The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1856-02-02

effect is produced on the worshipping as
sembly by stormy Sabbaths. They sift the
church, and test the real motives that bring
us to the house of God. We do not aver
that it is the duty of every one, whatever
be the state of his health to come to church,
during any kind of weather. There are
states of body, and of weather that would
make it wrong for many persons to attend
public worship. We have no desire to state
the question of duty so as to ensnare tender
consciences, or make attendance at church,
on every service, condition of salvation.
But we have little fear of doing harm IN
that way if experience and observation are
to be our instructors. The general con-
science is not at all morbid in that direc-
ton, and will bear firm pressure. 1t is
then very obvious that if persons attend
church only to vile away an hour on the
Sabbath; or because it is the custom of the
community; or because it is a good place
to exhibit a handsome dress; or because
one can see and be seen; or for any reason
apart from a desire to worship God and
hear his word, a stormy Sabbath will re-
move the reason, and induce them to re-
main at home. Hence the congregation
will be sifted, and most of this class of
hearers be removed. This, if rightly used
may induce such persons seriously to reflect
on the motives that have led them to church,
and remove that delusive impression which
they often have, that they are really Obeying
God, in ameritorious manner, by coming to
his house on the Sabbath.
But they have also use in leading those
who are properly detained at home to prize
the privileges of which they are thus de-
prived, and which they have estimated too
lightly. The preached word becomes cheap
when it is easily enjoyed, and is often I'M
dervalued, until temporary privation is
thus endured. A congregation that has
long enjoyed stated ministry, can thus
have some notion of what it must endure if
God should remove the candlestick from
its place, and leave the pulpit vacant.
They may then understand what David
meant in those fervid lOngings that he
breathes for the courts of Gods house, and
the tabernacles of the Lord of hosts.
Another lesson may be learned by minis
tiers as well as private Christians. We are
all too much disposed to rely on means and
human agencies, rather than on God. Hence
when the minister prepares a sermon care
fully, in the hope that it may reach some
who have long been unmoved, he feels dis
appointed when the stormy Sabbath comes
and keeps such persons at home. And
when the sermon is preached, many a
Christian is regretting that such, and such
a one was not there to hear it. But this
may be often a mere reliance on the arm
of flesh, that needs to be rebuked. The
sermon may touch soul in the handful
present, which would have felt itself lost,
and undistinguished in a large congrega-
ton. 1t is said that a celebrated preacher
of this country once preached to a single
nearer, and that the sermon issued in the con-
version of that nearer and through him of
a wide circle of usefulness. Mr.. Tennent's
"dumb Sermon" as he called it, converted
an infdel, who would perhaps have cOmbated
all the arguments he had so deliberately
prepared. Hence we may learn the lesson
by these stormy Sabbashs, to walk more by
faith, and trust more in God, and to look
forward more to that cloudless and endless
Sabbath above, where all storms shall have
ceased forever.