Image provided by: Friends of the Dallas Library; Dallas, OR
About Christian herald. (Portland ;) 1882-18?? | View Entire Issue (Jan. 25, 1884)
OtîRïATÎAtï îJËÎiAt.D --------- i--------- — J • J Ti ___---------------------- - - . . r. ---■ who sings a pleasant sojjg, but in “LET THE WOMEN KEEP SILENCE.” the name of him who says “ preach the preaching that I bid thee.” Bl M. H. LEMBItT. There is that in his sermons which NVMBER I. presses us, pursues’ us, and will not The disputations over this Scrip let us go. His confessed power is pimply the power of God’s truth, ture place it among the sayings of plainly, clearly, logically, faithfully Paul which are hard to be under- Rk>nd. but applying the common • science are impressed and stirred. rules of interpretation leaves it al Moved and convinced by his argu most without difficulty ; as the dif ments we cannot his appeals to ficulty arises almost wholly from the heart. No sermon ever preached gross and persistent departures from was more argumentative than the some of the most obvious and sim- . one he read, from manuscript, at ple rules, first in application—that Enfield, on the text, ‘ In due time which is of general application Is their feet shall slide,’ at a time of given a special, and that which is extreme deadness of religion; and 'special is given a general, till all is yet under it the pillars of the confusion. To whom is the Cor church seemed to tremble, and the inthian Tetter addressed? Let us whole audience wept aloud. The see. “ Paul called to be an apostle apostle who confutgd^,the philoso of Jesus Christ. . . unto the church phers of Greece, and converted of God which is at Corinth, to them Courtiers in Caesars’ household, that are sanctified in Christ called and planted churches in the lead saints ... I thank my God for the ing cities in the Roman Empire, grace of God given you by Jesus was not afraid of sustained argu Christ, that in every thing ye were ment, abstruce and philosophical enriched by him in all utterance, preaching, as his logical, profound and in all knowledge; even as the and masterly—reasoned epistles de testimony of Christ was confirmed monstrate.” But he never "read in you, so ye came behind in no from manuscript.” And how much gift.” 1 Cor. 1. From this quotation more powerful Edwards might have we learn that the epistle was ad been without bis manuscript. dressed; not to the elders, nor to the Doubtless, when he produced his men, but to the church as a whole, best effects he did not read, but to the sanctified in Christ, to the Parsons, Kan. repeated what he had written 'and saints, then no part of the church studied well. neither of the sexes could claim it, OUR MANNER OF PREACH One thing we n£ed especially to or any part of it, as addressed to ING. remember, viz.: It is God’s gospel them exclusively. We farther learn BY C. KBMDBICK. which convert^ souls to Christ. that the members without regard It seems to me that our manner Human power may, perhaps, some to sex were richly endowed with of preaching is very much at fault; time, be an aid; but more fre spiritual gifts—excelled by none in not so much when we address the quently it is a hindrance ; and then abundant supply. These two facts world as when we speak to the we should seek to please God, not first that it was addressed to those church. We have adopted the un- men. We labor to do them real, in Christ without regard to sex, ecriptural, denominational style of lasting good, not to tickle their and second that all without regard text taking, and then often failing fancy. To please men and to profit to sex were in possession of spirit to explain, or expound the text it them are by no means the same. ual gifts, these two facts will aid self, for the sake of making a So the popular preacher, and the much interpreting and properly pretty speech, nice divisions and a really, useful preacher are widely applying. A common and very grand peroration, as the prophets different. God’s way is on the one mischievous mistake is to apply the and apostles never did. And in side, man’s way on the other, and language, " Let the women keep this we make a great sacrifice of these, like the works of the flesh silence,” to the men exclusively/and truth and right, and a great failure and of the Spirit, " are contrary the in reference to all the women. Then of the best success. But we do one to the other.” The world looks making the silence general, pro generally, present the gospel, and after men ; the church should look hibits every woman from exercising any spiritual gift. Then as a mat tell sinners how to become Chris to God. tians, as the denominations never Let us receive, as axiomatic, this ter of course all said in the twelvth truth, viz.: We can never improve and fourteenth chapters in reference do. But our greatest mistake is, I on the Bible style, or anything else to the exercise of gifts is applicable to the men exclusively—all means think, in putting, or seeking to put in the Bible. all the men, and no woman has a human eloquence, learning and Downey City, Cal. gift which they are bound to respect. * ■ T power, for gospel argument. Here "T emperance W ork .—It’s a " Keep silence in the churches,”— the contrast is infinite. At this point those we call sectarian often work of prevention and cure ; a churches in the plural. This means surpass us. Jonathan Edwards work for the rich and the poor; a to all the churches of God it is was a case. We read his sermons work that is slow, and yet sure; a claimed. This interpretation though, the common one, gives the men of with awe, for he speaks not as one work whose effects will endure.” out or back out. Goods are sold at fabulous prices. Chances are offer- ered you in which all the chances but one are against you and that one scarcely for you. They will sell votes on the handsomest girl, the most popular lady, etc. If pos- aible to get you excited and ambi- -’ tious to wta for yeur favorito or spend all your money. It is just as noble to make a man drunk that you may steal from him. But this is done you kqow in the name of the Aprd. Of course the Lord can - bear Ha» it come to this that the Lord’s cause must subsist by such childish, foolish, shameful freaks? Is it true that without tfyese lotteries and swindles, these extortions and craftiness, the preacher must starve, the church rot down, the choir siflg without an instrument, and the heathen die without the gospel ? Ah ’ ’tis but the price we pay for our own shame and the disgrace of the cause of Christ. Then if there be a sociable, a concert or a supper, let there be dignity, piety and honesty as well. Give an equivalent for what you receive as any honest business would suggest. Otherwise unholy is the seed you sow. Disgust, dis like, disgrace, indifference and infi delity is the harvest you reap. Corinth the task of keeping the wo men quiet in all churches far and near ! Wrong applications have much bewildered; but Paul, if listened too will set us right again. He on different occasions speaks of churches in private houses; let it be supposed that there were one or two such in Corinth and the plural word *■ s ile nce ” — is may be used in reference to a par ticular subject compatible with a free use of the tongue upon all others. The phrase " the woman,” may mean two or more women— n ot ne ce ssarily al l. As ii-i e hono r- - able to obey all divine laws, ordin- < ances, and commandments, the word , shameful can be applied to none of these act*. Let us no w quote Paul___ „ from Revised version. " Let the women keep silence in the churches, for it is not permitted unto them u tp speak; but let them be in sub jection as also saith the law, and if they would learn anything let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is shameful for a woman to speak in the church.” Let us by inspection see what aid the apostle will render in under standing him. The pronouns, they, them and their, refer to " women ” as antecedent. Then the women were married—had husbands. Paul to the Ephesians says, " As the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their husbands.” This law was given to Eve, and subjection of the wife to the hus band is the subjection of the law, " As also saith the law.” " But let them be in subjection,” shows that they were not in subjection to their husbands, but rebellious and disre spectful towards them, refusing to honor them. " If they would learn anything, let them ask* their own husbands at home.” In the church is the place to learn spiritual les sons; at home to learn secular. Then "the women ” had asked other men secular questions in the church. This kind of speaking was shame ful. As obedience to divine re quirements cannot be shameful, and as women are divinely commanded to exercise their gifts as follows : According as each has received a gift minister it among yourselves as good stewards, it follows that in saying," it is shameful for a wo man to speak in the church,” he had no reference to the exercise of any spiritual gift, not to an act of wor ship. The following conclusion is inevitable: Paul in the above quotation was speaking to the church members.
