Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1836-08-04
WHO GOING TO PREACH?

This phase is getting into very frequent
use in the present generation. Every BODY
knows how il is used.
"Are you going to church to day." said
the other Sunday to friend who is sometimes
at meeting.
"Who is going to preach?'
"Rey. Mr.. Pointbankr-was my answer.
/ Mr.. Pontblank? pray who is he! ! have
not heard of him before; if you can assure me
) shall be interested will CO." -,
ale will preach some truth OF the gospel
doubt not; il the truth will interest you,
think you may venture
! NV friend, however, did not choose to go
with me, for just rs our conversation had
proceeded as ur as above noted, one Love-
parade came along, and invited him TO oc-
company him, at the same time declaring that
Rev. Mr.. Showoff was to preach, and he was
accounted one of the most popular men in all
these parts. They both walked away to-
gether aud left me alone.
In my Young Days there was not hand
some church erected at the distance of every
mile; but notwithstanding the Inconvenience
resulting from distance over bad roads, and
often an uncomfortable place Of assembling,
it was our question: "Where is the meeting
to be next Sabbath"
On being informed, our little neighbor on
the holy morning would set out, the children,
Except the youngest) on foot, and orr parents
! upon the back of the family horse (for there
were pllions in those days,) and many was
the time, that we were all seated in the house
of God, in waiting for his ministerlng servant,
whose appearance III the broad isle, gave the
! first nliination who he should be, and whose
words were listened to as message from
God to be rererenced on that account; and not
! because this or that man was more sho,oy and
given to adorning.
ventured to ask once as we were all seat
ed in the pew ,",rho we should have to preach
TO day?" This was said in soft whisper TO
my mother, in the midst of the sound of eau
tious footsteps, as the congregation were en-
terng; we had no bell to be toiled. | never
| shall forget the impression received as she
! mildly looked in my face and said, ''the min
! ister, my son, you must remember what he
! says" and all was STILL In my young days
| it was looked upon as privilege as well as
, duty to present ourselves before the "Lord n
his holy place." aud we were not accustomed
to suffer our attendance to be interrupted by
the fact, that this or that messenger was tt
"speak in the name of Christ" And after 1
lapse of many winter, have yet to be con
vinced that this was not u suitable state o.
, 1eelilg. IL does appear 10 me, uat ~ uecoihes
us to be in such state Of heart, that we shall
be "glad when they say unto unto us, let us
go up into the house Of the Lord" If s',cf
be the state of our hearts, our chief desire
will be "l.ord shew us the light Of thy coun
tenance." "Speak to US of thy law" Oul
! religion would come and 90 with time ant
! circumstances, but would shine with steady
! light, and our love would burn with an unin-
! terruptcd zeal. We should then live upon
! God; our faces would be turned to him, as to
the "hills from whence our help cometh." II
was so in the early days of New England.
| Reader on each returning Sabbath, go
,chere the gospel is preached; go hoping to
meet your God in his earthly courts; and
when you hear the question asked by others
or find it arising in your own bosom, "who il
going to preach?"-remember my mother.
! ndmonition. ---