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PREACHING

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The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 12, 1867

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 29, No. 14.

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PREACHING.

By JOS. CLARKE.

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish, foolishness; but unto us which are saved, it is the power of God. 1 Cor. i, 18.
Not that the Apostle would term preaching foolishness; but that it was so termed by the Greeks, who prided themselves upon their wisdom and learning.
The world having forgotten God, and become estranged and alienated from him, it was pleasing to our heavenly Father, to use this means to wake the mind and heart of man, to thoughts of God and Heaven; no other means would alone suffice, but this as a main instrumentality in his hands of saving some, has been wisely ordained.
The mind of man has become uncultivated and unrefined; often coarse, and grovelling, and low; and evil passions have taken possession of his soul. Common means fail to attract his attention from earth to Heaven; but the eloquent Paul rises before the multitude; his manner, his style, his subject, all are attractive; and as the Spirit of God fills his soul, and he discourses upon heavenly things, his countenance glows with heavenly love, and hearts and minds are held for a little season in close attention to subjects to which all common means had failed to attract the worldly mind.
With what pleasure does the good man feed upon the preached word; and the evil man often comes, and comes again, to hear the gifted Paul, as one would listen to the sweetest music; and what a sweet and refining influence does the preached word leave upon the mind!
You have made early arrangements to be in season, to hear the man of God, who is punctual to the hour; for says he, Perhaps God may forsake the assembly which comes too late to meet with God. You resign yourself to the Spirit of the Lord, speaking through his chosen servant; and then how very precious the word of life, though you may have heard it all before; it is still new and dearer than ever.
Scholasticus has said, that to get the full benefit of a sermon, he must not take notes, for this so employs his mind, his heart is not yet reached; and I believe him. The mind and heart should both be affected, and taking notes so engrosses the intellect, that the affections are unmoved by the preached word.
Laymen may occasionally hold a Quarterly Meeting, and good may be done; but such meetings are not fully answerable to the demands of the times. We need a preached word at all our general meetings, and as often as possible at other times. We need them, and the church calls for them; and prays for them. Such men we have, but how few compared with the demand.
Shall we not cry to the Lord of the harvest, to raise up men full of the Holy Ghost, and of wisdom! chosen men! every common mind may occupy some place in the church; but it requires men of peculiar talent to preach the gospel of the New Testament; men who are unqualified only bring the doctrine into disrepute, and lay members cannot fill the place of the preacher.
Shall not all the gifts be developed more fully, and may it not be soon?
But do we realize the responsibility we are under, to pray for, and support our ministers? Against them Satan directs his most destructive war. Against them he brings all his weapons of desolation.
How many gifted men have fallen from the high position, to rise no more! The position a talented preacher holds, is a dangerous one to the vain mind. Talent elicits admiration and this feeds pride. May God deliver them. Surely he will keep the humble and contrite.
JOS. CLARKE.