The Lutheran visitor. (Columbia, S.C.) 1869-1904, November 23, 1870, Image 1
ONE LORD, ONE FAITH. ONE B APTI8 M"—EPHE8IA N8 IV: 5.
SERIF
COLUMBIA, S. C
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1870
OLD SERIES, VOL. V
report, whether mow will hear or a
forbear, the e fleetest minister not only a
cries i “Woe U am. If ! preach not I
the Gospel," hot his happinem pres- l
ent and fhtore depends on tbia work, a
ami his undying lore for it prassra a
him I'heerfhlly on. Ordained to a
(wench the Word and administer the I
sacrament*, with the Bible in hie 1
band, the harvest white before him, I
the MnnwiHl of his Master engraven c
on his heart, and the love of saving t
soul* penrndlug his mental sad |
moral nntnrr, he enter* on * his a
work; and while the angels carry I
home to glory the glad news of a i
sinner saved, and heaven's arrbea a
hag with the aong of redermiag ?
love, his own henrt swells ap with c
a delight, a swart peare, aantterabie i
joy, unknown in any other work, t
Them' (deasnrahle desire*, this full
and constant delight, in the great I
work of preach mg the Wool, »s an *
other Ingredient in an efficient min- I
istry. I
The efficient minister in net slso *
**xperiea«e the truth he preaches, i
No ooe can gammy this importaat i
iwnpositioa, that, at least, he should i
believe tin' fundamental doctrines of i
Christianity. Not the simple assent <
of the nmlemtandiiig, bat n belief 11
which moahls the heart ami mm- : I
science, in accordance with Ha mil- i
cmn dictates. To km»w the heart, to 1
examine thoroughly the moral eh am <
liera of the anal, to weigh the reti- i
gionseiaotums in the hnhsnees of Rev \
elation, is a difficult, bat an essen i
tial duty of the rbrudiaa minister. *|
Ho prone is the hum an heart to err. ,i
an deceitful and dc*f>cratet> wicked i
is the moral eundition of humanity, <
no unfavorably is man situated to i
I mss judgment a pm* himself, so fair’
and enticing are the glittering gew I
gaws ot earth, that the minister «
may preach the unadulterated Word
of (rod without ever experiencing i
its regenerating power in his own
soul. Ilow can such a preacher be
a “workmnu that needeth not to he ,
ashamed, rightly div sling the Wuc<d !
of truth, a vessel sanctiAed, ami i
meet for the Master's use, and per
pored unto every good work. 1 * That
Faith which justifies the sinner most
Iteroaie flic living principle in his
own religious hfc. It sh«mld hr the j
cementing instnnaent which binds
him as a goodly stone to the ('omer
Stone of this mystical temple. Thru,
when he points in the man on ( al
vary, announce* the (dan of salva
tion, makes known the nwMlitiou* of'
lecuttciltstioo. ami, lifting the veil
that hides immortality from man,
lads him Indmld the glorious re-*
winds of beaten. the Are of his eye ■
tiashes forth the truth impressed
upon his heart, the tone of his voter
indicates the earnest ness of a anal
deeply mil Hied with the spirit of its
work, and the expression of the .
countenance, the hold and fearless
manner, the living. Iwesthing, bum
tug wnrds of the s|ieaker reaches the
heart, awakens the conscience, sad,
aoco«n|Miiiied by the lloly Bfdrit, ex
erts its legitimate inAuenee iu evso-
gelizing the world. The earnest dia- j
j cuasiou of doctrine, ami tin- simple *
: invitation to aw|it the proffer* of
tJ»e gus|iel, |m*u)n forth from the full
ness of a heart t hat has irnjSrd its
' mercies ami has know n its troth. ( ,j
Standing lietweeii un offending God 1
and the offending rebel, with the 1
divine eommissioiui engraved on his
soul, ami “holiness of heart" suiujad
on bis brow, directing the rye of
faith to the crucified on i'alvary, the
only ho(»e tor the condemuod, U»e
only Saviour from the inexoraiti*
curse of the low, his im|dortng call
to believe in Jesus, the key note of
his work, springs from a soul in
tiuiou with the Reilermrr, governed
by the principles of Christianity, and
that fully eoniprebends the power of
faith. It is an unprofitable work, a
aeltaondeinniug work, yea, mm 1 ness
for which there is no epithet, to
preach the eternal principles of the
Christian religion, without knowing
their truth, feeling their power, or
etgoying their rewards from experi
ence. If the tiattmmnn can arouse a
nation groaning under the iron had
of oppression, can not the minister
of Jesus, whose “lips are touched
with hallowed fire,’’ gather trophies
of lhviue grace around the cross f
If the enrueet bsraugne of the actor
cau wring tears from Uie giddy
crowd by Uie (ireaentation of the
fall, can not the minister of Jeaoa,
in the spirit on the lord's day, in*
finence a congregation to forsake the
devil and serve the Lord! To be
an eilettmt minister, be most exp©
rience the truth he preaches.
To know whnt to speak, to take
pleasure in speaking it, and U» ex
perieuo© the (»owcr uf the truth
Diversities of Gifts.
A young lady of rank mid piety,
in HuoUand, wished much to draw
others to the Havtoor. In the circle*
where she mingled, it seemed lm|ios-
stble for her tv spadjp for Christ—to
make |ieraona! Ofipuab for her Mas
ter—and for a season there was a
constant struggle In her mind.—
Whenever she attempted to niter
tin const ant thought mid wish of
her heart, the gay langit. the aierry
jest, or light and frivolous maimer
of those about her, blunted every
effort. In her diseonrogemeut, die
laid the maun before the Ijord, ami
tln n. ss usual, closed the dav with
we ifore to die ami meet at the judg
nient these lost ones, and hear from
the lips of the indignant Saviour,
who was not too busy to die for as,
“Thou wicked ami slothful servant T
let os look to oar Master, Jeans, the
motto of whose life was, “I must
work the works of Him that sent
me while it Ik day : tin- nigliI ootneth
when no man can work”—that night
when no uiau cau win kingdom or
glory, when no man can be a hero
aud save souls from death, ami when
no man cun tell Jesus of grateful
love by brave deeds,—Mixtion Ijcave*.
13 PUBLISH KO|
gUY WEDN1
he, “that church
I should freeue
h* very remain, *
ater, “yon should
i Cash, Strictly in
k per annum
r, $ax mouths..a.’,
iters, Widows of Al
k«oloci«*;d !*tudenti
rribera who fail to
Dilution of their *
Pill be charged per
names arc ontem
book, without the
misters.
emit st
iliecrip-
snnnm 2.00
on the sub
Ifst. pnylnrut
the Word. He must read it, y*o,
study H eareftilly, earnestly, fre
quently, persevwriagly. He must
humbly pray to his Saviour to open
his nml©rotund in g, as be did the
two disciples on their way to Em
lnaus, that he might understand the
Scriptures. By oomiutring the views
of eminent men, by studying the
Word without note or com met it, by-
employing fvery possible help with
in his reach, by examining his own
moral nature reflected from the mir
ror of revelation, an<\, by imbuing
his soul in the spirit of the go*|iet,
lie will accumulate spiritual knowl
edge, possess (lower in the work of
saving souls, ami aid in erecting
that building whose ea|>-stooe will
lie laid in glory. The knowledge
of God’* Word, and consequently a
proper use of the sacra meats, is an
essential element in an efficient tain
istry.
Every .employment Income* bnr
densome and oppressive, when it is
not loved for its own intrinsic value.
It hangs over the employer like a
dark frowning incubus, weakening
his energies, impeding his progress,
ami engendering the wish to abandon
it. To be employed in sny work
in which lie can have no pleasure,
unfits a man for that high (wsition
which it is bis privilege and duty to
attain. This is eminently true of the
ministry. If any workman should
love his work, iinbne bis sool with
the s|iirit of his calliug, it shook!
be the servant of the Moat High,
failed to he a watchman on the
walls .of Zion, an ninlmaandor from
i the court id heaven, a soldier under
I tin' blood stained banner of Eman
uel, a minister of Jesus Christ con
cerning the eternal interests of the
human race, a servant of the living
' (»od to ureouipliah tin* reionriliation
of guilty man, a messenger to an
nounce the glad tidings of salvation,
a pastor of the flock of tiod’it own
gathering; be, above all other work
men, should rejoice in his work, and
e\(H*rience a joy unutterably glori
iso:
column):
The Cause of Hen's Opposition to the
Truth.
‘ Aud the* gave him smUetu-c nuUi this
word, sad then lifted up their voices, and
mid. Awsy with suck a fellow from the
earth ; for ft is uot fit that be ahonld
live.**—Arts rxfi: ft, fit.
Jf
Can we trace this some spirit in
men’s opposition to the Gospel now?
We eau trace this same spirit in all
ages, yes, it exists even now, thoogli
the laws of the land and the usages
of society keep it In check from man
ifeating itself so openly ns in former
times; but do we not constantly
see hatred to the truth lnrking under
the mask of aiqiarent consent to ft ?
Ye*, and bitter malice and eury
against those who hold the doctrines
of the Gospel U» all their integrity.
The natural heail of man is always
the same, not one whit 1 letter than
these |>oor Jews who (lersecuted
Paul, nor of those who crucified the
Lord of life and glory. Their lan
guage continually is, “We will not
have this man to reign over us f 5
aud to Qis followers, “Away with
such a fellow. from tbe earth, for
it is uot fit that be should Live. 9
This spirit is clearly traceable to tbe
pride of the liniuan heart, which cau
uot beat to think it is so inqioteut
as uot to be aide to help itself. This
is certainly the caar with all the
Lord's owu people In*fore they are
brought to throw themselves entirely
as helpless sinners ou Christ, and
trust His merits alone for salvation.
It * as uiy* case many years, during
which 1 vainly thought 1 should be
a little better by and by; but in
stead, found myself growing worse
and worse, until the lloly Spirit
m. when more t tau five
for eight word , pay ah]
Five rent* per fuarter,
ittaiires aud coin: tunicatioti*
«er train*
Religious
ga-jjc=c:.il.'. .1— tJg— E=-J=". --»■ ~
Fur tl>e Is: llieran Viator.
1 1 An Efficient Min istry.
»
Fhtay read before the Xetc&erry
Wenee. I*uMi*hed t y KemduHoa.}
in the
vl^fissunied human
si 0f our Lord Je 4is Chrifit to
» a revolteil hmni nity back to
to* restore man b > his original
ue«»!e, and to imve tbe deprav^tl
friitn tbe results o( disolledifiuoe.
w.-omidiah this work our Is»nl
q>pt)inted and ords ined tbe tnhi-
, and has comma ided his gos-
to • he preached, a id the saera-
tali lie administer h! to the einl
uie: promising t« l>e with his
mtaj ami bless heir lalmrs ;
ringf them that a world will be
ei!ic«l. Wliether t iis all glorious
i eonld have been accomplished
iy other way, ina i ran not pos-
ly affirm, nor hi s the Otnnis-
; (tod revealed. . ''reach the ;fO*
s the command, mil the Word
Ritt^aments, iu th } hands of his
servants, v ill secure, in
ru time, the [»vangidiration
rid. What then, is the
• 00am
11 45am
1 57pm
4 00pm
6 30 pm
th Train*
nts North
. 3 44 p m
8 30 pm
ith Train*
roods for
i Florida,
y. Mobile,
Mem-
, and Bag-
r>int«.
ute coiup
i) different
ordainL
OhHot^
of the; ’
liest iuc
miatry
and admiiiistaring th i sarraments
who is fin* most eftic cat lalmrer in ous, when he guards the outer (tost*
tb* miTiistrj-; that tl is great w'ork of the enntp, fights raliently in the
of recirttciling men t» Goil, qualify
ing souls for heaven, ind extending
the kin filotn of Jean * may l»e sim:
ceWifiiBi accomplishe l ?
Some men tabor m lously and |>er- J Divine
severingly in tbe inii istry, with ap
little snecesj
front ranks of tlu* army, announce*
heaven's terms to tlm enemies of
truth, (MHiits the^iiiiful aons of Adam
to the cross of Christ, obey* the
commission of his Lord,
| preaches Ghrifit aud him erucitieil,
; Jesns and the resurrection, and feeds
the hi mbs gathered into the fold of
the Redeemer. -Spiritle**, heavy, and
deejdy oppressive must be that work
which lias reference to the eternal
1 interests of immortal mmiLs, when
; there is no heart in it. 'Are there
1 any subjects found in this cold,
heartless world, as thritlingly inter
esting as those preached by the
■ ministers of .Icsns f Is there auy
official station, equal in dignity and
imjHH taiice to the ambassador from
heaven ! Is there any nmrr;desira
ble reward tiian that offerrsl to those
who turn mapy to righteousness,
and who shall shine as the stars in
the firiilament of glory f If the
minister of Jeans luts no delight in
such n Konl-cunobling work, he must
fail. He ought to fail. Jesus can
never prosper the work of tlmt ser
vant, when selfish, worldly aud
sensual pleasures diminish his love
for his Master’* cause. If wealth be
the object of his love, his work for
Christ will Uncrippled, aud disa(>-
pointnient must inevitably follow.
If he seek luxury and case, he will
have no heart to labor in season aud
out of season, to toil on in love and
patience, that the church limy be
i pc reused, and souls saved. If be
desire sdf-siggraudizenieiit, every
gos(>el sermon wit) announce his
owu doom, if auy object contrary
to the spirit the Gosjiel be tbe
goal at which he is aiming, it will
unfit him for the work of tbe minis
try, elog tbe wheels of the gospel
ear, cloud his mental sky with un
hallowed fogs, aud lead him groping
aud ituliappy through a life of un-
desired ami unrequited toil. To be
efficient in this world-redeeming
cause, the miuister must love his
work. Ixive it for its own inherent
worth. Love it for its reflex in
fluence upon Uis own moral nature.
Love it for the grand achievements
it lias and will accomplish. . Whether
in poverty or affiueaco, in the dun
geon or »t the stake, in good v»r *rM
Go. Work in ay VwoyanL - « » fiuthful saying, and wortky
of all aiweptation. that Christ Jesus
We liie in an earnest age. hn- ulvo j nto the world to save sinners,
erg* fnwii the eve*, !ij*S f vet ^ xvhom j ani
of all who harry by ns. Tilings J' '
The Study of th* Scripture*
Dr. Bmados, in his recent work,
make's s.Hne valuable suggestions.
He say*:
The Scripture* themselves should
at everx- period of his life be a preach
er’s chief study. When we meet a
young brother who lias just become
convinced that it is his doty to
preach, and who is inquiring about
{Reparation for the work, our first
word ought to be, the Bible—not so
isneli at the put set—the profound
study of doctrinal epistles or pro
phetical books, as the familiar and
accurate knowledge of historical facts,
the analysis of Biblical characters,
the memorising of devotional pas
sages and of precepts, the acquisi
tion of a general familiarity with the
contents of praticular books and o
the entire sacred collection. Young
ministers, even graduates of colleges,
aw often found Badly deficient as to
this general knowledge of th© Bible;
while tbe best Sunday-schools, as
well os the most admirable family
instrnction, have usually bat laid
the foundation for such knowledge
as the preacher should make haste
to gaiu. Aud every stage of culture
and experience, as life goes ou, pre
sents fresh occasion and new facili
ties for studying the Bible. In the
originals, if possible, ia the English
version at any rate; by the rapid
reading of large portions, by the
thorough study of a given book, by
the minute examination of particular
passages, ami sometimes even by
looking at sentences here and there
a* we turn over the leaves; by read
ing in company with others, for
discussion or for sympathy; by read
ing when alone with our beating
hearts and oar God; by adopting
new methods for variety, and by
steadily maintaining old methods
till they become habitual; brjm*
big when we enjoy it, as a pleasure,
and when at Uie begiodbg when we
do not enjoy it, as a duty—every
way, and continually, let us keep up,
ery side call down upon oar head* freshness, extend oar acquaintance
the anger of God! Ami bow shall | wjfb the precious word of God,
mom! can
p Station*
lAndevean,
ry and' Al-
Smptt. t
tet Agent.
parent!
others neetn
to Jay hold of the hor is of the altar,
and eodqiel the hlesj ing of heaven
to amitfpany their et ortx. The one
breaks up the full© r ground and
sow* the need ; the < fher enttRate*
the garden and alio* ts the harvest
home. Whether the one has done
nothing^ or the ’ othe a<x*omplishctl
iiiurli, n,yill only be ki awn when the
Railroad
maiiufoctorrr— al! have the Name
aim and part"***"—to nave Ulior and
maltipl) comfort*. It i* a divine
farmhy imparted to man to invent
and create, and to improve hi* (*ro
duct ion * to the end of time. The
Bible itadf ha* been made the com
mofi pruple’a lmok by mean* of mm
ehiucry; ami mi*M«marie* of the
LTowa arc Hhirni ami iarreantag in
profmrtioti a* art ami miettee are
cultivated in laml* altemly won to
t'hrint. True rrligimi ounetiiic* *cc
nlar paraait*. and make evangel* of
the dumb material* that have lain
loeked ap In ailemx* in mountaina
and river* ntuce the »ori*l liegan.
All art* am! orieutifie achievement*
among men are Imt the relic* of an
intellert defoerd by *hi. like phwe*
a* they ahiMild; therefore error and
xrirke«ltie*4 defy the armies of the
living God. And yet who ever had
such motive* to onroestnes* as we
etiriatians f Onr Master offers us
not rewanl* that perisb or must be
left. Imt everlasting crowns and king-
douis, ri«h»‘s :utd#glon. if *«• "’ill
figlit the good fight of faith, if we
will overeonie. If we will be wise
<*fKMtgh to win souls. Appeals to
ottr |»ity, anch a* no other than a
Christian tan bear, come from every
(tide—from st ml * dying, not for time,
but for eternity. Anti above all, the
one whom we serve, and who, as
He seeks to save the lost, bids ns
follow Him. When, tbeu, the prom
im* of such great rewanl, pity for onr
brothers and fristeia, and gratitude
to our Raricmr, all plead with ns
for an eanieat life for Him, how
atnutge that there slionld be earnest
men and women every^w here, but so
frw in the Church of Christ!
From China the cry i*, “Will no
body come and help u«T From
Japan the Bishop says, “If we had
only one man f* From Africa, from
Mi xbo, fnu„ our own West, front
sill the world come agonising appeals,
«W1B not Home one come and tell
the poor dying i»eople of Jesus F
And then these swarms of godless
one* iu our street*—these miles of
tenement house*, awl no churches,
no |»reacliers of Christ. Lazy, dumb
Christians that we are! so libsy with
the important trifles of the earth.
I wonder how* we dare to walk these
God forsaken street*, lest the houses
fall npon us awl crush or for onr
—leat the blasphemies on ev
Idren di*'
* * That
lie under
Word awl
i* exist in
lest infaa*
Y mothers,
•heir ehil*
ijsr of oh*
surely, a*
d wrtett*
te infant,
inestock «
With this feeling they would fail in
suty place. They who are successful
in our large cities would make their
rn.irk anywhere. They are earnest,
zealous men, who, with magnetic
{power, gather kindred spirits around
them, owl work with them. John
the Baptu»t did not require a forge,
handsome church In Jeraaalein to
make himself heard. Hi* cannot
voiae, proclaiming the messagr of
IRkI, drew crowd* to him to the
wilderness. It wo* good advice that
Ssaa once given by an old minister
to a yonng mao, who, oo entering
the miuistry, ap(died to him for os-
aistance to secure a call in ooe of
some prominent churches thro va
cant. He turned a discouraging an
swer In regard to every place spoken
of; and when the ytmag mao, almost
mi. despair, asked what he should
do, he recommended him to take a
certain feeble church In the neigh
borhood.
How Aon Stkktothicss IT»^-
ftir Walter fWt refotes in hi* anto-
biography, that when he was a child,
one of his leg* w*s paralysed, and
that when medical skill failed, a
kind ancle induced him to exert the
muscles of the powerless limb by
irarrif a paid rcatch before him on
the door, tempting him la creep idler
it, and thus keeping up and gradu
ally increasing vital ecrion and mus
cular force.
Bo God deals with ns Hi oar
s|dritnal childhood and the weak
ness of our faith. He boMs tbe
hlessiugt before ns, so as to tempt
a* to creep after them. How weak
oar efforts; how slow oar move
menu) But spiritual vitality fo
elicited, developed, strengthened, by
those Hfort* and movement*, slow
00d wedk n* they are.
xlianstsd*
fnire Con-
eAg arrest tlie wandering, pu-
!>« inelean, reev neile the nbd,
nslify the sinmr. The V\ y prd r
HCniDieuta, the jdan of sqlva-
the|doctrine* o chris tiu nit j- h©
l up in his 1 uart, uml ii hi.>
aud biml them for a sign t (wm
that they i iay be as ftont-
his eyefi ” There is but
f’(fifdution ou > liioh to bitild ;
*e:who builds on jthis^ hay, wpod*,
l^d4ieithei- i»ro«Jt»ing erroneous
or diasetuinntiug |il»e
i —e|her p^diug to