The Assembly of God. Miscellaneous Writings of C. H. Mackintosh, vol. IIIMackintosh, Charles Henry
Religion
The Assembly of God. Miscellaneous Writings of C. H. Mackintosh, vol. III
Mackintosh, Charles Henry
Theology
If we have in any measure set forth the reader's feelings on this
subject, we think it will greatly help him in his work to bear in mind
that the one grand theme of the true evangelist is Christ. The power to
handle that theme is the Holy Ghost. The one to whom that theme is to be
unfolded is the poor lost sinner. Now, Christ is ever new; the power of
the Holy Ghost is ever fresh; the soul's condition and destiny ever
intensely interesting. Furthermore, it is well for the evangelist to
bear in mind, on every fresh occasion of rising to preach, that his
unconverted hearers are totally ignorant of the gospel, and hence he
should preach as though it were the first time they had ever heard the
message, and the first time he had ever delivered it. For, be it
remembered, the preaching of the gospel, in the divine acceptation of
the phrase, is not a mere barren statement of evangelical doctrine--a
certain form of words enunciated over and over again in wearisome
routine. Far, very far from it. The gospel is really the large loving
heart of God welling up and flowing forth toward the poor lost sinner in
streams of life and salvation. It is the presentation of the atoning
death and glorious resurrection of the Son of God; and all this in the
present energy, glow, and freshness of the Holy Ghost, from the
exhaustless mine of Holy Scripture. Moreover, _the_ one absorbing object
of the preacher is to win souls for Christ, to the glory of God. For
this he labors and pleads; for this he prays, weeps, and agonizes; for
this he thunders, appeals, and grapples with the heart and conscience of
his hearer. His object is not to teach doctrines, though doctrines may
be taught; his object is not to expound Scripture, though Scripture may
be expounded. These things lie within the range of the teacher or
lecturer; but let it never be forgotten, the preacher's object is to
bring the Saviour and the sinner together--to win souls to Christ. May
God by His Spirit keep these things ever before our hearts, so that we
may have a deeper interest in the glorious work of evangelization!
We would, in conclusion, merely add a word of exhortation in reference
to the Lord's Day evening. We would, in all affection, say to our
beloved and honored fellow-laborers, Seek to give that one hour to the
great business of the soul's salvation. There are 168 hours in the week,
and, surely, it is the least we may devote _one_ of these to this
momentous work. It so happens that during that interesting hour we can
get the ear of our fellow-sinner. Oh, let us use it to pour in the sweet
story of God's free love and of Christ's full salvation.
CHAPTER II.
A MOTTO FOR THE EVANGELIST.
(2 Cor. x. 16.)
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