated. The thought involved While inbred sin has this subjective ef­ was by no means the primary motive of fect, it also has an objective one, and is this letter, yet it appears clearly. His the cause of every act of sin, such as dis­ primary motive was an attempt to for- honesty (4:2), disobedience (10:6), con­ lect the difficult situation in the church ceit, pride (10:12), glorying in the flesh at Corinth, as caused by its background (11:18), quarrelling, jealousy, temper, ri­ and the presence of several strong person­ valry, slander, gossip, arrogance, disorder alities in the church that had begun to and sexuality (12:20, 21). spread heresy, and had somewhat suc­ ceeded in undermining the influence of Because the presence of inbred sin Paul over the group. To this situation lenders us dead before Him (5:14), it Paul addresses himself, and he does so by took the death of Jesus Christ to bring indirectly recognizing the cause of it all us to life (5:15). The fact of inbred sin —inbred sin in the heart of the human had to be atoned for, so He became sin for individual. us, accepting the foresworn death penalty (5:21), and made possible our redemption. The effect of its presence within the In order to receive the merits of Calvary, human heart serves to blind one’s intel­ one must cleanse himself, by placing him­ lect and heart to the truth and deaden the self at complete disposal to the whole will responses (3:14-16), (4:3,4) begetting the of God. Divine grace cleanses from filthi­ inevitable tendency towards falsifying and ness of flesh and of spirit (7:1). rationalizing the truth of God (4:2). The matter of adjusting the truth to the peo­ In all of Paul’s approach to the difficulty ple, rather than adjusting one’s life to the at Corinth, his primary emphasis is posi­ truth (1:17-20) (2:17), and of refusing tive, not negative. Although the church the truth (2:15, 16) is a natural conse­ was in serious difficulty due to sin and quence. The outcome of this attitude is sensuality on the part of some of its mem­ larkness of mind and heart (4 :6). Re­ bers, he nevertheless attempted to solve fusing to accept the truth, the only alterna­ the problem by his emphasis upon the love tive is to persecute it by making it diffi­ and grace and power of God. Though he cult for its propagators and by attempting calls attention to the negative side as sug­ to defeat it by spreading heresy— (4:8-10; gested by his discussion, his essential ap­ 11:13), thereby becoming the instruments proach is by constraining love; and some of Satan, the father of all evil (11:14, 15). scholars tell us that the problem was com­ pletely solved and the church experienced The presence of inbred sin with its a gracious revival. blinding effects, causes one to evaluate with a wrong standard of measurement— G a l a t ia n s it is on the basis of the seen and the tem­ poral, rather than the invisible and the In his letter to the Galatians, Paul faced eternal; it robs of the power of faith, and a different difficulty. It seems as though makes all of life a matter of the material certain Judaizers had crept in, who were (4:18); and it robs of that sense and as­ trying, not only to undermine Paul’s influ­

September-October, 1944 (281) 9 ence, but to inject certain phases of the the conditions. It involves the crucifixion old Judaistic religion. A conflict between of the self-life, and its being displaced by the legalism of the Old Testament and the the life of the Son of God (2:20). It is to freedom through grace of the New is evi­ be realized through faith in Him (3:22), dent. Here again, the basic idea of sin, and issues in deliverance from every evil as held by Paul, is faithfully brought out. work of the flesh (5:24; 6:14). Continuing He points to carnality or inbred sin or deliverance is to be realized by perfect (the) flesh as the source of the trouble obedience to God (5:16), which disobedi­ and gives a vivid description of it and ence also begets eternal life (6:8). Con­ its working in the human heart. tinuous victory is realized by continuous submission to the leadership of God’s Holy He recognizes it as the cause of their Spirit (5:18). vacillation, their being so easily upset by false doctrine, and sidetracked because of Such is the grandeur of our gospel, in disobedience, (1:6; 3:1; 5:8). It is the that it can face any situation that this life basis of division and controversy as undue may produce, and provide the means for emphasis is placed upon externals as op­ complete and perfect victory, for all of posed to inner reality of the Spirit (2:6- life’s difficulties stem from sin, and the 21). It tends to make a display in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is the su­ flesh, and to substitute the work of the preme solution for sin in its blackest. Holy Spirit with human effort (6:12; 3:3). Praise God! The tendency toward legalism together with dependence upon human merit is E p h e s ia n s severely denounced (3:1-29; 4:9, 10; 5:2-6). This problem, as it revolved upon In the letter to the Ephesians, a letter the matter of circumcision constitutes the understood to have been a sort of round- major problem. The principle of sin is robin, to be read in several churches, Paul recognized in its insistent pull toward the follows consistently his fundamental idea world (4:9), in the way it resists the truth of sin as a principle. He recognizes here and shies away from persecution (4:16, as elsewhere that it is the seat of all the 6:12). It creates inner tensions between evil passions of the flesh and mind (2:3; right and wrong by its very nature, for it 5:12), and that it encourages fellowship is opposed to God and holiness, and makes with all the works of darkness (5:11). He it difficult to do right (5:17). All evil personifies inbred sin with the term “old finds its source in inbred sin (5:19). man,” a personality filled with all manner of corruption and moral deceit (4:22), and The principle of sin serves as an unseen that which keeps in step with the course of evil influence within, that affects the total this world, in step with the powers of evil, personality, poisoning it with its presence and possessed of an evil spirit of disobedi­ (5:9), which in turn renders one unfit for ence (2:2). A false emphasis is encour­ the kingdom of God (5:21). Inasmuch as aged by placing primary import upon out­ it is race-wide in its influence, it has ward ceremony rather than upon inner placed the curse of sin on all mankind reality, and places greater value upon (3:22), and to coddle and retain it is to man’s opinions and approval than upon have the seeds of eternal death as well as God’s (5:11; 6:6). In its very nature it begetting a harvest of evil consequences is opposed to Christ, it alienates from God’s (6:7, 8). blessings, separates from the benefits of It is to be seen at work in its attempts God’s love, robs of hope and a sense of at the perversion of the gospel (1:7), the God (5:13>,13). Being thus alienated from disobedience it engenders (3:1; 5:7), the the life of God, it begets blindness of heart idol-worship it substitutes (4:8), the an­ and darkness of the understanding (4:18). tagonistic spirit it cultivates (5:15), the It has that within it so as to render it un­ transgressions it sets in motion (5:19), and fit for heaven (5:5) and makes for a the love for-self it promulgates (5:21). negative outlook and influence, as likened to darkness (5:8). It robs one of the sense One stands in utter amazement that for of the value of time (5:15, 16). such an evil thing there can be a remedy, but Paul confidently places the provisions The climax of it all is to make one the of Calvary and the power of the blood subject of God’s displeasure (2:3; 5:6), over against the worst hell can devise and in His sight to be considered as dead within the human heart, and calmly states (2:1; 2:5; 5:14).

10 (282) The Preacher's Magazine In its manifestations in the life of the a clarion note. As opposed to the death individual, Paul shows inbred sin to be it begets within the human soul is the the basis of sensuality (4:19; 5 :3 ), lying divine provision of being brought to life (4:25), anger (4:26; 4:31), stealing (4:28), by Jesus (2:5), through the merit of His filthy language (4:29; 5:4) bitterness, clam­ grace (2:5, 8). While carnality separates or, evil speaking, malice (4:31), foolish one far from Jesus, one may be brought talking (5 :4), disobedience (5 :6), and nigh by the blood of Jesus (2:13, 16). drunkenness (5:18). It is grieving to the While the old man is to be put aside, the Holy Spirit (4:30), and tends to God- new man, is to be put on— the self-life forgetfulness (4:17), and vanity of mind is to be crucified and the Christ of God (4:17); and because it is the cause of is to be placed at the center of our lives vacillation and disloyalty, it hinders in (4:22). Through the power of the Word growth in grace (4:14). and the blood, the heart may be cleansed Always clear in the remedy for this from this inner traitor and a clean and hateful malady of hell, Paul again sounds holy life may be the issue (5:26, 27).

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Dr. Adam Clarke’s Letter to a Young Preacher

(Abridged) Dr. Peter Wiseman

1. I feel little encouragement to hazard disposition will still remain, and your any advice upon this subject: in general, comfort will not be materially interrupted. people do not in this matter consult their But when a woman who has had bad own judgment, nor receive the counsel of natural temper loses that life of God by their friends, but act according to the which they were controlled or kept at bay, impulse of their passions. It is almost she becomes intolerable. Avoid a person the only case in the concerns of human life of this character, though rich as Croesus, where reasons and prudence are obliged and as beautiful as an angel. Let the per­ to be inactive; and where they are, not­ son be nearly of your own age; a young withstanding, most interested. However, a man marrying an old woman, and an old Christian should act otherwise: and a man marrying a child are both an abomi­ Christian minister who is not delivered out nation to common sense and reason. Your of the hands of his own passions is a dis­ wife should ever be considered as your grace to the sacred character he bears. I equal, and therefore should not be of was always an advocate for marriage; such an age in reference to you as might and as I have been blessed with a good demand the respect of a mother, or the wife and with twelve children, it is no correction of a child. wonder that I should continue to recom­ Do not seek for money; it is a shocking mend it. I say, by all means, get mar­ reproach to a man of God to be hunting ried; for I am satisfied that few men can aftei1 pelf, and getting a wife merely for be truly comfortable who live a single life. the sake of her possessions. I scruple But remember, your everlasting all may not to say that those who marry for money depend on the choice you make. are committing adultry as long as they Seek for genuine piety— nothing can live. I say nothing concerning beauty, compensate for the lack of this; look for etc., but would just observe, that a man sound sense, and an agreeable manner— who is himself of a homely appearance that while your wife is a help to you, she should not be nice in the choice of a wife; may not, by her awkward behavior, be and that a pious, sensible woman, of a good disgusting to others. Good natural tem­ natural disposition, be she ever so ordin­ pers are of great consequence. Get a wife ary, is an inestimable treasure. Beware who possessed these before she was of a woman that meddles with politics, or brought to God, and should she at any time with the government of the church of lose ground in religion, her good natural God. Such a one cannot fail to embroil

September-October, 1944 (283) 11 you with the people, wherever you go, person present, avoiding, at the same time, and will be a source of misery to you as that puerile, monkeyish fooling and toying long as you breathe. which is a disgrace to man, and an insult to a sensible woman. Marriage to you can never be an in­ different thing; it will make or mar you; 3. Abul Fazl, author of the Ayar Dan- it will be a blessing or a curse to you. It ush, “Touchstone of Wisdom,” gave the will help you to heaven, drive you to hell, following advice to a person who was go­ or be a heart-rending cross to you while ing to marry: “Take,” says he, “the you live. Nor will a bad or improper daughter of a religious, friendly man, marriage affect yourself alone; it may be whom you may make your confidant on the ruin of every child that issues from it. all occasions. But have nothing to say And dreadful as this evil is, it will not rest to three kinds of women: (1) A widow here; they may propagate the plague to if she be always extolling her deceased interminable generations, and millions be husband; (2) A woman whose relations injured, if not lost, by your improper or have conferred great favors upon you; (3) vicious marriage. One who, whenever she sees you, speaks in a faint tone, and affects a delicate, Add to this, that as far as you are con­ languid air.” These advices show an in­ nected with the work of God, it will be a timate acquaintance with human nature; great hindrance, a deep blot, and a leprous and are so full of good sense and meaning curse, to the Church of Christ. I have that a volume might be written on, with­ heard it asserted by a sensible man, a keen out exhausting them. observer of human nature, and one inti­ mately acquainted with religious people, 4. If ever God should bless you with that “some of the direct evils that threaten children, see that you dedicate them un­ any revival of religion are deductible from reservedly to Him. Never dress them in this source. Young ministers have rushed the fashion, that is the unmeaning, un­ in shoals into the net; and I cannot add,” necessary, and absurd foppery of the times. said he, “for all there are so many, yet This fills them with pride, and debases is not the net broken. They are entangled their minds; for by this mode of conduct in the meshes; but, alas! ‘the net is they are taught to attach a value to things broken.’ They are neither brought to which are of no intrinsic worth; and false land, nor are free in the water. They perceptions and ideas, impressed upon the have a little domestic happiness; they mind in so tender an age, are rarely ob­ represent no edifying example. Think of literated through the whole course of life. these possible evils; examine the circle 5. Never, or very rarely, take them out of your acquaintance, and see them real­ with you to dine, etc., for the following ized. ‘Look before you leap!’ Add not to reasons: (1) Because they are generally the number of too much indulged by getting good, which, ‘ . . . . The wild herd of nymphs and swains in quantity and quality, is injurious to Who thoughtless fly into the chains, their health. (2) Being treated better As custom leads the way.’ ” abroad than at home, necessary domestic Take this step with that godly fear and restraint becomes irksome to them, and scrupulous caution which a man should they would rather be anywhere else than do, who feels he has his all at stake. If in their parents’ house. (3) By being too God directs you not, you will draw in a much indulged among strangers, they ac­ fearful lottery, where there are many quire too great a degree of forwardness, blanks to one prize. And what I say to which, for lack of judgment, often de­ young men here, I would say to young generates into intolerable impudence. (4) women also, were they the object of my They give great trouble to the families instruction. where they come; by which you cannot fail being brought into contempt, especi­ 2. I need lay down no rules for your ally when you make it a custom to take treatment of your wife; because if you them where they are neither asked nor de­ love her as you ought, you will ever treat her well, and, if you do not love her, sired. As directions of this nature are not rules and directions would be mere cob­ requisite for you, this will plead my ex­ webs to you. One thing I must say, that cuse for not entering so deeply into this when you are in company, you should pay matter as its nature and importance might as much attention to your wife as to any demand.

12 (284) The Preacher's Magazine Sacred Oratory

Dr. G. W. Ridout

SH ALL illustrate my subject from a impression upon my mind and thinking; Ivery significant statement which ap­ the name of the book, “The Science of peared in the press a few years ago about Power” by Benjamin Kidd, an eminent Hitler and Mussolini. This is it: British writer and university lecturer, his “Both Hitler and Mussolini were of specialty seemed to be social questions— humble parents, both were homeless he certainly was a peer in that realm. Let youths, both flunked in the study of their me state a few of the propositions set forth native language, both worked as hod car­ in the book: riers and bricklayers’ assistants in Aus­ I. Power in civilization is founded in tria, both fought in the great war and emotion rather than intellect. were dispatch runners, being slightly II. The emotion of the ideal is the su­ wounded; but neither rose higher than a preme principle of efficiency in the col­ corporal, both fathers died in a public inn lective struggle of the world. while drinking, both were newspaper editors, both were convicted of high trea­ III. The great secret of the coming age son and served time in a fortress. Both of the world is that civilization rests not became rulers through the power of ora­ on reason, but on emotion. tory.” IV. It is the control of emotion, not the What struck me when I read that was absence of it, which is the mark of civiliza­ the fact that it was oratory that made Hit­ tion, other things being equal. The higher ler the master of Germany and gave him and more complete the individual or the the power to shake the whole world. people, the higher and more complete the capacity for emotion. Oratory to be effective must have an all-controlling idea or message. Hitler Now this is exactly the thing that pro­ had it, and set his people on fire with it, duced Hitler. The emotion of an ideal and then thrust the world into the most caught and completely enraptured the shocking catastrophe ever known in the youth of Germany. It set Germany on fire annals of history. Truly his was the ora- and she began the work of conquering ,tory of destruction turning the world into other nations to enrich her own. It was a pandemonium of wreckage and ruin, a great emotion that started it. havoc and blood, and producing a bleeding, Now the question growing out of all this sobbing, shrieking, heart-broken humanity is this: Have we anything in or about among many nations. A world in arms Christianity that can bring on this kind of and ruinous war all came about because emotion, enthusiasm or propaganda for the one man through his passion and frenzied good of the world? oratory seized the youth and manhood of I remember that after World War I there Germany, captivated them by his elo­ was quite a cry for a “moral equivalent for quence and made out of them demons of war”— that meant, “Give us something in destruction. the moral realm, in the realm of the good, Look at their man Hitler now! A clever that will call out the same enthusiasm, writer depicts him thus: “A soulless crea­ the same sacrifice and the same heroism ture shaking his fist at God; its diabolical and daring that war brings on.” laugh echoing through the rubble of ghost Can we find in the Church and in the churches; its gross paws dripping with the Christian religion something that can blood of Catholic, Protestant and Jew— wrap us in the flame of an enthusiasm this revolting thing called Hitler at this for good and for God equivalent to that hour stands before the courts of God and which war does for evil and destruction? man as the monumental criminal of all I think as we read history, we find that time and all history.” And this man apostles, martyrs and prophets had it. gained his power through oratory! Luther had it, and Savonarola, John Knox When I taught in the theological seminary, and William Booth. Father Faber I think I used a certain book that made a deep struck the note in those lines of his:

September-October, 1944 (285) 13 I love Thee so I know not how besides Moses, think of the prophets—the My transports to control; seraphic Isaiah, the passionate Jeremiah, Thy love is like a burning fire the immaculate Daniel, the soaring Ezekiel; Within my very soul. turn over the pages until you come to the apostles! What man in all time has im­ Now let me come to the center of things, pressed the moral and religious world like the crux of the whole question, and ask, Paul the apostle? What man lighted up What have we in Christianity to be en­ the skies of revelation like John the Di­ thusiastic about? Is Christianity capable vine? In the Bible we hear voices from of great stirring emotions? eternity, we hear the thunderings of the law, and the whispers of the promises; As we look at the state of the Church we hear the transports of the prophets and and of the ministry today, there would the ecstasies of the saints. In the Bible seem to be, on the surface of things, many we have the philosophy of the sublime and things that would give a negative answer the alphabet of salvation. to this question; we are in a notoriously quiet spell religiously and spiritually. In the Bible of a great bishop of the There is not much stir about us, no burst­ English Church, these lines were found ing forth of geysers of spiritual enthusiasm, written: no mighty winds of Pentecosts blowing around us. Be Thou my Star in reason’s night. But to return to the question, What have Be Thou my Rock in danger’s fright, we in Christianity capable of great emo­ Be Thou my Guide mid passion’s sway, tions? Our answer will be threefold: My Moon by night, my Sun by day! In the Christian religion, we have a great God. Have you noticed that when Moses In the Christian religion, we have a great sprinkled the blood, he sprinkled both the Book. book and the people (Heb. 9:19). Our In the Christian religion, we have a great Bible is a blood-sprinkled Book! The redemption. atoning blood is upon it and in it. Many First, we have a great Book—the Bible. a soldier boy returning from the battles, Think of the contrast between our Bible will bring home with him his testament and that of the Moslems, the Mormons, or with blood upon it; in many instances of the Christian Scientists; The Koran of the war it was that little book in his pocket Moslems is a one-man affair containing over his heart that saved his life when the weird cogitations of a man out in the the bullet hit him. Our Bible has blood desert somewhere. The Mormon Bible is marks on it—the blood of the covenant, the product of the harum-scarum Joseph the blood of the prophets, the blood of the Smith. The Christian Science Bible or apostles and martyrs, the blood of the “Key” to the Scriptures is the product of saints who have died for their faith. Mrs. Eddy—a woman of very doubtful Our Bible is a torch—it has held up in history and of erratic mind. Yet thou­ the darkest night of persecution and storm sands, yes, millions, will read and believe the torch of truth. The most thrilling sight those Bibles, follow them, suffer and sac­ that meets the soldier coming home from rifice for them, and live and die fanatically the battle field as he approaches the New for them. Over against such books as York harbor is the Statue of Liberty; at these put the Christian Bible; that Book night its lighted torch is thrilling, it an­ took nearly three thousand years to com­ nounces to the immigrant fleeing from the plete; that Book came through the in­ land of aggression and bloodshed, that spired minds of some of the greatest men here is the land of the free and the home that lived in human history. of the brave. The Bible is the torch of Our Bible begins with the writings of revealed truth; too often the light from this Moses, and in the annals of history, in the old Book has been hidden under the bushel realm of law, ethics and righteousness, no of scolarship so-called, skepticism, mod­ man ever made a greater contribution to ernism and infidelity. Men like Luther the moral world. Talk as you will about and Knox and Wesley have kicked the Solon or Socrates, Plato, Pericles, Aristotle bushel aside and the light has broken or the Caesars—none of them ever gave out in reformations and new awakenings to the world what Moses gave. And, then and revivals. Let us give the old Bible

14 (286) The Preacher's Magazine a chance; let us put it where it belongs, in it and makes it his peroration in his won­ every pulpit, every church, every Sunday derful argument on the sovereignity of school, every public school, every college, God in Romans eleven; hear him: “O the every theological seminary— take out to depth of the riches both of the wisdom the trash heap and burn up every book and and knowledge of God! how unsearchable every periodical that does not exalt the are his judgments, and his ways past Bible and give it first place. finding out! .... For of him, and through Our Bible is a fire. Jeremiah felt like him, and to him, are all things: to whom all of us preachers ought to feel when he be glory for ever. Amen.” said, “His word was in mine heart as a The Bible says, “God is a Spirit” ; John burning fire shut up in my bones, and I says, “God is love” ; Paul says, “In him was weary with forbearing, and I could we live, and move, and have our being.” not stay.” Think of it, my brethren, the How great is your God? The king at Bible a burning fire shut up in the bones the lion’s den cried, “O Daniel, .... is —there’s the seat of real pulpit eloquence. thy God...... able to deliver thee?” Your best sermons are preached when Daniel’s reply was, “My God hath sent his you are on fire with the truth. It was angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, said of Wendell Phillips, whose soul that they have not hurt me.” I know a burned with the truth he was telling the woman in California who prayed a fifty- nation about slavery, that he was an in­ thousand-dollar prayer. It took her five fernal machine set to music. Of course the years, but God put the prayer upon her, slave holders hated him and looked upon and she pressed her claim and got the fifty him as infernal, but he was so on fire thousand dollars for missionary purposes that he captured them with the music of — not a dollar of it for herself. How big his eloquence. is your God? Are you close enough to We have a great Bible, a great Book, a God and His power to get a shock, or are Book in which the fire of inspiration never you so insulated that you can stand any­ goes out. May our Bible be more to us thing without being shocked? We have —a burning bush aflame with God where a great God, but too many of us go year we shall hear the voice divine and catch after year without any personal experience our messages. of His greatness or His power.

n . III.

Second, we have a great God! Have you Third, w e have a great redemption. The ever noticed how our Bible begins? “In history of the Christian Church is a history the beginning God.” Postulate God in all of the miraculous. It is a history of great your thinking and you will not go astray. things accomplished when the principles Too many thinkers of today leave God out and laws of the spiritual world have been of their thought. A distinguished father applied, and when the hearts of the peo­ wrote to his son these words: “Think ple have been seized and set on fire by the magnificently of God.” That’s what the Spirit of God. prophets and patriarchs and saints of old History shows that Christianity has been thought of God. To Moses, God was the capable of great emotions and great en­ Lawgiver; to Abraham, the faithful God; thusiasms. Think of Paul the apostle be­ to Joshua, the mighty God of battles; to fore Agrippa; think of Martin Luther Gideon, the Deliverer of the oppressed; to stirred by the emotion of a great conver­ Daniel, the God who held the destiny of sion, nailing his theses to the church door nations in His hands; to Jeremiah, the with a hammer that was heard all over God of prophetic fire and fury; to Isaiah, Europe. Think of Savonarola who stirred the God whose habitation was in holiness all Florence with the most violent emotion and whose message to sinful men was to of contrition and repentance; think of pardon and make them clean. To Peter, John Knox who set Scotland on fire God was the Giver of Pentecost; to John, against Bloody Mary; think of John W es­ the God of divine effulgence and revel­ ley with his seraphic poet brother, Charles, ation; to Paul the Apostle, the God of grace and the eloquent George Whitefield, who to Jew and Gentile. From the first of raised eighteenth century England from the Genesis to the last of Revelation the sacred dead and started a revival of religion that writers exalt and extol the holiness and spread through the continents; think of the greatness of God. Paul shouts about the American pulpit with such preachers

September-October, 1944 (287) 15 as Jonathan Edwards, Cartwright, M cKen- burning with a soul on fire, with a godly dree, Pitman, Munsay, Finney, Bascom, passion? and with celestial zeal capture Dempster, Kavanaugh, Sam Jones, Moody, the minds and emotions of the nation for Dr. Morrison, Dr. Bresee, Billy Sunday, God and the gospel like as Hitler caught etc., who shook the soul of America, and the German youth and the German nation led the multitudes to God. with his fanatical and fiery Nazism! Think of the men of missionary fame who went to the heathen fields and woke them from their slumber and sleep of a + thousand years and led them to altars of the gospel. As we think of these men and events, we are convinced once more that Christian Courtesy Christianity— our Christian faith has been capable of rousing great emotion, and as Courtesy is one of the manifestations of we think of these things, the question Christian love that is frequently lacking arises, Why are we not more enthusiastic— in these days of realism and practicality. or to put it another way— Why are we not There is often a brusqueness of speech greater enthusiasts? Why are we not bet­ and manner that is very far indeed from ter propagandists? Why are we so still; the largeness of heart and the kindness and why are we not more stirred up about it, approachability of demeanor that char­ why are we so calm? Why are we so acterized the Master. Many who profess well contented and live in such ease? to be His disciples rather pride themselves That great orator of England, Canon on a stiffness toward others, which they Scott Holland, uttered a trumpet blast in think to be dignity, but which is repellent one of his great messages, in these words: to strangers who may not understand. “How little of prophetic fury is there “Let your moderation—your gentle graci­ about us! How passive, how indifferent, ousness toward others— be known unto all how unstirred we remain, while huge sins men,” urges Paul on that church which he walk abroad and the earth is full of cruel commends above ^thers (Phil. 4:5); and habitation! What evils are there that he gives as a special reason for his in­ shrink before our imagination? What junction the fact that “the Lord is at wrongs are there that dread our loud out­ hand.” That is to say, in view of the im­ cry? What low and base ambitions are minence of the Lord’s appearing, His peo­ there that creep off abashed when we are ple are to specially seek likeness to Him in near? What worldly man feels uncom­ their relations w ith, those round about. fortable in our presence? Why is it that That polish of manners, which we com­ no rebuke, no repugnance, goes out from monly term politeness, is losing ground our very being against iniquity? Why among the masses of the people of this do sins flourish so close to us, without land. There is a flippancy, amounting at fear and without scruple? Something is times to rudeness, which is becoming wrong.” widespread, and correctness of speech is The Church and the nation stand at the sneered at as affectation. Smart expres­ crossroads of an awful crisis. We are sions, slang and words which border on the called to a tremendous task of re-creating profane, are the commonplace of conver­ a new order, a new world after Hitler is sation. But such things are not befitting destroyed and Tojo is defeated, but how the Christian, and are specially out of can we do this unless we have a change place in the pulpit. of heart and a new spirit? Who will To be always truly refined in all things, arouse us, who will beget within us a new to be self-controlled under all circum­ enthusiasm? stances, to be never unkind or ruffled, to One of the desperate needs of the day be gentle to the undesirable, ready to help is the birth of a new enthusiasm within the unfortunate, open to the approach of the Church. We are in a frightful dor­ those who try the patience— these things mant state as churches; instead of being reveal the perfect character, the inner Niagaras of power, we are only wash­ life out of which flow the rivers of living outs. We are parrots more than prophets, water. This is the ideal towards which we are playing flutes instead of sounding each one who desires to be like Christ trumpets. Who will rise up among us should press.—The Alliance Weekly.

16 (288) The Preacher's Magazine Immortal Money

Dr. Paul S. Rees

T e x t — And I say unto you, Make to your­ rendering of the word that is translated selves friends of the mammon of un­ “wisely.” It should be translated “shrewd­ righteousness; that, when ye fail, they ly.” When Jesus says that the master may receive you into everlasting habi­ “commended” his faithless employee, we tations (Luke 16:9) are not to think that the commendation was an approval of the man’s dishonesty, S c r ip t u r e R ea din g —Luke 16:1-12. still less that it was a formal tribute to him. That landlord was probably a “go- HE Parable of the Unjust Steward getter” himself, albeit an honest one, and T has been a puzzle to many readers he therefore recognized quick thinking, of scripture. Perhaps, too, it is more con­ resourceful management, enterprising con­ fusing than comforting to be told that duct, when he saw it. So he said, in effect, scholars also have wrinkled their brows “You clever rogue! Of all the impudent and strained their wits at it. cunning I ever saw! I’ll have to admit you are smart. There’s something about Here was a man who was supposed to be looking after the affairs of his wealthy you— something almost grand— that is employer. One day he finds that his mas­ worthy of better business than this with ter suspects him of fraud. He realizes which you have been trying to get away.” that his office will soon be taken over by You have heard people spoken of in another, and that he may be out in the just those terms— perhaps have done it cold, so he thinks of a scheme by which yourself. If you have lived very long in he can get into the good graces of his this risky world, you probably have been master’s debtors. He will discount their “taken in” by some smooth-tongued in­ obligations, and then, when he is out of dividual. And when you discovered how a job, they will not forget the man who you had been tricked, you said, if only to was so generous toward them— generous, soothe the hurt of your own pride of judg­ that is, with another man’s money. ment, “Well, I must say he is a smart one Now we come to the feature of the para­ — too bad his talents are not better em­ ble that has given rise to much discussion ployed!” and to many a fanciful interpretation. Now mark! Before the smile had died Jesus declares, as we have it in the A u ­ away from the faces of some of His lis­ thorized Version, that the master “com­ teners, Jesus drove through sharply to mended the unjust steward, because he this conclusion: “for the children of this had done wisely.” Would Jesus use a world are in their generation wiser than rascal to point a moral? And how could the children of light.” They who make no He expect us to believe that the parable profession of loving God and living for had any resemblance to real life when he the higher things that never perish, are makes the lord of that dishonest servant keener, more enterprising and aggressive, commend him as having acted “wisely” ? more resourceful and far-sighted, than These are the questions that have been those who call themselves the spiritual raised— sometimes indeed as stout objec­ children of the heavenly Father. tions rather than mere inquiries. Em­ peror Julian, for example, the early apos­ When we see the parable in this light, tate from the Christian Church, held up we begin, I think, to understand it. In this piece of our Lord’s teaching as some­ order to organize our thinking about it thing contrary to decency and true mor­ somewhat more comprehensively, let me ality. What may be said by way of reply indicate three things which the parable and explanation? suggests: First, a Common Oversight; sec­ . Much of the difficulty vanishes the mo­ ond, an Important Insight; third, a Wise ment we get hold of the more accurate Foresight.

September-October, 1944 (289) 17 I. A C o m m o n O v e r s ig h t II. A n I m p o r t a n t I n s ig h t It is the oversight which our Lord re­ Not to be forgotten is that part of the bukes in the words just quoted: “The chil­ parable in which Jesus describes the frank dren of this world” (as represented by the and realistic way in which the unjust hard-working, sharp-bargaining steward) steward handled his personal situation “are wiser in their generation than the when he saw that his days were numbered children of light.” and he would soon be out of a job. “Then the steward said within himself, What How many of us religious people show shall I do? for my lord taketh away from the same enthusiasm, the same drive, the me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg same dynamic purposefulness, about the I am ashamed.” success of the church that our nonchurch- going people manifest in making a success What he decided to do about it was all of their banks and shops and farms and wrong, but his clear-eyed facing of the professional careers? Do we then wonder facts was all right. He reckoned with real­ why the church does not get farther in ities. He would not permit himself the challenging the manhood and womanhood foolish indulgence of looking at life of our communities? Those worldlings through rose-colored glasses. However out there are not being fooled. They crooked he was with his master, there was measure our devotion to Christ and His a sense in which he was honest with him­ Church, not by our polite gesture of self. That at least is commendable. “warming a pew” for one not-too-excit- History is blood-red with the tragedies ing hour each week, but by our deeds of of men, of religious institutions and of na­ love and good will and sacrifice through­ tions, who refused to face the facts and out all the days and all the years. were content to live in a fool’s paradise. The applications of this truth are legion, As the German philosopher, Spengler, on the one hand, I think of the pains, the says, “When men abdicate, events will then time, the unflagging zest with which the decide.” Marie Antoinette and her corrupt “sisters” of this world will try to master court at Versailles would not face the facts the game of bridge and the “brothers” the of increasing poverty and growing distress game of golf, and on the other hand, I among the people of the 19th century think of the pitifully weak and unenthu- France, and events decided: it was the siastic way in which so many professing French Revolution. The nobility and the Christians give themselves to the study clergy of Russia, in the years leading up of the Bible. Then people wonder why to the first World War, would not face the the Bible does not mean more to them, facts of the ecclesiastical and political ex­ why they cannot understand it better, why ploitation of the masses, and events de­ they cannot use it in giving help and light cided: it was the Communist Revolution to others, why their own soul-life is so of 1917 and the subsequent reign of the impoverished and sickly! Soviets under Lenin and Stalin. Postwar France would not face the facts of mount­ If you are like myself, that part of the ing drunkenness and debauchery, of daily paper which gives the quotations of spreading jealousy and friction among her the stock market is seldom or never leaders, and events decided: it was the looked at. But there are thousands of collapse of the French Republic under the people who study the names and figures in hammer of Adolph Hitler. those long columns with nervous eager­ ness. Do you think the newspaper people Shall we stop there? No, we dare not. would continue to publish them if this We must go on to something far more were not so? Very well, how many of personal, and perhaps painful. Are we facing the facts of our own lives and our our sons and daughters of “light”—those own homes—we who bear the name of who claim kinship with Christ—dig into Christians? Are we honestly facing the the treasures of the Holy Scriptures with fact that our homes are—in many instances similar fondness and fervor? Yet what —without prayer, without any orderly and are the barren numerals of the stock sustained effort to cultivate the spiritual market report compared with the radiant life? Will we face the fact that every one beauties and deathless realities of the of us has at least one talent to be invested Word of God that “liveth and abideth for­ in the service of God and of His Church ever” ? and that many of us are not making a

18 (290) The Preacher's Magazine serious effort to put that talent to use? Shall we translate it “When ye fail?” or The unjust steward said, “To dig I have “When it fails?” Either is possible, so far no strength. To beg I am ashamed.” But as the Greek is concerned; and it makes he did not stop there. He did not drop little difference which one is used, so far the matter until he had decided what he as our Lord’s essential message is con­ could do and would do. Bringing it over cerned. If we use “When ye fail,” the into our own lives, let us say to ourselves reference is to our death. If we use “When and to God, “I am not a preacher— that it fails,” the reference is to the inevitable is not my calling— but I do love children: parting which must come between our­ I could take a class in Sunday school per­ selves and our earthly goods. In either haps, or start a class for Child Evangelism case, let us make sure that our money has and Bible teaching in my own neighbor­ been so spent that its values have been hood.” Or, if not that, I could say, “Teach­ translated into those invisible goods that ing is not m y talent, but I do have a lik­ we can send across ahead of us, to take ing for writing: perhaps I could make across with us, into the eternal world of myself responsible for a correspondence Light and Immorality. with a circle of shut-ins or of missionaries, There is something about this teaching and by so doing let loose a bit of cheer of Jesus on the money question that ap­ and comfort that will make their way into peals immensely to one’s imagination as appreciative hearts.” well as his reason. Even in religious I knew of a man who was made chief circles we think and talk a lot of nonsense usher of a church in Michigan, and who about money. After we have thrown all threw himself into his task with such of our easy curses at material wealth, the earnest, resourceful, prayerful enthusiasm stubborn fact remains that we are crea­ that his service took on the glow and tures set down in a material world, in­ glory of a sacrament. It was talked of habiting material bodies and under the for years after he was dead. necessity of meeting the demands of a material environment. True, there is much Well may we pray for the insight to see beyond this to be said, but the point is ourselves realistically, so that we may be that whatever more we may say we saved from pride on one side and false should not overlook these material facts. modesty on the other: saved from con­ Even of the eternal Son of God we read ceited forwardness on the one hand and that “The Word became flesh, and dwelt rationalized laziness on the other. among us.” III. A W is e F o r e s ig h t With this unwillingness to give the ma­ Jesus, in the parable before us, em­ terial side of our existence any respectable phasizes the fact that the unjust steward standing we go on to talk as if great at­ looked well to his future. For that he tention should be paid to life, since that is was not to be condemned. W hy did he everlasting, and little attention to money, want to cultivate the favor of his master’s since it is altogether temporal. I think debtors? Answer: “that when I am put that Jesus would say something like this: out of my stewardship, they may receive “You cannot pay too much attention to me into their houses.” money if, first of all, you have settled Are the children of light, asked Jesus, two things— that you yourself actually own as careful of their future as that? With none of it but are merely the steward of shame it must be confessed that too often it, and second, that you are resolved to they are not. But our Lord is ready now use it to create, or to assist the creation to send sharply home the practical appli­ of, those moral and spiritual values that cation of this feature of his story so we are of eternal worth.” must listen: “And I say unto you, Make After all, money is largely a matter of to yourselves friends of the mammon of exchange. Look for a moment at the unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habita­ money you hold. If it is honest money, it tions.” Weymouth renders it, “But I represents an exchange of life and labor— charge you, so to use the wealth that is either your own or someone else’s. If it ever tempting to dishonesty as to win is your own wage or salary, you can truth­ friends, who, when it fails, shall welcome fully say, “My life, in a measure at least, you to the tents that never perish.” has gone into this. This is part of me.

September-October, 1944 (291) 19 Here is what I have in exchange for my the goodly company of noble Christian own blood, my skill, my spent energy, laymen. He gives more than a tithe of his my time.” From this point of view money income. One evening he told me that he is just human life and energy done up in had just completed arrangements for the a convenient form for storage or for usage. disposition of his estate when he is gone. It is that part of you that you can slip Since he has no direct heirs living, he has into a purse, or pass over a counter, or willed his residence and all its furnishings put away in a bank. to the church where he finds his spiritual home. All the rest of his estate, outside Furthermore— and here we come to fas­ of some modest personal bequests, is to be cinating ground— the question of how long set up as a trust fund for the helping of you can make your money last is a mat­ young men who are preparing for the ter of exchange. You have heard it said Christian ministry! That will be immortal that you cannot take your silver or gold money. with you when you leave this world. That is both true and false. In the form in which I know another layman— a retired rail­ you are accustomed to handling it, of roader over in Ohio— who has a fund that course you cannot take it with you. But he has set up for the support of any Jesus is here telling us that we can, won- worthy young man or woman who is in drously enough, get our dollars exchanged college, training for any kind of definite for another kind of coin that passes cur­ Christian service. That is immortal money. rent in the heavenly world beyond, and In Spartanburg, South Carolina, stands by so doing we can make our money im­ a Christian college that owes its existence mortal. to the generosity of a Methodist local In his little book, “The Heights of Man­ preacher who came into possession of a hood,” Dr. Rollin Ayers tells of some coins hundred thousand dollars. That sum of sent to him by his son who was a lieu­ money might have been squandered on tenant in France in the first World War. jewelry and fine cars and luxurious In his letter the son explained that he homes and market speculations. Instead had a double motive in sending these it was invested in the lives of young peo­ pieces of money to his parents. “In the ple who, in turn, have gone out to in­ first place,” said he, “I want you to see the fluence for good the lives of countless kind of coins we are using over here. In others. A few years ago some statistics the second place, they are now practically were compiled, showing that out from that valueless to me, for I failed to get them one institution had come a United States exchanged into the coin of the realm when Senator, four congressmen, nine authors, I passed over a certain boundary line.” thirty editors, one hundred twenty-five Money? Yes. But valueless now, be­ lawyers, ninety-five doctors, fifty bankers, cause it was not exchanged in time! What sixty college professors, ten college presi­ a suggestion for earth’s pilgrims who are dents, thirty-one school superintendents, traveling, as they say, to “fairer worlds on two hundred nineteen teachers, four high!” bishops, two hundred twenty-five pastors, Your money is just as immortal as the and hundreds of other trained Christian goods you are exchanging it for! If they leaders. And that—make no mistake about are perishable, so is your money. If they it— that was immortal money. Benjamin are imperishable, so then is your invest­ Wofford saw to it that his dollars were ment of wealth, be it large or small. exchanged for the souls of men who will be a sort of self-appointed reception com­ What is immortal money? It is money mittee in Glory to welcome him into the that goes into the bringing of Christ to unutterable blessedness of the life ever­ men and men to Christ, into the molding of characters, into the shaping of destinies, lasting. into the enlightening of dark minds, the You have heard it said of many people healing of broken bodies, the training of that they give money and material things leaders for the Church of tomorrow, and too high a rating in their life program. Let many another cause that touches the in­ me suggest to you that, in the light of our destructibilities of life. Lord’s teaching in our text, just the op­ What is immortal money? Two sum­ posite is true: the real trouble is that mers ago I spent two or three delightful they do not rate it high enough. They do days with a friend of mine who belongs to not value it greatly and wisely enough to

20 (292) The Preacher's Magazine insure its carry-over into the City of God whose wealth is lodged where “moth and What Is Money? rust do not corrupt nor thieves break through and steal.” Money measures men— their capacity O men and women of Christ’s dear and their consecration. In some instances Church, are you going to pattern after the money masters men. They become its “children of this world” ? They are slaves. In many instances money multi­ “shrewd” but they are not really wise. plies men. Through the ministry of the Jesus encourages us to imitate their money they earn and give, they labor on shrewdness but not their folly. Their every continent, they preach in a thou­ shrewdness lies in the foresight they ex­ sand pulpits, they teach and train thou­ ercise in matters that pertain to “their sands of tomorrow’s leaders. They min­ generation”: life insurance, for example, ister to multitudes in the name of the and “hedging” against losses, investing for Lord Jesus. future profits, anticipating market changes, All that is said about money and men never giving up the zealous quest for the may be said about money and churches. “mammon of unrighteousness.” The chil­ Money measures a church, its efficiency, dren of light should show a similar zeal its spirituality, its missionary interest, its in the pursuit of godliness and the high vitality. In some cases churches are the art of helpfulness. Let them see to it that servants of money. They are controlled their money— the stored up energy of their by money’s tyranny. It is also true that life— is made to yield those human divi­ money multiplies the life of a church dends that will be waiting for them beyond manifold. The gifts given by some churches death’s chilling flood in the land of un­ are the means of carrying on the work of shadowed day. Christ in many destitute places through­ In the seventh chapter of Hebrews there out the earth. is a statement to the effect that Abraham the patriarch paid “tithes” to Melchisedec Money is not filthy lucre in the true the priest. But Melchisedec, for all his sense of the word. Money is stored up greatness, was not so great as Christ, our personality. It represents a man’s talents ever-living High Priest and Saviour. and energies, his powers of wisdom and Wherefore, says the Holy Spirit, “Here judgment and choice, his degree of skill men that die receive tithes; but there he and faithfulness in service. It represents [Christ] receiveth them, of whom it is the earning power given by God and the witnessed that he liveth.” I ask you, providential blessing of God which allows quietly, honestly, plainly, Is He receiving a man to work. Money is “a man’s life tithes from you? transmuted into gold.”— The Teacher.

What o f Evangelism

Evangelism is more than program, plans, or promotion. Methods and machinery, terms and techniques are but means to the end that men may become Christians. Evangelism is bringing men to Christ and Christ to men. , Evangelism is the divine new life of God brought through faith into the life of the believer. Evangelism is Salvation from Sin; Life instead of Death. Evangelism is challenging men to obey Christ’s command, “Follow Me.” Evangelism is seeking and winning the lost to Christ and to the Christian way. Evangelism is offering the rich, abundant, victorious life of Jesus Christ to the world through faith in him. Evangelism is “Intelligence on Fire.” Evangelism is bringing New Life, the divine life of Christ, to all who believe, so that the Convert walks in a new way, sees a new truth, and lives a new life.— Selected.

September-October, 1944 (293) 21 The Preacher’s Intellectual Life

J. Glenn Gould

ROM time immemorial the ministry of tian Church. One has only to call the the gospel has been considered one of names of such masters as Origen, Justin theF learned professions, sharing with law Martyr, the golden-mouthed Chrysostom, and medicine this place of unquestioned Basel, Jerome, Cyprian and Augustine to distinction. From the very first Christian recall the tremendous contribution to an century, the leadership of the Church has intelligent understanding of the Christian been in the hands of men who were rela­ faith these men have made. The very tively intelligent. Among the numerous fact that the doctrinal expressions of our and specious apologies for pious ignorance faith—expressions as valid today as for the which have been advanced over the years, second and third and fourth centuries— none is less deserving of respect than the were formulated by men of this early assertion that the apostles of our Lord were period is proof positive of the intelligence “ unlearned and ignorant” men. I grant of those early Christian leaders. you, it is stated in the King James Version It is true, that during the period known that such they were. It should be noted, as the Dark Ages the Church fell upon evil however, that the charge was made by days. Her leaders became degenerate and their enemies, the members of the San- ignorant, interested more in promoting hedrin—men who were not above prej­ superstition for the sake of personal gain udice. Moreover, a more accurate ren­ than in bringing men to an understanding dering of that expression puts an entirely of Christian truth. But even then the different face upon it. Rather than “un­ priest was an educated man, compara­ learned and ignorant” men, they were de­ tively. Against the solid background of clared to be “uneducated men and lay­ illiteracy, he alone could read, albeit men” ; that is, men who had not had the brokenly. It was during those centuries formal training of the rabbinical schools. that the twofold use of the words “clerk” And the marvel was, not that these Chris­ and “clerical” began. The priest or min­ tian apostles were ignorant, but that they ister was called a “clerk” ; and because he possessed such an amazing grasp of reli­ alone could read and write, he kept all gious truth when they had had no access the records of the parish. In later years, to these sources of formal education. the term “clerk” came to mean one whose In fact, they were men who may well business is to make and keep records. The amaze us still for the power and intelli­ twofold meaning persists more commonly gence they displayed. They had been in the word “clerical,” which may per­ trained at the feet of Jesus Christ, and no tain either to the ministry of the church, finer schooling could ever have been ob­ or to work in a business office. tained. If it was ever true that a college During the past couple of centuries there consisted of a log with Mark Hopkins on has been prevalent in the Church a greatly one end and a student on the other, what exaggerated fear of “unsanctified learn­ must have been the value of such in­ ing.” It has been felt and believed that timacy with the Son of God as these men knowledge is the enemy of religion and enjoyed? No greater Christian apology that a too active intellectual life on the was ever delivered than that uttered by part of the preacher foredooms him to Simon Peter in his message on the day of error and sin, with the inevitable conse­ Pentecost. And as for Saint Paul, as Dr. quence that “the devil would get him.” David Smith avers, he possessed a mind as I am willing to concede that learning that keen and well-disciplined as that of Aris­ is unsanctified, intellectual curiosity with­ totle. out the discipline of divine grace, may in­ When one moves down to the days of deed prove a snare to the soul. But I am the early Church fathers, one must still not convinced that unsanctified learning is be impressed with the intelligence and in­ any greater snare than unsanctified ignor­ tellectual grasp of the leaders of the Chris­ ance. Indeed, I am thoroughly persuaded

22 (294) The Preacher's Magazine that the latter is by far the more menacing Promotion of Holiness— an organization of the two. to which our debt as a church is incalcul­ able—were men of training. Be that as Our church has placed itself from the very first squarely on the side of learning, it may, it is a fact that our thoughtful laymen expect us to be thinking men, able in theory at least. It established schools and colleges, frequently far beyond its to give them something to think about. I grant you, this demand is not universal ability adequately to maintain. Further­ among us. But it is insistent and it is more, it erected intellectual standards for the ministry which, presumably, every growing. Our young people, who have enjoyed the superior enducational advan­ candidate for holy orders must meet and satisfy. It is true, these standards have tages of our public school systems, are wanting pastors who are preachers and been modified at some times and in some who can make them think. There has places by the dictates of an unfortunate never been a time that has called more and short-sighted opportunism. But such modifications are local and not general, loudly than ours for a preaching that is possessed of real content. The basic de­ and so do not impair the basic validity of our contention. mand is for Bible preaching. One is tempted to believe that few churches out­ It is surprising, however, despite our ad­ side our own and kindred groups are mitted standards, how many of our can­ making this demand. If the Harper’s didates for the ministry see no necessity Monthly books and sermons, which were for studious habits of mind in addition to current a few years ago, are any indication, a devoted attitude of soul if they would then Bible preaching has fallen upon days suofceed in their holy calling. This mis­ that are singularly barren. But our people conception has been accentuated by the demand it. They expect us to know God fact that in the *early days of our work and to know God’s Word, and to be able God gladly employed untrained men for under divine inspiration to unfold the lack of trained ones. I would be the last living truth to their hungry hearts. to minimize the glorious contribution of these men. Our work today is what it is But more than a knowledge of the Bible because of their loyalty to God and holi­ is expected of us and demanded by the ness, their far-sighted vision, their wise exigencies of our task. Our thought pro­ and masterful building. The thing against cesses, as applied to God’s truth, must be which I do protest is the temptation to disciplined by logic. W e must be able to think that because these fathers wrought isolate cause and effect; to distinguish be­ so wisely and well without formal train­ tween the things that are fundamental and ing, it follows necessarily that we younger those that are secondary; to simplify the men can get on fully as well without it. things that are complex, so as to dispel fog rather than create it. I labored in a It is a fact that the original fathers of camp meeting once with one of the most the modern holiness movement were men godly men I have ever known, but who of profound learning. W e usually trace lacked discipline in his thinking. His our spiritual ancestry back to John W es­ statements of truth were so hazy and the ley. It might be better to go back even doctrinal framework of his messages so farther to William Law. But, end your confused that very few clear ideas ever spiritual genealogy wherever you choose, emerged; and while his blessed spirit, the fact remains that those men were both anointed' of God, laid conviction on his saints and scholars. William Law, John and hearers, and throngs who came to his altars Charles Wesley, Fletcher of Madeley, all knew not what they sought. Nothing can were men who had all that the universities take the place of disciplined and discrim­ could give them, plus the grace of God. inating judgment brought to bear upon In fact, George Whitefield was the poorest truth. We are commanded rightly to di­ student among them, and he was the man vide the word of truth. May God have whose life work has displayed the least mercy upon us and upon our people if durability. Whether that be mere coin­ we fail. cidence, or cause and effect, the fact re­ It is a matter of vital importance, fur­ mains. thermore, that the preacher have an un­ The more recent fathers of the holiness derstanding of life and of his fellowmen movement, the men who back in 1867 which can be secured only through a wide founded the National Association for the range of thought-provoking reading, par­

September-October, 1944 (295) 23 ticularly in the fields of history, biography tellectual growth. His preaching is meaty and general literature. Here is insight into and refreshing. He is a student of religion human life more or less intimate, which and theology, and a most intelligent one. can confer an inestimable boon on the People who hear him preach call him ex­ thoughtful student of religion. This will traordinarily well-informed, a man with be discussed in somewhat greater detail a real message. In my judgment, his fu­ presently. For the moment it is enough to ture is assured. All of this is without the assert and emphasize its necessary place training which college and seminary can in the preacher’s intellectual equipment. give. Occasionally, though not often, one Now, thoughtful preaching does not re­ meets such a man. The very fact that quire necessarily that a man have benefit such men can be found leaves very little of formal training; that is, the educational excuse for intellectual laziness on the part advantages of college and seminary. In of any man. fact, a college education is virtually wasted (To be continued) on some men. I have in mind a man who has had advantages far superior to most + men. He has graduated from college, uni­ versity and seminary. But, unfortunately for those who must listen to him, he felt The Results of Prayer that he had completed his education when he had attained the degrees he was seek­ What has not prayer wrought? The ing. He is no bigger today, twenty years Master prayed all night, and the next day after graduation from the seminary than the twelve apostles were ordained. The he was when he first emerged. It is true, disciples prayed ten days, and the nexi he refers frequently to his days in school; day the power of Pentecost came down but such references are practically the The church in Antiocfi prayed, and lo only evidence one can find that he has foreign missions was born and Barnaba: really had these advantages. He is in­ and Saul sent forth. A few college lad tellectually lazy, neither thinking deeply prayed under a haystack one stormy nighl himself, nor stimulating others to worth­ and the two oldest missionary societie while thinking. Of course, one may shud­ of America were started, and the reli der to think what he might have been gious life of our land was changed. A fe'\ without any of these advantages. But, devoted friends of the London Missionar having had them, they seem to have con­ Society prayed that the mission in Tahit ferred little practical benefit upon him. which seemed to be in vain, might n< In striking contrast, I think of another be abandoned. The next vessel fro) man, converted and sanctified when in his Tahiti brought back the idols of the hef late ’teens, and shortly called to preach. then and the tidings that the island he All his friends hoped he would take the turned to God. The officers of the Chur< time necessary to prepare himself ade­ Missionary Society prayed that God wou quately for the ministry, but he was call some of the flower of English socie burdened with the support of an invalid to the foreign field. Before the prayer h; and widowed mother and saw no way by been finished a message came to the se which such a course of training could be retary to meet a number of the brighte financed. Consequently, he launched young men of Oxford and Cambridge forth upon his task without the formal confer about this very thing. A few fait training. But, contrary to all expectations, ful souls prayed for Ongole, and just wh he made quick work of the course of study. the society was considering its abando He did not stop there, however. His ment, there came down a revival u record has been one of constant enlarge­ equaled in the bounds of missions.— A. ment of heart and soul, and of steady in­ S i m p s o n .

Husbandmen, your Great Employer sent you out to sow the seed; but if no grain of it would ever come up, if you sowed the seed as He told you, and where He told you, He will never lay the blame of a defective harvest on you.— S pu r g e o n .

24 (296) The Preacher's Maga Spurious and Genuine Demonstration

E. Wayne Stahl

OMPLAINT was once made to Gen­ sometimes in religious services; these are eral William Booth that a Salvation words from that letter, “It seems to me CArm y leader had, in conducting a that some pastors bend over backward service, brought a donkey before the as­ to keep from being too formal.” This is sembled congregation. The General asked, one extreme. The other is where the “Were there any souls saved in that meet­ meeting can be described with Tennyson’s ing?” He was informed that there were. line, “Faultily faultless, icily regular, Then he added, “It was all right then, splendidly null.” Dignity is deified. One bringing in that animal.” present at such a meeting thinks of the stiffness of a corpse. It may be “a beau­ To a person who spoke to me disapprov­ tiful corpse,” but something with life and ingly of certain religious gatherings where movement is much more to be desired. different ones in their holy hilarity would throw hymn books and, in the transports That great Greek word sophrosune sug­ of their heavenly glee, engage in various gests the golden mean. This word is acrobatic movements, I could have put translated “soberness” in Acts 26:25, where the question, “Were sinners convicted and Paul states he speaks “words of truth and converted at those services, and believers soberness.” This was a term which the sanctified?” Should the answer have been, ancient inhabitants of Athens loved. As “Yes,” I could have replied, “I believe they looked out on life, they said, “Nothing that seeming disorder was in order.” too much.” They believed in “temperance The whole matter of demonstration in in all things.” church gatherings can be tested by the One Sunday morning I was present at question, “Is it profitable unto edification?” a camp meeting where a man in the audi­ Paul declared that he would prefer to ence throughout the sermon, would emit speak five words in a language that his unearthly yells. It was distressing to the hearers could understand, than ten thou­ preacher, and not edifying to his hearers. sand words in an unknown tongue (see As I recall that occasion, there were no .1 Cor. 14:19). It makes me think of what seekers at the close of the service. Some Shakespeare said, “Heaven does with us, weeks ago' I heard an evangelist, one of the as we with torches do, not light them for holiest and most successful of whom I themselves” (see I Cor. 14:4). know, tell of an experience that was his And Macaulay in his wonderful essay on years before. He was in the pulpit at a Sir Francis Bacon, referring to the mighty religious service, when another man there, Elizabethan’s philosophy, asserts that it under the stress of strong emotion, took can be summed up in the word “Fruit.” hold of the evangelist, and half-dragged, Bacon looked at the universe and humanity half-carried him, to and fro in the pul­ with practical eyes; he sought to formu­ pit. The victim of the proceeding con­ late a system that would benefit his fellow fessed he was far from being blessed; for men to the greatest possible degree, as days he felt a sort of horror, remember­ dwellers' in the land of time. ing it. As we would bless and edify those chil­ One of the loveliest memories of the so­ dren of eternity who are present at reli­ journ that was mine at Olivet College, gious services, and the question of demon­ Olivet, 111., when I was a teacher there, stration is considered, there is a golden is to “see in my mind’s eye” a man get mean to be sought. Fanaticism and for­ up from his seat during the Sunday morn­ mality must each be avoided. ing preaching hour and walk back and A reader of the Herald of Holiness, who forth in front of the large audience in the had noted an article that appeared in this college chapel. He would wave his hands paper some time ago on “Church Be­ in indescribably graceful fashion, as if he havior,” written by myself, wrote me la­ were playing on an instrument of ten menting the lack of observance of decorum strings, one of “the harps of God.” In his

September-October. 1944 (297) 25 eyes was glory and joy that never was on But a more pleasing recollection is that sea or land. The very gladness of God of a subsequent day. I had moved from radiated from him as with holy prancing Chicago to its immediate suburb on the he would, without saying a word, manifest north, Evanston, where I took university his realization that “Heaven had come work. Not receiving any spiritual help down his soul to greet.” It was one of the from this institution—although it was sup­ most beautiful and edifying things I ever posed to be a religious school—I went, one witnessed. His was a demonstration in Sunday afternoon down to the great city the Spirit. The action of the man which south of me. After a long journey on the evangelist described evidently was Chicago’s elevated system I found my­ not. self at last in Englewood, on the south side. A wonderful experience was to be Not for a moment am I arguing for less mine: I was to attend the first Nazarene demonstration. By no means! God grant meeting of my life! that we may have far more of it than we do. But I do contend that it should be Those were the days when it was cus­ Spirit-born; as was that lovely laughter tomary to hold services in the afternoon I heard at a revival service years ago. of each Sabbath, as well as in the morning and evening. I can recall few of the de­ It was at the beginning of the meeting. tails of that gathering, but I can remember The song leader, a young lady, as she stood the mighty gladness that dominated the before the congregation, became so blessed meeting. It seems to have been largely in her soul, that she began to laugh. It on the order of the old-fashioned Metho­ was not the empty hilarity which the He­ dist class meeting, with opportunities for brew sage compares to “the crackling of all to testify to what God had done for thorns under a pot,” as the flame con­ their souls. What sacred triumph! What sumes them. It was the fire of Pentecost beatitude! What freedom! in her heart that made her “rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory.” For To that young theologue it was as if some minutes she could not go on with the he were “looking on a new, sweet world,” song leading, but simply stood there and in august antithesis to the coldness and laughed and laughed with holy revelry. stiffness of the seminary he attended. As How she blessed that congregation! I gazed and wondered, a woman in the gallery stood up, and, in the rapture of And I never have forgotten what the her rejoicing in God her Saviour, she preacher of the evening said, referring waved her handkerchief. It looked like to that uplifting demonstration; I can see one of the white banners of salvation. The him yet, though that night is far away, theological student had a beautiful sermon as he so solemnly and triumphantly de­ on demonstration preached to him that clared, “This is only a taste, only a taste!” hour; the action was altogether spontan­ He meant that that sweet, rich river of eous and sincere. bliss that was rolling over that singer’s spirit was just a suggestion of the ocean If worldlings can become vociferous and fullness of joy that would be ours in the physically demonstrative at a political city of the sanctified above. convention, or at a sports event, surely Contrast with that incident in Harvey, “the children of the Lord have a right 111., what I saw and heard in Chicago, to shout and sing.” For they believe that when I was a student at the school in the in the race for heaven they shall win a Loop, and during the noon hour went to prize compared with which trophies a religious service held in that heart of the achieved by victors in football or baseball mighty metropolis. It was under the di­ games are infinitesimal. They realize that rection of certain men whose wisdom was as candidates for eternal honor God is not in proportion to their fervor (they helping them to “make their calling and were in no way connected with the de­ election sure.” And they feel that He al­ nomination sponsoring this magazine). ready is “triumphing gloriously” in their One of the hymns sung had a reference to souls, He who is the King of the over­ Satan as the wolf of the flock of God. A comers! man in the choir, as this part of the song It was some such gladness that was be­ was sung, began to bark as he thought a ing manifested at a Salvation Army meet­ sheep-destroying animal would do. My ing in a university city where I once lived. disgust was not small. The minister of one of the wealthiest and

(MRI The Preacher's Maaazine largest churches of that aristocratic, intel­ decent respect for the opinions of man­ lectual metropolis happened to be pres­ kind.” That good brother out in a certain ent, so I was informed, and when he saw western state failed to observe this. He and heard the joyous demonstration of the was a zealous holiness man, but with more disciples of William Booth, his amazement zeal than common sense. A circus parade was extreme, so much so that he expressed was to be held in the town where a revival it in a mild form of profanity. I would meeting was to take place. He thought of rather be a floor sweeper in that Salvation what appeared to him a fine way to adver­ Army hall than the chief person in that tise that meeting, something out of the powerless congregation, which was rich ordinary in the way of notifying the pub­ and increased in goods, and yet had need of lic. He followed that parade, wearing his everything. Let us hope that preacher coat and trousers turned inside out, and got a lesson on the joy of God in the soul informing the throngs of folks on the of man that made him eager for the same sidewalks about the religious meeting. I beautiful experience. wonder if the angels did not smile and weep at the same time. His earthly spec­ God grant that it may have been so with tators must have thought he was out- that priest of a certain liturgical denom­ clowning the clown of that circus. The ination who by chance dropped in one judicious surely grieved. His purposes evening at a camp meeting service as the were as good as his performance was poor. saints and seekers were gathered around the altar at the close of the meeting. As Just the same, I would rather “have a he noted the triumph of the Crucified zeal without knowledge, than a knowledge and Risen there, he said to me with evi­ without zeal.” But God can keep us from dent approval, “Say, this is wonderful!” either extreme. There is a zeal that will Perhaps it was the first time he ever had show itself in many ways manifest to the seen such a demonstration of the Spirit’s eyes and the earth of others present at a working. religious service; and, as I have already hinted in this article, certain churches are I have related these two incidents to altogether lacking in such zeal. They bring out my thesis that demonstration in make me think of an incident in the very Nazarene services has a definite value “for young boyhood of Theodore Roosevelt. those who are without” the realm of the He would show terror when near the door number who believe in experiential re­ of a church, and was reluctant to enter. ligion. Such an outsider in attendance at Asked for the reason, he answered, “I’m one of these meetings, where “the glad­ afraid of the zeal.” It seems that he had ness of God” is evident among the be­ heard or read the scripture, “The zeal of lievers present will receive impressions as thine house hath eaten me up.” Terrified, to “the real thing” in religion that he can­ Teddy thought the “zeal” was some mon­ not get away from. ster that was ready to devour him. Yes, some worldly churches are as much afraid In such situations it is most imperative of “zeal.” that the manifestations shall not be “worked up” but poured down from above. When the zeal-bringing Holy Spirit has If merely physical, they tend to repel, right of way, true demonstration is sure even disgust, but Spirit-born, they make to follow. How emphatically this was the ineffacable impressions. That London case at Pentecost! It would not surprise cartoonist found it so. He had been sent me if, when I ask Peter in heaven for by his paper to a meeting of people who details of that marvelous morning, he believe in “the old-time religion,” to draw would tell me that some of the one-hun- dred-and-twenty were so glad in God the faces of those in attendance; the por­ that, like David on a certain occasion, they traits he made with his pen would be part danced in their holy rapture, and that there of the “comics” of that periodical. But were other physical manifestations. So he found such glory and gladness, such genuine would be such phenomena that triumph and power, among those folks that the multitude would be constrained to say, he himself became a Christian and a zeal­ “This is the Lord’s doing.” Our bodies ous laborer for the Lord. are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and While we are not to be men pleasers, when He abides in these earthly taber­ we should remember a certain expression nacles such a'fact will be evident in bodily in the Declaration of Independence: “A manifestation.

September-October, 1944 (299) 27 He is the Spirit of wisdom. This means on the other. He must be neither an ice­ that the men and women whom he in­ berg nor an overheated furnace.” habits in His fullness will show a “reason­ The tremendous triumphs of the Church able service” in their devotion to the things of the Nazarene in its early days were to of the kingdom. So Dr. J. B. Chapman, a considerable extent due to the hilarious with his massive and masterly common behavior of its members who were filled sense and sanctified insight, writes in that with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18) and, in their leaflet put out by the Publishing House, heavenly intoxication, showed that the joy “Reasonable Christianity” (I would that of the Lord was their dynamic. God grant ten million copies could be circulated in that we may know so completely the an­ this country): ointing of His “oil of joy” that worldlings “It is reasonable that a Spirit-filled man will want to experience that mysterious should be a sane man. It is unreasonable merriment too, realizing that we have “the that a man who has had every sinful real thing” in salvation. “How much more aberration taken out of his heart should shall your heavenly Father give the Holy yet be a fanatic. He must avoid formality Spirit to them that ask him?” (Luke on the one hand and shallow fanaticism 11:13).

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The Pastor in His Study

H . C. Litle

T IS Sunday morning; the hour for that to have such services frequently Iworship has arrived, and the people means that your whole life and energy are gathering for the service. The pastor must be laid upon the altar of toil and steps upon the rostrum and kneels quietly sacrifice. Many indeed are the vital ele­ behind his pulpit for a few moments. A l­ ments that enter into the matter of preach­ though he feels keenly the responsibility of ing effectively. But we now have to con­ the hour, yet when he arises from his sider only those that concern the pastor knees there is a look of peace and calm in his study. assurance upon his face. He believes he Above all other things, the pastor’s study has a message for his flock. After the must be a “holy of holies.” Here the pas­ opening exercises he stands and reads, tor, like the priest of old, must come “with­ carefully, reverently, and impressively, a in the veil before the mercy seat, which is suitable passage of scripture. He an­ upon the ark.” Here he must realize the nounces his text, and with tenderness, yet presence of God, as did Aaron, if he with faithfulness, he breaks the Bread of hopes to have the anointing of the Holy Life to his eager listeners. Tears of joy, Spirit upon him when he stands behind the hearty amens, and occasional outbursts of pulpit. And, preaching without the an­ praise from his people, punctuate his ointing of the Spirit, can hardly be called message. As he greets the people at the preaching at all. “For the letter killeth, close of the service, many say, with sin­ but the spirit giveth life.” It is the unc­ cere emotion, “Pastor, I thank you for that tion that makes the Word of God “quick message. It has helped me so much.” and powerful, and sharper than any two- How easy it all sounds! And I hear edged sword, piercing even to the divid­ some folks thoughtlessly say, “Anyone can ing asunder of soul and spirit, and of th< do that. Since I am called to preach, I joints and marrow, and is a discerner o: may expect such a service almost any the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Mr Sunday.” But those of you who have Spurgeon says, “I wonder how long wi stood before your congregation Sunday might beat our brains before we coul< after Sunday for years, will be the last put into words what is meant by preach ones to say that such services are easy. ing with unction. Yet he who preache You know that they are costly. You know knows its presence, and he who hears, sool

28 (300) The Preacher's Magazin detects its absence. Such is the mystery ous and wonderful, so absolutely essential of spiritual anointing. It is priceless, and for time and eternity, that we ought con­ beyond measure needed if we would edify stantly to be seeking better and more ef­ believers and bring sinners to Christ.” fective ways of presenting it. The mes­ But, this unction does not come by study. sage is at once so simple and so profound, It is not the gift of genius. It comes from that even the greatest archangel would God upon those who wait upon God in hardly seem qualified to deliver it; yet it wrestling, pleading prayer. So, my be­ has pleased God, in His infinite wisdom, to loved brethren, if we are called to preach, call us, even us— men “subject to like pas­ let us pray. Let us plead for the power sions as” other men— to proclaim it. How and presence of the Holy Spirit upon our then we ought to study and prepare our­ preaching. Let every pastor’s study be selves for such a task! a “holy of holies.” One of the best ways to study preaching, But, however essential prayer may be, is to study preachers. Although John it never can take the place of study. Who­ Wesley believed so strongly in the anoint­ ever is called to preach, is called to a life­ ing of the Holy Spirit upon the preacher time of study. But what and how shall that he conscientiously prayed an hour he study? Bible study is so evident that each morning and an hour each evening; it need not be emphasized here. But there and although he was one of the busiest are one or two things about Bible study men of his day, yet he studied his mes­ for which I should like to plead. sages until nearly every one of his 140 First, there is a real need, it seems to published sermons is almost a perfect model of homiletical arrangement, from me, of careful study of the art of reading introduction to conclusion. W e ought to the Scriptures to the congregation in such an impressive and intelligent way as to count ourselves happy that we may sit at his feet, study his sermons, and learn bless the hearers. How often do we hear a preacher read a scripture lesson in about something of how to present effectively the the same hurried and thoughtless manner same rugged truths which he did. And that he would read a paragraph from an any other preacher, past or present, who almanac, or a news item from a daily has been able to attract and hold the crowds by preaching, will be a source of paper. Let me urge that we read and inspiration and help to us, if we will read reread the passage of scripture that we plan to read to our people until we can and study his sermons. Whoever has a read it correctly and with proper emphasis. passion to expound the Word of God can­ not fail to receive much valuable help by In the pulpit I would use only the King studying the “Expositions of Holy Scrip­ James Version, because that is what the ture” by Maclaren, or the books of Dr. G. common people know and love. Campbell Morgan. But important as it is, reading the scrip­ ture before his congregation is a small part But in studying preachers, one must of the pastor’s service. He must preach. guard against becoming mere imitators of A life of devotion is necessary, a thorough them. W e should study them, not to ap­ knowledge of the Book of books is in­ propriate their sayings, but to absorb their dispensable, but nothing will avail if he spirit; not to imitate their illustrations, but cannot preach. The people will be patient to imbibe their illumination; not to steal with the pastor for awhile, if he is dili­ their sentences, but to study their style. gent in pastoral work and other duties, but Charles E. Jefferson, himself a real preach­ if he cannot preach, they will drop out er, speaking of studying preachers or one by one, until only the faithful few, listening to them, says: who have resolved to “grin and bear it” “We wrong a book when we read it will be present. simply for things we can use. It is dese­ What shall he do about it? Let him con­ cration of a poem to read it for fine stantly study how to preach. Dr. Bresee phrases with which to deck a sermon. It is said to have valued the study of homi­ is only when we plunge headlong into the letics so highly that he urged every depths of the author’s thought, that we preacher to read and reread every book get out of a book the best which it has to he could possibly get on the subject of give. In listening to great men speak, preparation and delivery of sermons. Our the preacher ought to forget that he too message is so vitally important, so marvel­ is a speaker. He ought not to fix his

September-October, 1944 (301) 29 mind on the speaker's voice, his gestures, that faces him Sunday after Sunday. They or his adjectives. He should not attempt come from nearly every walk of life, with to put into his notebook the things which tastes and environment as different as day the speaker says. All that he can get is a is from night. There are the tired, the few fine phrases; but what are these troubled, the weak, the weary, the im­ compared to the great things which he pulsive, the timid, the new convert, the might be receiving? The things most established Christian. What message does precious are subtle things which cannot be that poor widow with five children need? caught on the end of a pencil. While the What shall he say that will help that man writer is jotting down a few notions or who has tried so hard to find a job, so phrases, he is losing much of the glow of that he can provide for his family? What the speaker’s soul. It is the flash of the about that young woman, in high school, spirit, and not the words of the lips, which facing the remarks of other students be­ is the best thing a great man has to give. cause she will not go their way? There W e are never the same after we have is that young man, recently saved, but once entered into the feelings of a man in a home where all the rest are opposed who is genuinely great; after we have to all religion. There are the old soldiers been fused by the fire of his burning of the cross, unable longer to do more spirit. Don’t stand aloof as a critic, but than get out to the morning service. As follow him. He sees something. He is fol­ the shepherd sees all his flock, in his lowing a gleam. Try to see what he sees. mind’s eye, he is ready to ask, almost in A gleam which the eye once catches, never dismay, “Who is sufficient for these fades. Phrases fade out of the memory; things?” And, surely he will accept the ideas lose their distinctness of form; but challenge presented by their various needs, a light that has once shone into the soul, and give himself to diligent study, in order becomes a part of the soul’s life forever.” to lead such a flock, and 'to give all of them the right message. Let us study then, not to be imitators, but originators. Parrots can’t preach. A most interesting and profitable line Neither can we, if we merely repeat the of study is that of Paul as a pastor. I words of another. Ten thousand preach­ know he is generally thought of as a mis­ ers, week after week, month after month, sionary, an evangelist, a pioneer preacher; year after year, must preach the same old blazing new trails, organizing new truth, that “He is able also to save them churches, and then hastening on to dis­ to the uttermost that come unto God by tant fields, leaving the churches in the him.” They dare not change the message; care of others. But in at least one in­ it needs no changing, for the gospel is, and stance, we have an intimate word picture ever will be, “the power of God unto sal­ of him as a pastor. He says, “By the vation to every one that believeth.” No, space of three years I ceased not to warn brethren, we must never modify our mes­ every one night and day with tears...... sage. But constantly we must read, pon­ I kept back nothing that was profitable der, meditate and study how to present unto you, but have showed you, and have that message more effectively. Study taught you publicly, and from house to homiletics; study other men’s preaching. house.” As we study this picture we at Take whatever you can get from them, once detect the very heart of a shepherd. whatever strikes you, whatever grips you; Notice, “warning, with tears.” What faith­ then ponder it, run it through the mill of fulness, and what tenderness!” I “have your own mind and heart until you can showed you, and have taught you”— fashion it into a message of your very giving them line upon line, here a little own. Then saturate it with much prayer, and there a little. “Taught you publicly,” go before your congregation with humility, pastoral preaching; “and from house to but dead in earnest, and pour out your house,” pastoral visiting. Then at the close of this three-year pastorate, hear message in your own way. Then, who­ his advice to those who are to succeed soever will, let him call us imitators, but him, “Take heed therefore unto your­ someone will want to hear us again. selves, and to all the flock, over the which But, if the preacher needs to study the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, preachers and preaching, he needs also to to feed the church of God, which he hath study the needs of his people. As he sits at purchased with his own blood.” Here you his desk, let him visualize the congregation see his estimate of the importance of pas­

30 (302) The Preacher's Magazine toral preaching. He declares that the Holy doubting castle, or the slough of despond. Ghost himself hath called them to “feed the Like the Good Shepherd, it is no small church.” part of our labor to “comfort all that mourn; .... to give unto them .... the And with this picture of Paul as a shep­ garment of praise for the spirit of heavi­ herd, what gold mines of study for the ness.” Except the Sermon on the Mount, pastor, are his Epistles! They may very the longest, the richest, the greatest ser­ properly be called pastoral letters. And mon Jesus ever preached, was to a band what texts, what instruction, what mes­ of His own disciples, and could hardly be sages, will the diligent pastor find in them. called anything else than a pastoral ser­ How greatly will they help him as he en­ mon. Hear Him as He begins, “Let not deavors to lead his flock into green pas­ your heart be troubled.” Then He gives tures and beside the still waters. them the grand promises— four times re­ Since all Nazarene preachers are holi­ peated— of the coming of “another Com­ ness preachers, every pastor should read forter,” who would “abide with you for­ every one of the standard works on the ever” ; who would “teach you all things,” doctrine and experience of entire sancti­ and guide them into all truth and con­ fication as a second definite work of grace. tinually point them to Christ. In this It is not enough that we mention sanctifi­ message, He says, “Peace I leave with cation frequently; we must preach it over you, my peace I give unto you: .... Let and over. W e must be able to explain the not your heart be troubled, neither let doctrine, and the experience so clearly it be afraid.” And among the many words that “he who runs may read.” Let it of instruction, help and encouragement, never be said that people can attend our none shows the heart of the Shepherd more services long without learning that not than these words, “I have yet many things ' only do we believe in a second work of to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them grace, but also exactly what the second now.” work of grace does for us, namely, that it What a field of rich pasture, therefore, 1 cleanses the heart from all inbred sin, will the pastor find in studying the teach­ and fills us with perfect love, by the bap­ ings, the parables, and the miracles of his tism with the Holy Ghost. Master. Let us revel in them, and then Finally, let every pastor study diligently lead our flocks into them where they can 1 the methods and the message of the “Good feast on the fat things, and lie down in a Shepherd” who giveth His life for the good pasture. I sheep. Let us read frequently the text Let no one assume because I plead for of one of His first sermons, a quotation much pastoral preaching, that I would from Isaiah 61, “The Spirit of the Lord discourage evangelism. By no means! The God is upon me; because the Lord hath Church of the Nazarene was born in the anointed me to preach good tidings unto fires of aggressive evangelism; and we the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the must ever maintain that passion and zeal. brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the Not only must we use those men whom captives, and the opening of the prison God has called to devote their time to to them that are bound; to proclaim the evangelism, but also our pastors, with all acceptable year of the Lord, and the day their efforts to shepherd the flock, must of vengeance of our God; to comfort all have the evangelistic spirit as well. Let that mourn; to appoint unto them that us all cultivate that remarkable combina­ mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty tion so evident in Paul. Although, as we for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the have seen, he had the heart of a shepherd, garment of praise for the spirit of heavi­ he also had an unquenchable zeal for the ness; that they might be called Trees of conversion of sinners that drove him on to righteousness, The planting of the Lord, the very ends of the earth, in the midst of that he might be glorified” (vs. 1-3). And persecution almost unbearable. This just as He was able to say, “This day is amazing combination will keep the revival this scripture fulfilled in your ears,” so fires burning on every altar, and at the also must we in our small measure, be able same time, so build up our people in their to say the same. Truly is every shepherd most holy faith, that they will be rooted sent to “bind up the brokenhearted, to and grounded in love, and not be moved proclaim liberty to the captives,” whether away by every wind of doctrine, nor by captured in sin, the web of worldliness, the sleight of men and cunning craftiness.

September-October, 1944 (303) 31 Thus, and only thus, will we build up hearers. In dealing with human beings, strong, steady churches that shall be as a we need emotion as well as reason. Sister city set on a hill. Chapline was right. *Paper presented at a Preachers’ Meeting When I was a youth, we used to have in Ohio. logrollings, especially in “new-grounds.” After the logs had been arranged in piles and had thoroughly dried, we would set + them afire and watch them burn. A t night, my father would say, “Come, boys, let’s go How to Build up a Church down to the ‘new-grounds’ and punch up the chunks.” After we had done that, the “chunks’ would kindle up brightly and by My first full-time pastorate was Hunter morning there would be nothing left but Memorial Church on the East Side of Little a nice pile of white ashes. Rock. A large per cent of my member­ ship and constituency were employees of Now, it’s very difficult for chunks to the Rock Island Railroad and often had to burn, one at a time. They must be as­ work on Sundays. As a result, my morn­ sembled, if the results are to be satisfac­ ing congregation was sometimes painfully tory. So we, as congregations, must gather small. about our pulpits, pray and “punch up the One day, when I felt sorry for myself and chunks,” thus enabling our preachers to was seeking sympathy, I went to see Sister set the pulpit afire. As a result, this cold, Chapline, an Irish woman who belonged frost-bitten world will crowd in to see to Winfield Church, but often attended the holy glow and feel the sacred flame.— mine, especially in the evenings. She lis­ F o r n e y H u t c h in s o n in Arkansas Metho­ tened very patiently while I told her my dist. story, the gist of which was that my church did not know how to appreciate its pastor, and was not filling the pews as the + conditions justified. In other words, they were missing a great opportunity and did not seem to know it. I had a grievance and Prayer that Prevails had come to lay it before her. When I had finished, her blue eyes twinkled and Seek entirely to depend on God for she quietly said, “Brother Hutchinson, if everything. Put yourself and your work you will set the pulpit afire, the folks will into his hands. When thinking of any come to see it burn.” new undertaking, ask, “Is this agreeable I recalled immediately the drawing pow­ to the mind of God? Is it for His glory?” er of a fire and how everybody in the com­ If it is not for His glory it is not for your munity ran to it when one broke out. I good, and you must have nothing to do decided that Sister Chapline “had some­ with it. Mind that. thing there;” I went back and went to Having settled that a certain course is work on my job, beginning with myself. for the glory of God, begin it in His name, There are many things that contribute and continue it to the end. Undertake it to the building up of a church, but after in prayer and faith, and never give up! all, the major factor, and the one indis­ Pray, pray, pray! pensable, is the preaching of the Word. Do not regard iniquity in your heart. The central feature of the Protestant If you do, the Lord will not hear you. church is the pulpit. If it is Spirit-filled, Keep that before you always. Then trust fire-baptized and God-intoxicated, every­ in God. Depend only on God. Wait on thing else will finally come right. As Him. Believe on Him. Expect great things preachers, we would do well to cease seek­ from Him. Faint not if the blessing tar­ ing for substitutes and lay the emphasis, ries. Pray, pray, pray! Sabbath after Sabbath, on a real gospel And, above all, rely only on the merits message. of our ever-adorable Lord and Saviour, The preachers of my boyhood whom I that, according to His infinite merits, and remember best were those who could cry not your own, the prayers you offer and in their pulpits, baptize their Bibles with the work you do will be accepted.— G eorge their tears, and reach the hearts of their M u e l l e r .

32 (304) The Preacher's Magazine The Need for Adequate Church Advertising

Let the People Know

DVERTISING in the average church tunity for church publicity and for propa­ has been a much neglected depart­ gating the gospel. A church float can be A ment, while it could be a real asset made at a minimum of cost with the as­ and a great blessing to the cause of Christ. sistance of the members of the church. It has been my privilege to be both a lay We have given away hundreds of gospel member of a publicity committee of a pro­ tracts from such a novel float. Is it not gressive church in a large city and a pub­ often repeated and so very true that “the licizing pastor of other churches. In my Church of Jesus Christ is the biggest practical experience in this particular field, business in the world”? Indeed so; let us the clear-cut conclusion that has been prove it to our communities. drawn is, “It pays to advertise.” I mean “it pays to advertise.” It pays in spir­ S a n e A d v e r tisin g itual values. It pays in numerical values. Newspaper advertising is very effective It pays in financial values. and reaches thousands of lives. However, this advertising should be such that it P r a c t ic a l P u b l ic it y will catch the eye. An ad that does not Let me deal with a few practical ways demand attention is a lost value. Atten­ of church publicity. Too many churches tion can be had in a number of ways, such are not conscious of the advertising value as an attractive subject; strongly contrast­ of the front yard or front wall. An at­ ing black-letter copy against a white back­ tractive, readable, pointed bulletin board ground, or vice versa; a clear picture of should be the indispensable part of every the church, or the pastor, or a special evangelistic house of God, whether in the speaker. Newspaper advertising pays for city, town, or country. W e have all passed itself when it is sanely, sensibly, and sys­ many— altogether too many— church build­ tematically carried on. Let me explain ings without knowing whether they were myself. I mean by sane advertising: Do churches, lodge halls, or schools. The not advertise something that you do not members seemingly cared little whether have— be truthful. Also, be true to Chris­ or not God’s corner in that community tian ethics and fair competition. I mean was letting the people know. by systematic advertising: If you decide A bulletin board should be maintained to use newspaper or billboard advertising, regularly. The public passing the church stay with it. Be systematic. Constantly, will be looking for weekly announcements. week after week, keep your ad running Remember, promptness tends toward pres­ according to your ability, and soon the tige in advertising. If you have something public will be conscious of your church of interest to say, you should be concerned and its activities. to say it to the best of your ability. Let the people know that your church has By the way, how do you treat that guest speaker, evangelist, Bible teacher, or mis­ “good news.” sionary? Do you let the public know Highway billboards — especially in nor­ mal times— are very effective in keeping that he is coming? Do you keep the name, date, place, and subject before the your church name before the public. This eyes of the people? If a man is worth in­ type of advertising can be used in a per­ viting to our churches, he is worthy of a manent way or for special meetings. Yes, few pennies in letting others know that people do read large-lettered ads as they they, too, might be blessed. Poorly at­ are being transported from town to town. tended special meetings can many times Business uses the highway to tell its mes­ be accounted for because of a poor pub­ sage. What about your church? licizing of the meetings. In the community where I am pastor, there is an annual community picnic with God expects us to use what He has a colorful parade with bands and floats given us of brains, wisdom, and talents entered by various business houses and or­ for His honor and glory. Let the people ganizations. This is a wonderful oppor­ know that the message of the crucified,

September-October, 1944 (305) 33 risen, coming-again Christ is proclaimed the Living Head of the Body requires of in our churches. Let the unsaved know; those of us who are given as prophets, pas­ let the backslider know; let the growing tors, and teachers to His Church. I shall Christian know. But how shall they know present the charge under four heads: 1. unless a sign is painted, an ad is placed, a The Student and Teacher, 2. The Preacher, card is printed, or a radio announcement 3. The Pastor, and 4. The Man of God. made? They must know, for eternal 1. T he Student and T eacher values are at stake. God help us to let the Christ expects His minister to grow in people know.—J o h n D. L undberg (Milaca, the knowledge of divine things and in the Minnesota), in The Watchman-Examiner. use of the tools of his craft of taking men alive. There are many things that we + need to be studying. All Christians are to be witnesses for Him, and you, too, should Ordained a Preacher be ready to give the testimony in many ways. All spiritual truth should be a mat­ Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, ter of personalized experience in the and an apostle, a teacher of the Gentiles laboratory of your own life. But this in faith and verity (1 Tim. 2: 7). will not be sufficient to feed the flock. We Y dear Brother: Of all the po­ have seen disaster follow where a congre­ sitions in human life, you have gation was forced to live on the preacher’s M been called to the highest and the testimony; where no food from the Living most responsible, as well as the most re­ Word was forthcoming, but all was, as it warding. The vows you have taken are were, second-hand. “We preach not our­ the most solemn and uncompromising. selves.” We are to “preach the word.” To You are laboring in a most difficult portion do this we must be continually studying of the Lord’s vineyard at a time in the the Scriptures either in the original lan­ world’s history when the truth of the guages or in books written by faithful men gospel is most skeptically or apathetically acquainted with them, as well as increasing regarded. But know this at the outset, our facility in the use of the English ver­ that God has not committed such work to sions. In the prophetic Word is given the the native wit and ingenuity of man’s un­ revelation of the mind of God for men in aided powers, but He, who has called you every age. The Word covers all the cir­ to be His oracle and mouthpiece, has pro­ cumstances of life, runs the whole gamut vided for you the enduement of His own of human suffering, provides a solution for Holy Spirit. This anointing, it is, that will the problems of men, the nation, and the make you adequate for the great and race. All the diseases of the soul are there urgent task before you. indicated. This awakening, healing, con­ quering, comforting, quickening, deliver­ As Isaiah prophesied of the Messiah say­ ing messages we are responsible to trans­ ing, “The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon mit in order to develop the full-orbed, him, the spirit of wisdom and understand­ well-rounded Christian character. ing, the spirit of counsel and might, the The apostasy of the times requires that spirit of knowledge and of fear of the we study and teach our people. Unitarian- Lord; and shall make him of quick under­ ism on the one hand and neopaganism on standing in the fear of the Lord; and he the other, with a complexity of false cults shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, rapidly instructing their followers, demand neither reprove after the hearing of his that we study to show ourselves approved ears” (Isa. 11: 1-3); so Jesus, having re­ unto God, workmen that need not to be ceived the baptism of the Spirit, began His ashamed, rightly dividing the word of public ministry and opened His mouth in truth. the gospel, preaching: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed 2. The Preacher me to preach the gospel” (Luke 4: 18). If As a minister and “steward of the mys­ the Holy Spirit was to spare Him from teries of God,” I now charge you. Your trusting the natural faculties, perfect as heart will be filled with the spirit of His most certainly were, how much more praise as you lead the flock in the lost are we in need of this divine anointing of art of worship. Let your spirit soar in our eyes and ears for the work of the adoring worship of the Divine Being in ministry. Therefore, let us gird up the Three Persons, whose nature is love and loins of our minds, while I set out what whose delights are with the sons of men.

34 (306) The Preacher's Magazine How you will find yourself drinking deep­ one hand and with the other reaching out ly into His Spirit as you join “with the after the souls of men. We are to feed, cherubim and seraphim, the glorious com­ lead (and never drive!) and to “shear” the pany of the apostles, the goodly fellowship flock. Your door shall be open to all. of the prophets, the noble army of the Your telephone and leisure hours at the martyrs, and all the church of God” disposal of any inquiring ones. Be faith­ throughout the world as they meet you ful in praying, especially for any individual and your flock at the throne of His glory or any special request, and some surpris­ and grace. Your prayers in public and ing experiences will be yours as a result. private are a great part of your ministry. Never let men treat you merely as one There is no substitute for prayer in the man to another, but by your bearing cause Holy Ghost. them to ever be reminded of another One As a minister you will administer the who is your Lord and Master. When you Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Sup­ go avisiting, do not be so ashamed of per. From time to time you will be called making a pastoral call that you let it down on to anoint the sick according to the or­ to the merely social level. But guide the dination of James. It has become the conversation along spiritual lines in a nat­ wretched fashion in these days to coldly ural way, and ask if you may pray. Be regard these ordinances as mere signs, prepared to receive cheerfully any com­ forms, or memorial symbols, now empty plaints, especially those directed toward of any immediate spiritual content save yourself. Throw away any gossip you may the self-satisfaction of a duty fulfilled. In have heard before you reach the next the economy of redemption, I dare to say house. it, our Living Head intended something more than the dutiful observance of cer­ 4. The Man o f God tain rites. In the battle with superstition As a man, you will learn obedience by and priestcraft, Protestantism has come of the things that you may suffer for Christ’s the power victorious but shorn of much of sake. Sometimes you will be tempted to the power of a true spirituality. Oh, I wonder, “Are preachers people?” Insist charge you, do not set forth the Sacra­ that your people respect you as a man by ments as bare and naked signs. Fill the being a man that they can respect. You vessels with spiritual meat and drink. will receive many rebuffs that might cut Awaken the conscience and faith of God’s a more sensitive soul than you have any people. Let them come to these sacred right to be. You will be tempted as no and solemn moments in a mystic ex­ other living man is tempted. Trials may pectancy and with a valid assurance of embitter you and render you useless and God’s spiritual blessing upon them, and ineffective when God only meant them to never with the settled conclusion that refine and mellow. Discouragement will nothing whatever is to be expected or re­ be your chief temptation, and rather than ceived in the manner of a fresh revelation yield to it, you may overcompensate by of Christ. Many a flagging spirit, fainting holding on when common sense indicates under a host of temptations, has had a a revision. Watch against flattery and self- fresh touch of God and a restoration of pity, and cultivate the saving virtue of a soul at our Lord’s table. Eating worthily sense of humor that will keep you from and discerning with contrition anew the taking yourself too seriously. Covetous­ Lord’s body has brought healing to the ness is not uncommon among us. Remem­ physical life. ber, your bread and your water are sure,

3. T h e P astor and your cloak and your parchments are your only wealth. As a man of God, con­ I charge you to be a shepherd to the gregations and communities ask much of flock of God; to stand holding to God with you.—The Alliance Weekly.

Every hard duty that lies in your path that you would not do, that will cost you pain or struggle or sore effort to do, has a blessing in it. Not to do it, at whatever cost, is to miss the blessing.—D. L. M o o d y .

September-October, 1944 (307) 35 Preaching Evangelism

T IS not easy for the average minister ther did not publicly use such endearing to suggest to his brethren how any terms, but sometimes addressed God as I phase of their work should be carried “Holy Father.” It is therefore proper that on. Few ministers have been sufficiently we should emphasize the holiness that in­ successful to pose as experts. Moreover, heres in the love of God. In well-ordered methods and sermons which succeed in one families while children are taught some­ place can be a dismal failure in other thing about the love of their parents, they places. Those who have lived through great must be taught, also, that there are prin­ revivals must have observed the sovereign ciples of justice and righteousness involved and majestic independence of the Spirit of in that love, with consequential discipline. God in the work of reviving the church. The saying, “Where the Spirit of the Lord P r e a c h o n w i t h B r e a k in g H earts is, there is liberty,” can be applied to meth­ ods in evangelism. At such times any scrip­ The preaching in which there is no em­ tural method is successful. At such times, phasis on the holiness and the justice oi “the Spirit maketh the reading but es­ God has never understood the meaning oi pecially the preaching of the Word an effec­ Calvary, and lacking that no preaching tual means of convincing and converting shall be fruitful. Not thus did Edwards sinners, and building them up in holiness preach to “sinners in the hands of an angrj and comfort through faith unto salvation.” God,” or Richard Baxter as “a dying mar to dying men.” It is related of Robert Mur­ ray McCheyne that on a Monday morning N eed to E m p h a s iz e H o l in e ss o p G od a brother minister asked what his text ha< An encouraging sign of our day is that been on the preceding day. The answe: so many people are showing an interest in was, “The wicked shall be turned inti a revival of true religion. Ministers every­ hell.” On being further asked how hi where, seem to be longing for times of re­ could preach on such a text the youthfu freshing from the presence of the Lord. and saintly McCheyne replied, “I preachei Many consecrated and faithful servants of on it with a breaking heart.” No one cai the Lord find the heavens as iron and question the success of such preaching ii the earth as brass; and earnestly examine the past. When preachers preach witi themselves to find the cause of their spirit­ breaking hearts other hearts will be power ual poverty. This writer ventures to believe fully affected by their preaching. If histor; that there are thousands of ministers who is bound to repeat itself the preaching tha are clean and upright men of God, and who exalts the holiness and the justice as wel are not manifestly used for the conversion as the love of God will be fruitful. of souls. Being satisfied that such is the Some of us were born in time to hea case, we might well turn our scrutiny from such words as the following sung in th the preacher’s life, to his religious convic­ worship of God: tions and theological doctrines, for these will fashion after their own image the gos­ “For fear of thee my very flesh pel he presents and the God whom he rep­ Doth tremble all dismayed, resents. And of Thy righteous judgments, Lord, My soul is much afraid.” For some years back, the Church of God has been emphasizing certain attributes and This does not reflect modern religiot aspects of the Deity to such an extent that thought to any extent. People have such other attributes equally important have distorted view of God today, that they thin been eclipsed. This defect is reflected by His love is such that it will tolerate anj many of the prayers one hears today from thing. It is time that we cried with tl old and young. God is usually addressed psalmist of Israel, “Stand in awe and si as a “Dear, Loving, Heavenly Father.” He not. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoii is all that to his own twice-born child, and with trembling.” It is time to re-emphasi; yet, he is more than that. Our Lord Jesus the holiness of God and the inevitability ■ who enjoyed such fellowship with the Fa­ His judgments upon sin.

36 (308) The Preacher's Magazine M u s t R ecover L o st S e n se o f S in made it meaningless for the man in the pew. Joseph Parker said, “A dainty piety has A new emphasis on the holiness of God forced upon us a dainty vocabulary.” By will nead to new visions of the sinfulness of all means let us have beauty and culture in man. Man knows himself only by compar­ the place to which they are entitled but ison. If he is ignorant of the holiness of God, he will seek to establish his own not at the expense of truth. It is the truth that makes men free; and if we believe the righteousness. He will compare himself New Testament, as truly as the saint is with his fellow man, and “they comparing on his way to eternal glory the unregen- themselves among themselves are not wise.” erate sinner is on the way to eternal misery. When man begins to compare himself with the holiness of God his reaction will be, P reach ers N eed B urden of L o st S o u ls “Woe is me for I am undone .... for mine The preacher who catches this vision eyes have seen the King, the Lord of (and where there is no vision the people Hosts.” It is precisely at this point that the perish), becomes burdened with souls. This gospel becomes the “Evangel” or “good burden will press him down upon his knees. news.” Proper appreciation of the gospel by It will give a new earnestness to his mes­ men can be brought about only by man’s sage and a new meaning to his ministry. He conscious need of the deliverance which the now begins to magnify his office as a physi­ gospel proclaims. Just recently there came cian of lost souls. In this matter our fam­ to this writer a young woman of high in­ ily physicians can teach us some valuable tellectual endowments, who was under the lessons. When they come to our homes it conviction that her soul was lost. Early in is in connection with the exercise of their life she had become a member of a Chris­ ministry. The all-important work is not to tian church, and was under the impression talk of war or weather but to diagnose that she had met the requirements for trouble and prescribe a remedy. Doctors salvation. For years she has been just as have, at times been greatly affected by the happy in a “movie” on Sabbath evening loss of a patient after every conceivable as in a service of worship. Having discov­ remedy had been tried to bring recovery. ered that she was lost she now sets a high How much more searching are the thoughts value on a gospel which promises deliv­ of Christ’s minister as he stands at the grave erance, that she willingly comes 30 miles of a parishioner, and conscience asks wheth­ by train to a prayer meeting. If our age er everything possible had been done for is going to recover any spiritual enthusi­ the man’s eternal salvation. It surely be­ asm, we must recover the lost sense of sin. hooves us to be instant in season and out of I f H ea v en Is Preached so Must H ell season. We cannot present a Saviour unless there The urgency which this viewpoint gives is a conviction of sin wrought in the heart. to the ministry will in turn be transmitted The simplest logic would lead to the con­ through the minister to the people. How­ clusion that “being saved” is a contradiction ever, unless we preach under the convic­ in terms, unless we are saved from some­ tion that the souls of men are either saved thing to something. The words of Jesus or lost, we can never convince anyone else show no ambiguity here. When Jesus spoke that this is so. In this as in other matters of everlasting life he spoke also of ever­ the good shepherd must go before the sheep. lasting condemnation. When Jesus spoke of Our people depend upon us for their spirit­ heaven, he spoke also of hell. No preacher ual instruction, and it should give us solem­ in the world has a right to declare that nity and searching of heart to think of the there is a heaven unless he declares also measure in which we are responsible for that there is a hell. This latter term has the eternal destiny of their souls.-—D r. become meaningless today except as a rath­ George Murray, in The United Presbyter­ er polite, mild form of slang. The pulpit has ian.

Keep one thing forever in view—the truth; and if you do this, though it may seem to lead you away from the opinions of men, it will assuredly conduct you to the throne of God.-—Horace Mann.

September-October, 1944 (309) 37 T h e Business of a Pastor

A. S. London

OME years ago I stood by the little P rofessional C a l l s of L ittle V a l u e cabin where General Lew Wallace S All the calls made by a pastor are not wrote, “Ben Hur: A Tale of the Christ.” truly pastoral calls. The effectiveness of I read the book with great interest. It pastoral visiting is not to be measured by gives a most interesting account of the the number of doorbells the pastor rings. shepherds of Judea at the time of the I have a friend who glories in the fact that coming of the Lord. He portrays the shep­ he has made as high as two thousand calls herd as an honest, man with a childlike a year; but mostly they were perfunctory faith in God, whose sole purpose was the visits and had little value. A call must be care and protection of the sheep entrusted helpful, hopeful, in order to be of the to his care. He was ready to defend and, highest reliigous value. It is my honest if necessary, to lay down his life in defense thought that a real pastoral call cannot be of his sacred charge. made without a deep love in the heart of A P astor M u s t K n o w H is P eople the pastor for his people. He cannot feel Just recently I have read of a pastor in that it is boresome, and that he is merely a large church in the South, where there fulfilling his duty; he must have an abiding interest in the welfare of every member of are three thousand members, and the min­ ister knows every man and woman, every the household. He must breathe the at­ mosphere of hope and cheer; his presence boy and girl, by name in this crowd of must prove a benediction in the home. three thousand people. It is said that suc­ cess or failure never comes to any family A Pastor Must Feed His People in his church without his knowledge of it. He spends his mornings in his study and The business of a pastor is to feed his the afternoons among his people. I have people; he is not to skin them or scold just heard of a noted pastor who makes them; he is not to stand up and tell them one thousand pastoral calls a year, in spite of their faults; he is not to become their of the fact that he has three assistants in judge; he is there to feed and to give them carrying forward the work of his great wholesome, nourishing food. This de­ church. He says that he cannot preach mands study; I mean systematic, long effectively on Sunday morning if he has hours, and hard study, if one is to give not visited his people during the week. out from the pulpit food that is worth re­ ceiving. I had a meal yesterday, of food— A P astor M u st L ove H is P eople that is, it was called food. But such a I have a close pastor friend who has meal! It would have been far better had been practically out of the ministry for I not eaten a single bite, for it was poor several years because he always has had food, ill-prepared, and put together in such a hard time actually loving people. He is a manner as to make the meal unwhole­ a good man, and was a good preacher, but some. Too many times, I fear, our people he has had little interest in human beings, go to church on Sunday morning and the and it has killed his ministry. Love be­ food is put together in such a manner, and gets love; interest begets interest. When given out in such a way, as to make the a pastor becomes interested in his people, congregation feel that it might have been they become interested in him. Loving better had they stayed away from the sympathy expressed by a pastor in times service altogether. of distress wins a place in the heart never A Pastor Must Lead His People to be forgotten. A pastor who makes him­ self conspicuous by his absence while peo­ A pastor must lead his people higher in ple are going through sorrow is hardly the religious life; but how can one lead as worthy of the leadership of a church. The a pastor if he does not go before them and best work of a pastor is done in the homes explore new strata in religious experi­ of his people when they are going through ence? He should be a leader in every great sorrow. cause that has for its objective the lifting

38 (310) The Preacher's Magazine of the people and the betterment of the be the spiritual overseer of the youth of community. A man who whiles away his his congregation, for they need guidance, time during the week is in no condition comradeship and genuine heart-love. to lead his people into new fields on Sun­ There is no time or place now for scolding day morning. I saw a church group yes­ and making a tirade on the blunders of terday—they are discouraged, whipped and youth; they are not blundering any more cowed. They have become weak and than adults. Youth are the church in the weary; they are “sick and helpless, and making for tomorrow! ready to die.” The pastor has not led them out and up and on, and today they are in an almost hopeless condition. The pas­ + tor has failed to restore the backslidden, bind up the wounds of the bruised, and give new hope and inspiration to the faint W hy I and weary.

A. P astor M u st L o o k A fter t h e Y oung Am Not in Demand I do not want to become lopsided, but after traveling in every state in the Union, E. E. Shelhamer and touching church life from almost every Many people including preachers are mis­ angle, I have come to the conclusion that fits and not in demand. They are sincere there is little that can be done for adults, and full of activity, yet have no outlet and if it was not done in the formative years. are more or less a disappointment. The fact that only one person out of every Let u s try to find the cause. five thousand ever comes to Christ after 1. Too wordy. Boil it down! the age of eighteen, causes me to believe 2. Too self-conscious. Don’t show off! that one great responsibility on every pas­ 3. Too untidy. Keep neat and clean! tor is the care and protection, love and 4. Too precise. Be yourself in the Lord! attention, of youth. A pastor who does not 5. Too easy-going. Wake up! love children is unfit to be a preacher. If 6. Too stingy. Live for others! children get on his nerves and cause him 7. Too extravagant. Don’t waste! to scold both mothers and children, it is 8. Too careless about debts. Keep your time for him to leave the pulpit. word! The last baby born is God’s greatest gift 9. Too harsh. Cultivate tenderness! to the world, outside of His Only Begotten 10. Too soft. “Rebuke, .... with all Son. The pastor who does not love little long-suffering.” children, and is unable to play with them, 11. Too touchy. “Giving no offense in take an interest in their desires and wishes, anything.” has a limited ministry. Children and youth 12. Too unsociable. “I am made all things are an easy prey; they need the love and to all men”—Paul. fellowship of the pastor. Edgar Hoover, 13. Too critical. “Servant of the Lord of the Department of Justice, says that must not strive.” crime among youth has increased in the 14. Too slow to apologize. “Confess your 'past year, on some lines as high as 104 faults one to another.” per cent. Tragedies are happening right 15. Too dry-eyed. Tears will generally among the best of families. A pastor must win!

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Spiritual Growth

God never places us in any position in which we cannot grow. We may fancy that He does. We may fear we are so impeded by fretting, petty cares that we are gaining nothing; but when we are not sending any branches upward, we may be sending roots downward. Perhaps in the time of our humiliation, when everything seems a failure, we are making the best kind of progress.—P r e n t i s s . jSeptember-October, 1944 (311) 39 SEARCHING TRUTHS FOR MINISTERS

The Worker’s Creed One has written about the prayer life the following: “Those who have held I will start anew this morning with a high­ daily and hourly intercourse with the Lord er, fairer creed; have been the saintliest, most Christlike I will cease to stand complaining of my of men...... They have learned to be ruthless neighbor’s greed. fervent in the holy art of supplication, for I will cease to sit repining while my duty’s it is the importunate pleader who gains call is clear; his case in the court of heaven; half­ I will waste no time whining, and my heart hearted men who are indifferent, whether shall know no fear. they succeed or not, come off poorly in that high place. The gifts of grace are I will look sometimes about me for the not given to the slothful or indolent. If things that merit praise; we are to succeed in the holy art of open­ I will search for hidden beauties that elude ing the treasuries of heaven and drawing the gambler’s gaze. out of their illimitable stores, we must I will try to find contentment in the paths throw our whole heart into the work and that I must tread, set ourselves to our task as earnestly and I will cease to have resentment when an­ as systematically as tradesmen or mer­ other moves ahead. chants push their temporal affairs. The men who prevail with God are those who I will not be swayed by envy when my ask, and seek, and knock, and who, when rival’s strength is shown, convinced that their requests are accord­ I will not deny his merit, but I’ll try to ing to God’s will, and for His glory, never prove my own. give in, but continue, if need be, year after I will try to see the beauty spread before year, in fervent supplication until the me, rain or shine; gates swing open and they receive ful I will cease to preach your duty, and be measure to their petitions.” more concerned with mine. —Anonymous. + Get Ahead of Yourself + A great runner, who had broken severa of the world’s track records, said that a] Sealed Fountains his successes came because he was tryin; In the Roman Forum there used to be to get ahead of himself. a spring called “The Fountain of the “I never pay any attention to how faj Maiden.” Until recent years it was impos­ the other fellow is running,” he sait sible to find any trace of it. One day, “Whether he wins or loses doesn’t mak however, in clearing away a lot of rubbish any difference to me. I always try to be; from the ruins of the Forum, the old foun­ myself.” tain burst forth again. For centuries it That is the only right way to go for had been closed by the refuse that had ward in the great race of life. Watchir accumulated. Oh, how many Christian the other fellow and always trying to gi lives are sealed fountains through the around him may seem to bring you succes hurry and worry of business and pleasure, You may get ahead of him and win 01 and where once you were a useful and in the end, but you have followed tl happy soul-winner, you are today ab­ wrong idea and you are none the biggi sorbed in your amusements and engage­ for your race. Strive to break your ov ments, and your life has withered like the record, not his. Get ahead of yourself. streams that sink in the desert and are The Friend (Dayton). lost to sight. How careful we should be + that neither by foolish conversation, glar­ ing inconsistencies, religious selfishness, or It is not until the flame any other reason, we may cause our has come upon us and we brother to stumble or hinder our testimony have passed through the fire for Christ. Rather, let us be like the blind of inward crucifixion, man, of whom D. L. Moody used often to which consumes the rottenness, tell, who, when asked why he carried a and the hay and the stubble lamp when he could not see to follow its of the old life of nature, light, naively answered, “I carry it to that we can speak in the higher sense keep people from stumbling over me.”— of the new life and say, A. B. Sim pson. “Christ liveth in me!”—T. C. U p h a m .

40 (312) The Preacher’s Magai Phillips Brooks wrote, “There is one do not address the people, expecting to word of Jesus that always comes back to convince them and to get their verdict in me as about the noblest thing that human favor of Christ upon the spot. They seek lips have ever said. Do you remember no such object. They rather seem to aim when He was sitting with His disciples at at making fine literary productions, and the last supper how He lifted His voice displaying great eloquence and an ornate and prayed, and in the midst of His prayer use of language.’ ” there came these wondrous words: ‘For Preaching for verdict! There’s the point! their sakes I sanctify myself that they It was a saying of Joseph H. Smith, "P re­ also might be sanctified through the truth.’ ” cipitate salvation upon every congregation and live and preach in the power of Pen­ + tecost.” Someone has called gospel preaching Holy Ghost Power “Speech thrilled by the power of super­ It costs much to obtain the power of natural conviction and persuasion.” The the Spirit. It costs self-surrender and power of preaching lies in the conviction humiliation and the yielding up of the that the gospel of the Son of God is the most precious things to God. It costs the most vital message that human lips can perseverance of long waiting and the faith utter.—The Pentecostal Herald. of strong trust. But when we are really in that power we shall find this difference, that whereas before it was hard for us to + do the easiest things, now it is easy for us to do the hardest things. God’s greatest agency for winning men James Hervey, the friend of the Wesleys back to Himself is the prayers of other at Oxford, describes the change which men. How few ever enter into the posi­ took place in him through his anointing by tive, practical power of prayer! It is the the Spirit: that while his preaching was mightiest force in the universe, and the once like the firing of an arrow, all the Christian world is blind to this fact!— speed and force thereof depending on the Cortland Myers. strength of his arm in bending the bow, now it was like firing a rifle ball, the whole force depending upon the power + back of the ball, and needing only a finger touch to let it off.—A. J. G ord on . ’Twas a Sheep + ’Twas a sheep, not a lamb, that went astray In the parable Jesus told; After years of strenuous revivalism Fin­ ’Twas a grown-up sheep that wandered ney became President of Oberlin College; away he writes: From the ninety-and-nine in the fold. “I am an old man, and many of the re­ And out on the hilltops and out in the cold, sults of my views and methods are known ’Twas a sheep that the Good Shepherd to the public. Is it out of place for me to sought, speak freely to the ministry on the sub­ And back to the flock, and back to the fold, ject of preaching? A judge of the Su­ ’Twas a sheep that the Good Shepherd preme Court once remarked to me, ‘Min­ brought. isters do not exercise good sense in ad­ dressing the people. They are afraid of Now, why should the sheep be so care­ repetition. They use language not well fully fed understood by the common people. Their And cared for still today? illustrations are not taken from the com­ Because there is danger if they go wrong mon pursuits of life. They write in too They will lead the lambs astray, elevated a style, and read without repe­ For the lambs will follow the sheep, you tition, and are not understood by the peo­ know, ple. Now, if lawyers should take such a Wherever they wander, wherever they course, they would ruin themselves and go. their cause. Our object is not to display our oratory, but to convince the jury and If the sheep go wrong, it will not be long get a verdict on the spot. Now, if min­ Till the lambs are as wrong as they; isters would do this, the effects of their So, still with the sheep we must earnestly preaching would be unspeakably different plead, from what they are. They go into their For the sake of the lambs today. study and write a sermon; they go into If the lambs are lost, what a terrible cost their pulpits and read it, and those that Some sheep will have to pay. listen to it, but poorly understand it. They —Author Unknown. September-October, 1944 (313) 41 QUOTABLE POETRY

Autumn Leaves Prayer Oh, the flurry of leaves that comes our Charles Wesley way, Whate’er I ask, I surely know In the rollicking breath of an autumn day! And steadfastly believe, Each one cast in a different mold; Thou wilt the thing desired bestow Yellow and red, and brown and gold. Or else a better give. Beautiful leaves, that clung so high To stately trees that touched the sky! To Thee I therefore, Lord, submit Bits of artistry—rare—unique; M y every fond, request, To flutter around our thoughtless feet! And own, adoring at Thy feet, And we wonder why it must ever be so Thy will is always best. That the loveliest things of life must go; But it isn’t a question for you or me; + God knows why—He made the tree.— Alice Hansche Mortenson, in “Sun­ The Great Message shine and Shadows,” used by permission. Apostles of the risen Christ, go forth! Let love compel. + Go, and in risen power proclaim His worth, O’er every region of the dead, cold earth, Hast Tliou No Scar? His glory tell! Hast thou no scar? Tell how He lived and toiled, and wept be­ No hidden scar on foot, or side, or hand? low; I hear thee sung as mighty in the land, Tell all His love; I hear them hail thy bright ascendant star, Tell the dread wonders of His awful woe; Hast thou no scar? Tell how He fought our fight, and smote our foe, Hast thou no wound? Then rose above! Yet I was wounded by the archers, spent, Leaned me against a tree to die, and rent Tell how in weakness He was crucified, By ravening beasts that compassed me, I But rose in power; swooned; Went up on high, accepted, glorified; Hast thou no wound? News of His victory spread far and wide, From hour to hour. No wound? No scar? Tell how He sits at the right hand of God Yet, as the Master shall the servant be, In glory bright, And pierced are the feet that follow me; Making the heaven of heavens His glad But thine are whole; can he have followed abode; far Who has not wound nor scar?—A m y Tell how He cometh with the iron rod Carmichael, in Heart and Life. His foes to smite. Tell how His kingdom shall through ages + stand, And never cease; Children on the Way to School Spreading like sunshine over every land, Children on the way to school; All nations bowing to His high command, Rosy faces—laughing eyes; Great Prince of Peace!— Horatius Bonar. Life’s great lessons all unlearned; Life’s great riches yet unearnedi + Life’s full pages yet unturned; All unwon—the waiting prize— He Goeth Before Children on the way to school. Child of my love, fear not the unknown morrow, Children on the way to school; Dread not the new demand life makes So are we of sober years; of thee. Learning—yet so little learned; Thy ignorance doth hold no cause for sor­ Striving—yet so little earned; row Pressing on, with eyes upturned; Since what thou knowest not, is known Glimpsing heaven through our tears— to me. Children on the way to school!—K a t h r y n Blackburn Peck in “Golden Windows,” Thou can’st not see today the hidder Used by Permission. meaning,

42 (314) The Preacher's Magazin But thou the light shall gain; tie answered, “Choose tonight Walk on in, faith, upon my promise leaning If I am to miss you, or they.” And—as thou goest all shall be made I pleaded for time to be given; plain. He said, “Is it hard to decide? It will not seem hard in heaven One step thou seest, then go forward boldly, To have followed the steps of your Guide.” One step is far enough for faith to see. I cast one look at the fields, Take that and thy next duty shall be told Then set my face to the town; thee, He said, “My child, do you yield? For step by step thy Lord is leading thee. Will you leave the flowers for the crown?” Then into His hand went mine; Stand not in fear, thy adversary counting, And into my heart came He; Dare every peril, save to disobey— And I walked in a light divine Thou shalt march on, all obstacles sur­ The path I had feared to see.—Exchange. mounting For I, the Strong, will open up the way. +

Wherefore, go gladly to the task assigned The Unbeliever thee He said there wasn’t a God on high, he Having my promise, needing nothing laughed at the Christian’s hope; more He looked at the stars in the dotted sky, Than just to know where’er the future at the rock on the mountain slope— find thee, The ponderous rock that jutted out, In all thy journeyings, I go before. high over the murmuring sea— —Selected. And he said that they were among the things which merely happened to be: + It was “only a matter of cooling off and condensing that had brought Up from Defeat The systems, with their suns and worlds, Your losses may be gains if you will use to perfection out of naught.” Their lessons wisely, and if you will choose From all the incidents that fill your day He spoke of the sun-kissed pagan’s creed Some deeper truth to help you on your and the god unto which he bowed; way. He spoke of the dropping flower’s need of the mist from the passing cloud; For much of true success is not secured He spoke of the dumb brute’s fear of Until you taste defeat, and have endured death, of the wild hind’s mother love, A sense of total loss; and feel the shame And he smiled at the calm that man That cuts the soul more ruthlessly than draws breath through the favor of pain. One above; He heard the bell as its echo spread on Then from the wreck you rise again and the peace of the Sabbath morn, face He listened to what the preacher said, and Your work of reconstruction, and erase he turned away in scorn. The marks through which your character was made; He stood by the bay as the tide came in; The marks that helped so much to make he watched the billows that broke; the grade.—J o h n A. C r o s s , in The He saw the volcano across the plain, with United Presbyterian. its summit wreathed in smoke; “ They w ere things that had come out + of empty space;” he could tell you how and why. What Christ Said But a pallor spread over his baby’s face, and they said that the child would die! I said, “Let me walk in the field.” Then the man who had scoffed fell down He said, “N o; walk in the town!” I said, “ There are no flowers there.” on his knees, he still had a prayer to make; He said, “No flowers, but a crown.” “O God,” he pleaded, “spare him, please! I said, “ But the skies are black, God spare him for Christ’s sake!” There is nothing but noise and din.” —Author Unknown H o ra c e And He wept as He sent me back; (sent in by G. C o w a n ). “ There is more,” He said, “ There is sin.” I said, “But the air is thick, + And fogs are veiling the sun." He answered, “Yet souls are sick, It is only as we draw largely upon the And souls in the dark, undone.” fullness of grace and glory in Christ Jesus I said, “I shall miss the light, that we can give to the world a favorable And friends will miss me, they say.” opinion of God.—Selected. September-October, 1944 (315) 43 THE PREACHER’S SCRAPBOOK

The Wayside Pulpit There were two sons in the Taylor fam­ There are no traffic cops on the road ily in England. The older one said that to character. he must make a name for the family, and he turned his face toward Parliament and You cannot think through a prejudice but only with it. honor. But Hudson Taylor, the younger, decided to give his life to the service of One truth in the heart is worth a dozen Christ, and so turned his face toward in the head. China. Hudson Taylor, the missionary, Any religion, sincerely lived, can save a man. died beloved and known on every con­ Certainty of being right is no ground for tinent. “But,” says one, “when I looked in the encyclopedia to see what the other intolerance. Happy is he who substitutes the Golden son had done, I found these words, “The Rule for the rule of gold. brother of Hudson Taylor.” Sin is a dangerous speculation; right­ eousness a safe investment. + An investment in character pays divi­ dends forever, and the principal remains “Inasmuch as Ye Did It . . . intact forever. There is a medieval story about a poor But give God a chance, and He will peasant and his wife with an only child. demonstrate His existence. They struggled hard to keep bread on the Life is a swiftly flowing stream, but family table. Finally they decided that there is yet time in which to do good. there was no hope of providing for the The point in being a Christian is in being needs of their little daughter. On a dark one. and stormy night they wrapped the baby Christianity never fails, but men often up, intending to take her to the steps of fail being Christians. the cathedral where foundling children Sin is the tamest thing in the world; the were frequently left to become the charges Christian adventure holds the real thrills. of an order of nuns. Through the cold Half the difficulty in being a Christian and snow they reached the cathedral steps is in trying to be but half-Christian. only to find that someone had been there You can throw up a smoke-screen be­ before them. Already a bundle lay upon tween yourself and other men, but not the cold stone steps. Listening carefully, between yourself and God. they could hear a tiny voice. Even little deeds of kindness bulk large The man and his wife consulted together; on the horizon of eternity. it was very cold, the wind was blowing It is true enough that we have but one strongly, and at any time the fall of snow life to live, but it is well to remember might increase. After all, there was no that we have all eternity in which to live guaranty that the nuns would visit the it.—Arkansas Methodist. place before morning, and that might be too late. So instead of leaving their own + baby, they took the little foundling and Silent Violins returned home to assume the burdens of two small children instead of one.— M ir o n Luigi Tarisio, was found dead one morn­ A. M o r r i l l in Studies for Youth. ing with scarce a comfort in his home, but with two hundred and forty-six ex­ + quisite violins, which he had been col­ lecting all his life, crammed into an attic, Once an aged minister and a dis­ the best in the bottom drawer of an old tinguished actor met at a gathering. The rickety bureau. In very devotion to the actor was asked to give a recitation to violin he had robbed the world of all that the company, and at the minister’s request, music all the time he treasured them; he repeated the 23rd Psalm. Such was others before him had done the same, so the beauty of his voice and the charm that when the greatest Stradivarius was of his manner that a subdued murmur oi first played it had had one hundred and praise went round. The actor then in­ forty-seven speechless years. Yet how vited the old minister to repeat the same many of Christ’s people are like old Tar­ Psalm. When the minister ended there isio! In our very love to the church we were tears in all eyes for he had spoker fail to give the glad tidings to the world; with a deep tenderness of spiritual under­ in our zeal for the truth we forget to pub­ standing. None felt the difference more lish it. When shall we all learn that the keenly than the great actor. “I know the good news needs the telling, and that all Psalm,” he said, “but you know the Shep­ men need to know?—Selected. herd.”—Selected.

44 (316) The Preacher's Magazin Success The Door There are five keys which will unlock Then said Jesus unto them again, verily, the door of success. Honesty, while a verily, I say unto you, I am the door of moral law, is also an economic necessity the sheep (John 10; 7). today. Health of the body brings health I. A Universal Door of the mind—a vigorous, sunny disposition II. A Free Door which makes friends and opens opportun­ III. An Open Door ities. Knowledge comes only through a IV. A Near Door never-ending process of digging for cold V. A Door with a Name facts. Without knowledge, the other four VI. A Low Door keys are useless. Knowledge brings en­ VII. A Door Soon Shut thusiasm, the fire that generates the steam (Note—This outline written in longhand so necessary in driving on to victory. In­ by Dr. A. B. Simpson on an ordinary and dustry (good hard work) comes as a faded bit of paper was found in the Bible natural result of enthusiasm. The man u.sed by Dr. Simpson in the year 1880.— who loves his work will succeed. Honesty, H. E. N.).—The Alliance Weekly. industry, health, knowledge, enthusiasm— all five are essential.—Boys’ Industrial School Journal. Adversity, if for no other reason, is of benefit since it is sure to bring a season of • sober reflection. Men see clearer at such times. Storms purify the atmosphere.— “Pray without ceasing, pray, Fellowship News. Your Captain gives the word; His summons cheerfully obey Total depravity is a term that the And call upon the Lord. modern mind does not like. Let us study To God, your every want a little what we mean by it. Dr. Denny In instant prayer display, says of it, “The depravity which sin pro­ Pray always; pray and never faint; duces in human nature extends to the Pray, without ceasing, pray.” whole of it. There is no part of man’s Bramwell Booth, writing of prayer, said, nature which is unaffected by it. Man’s “Prayer is the guardian of the soul...... nature is all of a piece and what affects The life of prayer, the spirit of prayer, the it at all affects it altogether. When the lcve of prayer, the act of prayer; real conscience is violated lay disobedience to waiting on God in everything; your spirit the will of God the moral understanding is joined to His Spirit; your heart depending darkened and the will is enfeebled. We on His heart; your will united with His are not constructed in water-tight com­ will; your whole being looking up in every partments, one of which might be ruined tempting hour and leaning on Him. Prayer while the other remained intact.” is to aid us to subordinate everything in Yet, as another has well said, “Over our being to Hi.s holy will, and to reveal against total depravity, we must put total in our minds, day by day, what that will redemption; over against original sin we is.”—Selected. must put original grace.” Depravity af­ fects intellect, feeling, heart, will; it de­ prives the soul of the love of God and is dominated by a lower love and the su­ Don’ts for the Pulpit preme affection is fixed on some lower good. Man once had the will and ability Don’t mumble your words. Chew your to do the whole will of God, but through food but not your language. the fall he lost it and now without the Don’t preach too long. Better leave the grace of God which converts and sancti­ people longing than loathing. fies, it is impossible for him to do God’s Don’t preach old sermons without re­ will, but when transformed by God’s re­ vision. Grown men look awkward in deeming grace it becomes a delight again boys’ clothes. to do the will of God and to keep His law. Don’t indulge in mannerism. Simplicity is desirable in high places—the pulpit • especially. I believe Jesus Christ to be the Son of Don’t speak in a monotone. The voice God. The miracles which He wrought has numerous keys; play on as many as establish in my mind His personal au­ possible. thority, and render it proper for me to Don’t catch the pulpit twang. Talk to believe whatever He asserts. I believe, men in as natural tone as you talk with therefore, all His declarations, as well them. when He declares Himself to be the Son Don’t indulge in long pulpit prayers. of God as when He declares there is no Always remember the stranger.—The W es­ other way of salvation than through the leyan Methodist. merits of His atonement.—Daniel Webster. September-October, 1944 (317) 45 SERMON OUTLINES

Entire Sanctification It is not conversion; for only converted persons are exhorted to receive it. (See What It Is and What It Is Not; What It Pauline Epistles). Does a7id What It Does Not Do It is not the birth of the Spirit, but the “And the very God of peace sanctify baptism with the Spirit. As distinct from you wholly” (I Thess. 5:23). regeneration as a birth from a baptism. It is not maturity, but swiftly matures It is not growth in grace, but a work of every soul-garden which it possesses. Like grace, which facilitates growth. There is a clean, well-watered field, its fruits grow not a single text in Scripture which teaches swiftly, and mature well. it is either growth or gotten by growth. It does not exempt from temptation, but It is not consecration, but embraces it, gives victory over it. and furnishes the cleansing stream and It does not make absolutely perfect, but fire which make consecration effective. perfect in love. It does not make oblivious to insults, It does not eliminate humanity, but car­ but fully saves amid them. nality. It does not insure from the possibility It does not destroy free agency, making of falling into sin, but makes this far less man a machine, but causes him gladly to probable. choose the whole will of God. It does not stop growth in grace, but It does not give “freedom” to disregard accelerates it. the Word of God, the Spirit of God, or It does not exempt from mistakes, “sins Son of God, but makes their triple lead­ of ignorance,” but from inbred sin and ership a delight. sinning against light. It does not make one perfect in human It does not give a perfect head, but a eyes, but in God’s sight. pure heart full of perfect love. It does cleanse the heart from “all sin.” It does not enable its possessor to walk It does impart perfect love, which casteth above human criticism, misunderstanding out all slavish fear of man, of foes, of and persecution, but to give no just occa­ death, of hell, and of the judgment. sion for these things. It does not exempt It does make “dead indeed unto sin, and from slander, but gives victory over it. alive unto God.” It is a work wrought by Jesus in the It does “fill with the Holy Ghost.” heart of a truly converted person through It does make “more than conquerors.” the baptism of the Holy Ghost. It does so destroy the “old man” of sin It is subsequent to conversion, and as and “cast him out” of the heart that his separate and distinct from it as Calvary motions are no more felt. from Pentecost. It does eliminate the “bear,” and the It is bestowed upon believers as at “snapping turtle,” and the “peacock,” and Pentecost in the meeting of the conditions replace with the lamb, the lily and the of self-crucifixion (Rom. 6:6), earnest lion. prayer (Acts 1:14) and present appro­ It does eliminate stinginess and crown priating faith (Acts 15:9). liberality. It is not “for the world,” but for those The birth of the Spirit brings pardon; who have been “called out of the world” the baptism with the Spirit, purity. (John 17:9, 16). The birth of the Spirit justifies freely; It is given in response to our Saviour’s the baptism with the Spirit sanctifies prayer (John 17:17), His promise (Acts wholly. 1:8). His command (Matt. 5:48), and His The first removes the guilt, of sin, the atonement (Heb. 13:12). second the pollution of sin. Like conversion, it is an instantaneous The first represses inbred sin; the sec­ work (Acts 2:2, 4). ond removes it. It is for all believers (Acts 2:39; 1 Thess. The first sows the heart with the Chris­ 4:3; 5:23). tian graces; the second roots up the weeds It is a divine work, wrought by the “God that would choke them. of peace” (I Thess. 5:23), through the The first keeps the “old man” under; blood of Jesus (I John 1:7, 9), by the in­ the second “casts him out.” strumentality of the Word (John 17:17), The first gives spiritual life; the second applied by the Holy Spirit (I Peter 1:2), spiritual purity and power. to obedient believers (Heb. 4:3; I Pet. The birth of the Spirit gives peace with 1:22). God; the baptism, the peace of God. It is a work to be confessed (Phil. 3:15; The first gives joy; the second “fullness I Thess. 2:10). of joy.”

46 (318) The Preacher's Magazine The first takes us out of the world; the kindly warning of Jesus came to him second cleanses the world all out of us. he promised “Though all men should The first introduces us into the kingdom be offended because of thee, yet of heaven; the second establishes the king­ will I not forsake thee.” dom of heaven in us, and eliminates all 3. Upon the announcement, “One of you there that opposes it. shall betray me,” consternation came The birth of the Spirit brings submis­ upon them all as they cried out, sion to Christ; the second crowns Him in “Lord, is it I?” our hearts without a rival. The first begins the work of cleansing; II. A V a s t D if f e r e n c e the second “sanctifies wholly.” 1. The vows we make in the church The first delivers from the Egypt of sin; service and our pledges we make as we the second puts us in possession of the sing, sometimes are not remembered Canaan of perfect love. and are vastly different from what The first cures the outward eruption we do after “we go out.” of actual sin; the second effects the double 2. The great Talmage said, “My suc­ cure of its inward leprosy. cess as a pastor is due to the godly The first is the solid foundation, of lives of my members during the days which the second is the divine super­ of the week.” structure. Hence, the first must always precede the second. III. N o t i c e t h e C h a n g e i n t h e s e S i n g i n g “And the very God of peace sanctify you D i s c i p l e s wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit 1. Judas went out to sell his Lord for and soul and body be preserved blameless forty pieces of silver and later to unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. betray Him with a kiss. The name Faithful is he that calleth you, who also Judas stands for the worst form of will do it” (I Thess. 5:23, 24). hyprocrisy and two-facedness. “For this is the will of God, even your a) Sitting at the table with the Christ sanctification” (I Thess. 4:3).—M. W. and opening his heart to the devil’s K napp, in Pilgrim Holiness Advocate. suggestion of betrayal. b) Apparently loyal and true as a • hymn singer, but with the other crowd when the night shadows deep­ Hymn Singing versus True Chris­ en. How deplorable! tian Living 2. Peter doubtless sang more lustily And when they had sung a hymn, they than the rest, at least his pledges of fi­ went out (Matt. 26:30). delity were more insistent and af­ firming. He too, “went out.” Introduction a) This awful night of testing even as 1. Our text merely suggests the theme, Jesus had spoken. Before the morn­ a) Jesus and His disciples in the up­ ing broke the cock crowed thrice and per room. Review the various de­ this fisherman had denied his Lord tails of that last Passover Feast. with an oath and declared he never Note: “They sang a hymn, and went knew him. out.” “And shall I fear to own his cause 2. Singing was a part of their Passover, or blush to speak his name?” significant enough to be mentioned “Stand up, stand up for Jesus, ye by Matthew. Through the years, soldiers of the cross.” God’s people have sung. “Dare to be a Daniel, dare to stand a) The songs of Israel, in the glory alone.” of their victories. 3. Went out—all of them, to sleep in b) Immortal hymns of the church and utter disregard and carelessness as their vital message of comfort, are the Master prayed and agonized in the embodiment of eternal truth. the garden. 3. Most hymns are pledges and promises a) He returned with a broken, dis­ of fidelity. appointed heart and I can almost hear a) Paul admonished us “To sing with Him say, “What, could ye not watch the spirit and the understanding with me one hour?” also.” b) “Oh, how I love Jesus,” and “I’ll I. T h e s e H y m n -S in g in g M e n M ade never forsake Him, he’s done so P ledges of L o y a l t y much for me.” 1. John the Beloved leaned upon the c) It is easy to sing, but another Master’s breast and whispered his thing to witness and obey. love vows, and no one could chal­ 4. All forsook Him—These men who just lenge his sincerity. the night before sang together in the 2. Peter, declared he would go with Him Upper Room, now followed Him afar to prison and even death. As the off. September-October, 1944 (319) 47 a) Everyone left the Master and 2. The Psychological Effects. went back on his vows and pledges. a) The clarified mind for things Scrip­ b) Jesus was alone in the garden. tural. Alone on trial. Alone on the cross. b) The intensified interest in things “Must Jesus bear the cross alone, and spiritual. all the world go free? c) The sensitized conscience toward No there’s a cross for everyone, and things sensual. there’s a cross for me.” 3. The Social Implications. I V . W h a t I s O u r H o p e ? a) The subservient self. 1. All except Judas returned to the Lord b) The compassionate regard. and later obeyed His command to c) The uncompromising stand. “Tarry in Jerusalem until ye be en­ II. T h e E x p r e s s io n o f t h e I n d w ellin g dued with power from on high.” S pir it 2. There is an experience that can make 1. Characteristics of the Spirit-filled. us triumphant in the everyday life, a) The perpetual indwelling. a) Give us victory in every circum­ b) The special anointing. stance. 2. The Unlocked Heart. 3. The same men, after Pentecost, proved a) The inflowing graces. true in every detail where they had b) The overflowing virtues. previously failed. 3. The Unified Being. a) Peter became the spokesman be­ a) Carnality brings “double-minded­ fore the fun-making crowd. ness.” b) John and James later proved the b) Holiness brings harmony of soul. genuineness of their love for Jesus. III. The Exclusion of Visiting Evil 4. W e may not only be hymn singing Note—The fire is “unquenchable.” It Christians but we may have the song continues to burn after the chaff is con­ of victory in our everyday living.— sumed, preventing further accumulation. W e a v e r W . H e s s . 1. The Surety of Permanent Purity.— • Unquenchable fire. 2. The Secret of Persistent Progress— The Journey of Life 3. The Source of Perennial Power—Un­ Thou wilt show me the path of life (Psa. quenchable fire. 16:11). Is your experience described as “fire?” —D. R. Y e o in Holiness Mission Journal. I . T h e G u id e — “Thou”— Jesus Christ. 1. His qualifications—wise, kind, etc. • 2. His experience—been over the road. 3. His interest—He died for me. The Lost Sheep II. T h e T r a v e l e r —“Me.” 1. Must take the journey. Suggestive Scripture Reading: (Lk. 15:1- 2. Have not had experience. 7). 3. Need just such a guide. I. The Lost Sheep (Luke 15:1, 2). Who is the “lost sheep” ? III. T h e H o a d —“ P a t h . ” 1. One of many. To whom was the parable spoken? Who 2. Is a narrow road. was near Jesus? Who murmured? Why 3. Not many going this way. would the Pharisees and the scribes think themselves better than the publicans and IV. T h e D e s t i n a t i o n —“Life.” 1. Contrast with death. sinners? Why could they not understand 2. A delightful anticipation. the attitude of Jesus? 3. A glorious consummation. Could Isaiah 53:6 have any application here? —W i l l i a m M. S m i t h . II. The Seeking Shepherd (Lk. 15:4). • 1. Who is the “seeking shepherd”? Lk. Unquenchable Fire 19:10. See II Cor. 8:9 for the cost of the “shep­ (Matthew 3:11, 12) herd.” Also John 10. God describes His relations to man in Why did not God allow man to go on terms of fire (Ex. 3:2; Isa. 6:6; John 5:35). and suffer punishment for sin and dis­ When God and man meet there is fire. obedience instead of trying to save him? We must all meet God either as refining How does the “shepherd” seek today? fire or retributive fire. What is the most necessary thing in our I. T h e E x t i n c t i o n o f R e s id e n t S i n lives if we are to be able to be used by the Sin is resident in fallen nature. ’Tis this “shepherd”? (See I Cor. 13; Acts 1:8). the fire consumes. III. The Time of Rejoicing (Lk. 15:5-7). 1. The Spiritual Results. When is this time of rejoicing? a) The inflamed affections. Where is the place of rejoicing? b) The purged desires. Who does the rejoicing? (See also I c) The mellowed temperament. Thess. 2:19, 20). 48 (320) The Preacher's Magazine May we know any of this joy? How D. Jesus Christ offers this balance. could Mark 1:17 apply here? 1. Cement that knits together. How may we contribute to the happiness 2. The balancing factor that is missing. of heaven? 3. Gives a courage to live in keeping IV. T h e N i n e t y a n d N i n e (Lk. 15:7). with convictions. Could it be possible that we might be 4. Provides incentive to highest pat­ more interested in the “ninety and nine” terns of conduct: A Christian is hon­ than in the “lost sheep” ? Mention some est—pure—dependable. ways in which we might so err. In the 5. A strength to live as clean as public parable, how and to whom does this apply? thinks. How many of the lost sheep of our com­ 6. A power to have high aspirations, munity are getting a welcome in our serv­ and realize them. ices, and if one of them does drop in, does 7. Jesus “pulls triggers in men’s con­ he hear the message he needs, or does he sciences.” see a group who are interested in matters a) Provides them with a power to far from this life? become. Think on these things.—Selected. b) Enables them to live a life that revels in godlikeness. II. Jesus provides a reserve power. Christ and Young People Englishman in reviewing youth of Am­ L esson — Mark 10:17-22 erica—“You live too close to the surface. Introduction No reserve power. The strained look, the I When the morals of a generation are speeding car, the jazz-crazed youth—all being shot from underneath us, does evidences of completely using every Christ have any answer? Can Jesus ounce of power—no reserve left for the Christ be real to young people? unlooked for.” A. Story of Rich Young Ruler, “Then A. Bungalow lives—one structure, one Jesus beholding him loved him.” story. Poor foundation; no provision 1. Characteristic attitude of Jesus to­ for going higher. ward youth. Rich young ruler had discovered lack 2. John, most beloved disciple, was of this—had all else, but “What lack youngest. I yet?” B. He who shed young blood on Calvary B. Selfish lives. is tremendously concerned with what 1. Lives lived for self’s interests. is happening to young people today. 2. Interpret life on selfishness of so- II. Youth of today face a terrific age, filled called Golden Rule, “Do unto others with dynamite. as ye would that men do unto you.” A. A world that has lost its way. This spoken only to Christian youth. 1. Fascism; war, crime, delinquency. For the sinner to attempt to carry 2. Ideals gone; every human institu­ this out, he makes his own sense of tion a disappointment. justice and judgment at the center of III. With such conditions, can Jesus mean his thinking and conduct. Rather, anything to today’s youth? “Do unto others as Jesus would do.” I. Jesus can help youth find a proper bal­ C. Tragedies of present generation. ance in life. 1. Increase of suicides—no reserve. Spoken of a statesman, “He would have 2. Increase of crime and delinquency— been the greatest statesman of his day no reserve. had his private life been as well bal­ 3. Increase of bitterness and cynicism— anced as his public life.” no reserve. A. The world out of balance—split. 4. Shallow lives—empty lives—a pret­ 1. World split into nations; nations into ty face, but no depth of character. races; races into classes; within classes, D. Jesus gives purpose to living, hence, homes are split; within homes, person­ provides a reserve. alities are split. A cement of some 1. He helps us see life as an opportun­ sort is missing. ity, not a burden. B. The balance needed demands more 2. Establishes us on eternal truths that than academic training. will not change. 1. Schools at best, but young people come out, out of balance. III. Jesus provides a power to control 2. Civilization at its farthest stage, but what we find in our hands. toppling upon our heads. Rich young ruler had health, youth, 3. Science has delved into every realm, wealth, social prestige—but did not know but hasn’t helped us to live better. how to use it. C. The balance necessary. A. This generation has power in its 1. Between convictions and actions. hands to do something about crime and 2. Between private life and public life. war—but instead, both are increas­ 3. Between desires and realizations. ing.

September-October, 1944 (321) 49 1. Building better airplanes, but only I. Its Simplicity —Look .... and be to do more killing. saved. 2. Building bigger battleships, but only Many persons today are stumbling over better to destroy. the simplicity of the gospel. Their at­ 3. Developing a greater democracy, tempts at analyzing the plan of salvation but only to hide corruption. have resulted in confusion rather than B. Jesus Christ provides a power to con­ clarification. To them religion has become trol—rather than be controlled by— so involved and complicated that it is im- things. comprehensible and unattainable. But God 1. What we find in our hands—He informs us that the way of salvation is so helps us to make it a blessing. plain that a “wayfaring man, though a fool, Whether a staff or a government; a shall not err therein.” Many preachers talent or an industry. need hours and even days to tell what 2. This generation has in its hands the you are to do to be saved; God merely means to bless. says, “Look.” a) Scientific development; invention; Charles Spurgeon, that prince of preach­ knowledge. ers, said that when he was sixteen years b) What are we doing with it? of age, he was “in the gall of bitterness, Filling prisons, asylums, cemeter­ and in the bond of iniquity” but had yet, ies,; cursing three generations with by divine grace, been led to feel the bit­ war. terness of that bondage and to cry out by C. Jesus provides a power to live for reason of the soreness of its slavery. things of eternity rather than for Stepping into a Methodist chapel to avoid time. a storm, he found that eight people had 1. We are enabled to live above things. gathered for meeting. The minister failed 2. When Christ has been found, we to arrive and a swarthy-faced, grimy- have found One much bigger. handed blacksmith arose and read from 3. Enabled to properly evaluate and Isaiah, “Look unto me, and be ye saved, live accordingly. Alexander said, “I all the ends of the earth.” Among other have conquered the world.” quaint remarks, he said, “Well, a man Jesus said, “I have overcom e the needn’t go to college to learn to look. Any­ world.” one can look. You may be a fool and yet you can look. You will never find comfort C o n c lu s io n in yourself. Look to Christ.” Spurgeon Can Jesus Christ be real to young peo­ said, “I looked that moment; the grace of ple? faith was vouchsafed to me in the self­ He can be more amazingly real to this same instant; and now I can say with generation than one ever has dreamed. truth: Youth will never truly live, unless they live with Christ on board. A certain E’er since by faith I saw the stream youth had everything in his college years His flowing wounds supply; —popularity, debate hero, athletic hero, Redeeming love has been my theme, brilliant student. But dissatisfied. Then And shall be till I die. he found God; changed the whole focus of his life, and today a minister, happy II. Its Inclusiveness —Look unto me, and and successful. be ye saved, all the ends of the earth. Richard Barton, successful caricatur­ This is an invitation extended to all ist; had everything—success, money men, everywhere, regardless of color, prestige, influence, at the top of his pro­ clime, or condition. We may take this fession; killed himself, and left this note, message to the heathen nations with the “I’m fed up with devising means to get lowest standard of living, we may find through twenty-four hours a day.”— the bushman in his kraal, or the cannibal N e a l C. D ir k s e . in the South Seas, and say, “Look unto me, and be ye saved,” for they are some of “the ends of the earth” and the gospel A Divine Invitation is intended for them. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the 'This phase “all the ends of the earth” means algo those who have gone farthest ends of the earth: for I am God, and there from Christ. There is that one whose is none else (Isaiah 45:22). feet have wavered, and slipped, and This text reveals the compassionate and wandered into infamy and sin. Virtue, the loving heart of Almighty God. In this pearl of great price, has gone, and the text a gracious invitation falls from His ship of her life has been wrecked on the divine lips; it is extended to a lost race sharp rocks of reality. Satan, himself, with the authority of the skies behind it. is about to sweep her out the back door; Notice four things about this divine invi­ but God says, “Look unto me, and be tation: ye saved.” Here is the drunkard whose 50 (322) The Preacher's Magazine appetite has caused him to stagger to “the from His riven side reminds you that He ends of the earth.” Drunkard, you have is “not willing that any should perish, almost had delirium tremens; You cannot but that all should come to repentance.” be much worse, but God says, “Look unto The scripture, “Wherefore Jesus also, that me, and be ye saved.” Here also, is the he might sanctify the people with his own Christ rejecter; that one who has fre­ blood, suffered without the gate” has a quently attended the house of God but new meaning when read in full view of in doing so has stifled the convictions im­ the cross. The response of our soul to parted by the Holy Spirit, spurned the all of this finds expression in the words of mercy of God, and trampled the blood of Isaac Watts: Jesus under his feet. He may never have been guilty of theft, drunkenness, or adul­ When I survey the wondrous cross tery, but now he realizes that the rejection On which the Prince of Glory died; of Christ is the worst sin any man may M y richest gain I count but loss, commit. He has rejected so many calls And pour contempt on all m y pride. that he fears God will hear him no more, Were the whole realm of nature mine, but God says, “Look unto me, and be ye That were a present far too small— saved, all the ends of the earth.” Love so amazing, so divine, III. Its Exclusiveness —Look unto me, Demands my soul, my life, my all. and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all for I am God, and there is none else.” the ends of the earth.”— L. S. O liv e r. Here God is saying, “There is no other • God to whom you can go in your search for salvation.” Men may build for them­ Beautiful Garments selves gods of wood and stone before I ntroduction which to bow; but such idols, having eyes, The Word of God is the heavenly fashion are unable to see them in their distress; book. The styles of earth change often, having ears, are unable to hear their cries but God’s styles never change. He is in­ and petitions; and having arms, are pow­ terested in the way we are dressed, and erless to save them from their sins. judges us by our clothes. In the sixth chapter of John we read, I. T h e N eed of G a r m e n t s “Many of his disciples went back, and 1. We are naked (Gen. 3:7, 21; Job walked no more with him. Then said 29:14). Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go 2. Our own garments are filthy (Isa. away? Then Simon Peter answered him, 64: 6; Zech. 3:3). Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the II. The Necessary Garments words of eternal life.” What a brilliant 1. The garment of salvation (Isa. 61:10). insight! What a captivating response! 2. The robe of righteousness (Isa. 61:10). Peter, too, was saying, “Thou art God, 3. The wedding garment (Matt. 22:11-14; and there is none else!” Rev. 19:9). This invitation is exclusive in that there III. T h e B e a u t if u l G a r m e n ts is no other way of salvation. God’s way 1. The garment of praise (Isa. 61:3). excludes all others. There is “none other 2. The garment of humility (I Pet. 5:5; name under heaven given among men, 3:3, 4). whereby we must be saved” except the IV. The Defiled Garments name of Jesus. Jesus said, “I am the Warning (Jude 23: Rev. 16:15). way, the truth, and the life: no man — L e s te r E. H u ber, in Gospel Banner. cometh unto the Father, but by me.” • There is no other way of salvation except by looking to Christ. If we look at our The Worthy Walk in Ephesians 5 past we are disappointed; at our present, I.—As God’s Beloved Children (vs. 1-14). we are disturbed; at our future, we are 1. The Example of Christ (vs. 1, 2). dismayed; but if we look to Christ, we a) Imitators of God (v. 1). are delivered. b) A sweet-savor offering (v. 2). IV. Its Effects —Look unto me, and be 2. Gentile Depravity to be departed from ye saved. (vs. 3-14). From the cross of Calvary, where the a) Sins of the sons of disobedience bleeding hands of Jesus drop mercy; from (vs. 3-7). the garden of Gethsemane, where the b) Reproof and exposure of the deeds bleeding pores of the Saviour sweat par­ of shame (vs. 8-13). dons, the cry comes, “Look unto me, and c) The clarion call to “Awaken! be ye saved, all the ends of the earth.” Arise!” (v. 14). As you gaze upon the suffering Christ of II. As Enlightened by Christ (vs. 15-21). the cross, and realize He is enduring it 1. The Walk of Circumspection (vs. 15- all for you, surely your heart melts within 17). your bosom and you love that Man of the a) In all wisdom (v. 15) thorn-crowned brow. The blood gushing b) In all earnestness (v. 16).

September-October, 1944 (323) 51 c) In all spiritual understanding (v. aver, “I am a Christian.” This distinction be­ 17). tween a nominal Christian and a true dis­ 2. The walk of Spirit-filled believers ciple of Jesus Christ must be closely drawn (vs. 18-21). and clearly defined. Many persons are Chris­ a) In power (v. 18). tians institutionally, but not experientially. b) With praise (v. 19). There may be certain social, political oi c) With thanksgiving (v. 20). business advantages in connection with in­ d) In all humility (v. 21). stitutional Christianity, but certainly, there III. As Husbands and W ives (v . 22-23). are no spiritual benefits. 1. Submission of Wives to Husbands (vs. Christian discipleship is a life. It has a 22-24). definite beginning just as truly as physical a) The exhortation (v. 22). life has a definite beginning. All life be­ b) The reason (v. 23). gins with a birth. There is a physical birth; c) The holy example (v. 24). every man has a birthday. He may have 2. Love of Husbands for Wives (vs. 25- forgotten the date of his birth, and he may 33). never have known the date, but this would a) The exhortation (v. 22). by no means alter the fact that he was b) The threefold work of Christ (vs. born. There is likewise a spiritual birth; 25-27). a man may have no written or mental c) The oneness of husband and wife record of the date, but the fact that he has illustrative of the oneness of Christ spiritual life is evidence enough that he has and the Church (vs. 28-33). been spiritually born; the occasion he will —Bible Witness. most certainly remember. In the third chapter of the Gospel of John we have a classic exposition by Jesus Christ The Christian Stewardship himself concerning this spiritual birth. He The Master’s Appointment (Matt. 25: 14; begins by emphasizing its absolute neces­ Mark 13: 34). sity, “Except a man be born again, he can­ The Steward’s Responsibility (I Cor. 4: not see the kingdom of God...... Verily, 1-3; II Tim. 2: 2). verily, I say unto thee...... Ye must be The Trust Committee (I Thess. 2: 4; II born again.” Then he defines it categor­ Tim. 1: 14). ically in verse six, “That which is born of The Gospel for All (Mark 15: 15; Rom. the flesh is flesh; and that which is bom 1: 4). of the Spirit is spirit.” Furthermore, he The Truth, all of it (Matt. 28: 20; Acts concedes its mystery in verse eight, “The 20: 27). wind blows where it chooses, and you hear The Steward’s Character (Titus 2: 7; I its sound, but you do not know where it Cor. 4: 2). comes from or where it is going. So is it A Good Steward—Dispensing (I Peter with every one who has been born of the 4: 10). Spirit” (Weymouth). He then reveals its A Wise Steward—Discriminating (Luke origin as from heaven and its duration as 12: 42). eternal. The climax of the chapter is An Unjust Steward—Wasting (Luke 16: reached in verse sixteen where Jesus pro­ 1). claims it a gift of God through the sacri­ The Reckoning Day (II Cor. 5: 9; I Cor. fice of His only begotten Son, and the 4: 5).—Gospel Banner. means by which it is obtained, namely, be­ lief in Him. The postulate is thus clearly exhibited. Discipleship versus To doubt Him is to reject Him, and the result of such rejection is eternal death. To Modern Christianity believe on Him is to accept Him, to follow A Christian is a believer in Jesus, a fol­ Him and to obey Him. Thus the Christian lower of Jesus, and a servant of Jesus. A life is revealed in its purest simplicity^ profession of Christianity which does not The man who believes, follows, and serves comprehend these pre-requisites is spurious Jesus Christ is a Christian. It follows, of and false. They do not represent the max­ course, that he who does not do so, is not a imum measure of discipleship, but the min­ Christian regardless of what substitute qual­ imum requirement. Here is the starting ifications he may claim. This test draws a point, the alpha of the Christian life. distinct line between Christians and non- There is a broad sense in which great Christians, and puts that line where it be­ masses of people claim to be Christians. longs. Hence, whatever other divisions may There are many religions extant, and from separate men into groups, classes, races, these, they have chosen Christianity, or nations, or religions, this line only, separ­ perhaps they have inherited this particular ates Christians from non-Christians. If this leaning in the category of religion. They is to be doubted, Jesus Christ is wholly un­ favor the Christian concept of religion to reliable and the collapse of the whole Chris­ any, or all others. On this basis they will tian system is imminent.

52 (324) The Preacher's Magazine Now we will give some further thought in these the people recline in smug com­ to the inevitable conclusions of this expo­ fort waiting for the kingdom of God to sition of the new birth of Jesus Christ. First, come; there is a shameful lack of chivalry, t constitutes the Christian people an ex- heroism and spiritual aggressiveness. It is :lusive aristocracy; they are children of the almost impossible to unite Christendom in £ing. This aristocracy is therefore free a courageous and resolute stand on any fom extremes. They are not too exclusive moral issue. God, give us Christians! The lor are they too comprehensive. It steers very term Christian is due for a dusting, llear of that narrow Pharisaic exclusive- scouring and reorientation. It has come less based on egotism and self-righteous- to mean so little that worldly wisdom sees less, which Jesus so bitterly denounced. It no necessity of offering opposition. Modern ivoids at the same time the modern heresy Christianity constitutes no menace even to if universalism which all evangelical Chris- ianity detests. It is an aristocracy based its most diabolic traffic. There was a time in righteousness and heart holiness. God’s when the Christians were feared. There :hildren are good children; He has no bad was a time when the Church had to be :hildren. The life is the determining fac­ reckoned with and when her frown struck er by which he is identified as a Christian terror to the hearts of the evil forces. But 3r a sinner; a child of God or a child of the today, alas, the Church is apathetic and ievil. I repeat, it draws a distinct line of languid. May God rebuke her torpor and lemarcation and puts that line where it indifference. Now, of all times, her influence lelongs; that line is fixed. On one side all and power are demanded. A bruised and ire sinners, regardless of profession, affil- bleeding world is pleading and crying for ation or position. On the other side all are her love, her faith and her message of re­ Christians, without exception and regard- demption and eternal life. But alas, she can ess of denominational affiliation. offer little more than a token gesture, of sympathy. Jesus had something definite to say about he characteristics of discipleship. He re- Oh, how America needs a mighty spiritual 'ealed it in all of its aspects. He declared revival! There is an alarming famine of the t a life of self-denial and cross-bearing. It Word of God and the faith of our fathers. mts Christ first in relation to self and all of It may be living still, but it is perilously ts possessions, “And he said to them all, If anemic. This virile faith must be revived ny man will come after me, let him deny and proclaimed until Sinai thunders, until limself, and take up his cross daily, and Gethsemane groans and until Calvary ollow me” (Luke 9:23). Do you know bleeds, and the people turn to God. We vhat that means? It is difficult in our day need a revival of personal Christian ex­ o appreciate the significance of the cross. perience, moral holiness and ethical purity. Crosses now are obsolete as a means of We must return to the sanctity of the home, apital punishment. They are so remote the sacredness of the marriage institution, hat we can scarcely comprehend the sig- the authority of the Church and the in­ .ificance of Jesus’ statement. To us, the fallibility of the Word of God. We have lost ross suggests a mere ornament or per- sight of Christian virtue. Our ears no hance a kind of Christian profession. To longer hear the authoritative “Thus saith esus Christ it meant ostracism, hatred, the Lord,” and we are morally adrift. Fixed uffering and death. The world today is no moral standards are broken loose from their lore friendly to vital Christianity than it moorings. Atheistic philosophies with their ras nineteen centuries ago. The inclination pernicious doctrine of behaviorism and de­ 3 escape the element of ostracism and per- terminism have disengaged the faith of our ecution in connection with Christian dis- youth from the Bible as the infallible Word ipleship is at once to bar the gate to eter- of God. Liberalism has inoculated the mod­ al life. The kingdom of God is irrecon- ern pulpit with doubt, thus attempting a ilably at cross-currents with the world, final, knockout blow to evangelical Chris­ nd Jesus warned, “Whosoever therefore tianity. The old-fashioned Christian with dll be a friend of the world is the enemy his open Bible, his secret place of prayer, if God.” The world here referred to is the his active conscience, his neighborly love, sum of those forces which stand in antagon­ and his holy life is so near extinction that ism to the will of God. To shun cross bear­ he is regarded as a curious novelty. • ing in favor of a more popular brand of May God in mercy rekindle the dying Christianity is to forfeit Christianity alto­ embers of primitive Christianity, and bring gether. America to her knees in penitence and The curse of modern Christendom is the prayer, until the flame of pure devotion reakishly elaborate system of institutional- shall blaze with renewed radiance. Then im which has been substituted for true righteousness shall again flourish, heaven Christian character and service. It is, as a will rejoice, and the nation will sing, for esult, weak, flabby and irresolute. Great Righteousness is the Measxire of Disciple­ raterial defenses have been built up and ship!—E r n est E. G rosse.

September-October, 1944 (325) 53 Precious Things We would expect to find such suggestions in our Lord’s Great Commission to His dis­ I. Precious Blood (1 P et. 1:18-19). ciples, as recorded in our text. That a “Redeemed us . . . . with the precious work of such importance as that of effec­ blood of Christ.” Under the law sin was tive evangelism should be easily accom­ settled by the offering of corruptible plished should not be supposed. Making it things; but now the offering is “without possible tested the resources of Deity, and blemish and without spot.” The blood de­ making it actual puts these resources to a livers from our vain conversation, and further test. Speaking reverently, a com­ “washed us from our sin [not in] (Rev. mission of this kind, and a work of this 1:5). The washing implies cleansing, re­ magnitude, could become effective only moves guilt (Eph. 1:7). Thanks be unto when the fullest provisions have been God, who can remove the darkest sin and made for the accomplishment of the work give a new heart. both for time and for eternity. Seemingly II. Precious Stone God himself could have originated no “I lay in Zion .... a precious corner greater undertaking. It is a task infinitely stone” (Isaiah 28:16) This is a tested beyond the resources of all finite beings. stone, a corner stone, bring together the Only Deity could make satisfaction for two dispensations. Then it is a living sins against Deity, and only Deity could stone, and gives life unto all who come in » make such a work effective. Fellowship saving contact with the “Corner Stone.” with God in this work alone makes pos­ III. Precious Faith sible its effective accomplishment. “Obtained like precious faith” (II Pet. 1:1). This faith is obtained through the I. All pow er is given unto me in heaven righteousness of God, and comes to us by and in earth. This is our assurance that hearing, and by it we overcome the world. every provision has been made for the ac­ Faith takes God at His Word and has con­ complishment of this stupendous work. fidence in the unseen things of God, with Difficulties of the accomplishment of this the assurance of a reward. “I am now work may appear of various magnitudes; ready to be offered .... there is laid up but in the face of them all we have this for me a crown of righteousness” (II Tim. word of assurance from our Lord. In 4:7-8). making this declaration, we are safe in as­ IV. Precious Promises suming that our Lord had in view the “Whereby are given unto us . . . . great omnipotence that was His as the second and precious promises” (II Pet. 1:4). Person of the adorable Trinity. We are These promises are given as a gift that safe in assuming also that He had in view we might be partakers of the divine na­ the effectiveness of His mediatorial work, ture. These promises are real to us through and the power that was His to make actual faith. God never fails us. what He had made possible by His sacrifice V. Precious Death on the cross. Back of us in this great “Let me die the death of the righteous; undertaking is all the power at the com­ let my last end be like his” (Num. 23:10). mand of Deity; unlimited power, all power! “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the We are not in this work at our own death of his saints” (Psalm 116:15). To charges, or attempting its accomplishment die righteous means to live righteously. by our own wisdom and strength. God is God has no delight in death—death is putting His all into this work. Many of man’s enemy; like a blood-thirsty animal us need to catch a vision of the necessity it is ever hounding man—only to sooner of our putting our all into it for its effec­ or later overtake him, still unsatisfied. “It tive accomplishment. Many among us need is appointed unto man once to die.”—Gos­ a vision of the magnitude and importance pel Banner. of the work. e II. Go ye therefore. Jesus was calling men to this great work then; and He is still calling men to it. Far more than Helpful Suggestions for human wisdom is needed for the effective Effective Evangelism accomplishment of this great work. Our All power is given unto me in heaven and Lord knows the hearts of men as we can­ in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all not possibly know them, and as instru­ nations, baptizing them in the name of the ments in the hands of God in the accompH Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy lishment of this work effective co-opera- Ghost: teaching them to observe all things tion with our Lord is essential. The bet­ whatsoever I have commanded you-' and, ter instruments we become, the more ef­ lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end, fective we will be in the work. Not only of the world. Amen (Matt. 28:18-20). does God know the hearts of those He is In various places in the Word of God seeking to evangelize through our instru­ we find helpful suggestions concerning mentality, but also He knows us, and whal this most important work of evangelism. we are capable of becoming through the 54 (326) The Preacher's Magazini discovery and development of the powers is prospect of much in the way of increase. and possibilities with which He has en­ The people of God need training in the dowed us. For effectiveness in this work ways of God; establishment in habits of we need to make discoveries in God, in the godliness, in spiritual character- and sub­ people with whom we work, and in our­ stance. Manifestly a church that needs selves. Our Lord has made no mistake in revivals to keep its membership from spir­ calling human beings as instruments for itual improvement has little ground of the accomplishment of this work; we hope for effective work in evangelism. We should recognize these and similar facts, may expect the work of evangelism to go and work with God in the light of them. forward when the whole work of God goes forward in His Church. III. And teach all nations. Make dis­ ciples of all nations by bringing men into VI. And, lo, I am with you alway, even contact with the truths of the gospel our unto the end of the world. Seemingly, the Lord has in mind. In our Lord’s work we presence of our Lord with His people in find Him adapting Himself to the needs effective work is conditioned on their ful­ of the people with whom He dealt. He filling conditions as He has set them forth knew God; He knew Himself; He knew in this commission. He who calls men to the people with whom He dealt. Through His service has a right to commission them years of contact with our Lord these men for that service, and make known to them had learned much of Him; they had the conditions upon which their service learned much of His ways of dealing with may be performed. Doing His work as He men. They had had a considerable pre­ would have it done is the one safe ground paration for the work to which He was of assurance of effectiveness in the effort. calling them, but they still had many When effective evangelism fails, chaos things to learn. Not only is there an equip­ soon reigns. But it need not fail! God ment on the divine side that is necessary, is as able to carry it forward effectively but also there is one on the human side, today, as in days gone by. He still lives!— and there is room for vast improvement in H. O. F an n in g. the best of us. Because our work is not more effective than it now is, it does not • • follow that it may not become far more effective, by improvement in our abilities for the work. The gospel is Expository Outlines adapted to meet the needs of all sorts of people, if that gospel is properly presented. The Sufficiency of Christian IV. Baptizing them in the name of the Experience Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy (I Timothy 1:4-7) Ghost. In the confusion that has come into I. C h a o t ic T im e s B ring M a n y Q u e stio n s the minds of the people with reference to 1. Days like these produce either great baptism, it would not be strange if much doubters or great prayers. of the significance of this rite has been 2. Many people are praying that their lost. That it was designed to have sig­ boys may return safe from this con­ nificance is indicated by its place in this flict. commission. We need something signifi­ a) Some fail to realize that it takes cant of a whole-hearted devotion to God, more than words to make prayer and an abandonment of all that has kept effective. us from being so devoted to Him; of the b) It takes more than calling a sper- magnitude and honor of our relationship cific time of united prayer to bring to Him, and fellowship with Him. results. V. Teaching them to observe all things 3. How much can a person depend upon whatsoever I have commanded you. This God in times like these? teaching and training ministry is one that 4. What does Christian experience , do ever will be needed in our work as a for the individual? church; the more effective we are in our 5. Text gives some insight and illumina­ work of evangelism, the more urgent will tion on the scope of Christian experi­ be the need of this work. Progress should ence. be made in these matters as long as we a) Bible nowhere promises a life of are here below. Not only is the gospel ease. something to be heard, but also it is some­ b) People of that day were perplexed thing to be seen, and its effects should be because of the confusion of the manifest in the lives of those of us who preachers and teachers. profess to believe it. The figure of a shep­ c) Paul gives the true essence, aim, herd with'his flock of sheep often is used purpose, and result of the gospel. to designate the people of God. It is as d) The word “commandment” in­ the shepherd does his work well, and the cludes the whole of divine revel­ flock is kept in good condition, that there ation. September-October, 1944 (327) 55 6. The text declares that there are four a) By which the believer discrimin­ primary facts or one growing out ates. of the other three. b) By which the child of God sees II. A Fountain or Love (v. 5) the invisible. 5. Faith is the result of confidence and 1. The core of the gospel. increases the sense of assurance. a) The great Commandment. b) The work of the Holy Spirit VI. Christian Experience Is S u f f ic ie n t (Rom. 5:5). T od ay c) The predominant characteristic of 1. Bible does not promise an easy way God’s gift (I John 3:1). but victory in the hard way. d) The essence of God Himself (I 2. A pure heart keeps the motives clean. John 4:16). 3. A clear conscience gives certainty to 2. It is the glory of the Church. location. 3. It is the secret of individual victory. 4. Faith brings comfort and the assur­ a) Love covers a multitude of sins. ance of ultimate victory. b) Love heals the hurt caused by sin. 5. Love brings healing for all the bumps c) Love is a creative faculty which and jolts of life. keeps out hate. a) Faith brings endurance, love gives d) The believer must love regardless joy in it. of what happens. b) Faith and love produce courage. 4. This springs out of the following c) Faith sees ultimate victory and characteristic. love says “God does all things well.”— L e w is T. C o r le t t . II. A P u re H e a r t 1. The channc-1 and receptacle of divine • love. Redemption Revealed 2. The outstanding factor of Pentecost, 3. It is the motive life purged from car­ We know that the Son of God is come, nality. and hath given us an understanding, that 4. It is the self-life cleansed from we may know him that is true; and we are in him that is true (I John 5:20). self-centeredness. a) The believer realizes that he is not The text contains the three eternal the most important person in God’s principles of truth, revelation, realization, universe. and relationship. Every saved person ex­ b) Love does not ask that personal periences these three abiding principles; prayer be answered at the expense these are the basic facts of spiritual life. of other good people. Pursuing the order in which these facts c) The pure heart has the single eye, appear in the Scriptures we find them at fixed purpose, and an unchanging the beginning of creation, and we can determination to go God’s way. trace them to final consummation in the City of God. IV. A Good (Clear) Conscience 1. Revelation. “We know that the Son 1. A conscience purged from dead works of God is come, and hath given us an un­ to serve the living God. derstanding.” From this statement we see 2. The conscience is the regulator and that the first act of the Saviour is to re­ should be clear to be able to make veal God to us. There must first be a an accurate distinction between right revelation before there can possibly be and wrong. a realization of God. The world by wis­ 3. The ideals of Christianity constitute dom does not know God, nor can He be the proper standard for conscience. made known except by the Saviour. Man It is not only self-inspecting and self- has a mental and moral capacity to know judging but also should be self-rul­ God, but only by revelation. We see this ing. It must rule by the will of God. fact in the order of creation at the begin­ 4. The Holy Spirit is the illuminator of ning. Light was made before life; and conscience. the living were made to realize certain 5. The approval of God’s way above the things by that light. A person may be put personal produces a conscience void in a dark room and have no knowledge of offense toward God and man. of the contents and size of the room until V. A Sincere, Aggressive Faith (Faith light reveals these facts. So is the human U n feig n ed ) soul in darkness both moral and mental, 1. Faith brings experience and is the and can never know God until the Light means of sustaining it. of the Saviour reveals Him. 2. Faith is the channel of gaining vic­ Revelation is progressive; there is a tory in the battles of life. shining more and more until the perfect 3. Faith is power, the power of the ob­ day. Because revelation is progressive ject of faith is admitted into the be­ we shall find an eternal pleasure in the liever’s personal life. endless revelation of God. The finite man 4. Faith has insight. may revel in the ever unfolding of the In­ 56 (328) The Preacher's Magazine finite God. It is evident from Scripture Blessed in Believing that the higher orders of creatures in heaven shall have a further revelation of Blessed, is that man that maketh the Lord God made to them by the redeemed his trust (Psalm 4 0 :4 ) . Church (Eph. 3:10). Trusting God involves no risk; we are The Son of God, “Being the brightness not confronted by a percentage of fail­ of his glory, and the express image of his ures; all who have trusted God have been person,” has come in gracious visitation made invincible. The men who have dis­ to our benighted hearts, and hath given believed God have failed. To trust is to us an understanding of God. triumph; to believe is to be blessed. 2. Realization. “That we may know him 1. The Deliverance. “Be pleased, O that is true.” Lord, to deliver me” (v. 1 3 ). We must see We are to have the knowledge of the something of the plight of the man who true God. To know Him in saving grace prayed for deliverance so that we may does not imply that we know all there is to comprehend the blessing of the believer. know about God. But we do have a “He brought me up out of a horrible pit, measure of realization that is sufficient to out of the miry clay” (v. 2 ) . Faith brings confirm the heart in hope; our realiza­ deliverance from the depth of sin and tion will deepen with the fuller measure from the defilement of sin. The horrible of revelation. We come to this knowl­ pit of evil is like a quicksand which draws edge by faith in the revealed Son of God. its victim to the death and destruction of “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the bottomless pit of perdition. Sin has the witness in himself.” polluted the soul like a “miry clay,” cling­ A living faith brings reality; for the ing to us in all its filth and foulness. This witness does certainly follow faith. The defilement of evil can be washed away in witness gives realization in two facts; one the blood of the Lamb. Jesus does not is the witness we experience in heart; the pass us by, He brings us up out of the pit other is witnessed in our living. Both are and pollution of sin; He went to the depth necessary parts of spiritual life; and where so that He might lift us to the rock, as the psalmist says, “And set my feet upon one is evidenced, the other is always pres­ a rock, and established my goings.” ent. John states the witness in our living in these words: “We know that whosoever There is also a deliverance from the is born of God sinneth not; but he that prevalence of sin, and from the power of is begotten of God keepeth himself, and sin. “Innumerable evils have compassed that wicked one toucheth him not.” me about: mine iniquities have taken hold • The power to live a sinless life is evi­ upon me, so that I am not able to look dence that we know God. If a man has up; they are more than the hairs of mine no experiential knowledge of God, he is head: therefore my heart faileth me” (v. not disposed to live a holy life; neither 1 2 ) . This describes the helpless condition has he any moral power against the of the sin-laden soul. Compassed about wicked one. “Whosoever sinneth hath by innumerable evils; sin is in every place, not seen him, neither known him.” (3:6) and its appeal is made from every street, Since sin is a state of spiritual death; and highway, and dwelling of evil men. Sin salvation is the state of spiritual life, then is condoned and practiced on every side; in sinless living we have witness that we it flourishes in high places and in low have life, and this life is in his Son who places; it is practiced by rich and by poor, hath come, and hath given us the under­ and loved by both old and young. Despite standing that we may know Him that is this dark picture of the prevalence of evil, true. our trust can triumph through grace; we can obtain a deliverance that will cleanse 3. Relationship. “And we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ.” us and keep us clean in a world of in­ To be in Him means that we have a rela­ iquity. There is deliverance from the tionship unlike any other relationship that power of evil, from the “iniquities that exists between us and God. All men are have taken hold upon us.” The dominion the creatures of God; but all men are not of sin is broken by the power of God. The children of God. A child is a product of sins that have ruled the life; the evils that relationship; and comes into a relation­ burdened us until we cannot look up; ship to its parents at birth. We derive these iniquities are broken, and our bur­ spiritual life from God; and we continue dened and bowed souls are released to rest in spiritual life so long as that relation­ in His love. We sing the new song of ship exists. This truth is seen in these salvation; and walk in a new way of life. words of John: “He that hath the Son 2. The Delight. “I delight to do thy hath life.” We live because He lives with­ will, O my God” (v. 8). These words were in our souls.” This is the true God, and spoken by the Saviour whose supreme eternal life,” declares John.—T. M. A n d e r­ devotion to the will of God provided our son. sanctification (See Heb. 1 0 :9 -1 4 ) . How­

September-October, 1944 029) 57 ever we are sure that all who make the Jesus is the arena in which we live. A Lord their trust shall find a delight in friend is one who makes me do my best. doing His will. There is pleasure in sac­ rifice, in suffering, and in service, when G o in g s o f a C o m m u n it y there is delight in His will. Devotion to Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O the will of God comes from the heart. Jerusalem (v. 2). “Thy law is within my heart” placed there The gifts of our ascended Lord—“apos­ by the Spirit of God. This law is the tles, prophets, evangelists”—are “for the ruling force of the life and affections. His perfecting of the saints.” If you should be commandments are not grievous when the in advance of the rest of the community, law of love rules the heart. God will take you into "the ministry of the 3. The Declaring. “I have declared thy interior.” Spiritual insight is not for the faithfulness and thy salvation.” We purpose of making us realize we are bet­ prove our trust by our testimony; ter than other people, but in order that our we believe, therefore we speak. There responsibility might be added to. If we rests upon His people a great re­ neglect to go to God about our communi­ sponsibility to witness to the truth. This ties, our ministers, we become criticizing fact is seen in these words: “I have centers instead of “ministers of the in­ preached righteousness in the great con­ terior.” God expects us to be intercessors, gregation: lo, I have not refrained my not dogmatic fault-finders, but vicarious lips, O Lord, thou knowest” (v. 9). Never intercessors while other lives come up to was there a time when we need to preach the same standard. Locusts in their flight the Word as we need it today. War has over a stream may drown by the million, scattered the people of God throughout but others keep coming until there is a the world; thus affords an opportunity to way for the live ones to go over their witness while we work to win the war. bodies. God uses His saints in the same On the other hand, the urgency of work way. “The blood of the martyrs is the in these trying days is exerting great pres­ seed of the Church.” There are prominent sure of the spiritual lives of the Christians. names in works of faith, such as Mueller Time to pray is likely to be given over to and Quarrier, but there are thousands of pursuit of gain. We must not lose our others whose names are not known. It is souls in these distressing and dreadful the same truth our Lord uttered regarding times. Our trust and our testimony must Himself, “Except a corn of wheat fall into ever be first before all else of life. Faith­ the ground and die, it abideth alone, but fulness to declare His righteousness has if it die it bringeth forth much fruit.” The its reward. “Withhold not thou thy tender work in a community to begin with may mercies from me, O Lord: let thy loving­ be a wondrous delight, then it seems to kindness and thy truth continually pre­ die out and if you do not know the teach­ serve me.” The truth which we declare ing of our Lord you will say it is dead; to others in obedience to God, will pre­ it is not, it has fallen into the ground and serve us from the innumerable evils of a died in its old form, but by and by it will bring forth fruit which will alter the whole sinful world.—T. M. A n d erso n . landscape. • G od's O w n C it y Jerusalem is builded as a city that is Prayer Meeting Messages compact together (v. 3). From the Psalms For he looketh for a city which hath By Oswald Chambers foundations, whose builder and maker is God (Hebrews 11:10). (Taken from old copies of Spiritual Life, And I John saw the holy city, new Jeru­ a British publication) salem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for God’s House (Psalm 122) her husband (Rev. 21:2). G l adness of C o m r a d e sh ip What a curious anomaly—a city of God! I was glad when they said unto me, Let We could have understood if it had been us go into the house of the Lord (v. 1). the country of God, but a holy city is in­ God begins with us individually in the conceivable to us. The city of Jerusalem, experience of conscious salvation, then He like the temple, was ordained of God, that unites us to one another. Notice the “al- is why the children of Israel were so cer­ togetherness” of the saints all through the tain the prophets were wrong in saying Epistle, “till we all attain unto the unity that God would never leave Jerusalem; but of the faith, .... unto the measure of the God did leave it, He left it desolate on stature of the fulness of Christ.” None of account of the sins of the people. us individually can reach the “fulness of There is a time coming when we shall Christ” ; we reach that standard all to­ live in God’s own city: Abraham looked gether. “I have called you friends,” said for it; John saw it, coming down out of Jesus. The idea is that the presence of heaven. Our present day communities 58 (330) The Preacher’s Magazine are man’s attempt at building up the city city is in peace. It is true that in limes of God; man is confident that if only God of war people are driven to God, but the will give him time enough he will build distraction of war upsets the harmony and not only a holy city but a holy community, peace which are essential conditions for the and establish peace on earth, and God is worship of God. Are we set on praying allowing him ample opportunity to try, for the peace of Jerusalem only because it until he is satisfied that God’s way is the will bring prosperity with God to souls? only way. G ood W il l in C oncentration G a t h e r in g of t h e C l a n s Peace be within thy walls, and prosper­ Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of ity within thy palaces. For my brethren the Lord, unto the testimony of Israel, to and companions’ sakes, I will now say, give thanks unto the name of the Lord Peace be within thee (vs. 7 and 8). (v. 4). In times of prosperity we are apt to for­ The prophets look forward to the time get God, we imagine it does not matter when all the tribes will meet together in whether we recognize Him or not. As harmony. It is a symbol of what happens long as we are comfortably clothed and fed in this dispensation of grace; there is ab­ and looked after, our civilization becomes solute harmony in Christ Jesus, no matter an elaborate means of ignoring God. what the difference of nationality may be. The Bible is the Charter of the city of God, “God bless Jerusalem”—for Jerusalem’s and all sorts and conditions of people have sake? No, for my companions’ sake. “God communion with one another through it. bless the world with peace”'—because it There is a gathering of the clans of all who is deserving of peace? No, because of the belong to the race of the “twice-born”— Christians in it. Because God’s house is “Now therefore ye are no more strangers here, we pray “God bless Askrigg.” Be­ and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the cause of the saints in Britain, we pray saints, and of the household of God.” The “God bless Britain.” saints find their closest unity in commun­ But remember God’s blessing may mean ion with God, but we have to be put God’s blasting. If God is going to bless through a great deal of discipline before me, He must condemn and blast out of the oneness for which Jesus prayed in my being what He cannot bless. “Our John 17 is realized. You will find that God is a consuming fire.” When we ask God introduces you to teachers and friends God to bless, we sometimes pray terrible who are just beyond you in attainment havoc upon the things that are not of God. in order to keep you from stagnation. God will shake all that can be shaken, and He is doing it just now. C h r is t ’ s O w n C r o w n For there are set thrones of judgment, G raciousness in C ompensation the thrones of the house of David, (v. 5). Because of the house of the Lord our When our Lord stood before Pilate and God I will seek thy good (v. 9). he asked Him, “Art thou a King then?” “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one Jesus answered, “I am a king, but my of the least of these my brethren, ye have kingdom is not of this world, else would done it unto me.” This is not the judg­ my servants fight.” The Kingship of Jesus ment of Christians, but of the nations who consists in the entire sanctification of in­ have never heard of Jesus. They are dividuals. “For Christ’s Crown and Cov­ amazed at the magnanimity of His words— enant” was the motto of the Scottish Cov­ “Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, enanters. Am I eager to be saved and and fed thee?” If that is God’s attitude sanctified so that Jesus Christ is crowned to the nations who do not know Him, King in my life? “Ye call me Master and what is His attitude toward us? We are Lord: and ye say well; for so I am”—but never told to walk in the light of con­ is He? Is He Lord and Master of our science, but to walk in the light of the sentiments with regard to this war? of Lord. If Jesus Christ has taught me to be our passions and patriotic pride? We may “as he is in this world,” then in every think He is until we are brought into a particular in which I am not like Him, crisis, and then we realize that there are I shall be condemned. God engineers cir­ whole domains over which He is not Lord cumstances to see what we will do. Will and Master. Tfiis is true in individual we be the children of our Father in heav­ life and in national life. en, or will we go back again to the meaner, commonsense attitude? Will we stake all G e n e r o s it y of C o m m u n it y and stand true to Him? “Be thou faithful Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they unto death and I will give thee a crown shall prosper that love thee (v. 6). of life.” “The crown of life” means I shall “Pray for the peace of the city” because see that my Lord has got the victory after it will be better for us as saints if the all, even in me. September-October, 1944 (331) 59 The Inner Biography of Faith ment and can see His countenance in the dreadful cloud of war? Most of us are at (Psalm 123) our wits’ end, we have no inkling of what God is doing because our eyes have not This Psalm represents the inner bio­ been waiting upon Him. We are apt to graphy of faith. It is not easy to have pay more attention to our newspaper than faith in God, and it is not meant to be to God’s Book, and spiritual leakage begins easy because we have to make character, because we do not make the effort to lift God will shield us from no requirements up our eyes to God. “But we all, with of His sons and daughters any more than open face beholding as in a glass the glory He shielded His own Son. It is an easy of the Lord, are changed into the same business to sit in an armchair and say, image from glory to glory” (II Cor. 3:18). “Oh yes, I believe God will do this and That is a description of entire reliance on that” ; that is credulity, not faith. But let God. Be careful of anything that is going me say, “I believe God will supply all my to deflect your attention from God. It is needs,” and then let me “run dry,” no mon­ easier to rely on God in big things than ey, no outlook, and see whether I will go in little things. There is an enormous through the trial of my faith or sink back power in little things to distract our at­ and put my trust in something else. It is the tention from God; that is why our Lord trial of our faith that is precious. If we go said that “the cares of this world,” “the through the trial, there is so much wealth lusts of other things,” would choke the laid up in our heavenly banking account word and make it unfruitful. to draw upon when the next test comes.

3. Distraction of Annoyance 1. D irection of A spir ation Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou mercy upon us; for we are exceedingly that dwellest in the heavens (v. 1). filled with contempt. Our sotil is exceed­ “Unto thee lift I up mine eyes”—we ingly filled, with the scorning of those that have to make the effort to look up. The are at ease and with the contempt of the things that make it difficult to look up proud” (vs. 3, 4). are suffering, or difficulty, or murmuring. The thing to heed is not so much dam­ If you are suffering, it is intensely dif­ age to our faith in God as damage to our ficult to look up. The command to the temper of mind. “Therefore take heed children of Israel when they were bitten to your spirit, that ye deal not treacher­ by the fiery serpent was, “Look to the ously” (Malachi 2:16). The temper of brazen serpent.” We cannot look up if mind if it is not right with God is tremen­ we are murmuring; we are like a child who dous in its effects, it is the enemy that does not want to do what he is told, and penetrates right into the soul and dis­ the father comes and says, “Now look up,” tracts us from God. There are certain but the child will not. We behave like tempers of mind we never dare indulge that with God; our circumstances are in; if we do, we find that they distract us hard, we are not making progress in life, from God, and until we get back into the and the Spirit of God says, “Look up,” quiet mood before God our faith in Him is but we refuse and say, “I'm not going to nil and our confidence in human ingenuity play this game of faith any more.” The the thing that rules. counsel given by the writer to the He­ brews is based on the effort of the saint— Spiritual leakage comes not so much let us lay aside every weight let through trouble on the outside as through us run with patience the race that is set imagining you have “screwed yourself a before us; looking unto Jesus . . . . ; con­ bit too high.” For instance, you came to a sider him” (ch. 12:1-3). particular crisis and made a conscientious stand for God, you had the witness of the Spirit that everything was all right; but 2. D escription of t h e A ttentio n the weeks have gone by, and the months, Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto and you are slowly beginning to come Jip the hand of their masters, and as the eyes the conclusion that you had been taking of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; a stand a bit too high. Your friends come so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, and say, “Now don’t be a fool, you are until that he hath mercy upon us (v. 2). only an ordinary human being; when you God intends our attention to be arrested, talked about this spiritual awakening we He does not arrest it for us. The things knew it was only a passing phase, but you Jesus tells us to consider are not things can’t keep up the strain, God does not ex­ that compel our attention”—“Consider the pect you to” ; and you say, “Well, I sup­ lilies of the field,” “Behold the fowls of pose I was a bit too pretentious.” It sounds the air.” The Spirit of God instructs us wise and sensible, but the danger is that to be attentive. Are our eyes so fixed you do not rely on God any longer; re­ upon God that we have spiritual discern­ liance on worldly opinion has taken the

60 (332) The Preacher's Magazine place of reliance on God. We have to Preaching the Gospel of John realize that no effort can be too high, be­ cause Jesus says we are to be the children “The Attorney Presents His Case.” of our Father in heaven. It must be “My John 1:1-5; 20:30-31. utmost for His highest” all the time and “John—The Witness.” every time. John 1:6-8. “Character Witnesses.” “Have mercy upon us, O Lord, for we John 1:35-51. are exceedingly filled with contempt.” As “An Expert Witness.” God’s children we have to see that we John 3:1-2; 7:50-51; 19:39. keep looking in the face of God, otherwise “A Foreign Witness.” we shall find our souls in the condition of John 4: 29. being filled with contempt and annoyance, “The Nobleman Witness.” with the result that we are spiritually John 4:46-54. distracted instead of spiritually self-pos- “Works—A Witness.” sessed. This is true in individual circum­ John 5:36. stances as well as national crises. It is “Words—A Witness.” not always the cross mood that leads to the John 7:17, 46. cross speech, but the cross word that makes “The Blind Man—Witness.” the cross mood. If in the morning you John 9:25. begin to talk crossly, before long you will “The Witness of Hearing.” feel desperately cross. Take to God the John 10:14, 27, 28. things that perturb your spirit. You no­ “The Witness of Restored Life.” tice that certain people are not going on John 11:1-53, 26, 27. spiritually and you begin to feel perturbed; “The Kingly Evidence.” if the discernment turns you to interces­ John 12:12-19. sion, it is good; but if it turns to criticism “The Evidence from Heaven.” it blocks you in your way to God. God John 12:28. never gives us discernment of what is “The Evidence of the Upper Room.” wrong for us to criticize it, but that we John 13:1-38. might intercede. “The Evidence of Fidelity.” “Unto thee lift I up mine eyes.” The John 14:2. terrible thing is that we are likely to get “The Evidence of Fruit.” John 15:1-27. to the place where we do not miss the “The Evidence of Believers.” consciousness of God's presence; we have John 17:21. gone on so long ignoring the lifting up of “The Evidence of Gethsemane.” our eyes to Him that it has become the John 18:1-11. habit of our mind and it never bothers us. “The Evidence of the Judgment Hall.” We go on depending on our own wits and John 19:4, 6. ingenuity until suddenly God brings us “The Attorney’s Plea.” to a halt and we realize how we have John 15:26; 16:15. been losing out. Whenever there is spir­ “The Court’s Action.” itual leakage, remedy it immediately. It John 19:13-18, 30, 42. does not matter what you are doing, stop “The Supreme Court’s Decision.” instantly when there is the realization that John 11:25-26; 20:1-28; Matt. 28:1-20. you are losing out before God; lift up your —L . F. Patterson in United Presbyterian. eyes to Him and tell Him you recognize it—“Lord, this thing has been coming in between my spirit and Thee, I am not Communion Day Themes resting in faith.” Get it readjusted at once. There is always a suitable place to pray, “The New Covenant,” by Rev. R. W. to lift up your eyes to God; there is no Copeland. need to get to a place of prayer, pray “Hands,” by Rev. John C. Nevin. wherever you are. Confess before God “Fellowship” (I Cor. 10:17), by Rev. that you have been distracted away from Wm. H. French. faith in Him; don’t vindicate yourself. The “A Call to Loyalty,” by Dr. H. Ray Shear. lust of vindication is a state of mind that “Sitting with the Victoi-s” (Rev. 3:21), destroys the soul’s faith in God—“I must by Dr. Willard Wylie. explain myself” ; “I must get people to un­ “The Hope Laid Up in Heaven” and derstand.” The remarkable thing about “Some Blessings of the Second Birth,” our Lord is that He never explained any­ by Rev. Roy W. Hofstetter. thing to anybody. Nothing ever distracted “Body and Blood” (Luke 22:1-23) and Him out of His oneness with God, and He “They Went Forth” (Acts 8:1-25),—By prays “that they may be one, even as we Rev. David S. O y le r , in United Presby­ are one.” terian. September-October, 1944 (333) 61 MISSIONARY DEPARTMENT .

“A bandit army was advancing on a “ ‘No, I’m not afraid of you. I know you village in China, raiding every compound. can kill me, but if I had been afraid to At last they reached the gate of a walled die, I never would have come among such one within which was a little girl who a set of savages as you are.’ loved the Lord, having heard the Word “ ‘Davis,’ repeated the chief sternly, ‘are and believed it. None of her folks believed you not afraid to die?’ ‘the foreign devils’ religion. Hearing of “ ‘No. If you kill me, I have a home in the approaching raiders she prayed, ‘O heaven, where the wicked cease from Lord, this is your chance. Show my elders troubling, and the weary are at rest.’ your power, and protect us now. This is “Then, turning to his men, the chief said, your chance, Lord,’ she repeated. The ‘Well, this is a strange thing. Here’s a horsemen reached the gate, and the leader man who is not afraid to die, and we will ordered them to enter the compound. But have to let him keep his pot.’ ”— Exchange. the horses would rear up and turn aside from the gate as if seeing something. Re­ + peatedly the order was given, but each time the horses shied away from the gate The Testament that Was Not in spite of the riders. At length the Destroyed leader proclaimed that the horses saw It was early June, 1941, when a Hebrew devils and ordered his men to go on down Christian friend approached two of the the street. The child had won the battle, young women who had been most active and her testimony was received by her in this itinerant Jewish work, and asked elders.”—Miss R u d d y. them if they could come to her apartment the next morning. A certain Jewish + friend of hers, she said, would like so much to meet them. As they entered the home A Strong Man of this Hebrew Christian woman the next morning, a young woman rose and crossed Some thirty years ago, W. J. Davis, an the room, looking at the two missionaries African missionary, related to William intently. Then, with clasped hands, said: Taylor, afterward known as the missionary “ Oh, at last I’ve found you. At last I’ve bishop of Africa, the following incident found you!” which occurred in his early missionary ex­ Completely confounded, the two mission­ perience. aries looked their amazement, wondering “When I was stationed at Clarkebury in who this woman was, and why she had 1832, the Tambokie Chief, Vadana, coveted been looking for them. She saw their a pot we daily used in our cooking. He questioning eyes, and smiled, as she re­ came and begged me every day for seated herself, saying, “You don’t remem­ that pot for a long time. I gave him many ber me. Wait, let me tell you my story.” presents, but we could not spare the pot, And, simply and quietly, she began. and I positively refused to give it up. Almost two years earlier, these two mis­ “Finally the chief said, ‘Davis, I’ll have sionaries had appeared on her doorstep, that pot!’ The next day Vadana came with and had offered her the gift of a New thirty of his warriors, all armed with Testament. Refusing angrily, she had dis­ assegais—a kind of javelin, their principal covered that they had been going from war weapon. door to door all morning in her particular “They stood in defiant array before me, colony, talking with Jewish residents of and the chief said, ‘Davis, we have come other houses about Jesus of Nazareth, and for that pot.’ giving Testaments to all who would ac­ “ ‘We need that pot,’ I replied, ‘for cook­ cept. Infuriated, she had flung her ac­ ing our food, and, as I told you before, I cusations at them against Christ, against will not give it to you.’ Christianity, against Christians. With “ ‘You must give it to us, or we’ll take searing words, she had rebuked them as it.’ Christians for the part Christendom had “ ‘With thirty armed warriors against played through the centuries in the perse­ one unarmed missionary, you have the cution of the Jews. With scorn and con­ power to take it, but if that is the way you tempt, she steadily refused both conver­ are going to treat your missionary, just sation and the offered book. give me a safe passage out of your country, It was the policy of the missionaries and I’ll leave you.’ that one of them—whoever happened to “ ‘Davis, are you not afraid of us?’ de­ begin the conversation—would do the talk­ manded the chief sharply. ing, while the other remained in silent

62 (334) The Preacher's Magazine earnest prayer; and that day, under the to, but something about it attracted me.” bombardment of angry words, both had —Kate Ellen Gruver in Bible Society been praying very hard. Suddenly, the Record. irate woman quietly, held out her hand, and said, “Oh, all right, give me a Testa­ + ment!” And taking the little book went inside and closed the door. The inter­ view was over, and with grateful hearts The Gospel Story the missionaries went on their way. Some years ago in Northern India, Bish­ For days and weeks, this Jewish woman op Warne of the Methodist Church was was kept on their prayer list; but, as other cases crowded in, she was gradually preaching to a congregation seated on the dropped and, with the passing of the ground. He pictured how the very people Christ came to serve and save, seized Him, months, forgotten. That is, until this day mocked and spat upon Him, took Him be­ when she sat there eagerly telling her fore Pilate; and after judgment took Him story of the two missionaries for whom to Calvary. Vividly he described the suf­ she had looked so long. Several months earlier she had begun her search for “the ferings on the cross, the desertion of His friends in His agony; and how, in the midst two women who go about distributing Testaments.” At first, the questioning of it all He cried out, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do!” had been casual and discreet, so as not When the Bishop reached this point, an to arouse the suspicions of other Jews; then, as one clue led to another, she had old Hindu priest could stand it no longer. He rushed forward, threw himself at the finally met a mutual Hebrew Christian Bishop’s feet and exclaimed over and over, friend who was sure she knew the ones “We want you to leave India. We want wanted. you to leave India.” The Bishop asked At first—this radiant new convert said— why; to which the Hindu replied, “Because there had been the intention to destroy we have no story like this. We have no the little book; but for some reason it Saviour who lived a sinless life, died for remained on the cabinet shelf, until one His enemies and prayed for the forgive­ day she found it in her hands without ness of those who took His life. We have knowing just how it got there. Frightened, no story like this in any of our religions. she had flung it away—still intending to If you keep on telling this story to our destroy it, yet never doing so. Again and people they will forsake our temples and again, she would pick it up, almost uncon­ follow your Saviour.” sciously, and read first a phrase, then a Since this is exactly what thousands are sentence, then verses, passages. At last doing all over India, every month of the she made up her mind to read it outright. year, what India clearly needs is to have After all, it was only a book and couldn’t every missionary give more and more of harm her. And so it began. As her in­ this message.—Selected. terest increased, there came more earnest study and comparison with Old Testament writings and teachings. + Being a teacher in the school in her colony, she knew the discouragements of A most thrilling story is that of Stanley trying to teach a class a certain lesson W. Tefft, of Toledo, Ohio. In a letter to when they refused to learn that lesson. his sister written from the naval hospital And so the time had come when, in the in Alameda, California, a few weeks ago, spirit of a pupil, she had begun to search he revealed that natives on a South Pacific for “her teachers” to tell them that she island, converted to Christ before the war, had at last learned the lesson they had had won him and six other American fliers wanted to teach her that other day on the to Christ. The seven men were marooned doorstep. She had found that Jesus Christ on the island for eighty-seven days. Some was the Son of God, the promised Mes­ of the natives, of whom there were about siah! .... two hundred, could speak English, and The gift of a Testament, Gospel, or tract their first act was to give Tefft and his is seldom refused by the Jewish people companions a Bible. “Every night we of Palestine; and today every Jewish col­ would gather around the fire, sing gospel ony out there has been visited at least one songs, and take turns reading the Bible,” time by the messengers bearing such gifts. Tefft wrote. The men eventually put out On the occasions when the missionaries have on rafts, and were rescued by an American been able to visit a colony a second time, scouting plane. “The only thing that individuals interviewed the first time have brought us back,” wrote Stanley to his sis­ been met again and have warmed the ter, “was faith. You can tell the world hearts of the visitors with such testimonies I am now a devout Christian.”—Bible as this: “Yes, I read it. I didn’t want Society Record. September-October, 1944 (335) 63 ILLUSTRATION

The Pre-eminence of Love some did not go to pieces. “These,” he “A lady who is in the constant habit of said, “were uniformly men of faith.” To giving away flowers from her garden is a minister who was present he said, “Pas­ often heard to declare, ‘The flowers I give tor, preach for conviction! Give your away never fade.’ No! for they remain people something solid to stand on, and forever in the remembrance of those who from which they can never be dislodged.” receive them, keeping their color and fra­ Then he added that the only thing that grance to the end. Is there not in this a brought him and others through the shat­ hint for all of us, concerning deeds of love tering agonies of their terrible experience and charity?”—Selected. was the faith that the things they had • fought for were in the hands of a good God. Like Moses, they “endured, as see­ Covetousness ing him who is invisible.” “Trust in riches—ah, there is the word which explains the whole matter! It is a not money, but the wrong attitude toward I Am the Door money that bars men out of the kingdom of God. So long as you are master of For a good many years we have won- your money, be it much or little, and use dred why Christ mixed His figures in His it as its master, it will be a blessing to you, parable of the Good Shepherd. At one one of God’s good gifts. But when the place he calls himself the Shepherd, and money is master of the man, so that he at another the Door. A recent book ex­ loves and trusts in it, preferring it to his plains it beautifully. It says, “A traveler own honor or to the well-being of his in Palestine once had a conversation with neighbor or to the glory of God, then the a shepherd at work near a sheepfold, who money has become a curse.”—Monday showed him the various features of the Club. fold. Thereupon the traveler remarked, e ‘You say, here is the sheepfold, where is the door?’ ‘The door?’ asked the shepherd. A Study in Christlike Living ‘I am the door. I lie across the entrance A Korean walked a distance of one hun­ at night. No sheep can pass out, no wolf dred miles to recite some verses of scrip­ can come in, except over my body.’ ” ture to a missionary. The missionary Beautiful, is it not? Christ did not mix listened as the man recited in Korean, His figures, after all. He is both the Shep­ without a verbal error, the entire Sermon herd and the Door.—Council Fires. on the Mount, then said, “If you simply memorize it, it will be a feat of memory and nothing more; you must practice its He Could Calm a Stormy Heart teachings.” G u y E dw ard The Korean’s face lighted up with a smile as he promptly replied, “That is the “That’s the place, right there,” he said way I learned it. I tried to memorize it to me, pointing to a large building, as we but found that I could not remember it rode by in the trolley car. until I tried this plan. I would memorize “ You don’t mean that whole block, do a verse, then find a neighbor of mine and you?” I asked my traveling companion, practice the verse on him. Then I found a man of sixty-odd. that I knew it.”—Exchange. “Yes, it was all mine. I began in a small way. Hundreds of men were working two ® shifts. Orders were piling up. I was In an interesting article in a recent is­ fast becoming a rich man. Then—well, sue of the Union Seminary Revieiv, Dr. overnight I was stripped of everything. J. H. Marion, of Richmond, Virginia, tells It was like turning off the only light in this story: a room on a dark, stormy night. Every­ It is the story of a German refugee now thing went black as midnight. The storm in this country. He was once the editor was terrible—in my heart I mean.” Then of a great German newspaper. Because he paused. he would not bow to the tyranny of AdolE “Too bad,” I exclaimed. Hitler, he was put in a concentration camp “Too bad?” he repealed turning to me and horribly tortured there. After a time, sharply, with eyes glistening. “Say, I shall he was fortunate enough to be released never quit thanking God for that ex­ and to find his way to this country. He perience.” has told of the agonies of life in a German “I don’t understand,” I said. concentration camp, and of seeing men go “In the terrible darkness of that hour,” utterly to pieces under that torture. But he explained, “I saw a great light. In the 64 (336) The Preacher's Magazine storm I heard a sweet voice. The light transact business and social affairs, may took form; it was the Saviour. The Sav­ seem dead, and we may feel that life is iour was speaking to me—oh, so gently. unprogressive and dead, but above all He was so wonderful that I forgot my loss. these are currents of life like the breezes For a moment I forgot everything. I hardly of the upper air, and, if only we will know what He said to me, but I do know spread our sails and take advantage of that I loved Him, and that my heart went them, the soul can cease standing still. out to Him in surrender and devotion. We can catch the impetus of higher and Then the storm in my heart ceased. It was better things.—Exchange. —I—I—really can’t describe it.” Many times that white-haired man stood up in my services, faced the people Lionel Fletcher, the English evangelist, and said, “Friend, I thank God that He tells the following story: “I knew a distin­ took everything I had, for then it was that guished minister of the gospel who was I found Him, and He is better than all, one of the greatest preachers. He had a yes, better than all.” His face would be congregation of cultured people; his wreathed in smiles, and tears glistening church was full, but he never knew what with glory would trickle down his cheeks. it was to have people come to him to ask —The Watcliman-Examiner. the way of salvation. He attended a con­ a vention and heard men testify to the power of tire Holy Ghost, and it dis­ On calling his staff together, Napoleon’s turbed him. Then a revival came to a attention was called to a brilliant young neighboring church, hundreds were con­ officer who had recently carried his end verted and some of his young people came of the battlefield to victory. Studying in possession of something to which he was seriously a possible promotion, Napoleon a stranger. It sent him to his knees; curtly asked, “And what did the young stripped of intellect, conceit and pride of man do the next day?” name and fame, he rose with the assurance This ought to be a question for each one that he had obtained the fulfilment of the of us. It is not past attainments, but promise of his Lord. The following Sun­ continued aggression for God. “And what day his people sensed something; his did the young man do the next day?”— prayers had new power, reading of the (in collateral reading—exact text forgot­ Scripture was different; he preached the ten) , submitted by J. Carey Campbell. glorious gospel as never before; he spoke e out of a full heart and burning experience and in the next few weeks more than 250 Keeping the Law of his people sought salvation. He was (John 15:12-17) heard to say that, at 56 years of age, he had been “born again.” “Some cattle were being driven through a long, dark, wooden bridge in the sides • of which were knot-holes. Hays of light The Command Against came through those knot-holes and ter­ rified the cattle, which tried madly to get Covetousness by them, so they came to the end of the Thou shalt not covet (Ex. 20:17) bridge quite exhausted with their panic. The sin of covetousness, or the desire God’s commandments are just such rays to get rich will dry up human sympathies, of light, intended to illuminate cur journey and help us over the dark places; and yet divert the mind from high and healthy thoughts, degrade art and science and how often we try to avoid them, and treat literature, destroy family life, poison the them as hindrances and annoyances!”'— Selected. fountains of society, sanction immoralities, and make the nation a seething caldron of • selfishness and unrest. The greatest need of our land today is an education away Heavenly Breezes from this danger.—Howard Crosby. A ship was lying becalmed while the e sea around it was like glass and the air seemed motionless. Presently a pennant Human Ambition on top of the tall mast was fluttering “Walking along a street with a friend, gently. There was no hint of breeze on one remarked of a man whom he passed, water or on the deck of the vessel, but the ‘That man has nothing in the world but sailors spread the upper sails. Soon the forty thousand dollars.’ Now there are ship was moving through the quiet waters, but few of our readers who would not re­ being driven by the currents of the upper gard him as rich, and possibly change air. This story is a parable of life. places with him. But if that is really the The atmosphere in which we move on case with him he is not to be envied.”— the street, in the shop, in the office, as we Selected. September-October, 1944 (337) 65 BOOK REVIEWS

THE BROTHER, by Dorothy Clark Wil­ THE HOLY SPIRIT, by Dr. J. A. Huff­ son, (Westminster Press. Price, $2.50.) man, dean of Religion, Taylor Universitj Here is a remarkable book, in which the and President, Winona Lake School oi author tells the story of James, the brother Theology (Summer Sessions). A revised of Jesus, and so gives an extraordinary edition of a good book on a most importanl new approach to the life of Jesus himself. subject written by a well-known anc The story follows faithfully the main out­ much-loved teacher of the doctrine of holi­ lines of the life of James as that life has ness. The chapter headings of this book been preserved to us in the New Testa­ show the wide scope of its message anc ment, augmented by the traditions of the discussion; they are: The Holy Spirit anc early Church. That outline has been filled His Personality; The Holy Spirit and Dis­ in with a wealth of striking detail which pensations; The Holy Spirit and Hi; impresses the reader as, in the main, Methods; The Holy Spirit as the Ministei highly probable. The story is lacking in of Grace; The Holy Spirit as Comforter: the sort of Jewish flavor which Sholem The Holy Spirit in Human Personality Asch has put into his The Nazarene, and Moods of the Holy Spirit; The Gifts, Of­ in many of its scenes will impress the fices and Graces of the Holy Spirit; The reader as diluted by an occidental point Holy Spirit in Missions; The Holy Spiril of view. Moreover, those readers who are and the Church; The Spirit-filled Life looking for a rigidly formal Christology The message is more of an exposition oi will be disappointed by this volume. But scripture verses on the subjects discussed it is a powerful, movingly dramatic tell­ than a continuous discussion of the theme ing of the story of Jesus’ impact on His with scriptural proof texts. It is a good generation as seen in the spiritual cycle book for study, has much helpful materia] through which James, the Lord’s brother, for sermons on The Holy Spirit; and is a passed. Anyone who reads it will be book which any Christian may read with gripped and edified by it.—J. G le n n much profit. It is worthy of a place in G o u ld . every preacher’s library. (The Standard Press) 231 pages, price $1.50. + + MORE SERMONS IN STORIES, by Dr. William L. Stidger. A companion volume GOLDEN NUGGETS, compiled and to this popular author’s book, “There Are edited by Theodore W. Engstrom, Man­ Sermons in Stories.” Here is a book of aging Editor, The Christian Digest. This, 151 pages filled with “short human-in- the fourth volume of a series prepared by terest stories which lift and inspire.” The this compiler, deals expressly with the four publishers say of the stories of this book, Gospels. He has scanned thousands of “They offer a deep cellar of illustrative sermon outlines, illustrations and other material to the public speaker, to the helps, and presents in this volume the teacher, and to the minister. They stim­ cream of his search. There are 136 pages ulate the casual reader to be his best self of sermon outlines, about fifty pages of and to make his finest contribution to illustrations, fifteen pages of “Snappy living, for their author is a master of the Sermon Starters,” about twenty-four pages art of digging up those interesting little of “Quotable Religious Poetry,” and forty things of life, of storing them and making pages of “Seed Thoughts.” The book is them into great and helpful messages, of fully indexed. The compiler says in his seasoning them with bits of his own phil­ Foreword, “This material is presented osophy and molding them into concen­ to preachers, teachers, Bible students and trated form without losing their earthly others who feel the need of ‘a little prim­ flavor.” Dr. Stidger is the head of the ing to the wells of thought,’ with the pray­ Department of Preaching in Boston Uni­ er that God will bless it to the ultimate versity School of Theology. An Abingdon- salvation of souls and edification of be­ Cokesbury book; price $1.50. lievers.”—A Zondervan book, price $2.00.

66 (338) The Preacher's Magazine ^ J l i e ^iljeciniiuj o j ^/Jo/ineM

By D. Shelby Corlett, D. D.

Seven messages on the Wesleyan Doctrine of Entire Sanctification.

In these chapters there is emphasized, truth backed by Scripture and by Christian experience that will give the reader an intellectual grasp of the doctrinal aspects involved. More important still it will enable anyone with an acknowledged need of the experience to enter in. Further than that, every one already enjoying the fulness of the blessing will find spiritual enrichment in the pages of this book.

CHAPTER TITLES

1. The Holiness of God 2. Holiness in Man 3. Holiness, the Provision of Redemption 4. Holiness in Personal Experience 5. The Spirit of Holiness 6. The Life of Holiness 7. Some Broader Implications of Holiness

Cloth board covers; attractive jacket

Price $1.00

The Quest for Certainty

By Russell V. DeLong Ph. D.

Are there satisfactory answers to the following questions? Is religion anything more than primitive superstition and fear? Is religion wishful thinking and make-believe? How can we know there is a God? Was Jesus "God on earth"? Are the accounts of His miracles true? Was not [esus a pacifist? Why are there so many churches; which is the true one? Are not the churches dying out? Is the Bible the infallible Word of God? Is prayer any use? Why does God allow war and innocent suffering? Our young men in service are asking these questions. They will ask them when they return. There are answers to all of them and the answers are not evasions. The author answers them in his message; answers them from the point-of-view of Scripture and Christian experience. Price 25c “ This book will do for the mind, and spirit what the si Ufa drugs and penicillin will do for the body. It should be in the hands of all college and young people.” — D r. C . A. M c C o n n e ll.

NAZARENE PUBLISHING HOUSE 2923 Troost Ave., Box 527, Kansas City 10. Mo. Jktuiouncuicj Four Important New Hooks of Our Own Publication ABRIDGED HOLINESS CLASSICS Your Publishing House now offers the first four volumes in a new series of Abridged Holiness Classics. The plan is to add to this group from year to year until it comprises all the books recognized as Holiness Classics many of which are al­ ready out of print. The abridging has been accomplished by eliminating all incidental material. Not one word of the original matter has been changed. The first four volumes of this series now ready for distribution have been abridged by Dr. John Paul well known holiness writer and evan­ gelist. The books are uniformly priced at $1.00 each. They are bound in durable cloth covers with attractive paper jackets; approximately 128 pages each. With little consideration of costs we have arbitrarily priced this series at $1.00 a volume in order to give them the widest possible distribution. The four titles now available are • PERFECT LOVE. By J. A. Wood • POSSIBILITIES OF GRACE. By Asbury Lowrey « CHRISTIAN PURITY. By Bishop Foster • PURITY AND MATURITY. By J. A. Wood Priced at $1.00 each. NAZARENE PUBLISHING HOUSE 2923 Troost Ave., Box 527, Kansas City 10, Mo.