EXAMPLES PREACH by R. F. C.

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 18, 1856

EXAMPLES PREACH.

By R. F. C.

WHAT Christian has not thought that he would willingly preach the truth, were he only qualified for the work? Who would not wish to do everything possible for the spread of the truth and the salvation of souls? Every heart touched with the love of God responds, It is a glorious work, and I wish to do all I can to forward it.

The preaching which I would recommend in this article, all can preach. Every brother and every sister can and ought to engage in it in earnest. It is to preach by example—by a well ordered life—a life in accordance with the truths we profess; and this kind of preaching is the most effectual of any; indeed, without it all other preaching is in vain.

But when we have said that all ought to preach by their example, we have not told all the truth. All are preaching in this way either for or against the truth. This is a solemn thought! for who that loves the truth, can bear the thought of opposing its progress? Yet, unless our examples are in accordance with the truth, we are in reality opposing it.

It is the business of him who labors in word and doctrine, to preach in favor of holiness and against sin. And nothing can illustrate and enforce the doctrine so well as a living example. For instance: the text, "Here are they that keep the commandments of God," is quoted as present truth—as now having its fulfillment. With what force is the truth carried home to the heart, when a few living, unimpeachable witnesses can be appealed to, of whom the servant of God can say with confidence, Here they are. Such believers stay up the hands of the minister, and illustrate and enforce the doctrine. They preach continually. But suppose the reverse of this is the case. Supposing that those who profess the truth are not living it out, who would expect that sinners would be converted to the law of God?

Again, it is sometimes duty to point out the fallen state of the nominal churches, that God's people may flee out of this Babylon, and escape her plagues. One evidence of her fallen state is her pride, the marks of which are not only seen in their houses, public and private, but are worn upon their persons wherever they go. But who shall cast a stone at this soul-destroying sin while the least traces of it can be seen about him? And even if he is confident that the stone he is about to cast will not hurt himself, when he looks around and sees beloved brethren and sisters in danger, how can he throw it? Or, to come at the point without a figure, how can he preach plainness of dress, &c., when, among those who profess to believe his teaching, he can scarcely find one who is a living illustration of his subject?

Pride is the first of sins. It is that by which Satan fell from the favor of God. Isa. xiv, 12-14; 1 Tim. iii, 6. And perhaps I should not err very much should I say it is the last to be eradicated from the human heart. At least it is a sin against which every Christian should wage a war of extermination. It will not do to make a treaty of peace, and, by compromise, settle a boundary line with it; for the more you concede to it, the more it will claim. It must be slain, and that daily. None should imagine they have fought their last battle with this enemy, and gained a complete and permanent victory. Many have thought that they had crucified it—that it was dead and buried, and under their feet. But ere they were aware of it, it had risen again and "appeared unto many."

Pride of dress and appearance is a serious evil among the remnant of God's people, or I have seen but very few of them. I believe the time will come when these idols will be put away. My prayer is, that many may be cast to the moles and to the bats, before it shall be done to go into the clefts of the rocks, for fear of the Lord, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. How much money is squandered, and precious time worse than wasted upon dress! That money might be used to the glory of God, and to the good of souls, instead of purchasing an idol to take away your affections from the only living and true God. That time spent upon plaits and ruffles, insertions and edgings and all the little follies of finery, might be spent in reading God's word, in devotions, in humbling ourselves and seeking the preparation of heart which all must have in the coming day. Those tears extracted from weary eyes over fine work might much better be tears of contrition on account of the depravity and pride of the heart. Those who see themselves in anything like the light in which God sees them, instead of desiring these vanities, have an utter aversion to them. If we had a just view of our fallen condition, we should have no desire to decorate these miserable, sin-cursed, mortal bodies.

Dear brethren and sisters, I beseech you to give this subject the attention which it demands; and let your example preach to those around you, whether saints or sinners. Let not your example give the lie to your profession, but let it say to all, that you believe what you say you do. Read again the article from Wesley, in Vol. VII, No. 1, of the REVIEW, and see if you who profess the increasing light of present truth, cannot come up, at least, to the rule so long ago laid down for Methodists. I exhort you to lay aside all pride, by denying yourself every instance of its gratification.