Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1846-11-04

above, viz TO worship God"
ard. The place Of Meeting. We
are not always such strenuous advocates
of literal adherence to inferences deri>
we'd from the face of law as to believe
it transgression of the Law when the
spirit is carried out. And here, ais
though we could demonstrate from the
very words Of Paul that some particu>
lar-place of worship is implied TO which
resort should be had every Sabbath
E,hat he could not have addressed them
the .exhoria,ion Without supposing they
had common and usual place of wor-
ship to which they are urged to resort;
and that consequently it binding on us
to assemble at what We term our own
'Chul chcs," we satisfy ourselves with ex>
horling you" "not io. .forsske, &C." Garry
out the spirit Of this exhortalion as re-
CARDS tie place. Letyour consciences
guido you and keep the glory Of God
constantly in view.
But we cannot forbear mentioning that
in the great majority of cases it is your
duty TO assemble at your own places
Of worship regularly and that the iol-
lowing are the only cases which We I'M.
agine can form exceptions. 1t may hap
pen that two Churches are situated so
closely 10 each other as to render con-
venient the attendance of the members
ofbolh upon either. Again: two Church
es may unite for the purpose of giving
adequate support to the ministry. But
in these cases the two Churches are
virtually one, and attendance upon is
both the duty of the members Of both.
We pause now to inquire what has
been actually proved? How much ?and
what bearing it has on The practice of
TOO many of our Churches ?
Now it is generallyadmitted that Scrip.
ture example carries with it as much
weight in deciding points of ,doclline as
precept. And il should be SO: for, in-
stances of practice which Obtained
among the Churches in the time of the
Apostles and authorized or uotIebuked,I
by them when duly informed of its exs-
tence, are instances of a practice di-
ivnely sanctioned, though the sanction
be itself suppressed. Let us fear then
brethren lest this method of reasoning
carry with il sword that shall pierce the
very vi,as of our practice in too many
cases. We shall see. We are aulhor-
lied TO infer from what has been said
above, that it is the duty of all christians
to assemble together on the fast day Of
the week for the worship Of God-that
the frs, day Of the week is the time:
not the first or other Lords day of the
month only. There is no mention made
of the month here. Now we ask, how
does this agree with our practice? Do
we reckon by days and weeks, or by
weeks and months the times of our as
sembIing? For our answer TO this impor>
tant question, we appeal to your own
knowledge of the facts Of The case.
Let us now attempt to answer briefly
three plausible objections which may
be urged against the practice of the duty
under consideration in doing which we
hope to show tie expcdiency Of its
performance.
Objection 1st. eve have not sufii-
cheney of preachers"
This is no objection, twill readily be
perceived to the measure proposed;
however great an obstacle the scarcity
Of preachers may present, TO what now
a-days we understand by "the worship
Of God" Does not the objector make
this duty consist in preaching and listen
ling 10 preaching7 Whereas il IS clear,
we muat give to this phrase as compre.
hensive Specification as'lhe words which
compose it will allow. 1t is not restricted
to the performance of one act, but of as
many as the words " worship of God"
denote.
And wIrs, says theword of God upon
this point? ST. Paul subjoins to the
prccc quoted frequently in this letter,
''but exbor,ing one another" Hebrew
10Th chapter, 25tI, verse. What does
this indicate but that exholting one
another" is branch Of divine worship?
The public worship of God can be
conducted then without the presence Of
a minister of the Gospel. 1t must he
admitted that the ministry is the most
efficient means ofspreadiDg the word
but ii is not the only one. We fear
there is TOO great dispositionto to overlook
the more silent branch ofinstrumentali-
. ties-such as private membersas we'll as
{. preachers have to do with. We forbeaI
mentioning other parts Of divine wor-
ship; our only desi2n being 10 show that