M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1855-02-02
THE DEVILt
LAY SERMON.
nr soLoMAN sfMPLt.

cpiNNkhlNn uutO tir SHuTCttS,
DRARLr BELovEp: YoA who be-
long to the various churches with toll
Fteeples and long tongued bells-with
elegantly cushioned seats, carpeted
aiSles, aud gilt piayer.books have had
your way about long enough. Your
teachers have "sewed pillows under
your arm.holes," and flatlered your
vanity, till some Of you actually believe,
like your revered predecessors the old
PhafiSees who crucified the carpenters
Son and stoned the Prophets, that you
are "be.ter than other men," But the
fact is, you are no better than you
ought TO be-and you know il. II you
had your deserts, the Lord only knows
what would become of you.
And yet you are as unconcerned, as
though there was no prospect Of the
devil ever getting his due. But ! feel
concerned for you and since your teach.
ere have their hands full Of political
matters, in getlingup petitions against
the Nebraska bill, converting The hea>
then, and furnishing bibles 10 those
who want bread aud potatoes, and in
bringing all sorts Of railing accusations
against the Worlds People, ihefeby
"abusing their betters,' ! propose 10
look into our matters a little, and thus
pay them in their own coin, "wiihout
money and without price"
My text is taken IRON an old book
which gives an account Of q man OF
sorrows who was acquainted with grief
and " no "rtnt about doing good." p
And you profess to lie his iolloweIs!-
What have you been about? All around
you are ll'e poor, the aged, the infrm;
pale care-worn wldows-halC-Iamished
end ragged chlldren-.wilh no means
OF getting the neressaries, 10 say moth
ing OF the comforts Of lie. They have
called at your doors--half Of them in
vain; and gone supperless 10 bed, and
shivering with the cold. In turning a
deaf ear to their suppIications, you
have silenced the up-braidings Of your
consciences, by pleading your ignor-
ance OF their true condition, and shut
your doors in their faces, lest a state
ment of their wants and deserts might
take away the last excuse invented by
your ingenious uncharitableness. Why
did you not like the poor Nazarine
who had not where 10 lay bis head,
''go sbout"--into the narrow streets,
dark lanes, and shsckling old houses oi
the city, and learn The truth by person>
al observation? Were you afraid Of
soiling your silks, saiils, and brocades,
by coming in contact with haggard
want, and squalid desli.utionP
Perhaps you pray for the pooy?--
Very likely, tor your prayers cost 10th
ing--and ten thousand oi them, though
as long as a railroad, would not feed a
hungry child, or wipe the frozen teal
from the eye nf The widow. This
economy in matters Of religious end
moral duty, oHly reveals tie tact that
you have more faith than works, sud
precious little oil either.
And, o, my beloved! look at your
churches. Think OF the thousands
and scores Of Thousands Of dollars ex,
pended in buildingthem--and for what?
That you might learn humility from
ostentation, and duty from violation
Of every principle of the gospel you
profess! The interest on The money
invested in these piles of stone, brick,
and mortar, made for the purpose OF
bringing God within reach Of his de-
luded offspring, and keeping him there,
would feed ali the hungry, clolhe all
the naked, and educate all the neglect
ed children! And when the doors oi
those "empIes made with hands" are
:hrown open, on the Sabbath, you go
there with useless finery enough 10 pay
oil the taxes Of the county and State,
and leave a surplus to pay the deposits
Of the broken banks.
"These things ought not so TO be-
"He that hath an ear, let him hear
what The spirit saith 10 The churches. {"
And remember that the severest reproofs
and most dreadful msledic,ions uttered
by the Teacher sent of God, were ad-
dressed--not TO the "people of the
world" as you have been in the habit
of thinking, but to The punc,ilious and
praying rsiigionists Of those days.
This your teachers have neglected to
tell you, betau you hire them to min
lister to your sdi fcation and comJort--
but it is SO, nevertheless. And, let me
further say TO } ou, "a. in fear OF God,"
that ''pure religion, and undefled, be-
fore God and the Father, is Mis-to
visit the fatherless and widows in their
affections, and to keep himself unspol-
ted from The world" And, that you
may "make your calling and election
sure" be entreated 10 turn over new
leaf in the book Of your experience,
and profit from these timely and needful
suggestions. AMEN.