"Billy Sunday" and his Critics

Numerous papers and clippings have been sent us recently reporting the discourses of Mr. Sunday and the objections or approvals of the ministers of various denominations. We notice with -joy that some express genuine fellowship with what they recognize in him to be evangelical. The Unitarian ministers are very bitter against him-an excellent point in his favor; for what good in divine things can one expect from men who deny the deity of our Saviour and trample His blood under their feet? How can they judge of what is Christian ? What is Christianity to them more than the varnish of civilization ? The preaching of the blood of Jesus Christ which cleanseth from all sin is but an offence to them. One of them, a Mr. Hawes, of Germantown, Pa., charges Mr. Sunday with being "ignorant of the Bible," then proceeds at once to teach, and thereby display his own exceeding great ignorance of that blessed Book.

In reading Mr. Sunday's discourses, while pained by what is irrelevant and which we trust grace will eliminate as he grows in it, we rejoice at the clear gospel strains which sound through them. Sweet music it is in contrast with the howlings of the critics above mentioned; and because of what gospel is thus proclaimed, we bear him up in prayer, that God may bless those gospel strains to allure many precious souls to the Saviour of sinners. Eternal bliss or eternal woe are before men, and to persuade any of them to come to Him who ministers the bliss and delivers from the woe is matter for thankfulness to all who love their fellow-men.

Let us hope that Mr. Sunday may gradually leave behind expressions which, while they may attract and please the crowd, lower the character of Christianity, and we believe, grieve the Holy Spirit. Nor is he free from the idea prevailing in Christendom that the Lord's servant is called to reform the world, to "clean up" municipal corruptions and to expose the iniquities of public men. The Lord's servant has 110 such task laid upon him ; taking up such matters is a waste of strength and a hindrance to his true work. To show man's sin, in the light of the judgment-day, is needful to bring the sinner to the Saviour. The sinner is made to tremble and plead guilty before God. The virtues of the Saviour then draw the sinner to His feet, like the magnet draws the needle -like the poor woman of Luke 7-there to find the needed cleansing and the welcome to the Father's bosom, like the prodigal in Luke 15. Oh what a field of labor, sweet labor, in which to use unsparingly what gift, what talent, what ability, what strength and energy, whatever one may possess! They who thus have won souls to Christ during the present day of grace, and all who have given them a helping hand, will find at the end that there was no waste in all this expenditure.