PLAIN PREACHING by H. C. Patterson

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, Cal. · Sep 8, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 36.

PLAIN PREACHING.

By H. C. Patterson

[Rev. H. C. Patterson, in the Christian Standard of July 30, 1898.]

PAUL, in his letter to Timothy, said: “Preach the Word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears.” If I am not mistaken, we have come to that time spoken of by the apostle. There is very little regard for the Word of the Lord against the demand of the world; the ministry is the same as that in the days of Isaiah, when the people said, “Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits.” The ministry has heard the request, and in numerous instances are preaching a smooth and broad way into heaven, so that, according to their preaching, the many are saved and the few are lost. A man lives out of Christ, makes a profession on the death-bed, and is preached into glory; or men and women live in adultery (unscripturally divorced) unrebuked, and dying are preached into heaven. People join the church without being taught that repentance embraces restitution, which is never made, and they flatter themselves that they are on the way to heaven. Others live entertaining hatred in their hearts, and often known to the pastor, and yet they go on unrebuked, and at death are declared safe in heaven. . . .

In a meeting recently held I so preached [that repentance embraces restitution]. A young married man came to me, saying: “I intended joining the church yesterday, but you extended no invitation; now, I’m glad that you did not. I see my duty as I never did before.” He went at once to the home of a merchant, called him out of bed, confessed that he burglarized his store two years before, taking $50. He threw himself upon the mercy of the merchant, saying, “Do as you think best with me; I will pay you every cent taken.” He was forgiven, and the next night came into the church rejoicing in peace of conscience.

In a sermon a few nights before, I said to a man who had mistreated his wife and children, “Thou art the man who, by thy mean and contemptible disposition, hast made the lives of thy family miserable.” People said the sermon was too pointed—too direct—and that he would not come back. But he went home, took his bed, sent for me, confessed his sins, and said by the grace of God he would do right in the future. That night he united with the church, to the delight of his family. . . .

We need more men like John the Baptist, who hesitated not to say to those asking for baptism, “Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance,” and said unto Herod the king, “It is not lawful for thee to have her.” Brethren, John’s faithfulness cost him his head, and loyalty to God and the truth may cost us our place and the loss of friends, but we should remember the declaration of Holy Writ, that he who will be a friend of the world is an enemy to God.

Our churches are being filled up with divorced and unrepentant people, and if we ever intend to speak out against it, now is the time—the opportunity will soon be gone. Let us hear the voice of the Lord, who says if thou speakest not “to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.” God grant that we may all be able to say, with Paul, “I am innocent of the blood of all men.”