Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1855-02-22
Prn 'ticai Words for Az.

Religion il quite an exercise of conygnl.
ence Unlike the u,u1l orsuB.zItion in
which gatherings are prominent feature, |,
has no hold upon the acts oi the membc', *
ccpt as indicated by slight proportion Of
drty and vast amount oc convenience -
Now. IL matters not how momenious the i'm
portance Of the subject, or how terrible the
tremJlngs on the verge Of the fiery lake."
they all fade into transparent shadows and
cortuscate fecbly in the imagination, when
by selfish and pleasing influences connected
with life below. The saint as we'll us the
sinner will never fail 10 roach the rendezvous,
whero business is 10 be transacted, or pleas
urcs to be enjoyed; but how naturally and
practically true is the fact that rain moder-
ate, a distance reasonable, a night dbcerns-
bic, time leasurable, or mud superficial, will
command profound attention. and elicit the
most favorable idea of that doubtful ques-
titq,
---''how far may mortal man depart,
How long and peril not the heart "
a Sabbath day dawns upon the just and the
wicked, the church bell chime the sacred
hour FOR prayer, The holy man is standing II
the consecruted altar. waiting the presence
of his flock, the enquirer and the careless; a
brighter sun Than which earth never witness.
ed ilumines tie day, aa,Ure is gay, and the
air mild and inviting. How his heart glad
ders as the throng presses the portals and
fills seat and aisle of the consecrated chapel,
and what encouragement p,ams into his soul
10 preach salvation and arouse the listess
apathy OF the un,hinking hearer. 'Tis well.
Another day "set apart" is ushered in the
hnceusing passage OF time: In keeping with
Deity ami his ruling purposes solemn cloud
shadows the face of the sun chilly atmos.
pherc moans around the old chapel and thro
The willows Of sreiEh3or!ng burial place.
A slee,y rain or a searching blast may revel
for n time, but the anointed is at his devotion
inside the altar, the old couple are vending
hithcr their way, tie new convert and the
pray er ul mother, side by side enter tie sane
tuary. -.
In one seat rests single form-there,
two-a few hesitate at the outer threshold
echving foot falls anon harshly break through
the empty box and silent archway. A half
hour passes slowly by-the man Of Col raises 2
his form and coinmences the services but O,
what sad tones a uttcrei--h1w his soul
mortifies in anguish and with what sorrow is
the truth forced upon HIN, that Religion is
an exercise Of convenience more th1n of love
! and duty ia it.. rieiLlo workings. lie Knows
that the chapel is silent and deserted before
him, and he also remembers that on veste-;
day. when the storm ragged in unceasing fu.
! nv, thrice the number OF his humble conrregi 1.
tiun were present at the feast Of some weai.
thy one whose borders were beyond even the
the palei of his parish. But the sober ques
Ii IN OF storm was not then entertained
his people did not care TO consider. Man
passes ~. by but .hc utterng pen of tlid in
scri ing angel passes nothing by; the last
noticed, the slightest neglect Of duty, vii
b e recorded the unpardoned sin and become
the final adjutator of reward and punishment,