Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1860-11-09
For the Waterman.
TO THOSE WHO LOVE PUBLIC WOR'
SHIP.


TO THOSE WHO LOVE PUBLIC WOR-
SHIP.
II we assume that in the two hundred and
forty townships of Vermont there are as
many as six hundred houses Of public wor-
ship opened every Sabbath, and that the ay-
orage attendance is one hundred in each
house, we have an aggregate of sixty thou
sand in the State attending worship, or about
two in eleven Of the whole population. The
causes which draw so many to these places Of
worship are LIST, strict regard to the uni
,crsa obligation not to forsake the assembl-
ing Of ourselves together I'd, parental exam
pie and authority. with corresponding and
long continued habit; Sd. curiosity. or a de-
sire to hear particular preachers, or to i'm
prove by the literature and religion of the
place.
II. The reasons why so many absent them
selves arc lst, positive irrclgion. and con-
tempt for its ordinances. Many prefer the
bar-room, the huckster's shop the social vls-
IT, the walk or the ride, fishing or hunting to
The house Of God 2d. love of ease and dis
position to physical rest Many alcdgc that
they labor so hard during the week they must
lounge and sleep on the Sabbath. Sd. UNI
willingness TO assume the expense directly
OF indirectly lnCulltu lH supporting Nbiohll
4th. unbelief in the doctrines taught
1t is evident at glance that a majority of
the people are habtually absent from public
worship, and therefore render practical yer-
dict against its necessity or utility. In case
the two classes Of ncglcctcrs-thosc who
claim to be too tired, or those who are too
penurious to sustain worship-should claim
that they do not design to say that public
worship is not necessary, but that it is mex
pedicnt for them TO worship on the Sabbath.
they may he allowed the full benefit of the
plea. Nevertheless, those two causes keep
thousands from the house Of God ycor after
year The effect Of those causes must be
very general want Of interest in religious
truth, neglect Of divine instruction, and
practical ropudiatiun of the supremacy OF tio
prcccpts of revelation. Mems whims. indo-
lenco or inordinate love Of money are 90 them
and TO their families of more consequence
than Gods commands The literature and
morals Of the desk are not to be favored
when in conflict with their wishes to continue
in that love of money which Paul says ais
tho root Of all evil, or 10 that listless indif
ference to the commands of God, (which
rccks not of heaven or of hell provided our
love Of case and desire to retain in our own
As TO the positive contempt felt by many
for the ordinances of religion, il makes its
own comment. It is at war with natural re-
hgous sentiments, with mans position
towards his Creator, and with the best hopes
be can sustain. II they are simply neglected
with good will, they forget that pulpit
countcnanced is half sustained, and that
which is abandoned is destroyed, and that
il. Goodwill, 70 remain goodwill, must
produce good conduct and instead of scat
tcring society from the homes of purity gath
crs to Christ.
a. is difficult 90 conceive bow n neglccter
Of public worship is TO justify his course. lie
knows that the pulpit Ia the guardian, above
all others, of morals, liberty and religion,
the promoter of refinement and Improvement,
by the acknowledgement Of nearly all men of
distinction and yet, from some trAing
causes, he utterly negects to sustain it -
Does he thus in relation to sources of minor
good; Common schools, schools Of modi-
cine and law, lectures and exhibitions, in
structivc or amusing he patronizes but
that which is designed to teach the true end
Of all valuable attanments, render life desir-
able and death happy, must receive neglect,
must i've W iAuuNl MS tOuuNtHantt, OF ult LOT
want Of his support If | could reach the
ear of all the men in Vermont, ! would say
TO them, "hcar ye the word of the Lord, 80
and voc to him who turns deaf car when
God pleads with him.
As to those who believe the pulpit should
he sustained. few words will suffice You
believe God hears and answers prayer. Then
pray an you tHotg that lie has answered your
prayer TO gather to His house the surround
Ing noglcctcrs. Thou persuade them, if pos
siblc, to 90 with you. Offer them seats, pro-
cure for them accommodations. Men who re-
side at a little distance from church, and who
must ride, furnish themselves with stylish
buggy, and Ego in good shape '-but this is
Satan's device to keep wordlness alive in
the heart of the protested believer, and to
keep away from public worship those who
cannot 90 in that style. why not use light,
long bodied wagons hung on thorough braces
and capable of holding from two to four seats
for one or two horses, and worth uuspeakably
more than the buggy though costing less
Use these and the bodies on traverse runner
in winter, and take your neghbors with you
and fill the empty seats. Break down tn,
very appearance Of oxclusivencss and bring
the masses who now neglect to hear the Cos.
pei. if you would have them live or die il
hope. Yours sincerely,
A DoER.