p. 134 | Plain Preaching

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 11, 1870

Plain Preaching.

ECCENTRIC preachers are not unknown in our day, but they are exceptions to the general law. Preaching is generally very decorous, conformed to the rules of strict propriety; and we suspect it sometimes loses in practical power from this very formalism and starchiness. The following anecdote of an old Welsh preacher illustrates the pungency and direct thrusts which in other days were deemed lawful, even at a sacrifice of dignity:

The Rev. John Jones, formerly vicar of Llansoy, was an eccentric but an earnest preacher. After ministering many years among his parishioners, he was impressed with the idea that they made little way in spiritual life; so one morning he opened his discourse to them in the following fashion: “My friends, I have been so many years your minister, with the awful reflection at this moment that were I to ask my heart the question, Have I been the means of converting a single soul, I could not answer to my satisfaction. See, then, how either I or you shall stand in the great day of account—I, if I have not done my duty by you—you, if you have not profited by my advice. For myself, unless you show more signs of spiritual life, I shall disown you on that great day. When the books are opened, and the Archangel calls out in the face of the countless multitude, ‘John Jones,’ I shall not answer, for there are many John Joneses. He will then call out, ‘the Rev. John Jones,’ but still I shall not answer, for there are many more Rev. John Joneses than me. He will then the third time cry out, ‘John Jones, vicar of Llansoy,’ and then, my friends, I can not help answering, and I will reply, ‘Here am I.’ And then the question will be put to me, ‘John Jones, where are the sheep that I gave you to tend?’ and then I fear I must reply, ‘Sheep I have none, Lord, for all proved to be goats.’”