%images;]>LCRBMRP-T0A05Introductory sermon of Rev. Emanuel K. Love : on entering the pastorate of the First African Baptist Church, Savannah, Ga.: a machine-readable transcription.Collection: African-American Pamphlets from the Daniel A. P. Murray Collection, 1820-1920; American Memory, Library of Congress.Selected and converted.American Memory, Library of Congress.

Washington, 1994.

Preceding element provides place and date of transcription only.

This transcription intended to be 99.95% accurate.

For more information about this text and this American Memory collection, refer to accompanying matter.

90-898292Daniel Murray Pamphlet Collection, 1860-1920, Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress.Copyright status not determined.
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INTRODUCTORY SERMONOFREV. EMANUEL K. LOVE,ON ENTERING THE PASTORATE OF THEFIRST AFRICAN BAPTIST CHURCH,SAVANNAH, GA.PREACHED SUNDAY NIGHT, OCT. 4th, 1885.It is published by the unanimous request of the church expressed by a vote.THE SENTINEL PRINT, AUGUSTA, GA. 421 9TH ST1885

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INTRODUCTION

This very able and instructive sermon was delivered by Rev. Emmanuel K. Love on entering the pastoral duties of the First African Baptist Church of Savannah, Ga., the first Sabbath night in October, 1885. This spacious and magnificent auditorium of the grand old church was crowded to its utmost capacity, and many could not gain admittance.

The author is a sound theologian, strikingly original, and has reached the degree of a well developed and richly cultivated intellect. It is by the unanimous request of this time honored church that the sermon appear in print.

It is replete with wholesome advice, helpful suggestions and is capable of elevating and edifying each Christian soldier.

It is hoped that this evangelical gospel sermon will be carefully and prayerfully read, and that the pastorate of our dear brother may be richly fruitful of good.C.T. WALKER.

Pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church, Augusta, Ga.

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REV. E. K. LOVE'S SERMON

Acts 10,29: "Therefore, came I unto you without gainsaying as soon as I was sent for: I ask, therefore, for what intent have ye sent for me."

I have very often preached to this church for six or seven years, and though I could not have done so more earnestly, I've never attempted to preach to you in the capacity which I now attempt. Before I have taken up the burden, only for a short while--for a night, a day, and never for longer than a week or two. Though I've carried you on my heart, for God has assured me years ago that I would be your pastor, I was not responsible for your perpetual instruction, the order of your house, nor the peace of this flock. I'm invited now to a constant burden and for your welfare I must shoulder the responsibility. I feel it needful, therefore, to have a plan talk with you to-night, hence, I have selected this text to ask you for what intent did you send for me. You will recollect that the angle told Cornelius to send for Peter and the Lord told Peter that he had instructed Cornelius to send for him. Yet Peter asked Cornelius why he sent for him. It may not be out of place, therefore, for me to ask you for what intent did you send for me. Let us notice the person sending for the preacher. 1st: Cornelius had been praying. This was the proper time to send for a preacher--after prayer and after he had received God's answer. Such persons are always ready to hear words of God from His ministers. A church should never presume to call a preacher until it has consulted God in prayer and His answer returned. You will observe that the whole matter of the choice of a preacher was left with God God chosel the preacher, named the man and told where he was. Cornelius prayed before sending for the preacher. He did not call togather a select few and discuss personality and raise objection; he prayed. He did not hunt up his parliamentary guide to make trap motions, cali the previous question, or to lay on the table; he prayed. He did not maked a long, cunning speach and have some one posted to second his motion; he prayed. He did not rise to a point of order, a privilege question, or a question of intormation; he prayed. There was no confusion about whom he trust call, about the majority ruling or the sovereignty of the church; he prayed. I have no sympathy and less patience with rings, tracksters, family connections and party ties, or atistociacy in the church of 00044Christ. Let us stand on the same hallowed plain of brotherly love and friendship, remembering that one is our Master even Christ and that we are all brethren. It will be noticed again that Cornelius sent a committee of three to inform Peter of his call and to accompany him on his way. This committee went, both in the name of God and in the name of Cornelius. They informed Peter that Cornelius had been praying and that in answer to his prayer, God had instructed him to send to Joppa for him. As though it was necessary for Peter to understand the character of the man who had sent for him to enter his house, they proceeded to give a brief history of the life of Cornelius and recommended him very highly to the preacher. It is not out of place, therefore, for preachers to know something of the churches that seek them and to have a good report of them. God recommended Peter and he needed nothing more. It is too common among us to accept a church with merely a "majority." The sooner this custom dies out, the better it will be for our churches. I doubt any man's fitness or call to the gospel ministry, who will for the sake of getting a church, accept the call to be its pastor with merely a majority and encourage confusion and disaffection among the brethren. It must be noticed again, that Cornelius made himself responsible for the preacher's congregation. He did not expect the preacher to come there and preach up his own congregation. He had gone around or sent and invited his neighbors and relatives, and having his own family present when the preacher reached Cornelius' he found this congregation in waiting. This is so unlike the majority of our churches. They send for the preacher and expect him to gather the congregation, do the preaching, do the praying, do the singing, lead the prayer meetings, teach Sunday-school, make the people do right, and keep the spirit in the church. If the church gets cold and converts are not coming in, they charge it up to the preacher and hence they mourn, sigh and pray for a change of preacher. It must still be noticed that Cornelius did not content himself with having sent for the preacher and congregated his hearers, but as soon as he heard, that Peter was coming, went out himself to meet him and embrace him and to extend to him that Christian welcome, that only those can give whose hearts are aglow with the love of God. This too is so very much unlike the most of our churches. Too many of our members' interest end with the call of the preacher. They are not there to embrace him, cooperate with him and sympathize with him in his work. I is oftentimes true, that those who are foremost in calling the preacher, are furtherest behind in supporting him. But I think better things of you. The shake of hand is stiff, slack and cold; destitute of love and there is no religion in it. There is so much depending upon the encouragement the preacher receive 00055from his people. It must be noticed that Cornelius announced himself and his people ready for the preacher and his mestsage. Verse 35: "Now, therefore, are we all here presenf before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee O God." This is not always the case with our congregations In the first place, all are not there, and those who are there are not there to hear all things commanded the preacher of God. Some things they would much prefer not to hear and still let us observe that Cornelius took the preacher into his house; he cared for him; he did not try to put him off on somebody else or send him to a hotel. He was willing to take God's message into his heart and God's messenger into his house. He was willing to provide for the man who brought to him the bread of life. This should teach us a lesson. "I ask, therefore, for what intent have ye sent for me?"

2ND: THE PERSON SENT FOR--THE PREACHER.

The minister is God's chosen instructor. God sends men to teach men; he has always employed men to teach men. Though men have not always been willing to be taught by the men God has sent them. They have spoken evil of their teachers, persecuted them, imprisoned them and put them to death in every conceivable way. This is the terrible history of the world.

A milder form of [persccusion?] now exist--it is slander evil speaking and refusing to pay the teacher. When the teacher fails to suit them, they resort to some, one, or all of these methods. It is very often that the teacher finds those of his congregation who presume to teach him. With these he must contend. There are those in this congregation who can teach me about merchandise, carpentering, sampling cotton, printing, painting, laying bricks, plastering, machinery, and many other trades, but I've come to teach you the Bible--the Word of God. I've come to teach everyone of you. God has called me through you to teach you this word and I have come to do this work. Is that the intent for which you have sent for me? Then pray God to help me do this great work to His honor and glory and your edification and truest interest. Israel thought quite often that they could teach Moses. God teaches in mercy through his ministers, or teachers in wrath himself. When Saul failed to hear the prophet he taught him in death. Our Saviour has said to his ministers, "Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I've commanded you; and lo! I am with you always even unto the end of the world. Amen."

Matt. 28--19,20: "And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors, and some teachers." Eph. 4,11: "We see, therefore, that the teacher is divinely appointed. God has always had them. We read 00066in Isaiah 30: 20 and 21; "And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affection, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more but thine eyes shall see thy teachers; and thine ears shall hear a word behind thee saying, "this is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand and when ye turn to the left." It will be observed that the teacher is to point out the way to the people and urge them to walk in it. The people are not to point out the way to the teacher, but the teacher is to point out the way to the people. God enjoins the duty of teaching the people upon the ministers.

Again, it will be observed, that the minister is God's leader. Too many of our churches presume to lead the preachers and some of them are led and they fall and great is the fall. The preachers should be first in labors of love, first in the mission work, first at the bedside of the suffering, when in his power, first in matters that concern the public good and so far as he is able, first in matters that elevate the people intellectually and every other way. If I should be asked to name some things and places which he should be last in or not at all in, among the many I would name politics, bar-rooms, shows, excursions and last, but not least, debts To owe is either to be a slave or dishonest. A debt is a curse; the preacher should be as an Eolian harp, catching the faintest breeze of heaven's air and resounding in thunder tones to his flock--he stands nearest to God and should hear Him first. Indeed, he hears when no one else hears. God has promised that the preacher should hear the words from His mouth and warn the people from Him. Our Saviour has said in Luke, 10,16: "He that heareth you, heareth me; and he that despiseth you, despiseth me; and he that despiseth me, despiseth him that sent me." This should make us be very careful how we treat God's leaders. He says again: "He that receiveth you, receiveth me," Matt. 10, 40. I have trembled for people when I have seen them mistreat God's servants. The insult is not to the servants, it is thrown in the face of His Master. Better for that people had they never been born than to meet a God who pleads the cause of His servants. I wonder how they expect to meet God and answer for this insult before him. The people should follow the preacher as he follows Christ. I would again ask, for what intent did ye send for me? There are those in the church who are ready to follow after anybody else than the preacher, and after any thing else than righteousness. This is not confined to a few and not confined to the poor and unlearned. There are those who are unable to attend church, but get perfectly well to attend any entertainment of a worldly character. We should know that our religion is following; we shall know if we follow on to know; we are commanded to learn of Christ; his ministers are the teachers; the church is the schoolhouse 00077and the Bible is the text book, and the people are the scholars. The angel told Cornelias that Peter would tell him what he ought to do. This is the burden of the preacher's mission to tell people what they ought to do in spiritual matters--in matters that pertain to their everlasting salvation. I am glad that the preacher is not expected to make people do, but to tell them what they ought to do. If he was to make them do, the entire responsibility of their salvation would rest up on the preachers and everyone that was lost, his damnation would be charged up to some poor preacher; he is appointed to tell people what they ought to do. "I ask, therefore, for what intent have ye sent for me?"

The minister is God's embassador. An embassador is the highest commissioned officer; he is usually sent to a foreign country his duty is to represent the power that commissioned him; he must, therefore, be somewhat in character as the commissioner; he must understand the burden of his message, the laws of the country he represents, and he must either understand the laws and language of those to whom he is sent or must have an interpreter. The Spirit of God is his interpreter. God has sent him out on a mission of peace. The world is his field; the minister is God's overseer; he is to watch over the spiritual interest of the church of Christ he is called the angel of the church, Christ is the shepherd and bishop of our souls and the minister is the under-shepherd; he is to feed the church of God which he has purchased with his own blood. There is no one that can supply the place of the preacher; no one on earth is over him; he is the only overseer in the church; God made him overseer and any effort to change him is an insult to the power by which he is appointed; he is clothed with the power of God and he is to beseech men in Christ's stead to be reconciled to God--"I ask therefore, for what intent have ye sent for me?" The message which he is to deliver is glad tidings of a reconciled God to the children of men. In this work he does not always meet with encouragement; yet his business is to preach faithfully the gospel of Christ, leaving the result and his own provision and life in the hands of his Master that commissioned him. I have heard many preachers complain of it being harder to preach on Sunday night, than at any hour during the day. I have often felt it a strain myself; I have wondered why; I use to think that it was because there was a much larger crowd and more here and diversity of minds to deal with and endeavor to control. But this reason does not seem to hold good. I have lately concluded that it is due to the fact that our congregations are too much given to visiting and street promenading on Sunday, that when night comes, they find themselves too much fatigued to enjoy and take in a sermon. When a person has been engaged in visiting, 00088laughing, talking and having a good time during the day, when night comes he is not prepared to sit an hour and listen to a discourse without having a chance to throw in a word occasionally and laugh quite heartily frequently or get up and take a drink of water once in the way. His mental and physical powers have both been excited and if he doesn't go to sleep, he will feel like it; but most generally, he will get at it. He will, at any rate, get tired of the sermon and will call the most masterly effort "a poor thing." He is not prepared to take it in: nature wants rest; the fault is his own. What effect has this upon the preacher? Well, just this: as the congregation is, so will the preacher be; he cannot carry all asleep; he can lead them all awake. Energetic, earnest hearers, the bright countenances, sparkling eyes and attentive ears, all conspire to enthuse the man of God to deliver his message. How will we remedy this? Well, if our people will not do, and will do, we will soon see that it will be as easy, if not easier, to preach on Sunday night, as at any other hour during the day. If our people will not do so much visiting on Sunday and will not engage in such light employment and that of a worldly character on Sunday and will stay home during church service intervals and will read their Bibles and meditate in the law of the Lord and I will sing or hum praises to God, and will pray as did Cornelius, they would come to the church prepared to hear all things of the preacher commanded of God, and would, indeed, worship God. A praying congregation makes an earnest minister, an appreciative, interesting and weeping people make an cloquent preacher. So my hearers, if God has called your pastor, revealed His Son in him and committed to him this glorious gospel, you have the privilege to improve him. You can make him just what you want him to be; you can make him profound by asking him questions that have puzzled you; you can aid him in piety by praying for him; this, you ought to always do; you can make him study by studying yourself, and supporting him; you can make him love you, by loving him; you can make him tender by being tender yourself; many farmers have made poor land rich; many poor horses have been made fat by good attention. You have the ax; grind it. Nobody can tell how much it helps a preacher to his work, if his people encourage him but a preacher, and maybe he cannot tell himself just how much it bids him. "I ask, therefore, for what intent have ye sent for me? "God's preachers love their work; I had rather be a preacher than to be the world; I had rather be a preacher than to be any one or all of the stars; I had rather be a preacher than to be the sun; I had rather be a preacher than to be an angel. Did God count me worthy to commit this glorious work to me? God wanted me to be a preacher, hence he called me and revealed his son in me. This 00099Son Ive come to preach to you Is that the intent for which ye have sent for me? Then God forbid that I should know anything among you save Christ and Him crucified.

Third. The preacher should go to the people to whom he is called just as soon as he is convinced that it is the will of God and doubt nothing. Again, while Cornelius had been praying, Peter had been praying too; hence, both were prepared for their work. Cornelius was prepared to hear and Peter was prepared to preach. In order to be prepared, each must pray. Both saw a vision. The same God appeared to both. Cornelius said we are all here before God to hear and Peter said I came without gainsaying as soon as I was sent for to preach. He had no doubt; God had assured him that it was his duty to go. The obedient servant will not question his work when the Master has spoken. Indeed, when God calls a servant to a work, his provision is allright; God will see that he is supported, protected and guided. There is nothing to fear in the God selected field. He may not always have encouragement in his field, but if he is ready to preach the gospel of Christ, he must be willing to bear the conflicts of the gospel and to endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. He must through tribulations enter heaven and lead others. His way is marked through tribulations and to shun it is to leave the hallowed way. Even those to whom he preaches will at times turn against him; this was the case with his Master, the prophets and apostles. He will meet his hardest trials among his own people. They will be willing to pull out their eyes for him to-day, and be ready to pull out his eyes to-morrow; but he must bear the toils, endure the pains supported by his word. The minister must be ready to preach the gospel under all circumstances; his Master has not promised him that he would have no trouble, but has warned him of trouble and advised him to beware of men; though he is to preach to men, he is warned of them. While he is preparing a sermon for them, they're making a trap for him: while he is praying for them, they're finding fault with him; while outing the fire of dissension, they are busy kindling it; and as Judas, they grumble at every charitable deed. Yet, in all this, the preacher must be ready to preach the gospel to them; to preach to them is his own food, and to refuse to do which is to starve himself. He must eat of the same food which he deals out to others. Their dish is his dish, and their diet is his diet. Hear his solemn charge: "I charge thee, therefore, before God and the Lord Jesus Christ who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; preach the word; be instant in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine:" 2nd Tim. 4,1--2. To this our congregations will object, especially the part that tells the preacher to rebuke. In 1 Tim. 4,16, he is 001010told: "Take heed unto thyself and unto the doctrine; continue in them; for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee." In Acts 20, 28, it is said "Take heed, therefore unto yourselves and unto all the flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." These passages point out very clearly the preacher's duty; he cannot mistake his way; let him take the word of God as a man of his counsel and have simple faith in God. In order for the preacher to be ready in season and out of season, he needs always to pray for the Spirit of God to assist him in preaching the gospel; he should go to his people ready to share their joy, sorrows and troubles; he should be ready to mourn with them that mourn, and weep with them that weep and pray with them that pray. It is the most fearful responsibility under heaven to be a pastor--the most sacred trust and the highest honor. I am officially informed that I have been chosen of God and called by his people to be the pastor of this church. Regarding the voice of the people as being the voice of God, I do therefore in the name of God accept the same. I accept not ignorant of its weight, and cares. I shall expect you as a church to do your part, remembering that whatever you mete to men, it shall be measured to you again; let it be the controling object of our whole life to win souls for God and for heaven. It's our business to lead sinners to Jesus. I put the sinners of Savannah on notice this night that I have come for you; I have come to lead you to Jesus; I have come to hold Christ up to you as the fairest among ten thousands and altogether levely. I have come to hold up Jesus Christ to you as the only name given under heaven where you might be saved; I have come to beg you in Christ's stead to be reconciled to God; I have come to beg you to make friends with him who first loved you and gave himself for you; I have come to invite you down in Jordan and be cleansed of the leprosy; I have come to beg you to get ready to die. You are swiftly passing away to the great judgment day and I have come in the name of my Master to beg you to make some arrangement for your soul. Oh! I beg you in the name of high heaven tonight, to commence even now, to make some arrangements for that precious soul that must always live in heaven or hell. Dear brethren, is this intent for which ye have sent for me? Then do help me to preach this word; help me to show the sinners of Savannah the beauties that are in Jesus Christ; God help us do this to order that our garments might be clear of their blood. It is all of our business, to see to it, that sinners are properly informed of Christ. Let us speak well of Jesus. I have come to Savannah to speak well of the plan of redemption and of Jesus, its author. I have come 001111among you as the friend of education, the advocate of economy and industry, as a worker in the Sunday schools, a promoter of peace, a law abiding citizen, and the untiring and uncompromising enemy to whiskey. I want to be understood to-night, as being the terror of whiskey and its votaries, so far as my power goes. I shall speak, write, preach, fight, work, pray and vote against it at every opportunity that may be afforded me through the entire journey of my life. Dear brethren, is this the intent for which ye have sent for me? Then can I depend upon you to support and help me do my work? The Christian's life should be so sublime; his life should be a living reality of the joy and blessedness of the life beyond; he should live so that he might be able to say, I know upon whom I have believed; I know that my Redeemer lives; O, what a blessed hope is ours while here on earth we stay; let us live and work as become children of the light and our death will be as sweet as it will be sublime and heaven will be our eternal home; let us covenant to walk together in Christ from this very night; as we walk together here, we shall live together over the river upon the shining shores of that blessed country whose builder and maker is God, where pastor and people shall be gathored with everlasting joy and singing; where death never comes; where victors are crowned with Eden's wreath; where they shall sorrow no more; die no more; cry no more; thirst no more and hunger no more, for the lamb upon the throne shall feed them. For this let us labor, watch pray and wait till Jesus comes and we will be gathered home. God help us for Jesus' sake.Amen.