The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1858-07-14

VIZ s'N"S"'S vi 'Hese people SO
shalt thou have some idea Of the forbear.
ance God continually exercises towards
those who draw near him with their lips,
while their hearts are far from him.
As the angel spoke my ears were dea.
iened with clamor which would have
been shocking in public meeting, but
which here, in Gods holy house, was aw-
fully profane. The countenance remained
indeed as composed and serious as before,
the lips moved with the words Of PRAYER,
but the phrases they uttered were of the
world and its occupations.
How shamefu'v late Mrs. Slack always
comes said one woman, who looked over
the edge of her Prayer Book and saw her
neighbor and train of daughters hustle
into the next pew. What an example
to set her family thank goodness no
one can accuse me Of that sin New
bonnets again already : exclaimed the
last conner returning the neighborly glance
iromthe other seat,ere she composed herself
to the semblance Of devotion. 'How tLey
can afford it heaven only knows, and they
are owing all their Christmas bills yet.
If my girls look shabby, at least we pay
our debts
All ! there's Tom Scott nodded
young man to his friend in the opposite
gallery. He is growing quite religious
and respectable, declare he has been to
Church two Sundays running. How
much longer will the devout fit last 2
These were shocking and striking ex
amples Of irreverence there were hap.
PLY not many such, the involuntary wan
deripgs Of thought were more common.
| was much interested in young cou-
pie near me, whose attention for consid
cradle part of the service had been re-
From the dress of the Young
man Judged to be a clergyman, his lady
wore deep mourning; they were evident
ly betrothed-,hey read out of one book.
Gradually he forgot the awful presence
in which he stood, his eyes wandered
from the Bib!e to her gentle face, and fix.
ing there, called off his thoughts from
heaven. 'llow good she isl he began to
say, how attentive to her prayers, as 10
AL other duties! What = sweet wife she
will make I! How happy am to have
won her love- By this time the coun
icnance of the Young man wore an ex
preston which showed that she .elt the
earnestress of his gaze her eyelids trem-
bIed-her attention wavered, and though
she looked at the book some moments
longer, she too began 10 murmur Of earth
~ things, and | heard her say, oh, how
he loves me-even here he cannot forget
that | am beside HIM 1t was many
minutes before ether of them returned in
spirit TO their devo,ions.
As the service proceeded the attention
OF the cngregaiion tagged more and
more-the hubbub Of worldly talk in
creased. One man composed letter he
intended to send, and even altered whole
passages and rounded elegant periods,
without one check or recollection of the
place in which he stood. Another repea-
ted long dialogue which had passed be
tween him and friend the night before,
and considered how he might have spoken
more TO the rurpose. Some young girls
rehoarsed scenes with their lovers some
recalled incidents Of their last ball. Care.
ful housewives planned schemes of econo-
my, gave warning to their servants, arran.
ged the turning Of a gown, or decided on
the most becoming trimming Of bon.
net.
To me, conscious Of the recording an.
gels presence, all this mockery Of wor.
ship was frigh,ful. would have given
worlds to have reused this congregation
to sense Of what they were doing and
to my comfort, saw that for the involun-
tary offenders, gentle warning was pro-
v;ded.
A frown from The angel or the waving
of his impatient wings, as if about to
quit place so desecrated, recalled the
wandering thoughts Of many soul, un-
conscious whence came the breath that
revived the dying flame of bis derotions.
Then seIf-blame, tears Of penitence and
bitter remorse, OF which those kneeling
nearest kms" nothing, wsung the heart,
shocked at its own careless ingratitude,
wondering at and adoring the forbearance
Of the Almighty, while more concenira
ted thoughts, and l trust more fervent
prayer, succeeded to the momentary for
getfulneSs.
10 spite of all these helps, however,
che amount Of real devotion was small
and when looked at the angels tablets,
| was shocked to see how little WAS writ
ten therein.
Out Of three hundred Christians, thought
/, assembled after a week Of mercies TO
praise and bless the Giver OF all good are
these few words the sum OF what they
offer
Look to thyself,' said the angel, read
ing my inmost thoughts. Such as these
are, such has thou long been. Darest
thou, after what has been revealed thee,
act such part again Oh, could thy
mortal ears hear the songs Of rejoicing
argels, before the throne Of the Almighty,
thou wouldst indeed wonder at the con-
descending mercy which stoops to accept
these few faint, wandering notes Of prayer
and praise. Yet the sipless angels veil
their faces before Him, In whose presence
man stands boldly up with such mockery
of ,ro..k;o .. .ko,, hast .aac .k:a H.,