LACK OF POWER IN THE CHURCH.
By Arthur Tappan Pierson
BUT the pew may largely paralyze the pulpit. There are conditions in the hearer as well as in the preacher which help or hinder the Spirit. Often a fundamental mistake is made in the call. An untried, unproved, and therefore unknown, man is invested with the pastoral title and staff, who may be chosen simply because of some rich endowments of gifts, with little reference to graces; and this is most hazardous. “Like people like priest.” The hearer largely determines the preacher and shapes his ministry. A man in the pulpit must be a very uncommon man if he is not affected by the atmosphere of his church. If his congregation be wealthy and worldly, it is very hard for his spirituality not to be stifled. F. W. Robertson confessed that his preferences were “with the aristocrat, but his principles with the mob;” but with too many, preferences practically become principles. Wealth and numbers foster pride and forfeit power. Innocent IV. boasted to Thomas Aquinas, “You see the church can no longer say, like Peter, ‘Silver and gold have I none.’” “Nor,” replied Aquinas, “can she any more say, ‘Rise up and walk.’”—A. T. Pierson.