The Heart-Cry of JesusRees, Byron J. (Byron Johnson)
Religion
The Heart-Cry of Jesus
Rees, Byron J. (Byron Johnson)
Pilgrim Holiness Church -- Controversial literature; Sanctification
Sanctification takes away the shrinking timidity and puts in a courage
like that at Thermopylae. There was once a young man who, previous to
his sanctification, was so timid that he frequently stayed away from
church for no other reason than that he feared God might ask him to
testify. He enjoyed meetings and loved to hear preaching, but the very
idea of testimony would frighten him almost ill. Now he frequently
addresses many hundreds and never feels the slightest embarrassment.
UNMASK PRURIENCY.
The ministry is sadly in need of a blessing which will give it courage
to attack sin of all kinds and degrees. We need men who will rip the
mask off the putrid face of corruption and pronounce God's sentence
upon it; who will lift up the trap-door of the cess-pools of men's
hearts and bid them look within at their own slime and filth; who will
"cry aloud and spare not," though the infuriated cohorts of bat-winged
demons snarl and shriek.
SPEAK PLAINLY.
There will be a day when men will curse us because we have not preached
more plainly. You can call a spade "a spade" or you can designate it as
"an iron utensil employed for excavating purposes," but if you want
folks to understand what you are driving at use the shorter term.
SHOOTING OVER MEN'S HEADS.
There is too little plain Anglo-Saxon preaching. We shoot far over the
heads of our congregations and do not even scar the varnish on the
gallery banister. We dwell on the points of distinction between
Calvinism and Arminianism when the greater part of our people do not
know the difference between an Arminian and an Armenian, and some good
old sister thinks we are preaching on the cruelty of the Turks. Here I
am discussing "The Dangers of Imperialism" and "The Anglo-American
Friendship," while men are starving for the Bread of Life! Brethren in
the ministry, let us be less anxious about the syllogistic accuracy of
our sermons and be more eager to help men live right and quit sin and
go to heaven.
THE PULPIT CANNON.
There are many sins which few men have the courage to antagonize in
public. Theoretically the pulpit is supposed to cannonade all sin of
every variety and species, but, alas, it is usually too cowardly. The
Spirit-filled man fears no one from Sandow down to Tom Thumb, from a
plug-hat Bishop to a little pusilanimous dude preacher.
GHASTLY CRIMES.
It is not that ministers are unawares of the prevalence of black and
ghastly crimes, but that they dare not speak openly against them. Too
many are contaminated with evil and involved in guilt for the preacher
to voice with impunity the truths which burn in his soul. He knows only
too well that if he dares assert his manhood and exercises the
prerogative of Christ's minister, the retribution will be swift and
terrible, viz: ejectment from his pastorate!
MURDER
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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