"Born of the Spirit;" or, Gems from the Book of LifeOsborne, Zenas
Religion
"Born of the Spirit;" or, Gems from the Book of Life
Osborne, Zenas
Free Methodist Church of North America; Osborne, Zenas
It is a tremendous mistake, the practice of dedicating a church to
God, and then selling it out to whom? why, anybody that have a mind
to buy it; and in a multitude of cases, wicked, ungodly wretches
have bought the best seats in the house, giving them power over that
society, so that in ninety-nine cases out of every hundred, the
preacher in the pulpit of such churches, is gagged; some subjects
he dare not touch, because forsooth, his bread and his butter is at
stake; that because of this system, millions have been kept away from
the house of God and have perished.
One of the most embarrassing things the learned clergy of to-day have
to meet constantly is, what shall we do with this great estrangement
of the poor from the house of God?
My answer to the above proposition is, free churches throughout the
land, baptized with the Holy Ghost, and with fire, will solve this
mighty problem. This is the only solution.
_Instrumental music_ is another innovation. The music that pleases
God, is that which comes from a heart, consecrated to Him, inspired
by love divine, springing up like a fountain of life; the spontaneous
outgoings of the spirit. We must sing in the spirit, and with the
understanding also.
This part of divine service should be free to all present, not
marred by the instrument, neither by the select few. In this, we
should study to show ourselves approved unto God. I cannot believe
that He loves ignorance in the service of song, any more than in
preaching His gospel. We should aim at the greatest efficiency in all
the service rendered. This was the original plan as it came to our
fathers. But with the new order of things came the organ, and the
distressing few, to do the most precious part of divine worship.
Preaching the gospel was the means ordained of God for the salvation
of the lost, and where this is done with the Holy Ghost sent down
from Heaven, the work is accomplished. God never ordained the reading
of essays as a means to bring sinners to Christ. His prophets
anciently spake as they were moved upon by the Holy Ghost, and
success crowned their efforts.
_Carnal Amusements_ are a great hindrance in carrying forward the
work of the Lord in any church. They grieve the Spirit and cause
those that indulge in them to backslide and become worthless as
laborers in the cause of Christ.
_The Sabbath School_ should be the nursery of the church; and is,
when the salvation of the school is the primary object. When time,
talents and means are employed to that end, but if carnal amusements
are held up as the object for which they aspire, then indeed, much of
our labor will be in vain.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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