The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1863-10-28
From the New York 0bserver.l
TnIking TO Ones Self.

This heading was suggested by hearing
an anccdotc respecting an honest farmer IN
New Hampshire. Ono cold Sabbath morn.
ing, while tho snow was blowing in q tenn.
pest round his house, he stepped out into
the storm, and questioned himself thus:
" Now, Curtis. will you venture out to
church to.day2" He paused Il moment
g" No! No! The storm is altogether too sc-
we're" But, Curtis would you not turn
out to meeting If any one would give You
dollar to do it?" Yes, think would
go for a dollar" Z" Yon would go for dol.
lar, would YOU ?" Yes." Then, Curtis,
you shall go for nothing; for if you value
Gods blessing at less than dollar, you
have reason to dread a more terrible storm
than that which is now raging" SO at once
he posted off to church.
This sclf.communion detected tho true
character of the mans motives, He meant
to be honest with himself. We owe some
honesty and impartialty to ourselves az
well as to others; and az much to ourselves
Az to others. can net see any reason why
wo should be deccitlul and treachcrous and
knavish to ourselves, particularly whore
our great interests for eternity are con-
ccrucd. God certainly requires us all to
commune with our own hearts; and as they
arc decctlul above all things. as well as
desperately wicked, we need to talk with
them much, and with the utmost plainness,
! They are treacherous, and so unwilling to
give in the truth, that we must treat them
very much as lawyer does false and
dishonest witness. We should put them
on the stand, aud question them and cross
question them. and practice every artificc
upon them, till we have drawn the tuth
ont of them. as did the farmer in New
Hampshire. This honest man used this
process of sclf.communion 10 test tho sim
cerity of his attachment to the means Of
grace. Now, an these duties arc the source
of our inclination and ability for all others,
it may not be improper for us to hold the
same conversation with our hearts in re.
gard to them as he did. Begin with your
heart somewhat thus:
do you go to the house Of God to honor
him with the service of the heart, or to i'm
pose upon him with service of tho lips 7
II you go there to worship him, as you know
that you can not perform this duty without
his presence, do you fra, soek his presence
in your closet, and. as il were, make an ap
pointmeut TO meet him in the sanctuary
and do you make suitable preparation for
the solemn and important interview. You
lay aside your common vestments on tho
to meet the eyes and expectations of your
fellow worshippers; but do you make the
same preparation To meet the pure eyes OF
Him with whom alone you have to do in the
exercise of public worship? Do you lay
aside, with your weekday dress, your week
day cares, your worldly feelings, and put
on that adorning which IN not corruptble
that hidden man of the heart which st. Pc
ter 30 much commends, that earnest desir,
to see God as you have seen Him in thu
sanctuary. and as He is seen there by all Hi,
children p"
Some professors think it necessary to &
to church, hut Of no great Importance t.
stay there. After bringing their bodies I,
; Gods house, they feel at liberty instantly
to absent themselves in spirit; aud as sooi
! az they have safely deposited their material
unthinking part in it's accustomed place
they themselves go straight off to thei
farms or their merchandise; and while tn
7 Christian is holding communion with hi
!. God, entering into the storohouse Of hi
: mercies and obtaining blessings of unspeaR
5 able value. these men are wandering i
. spirit over their grounds, sauntering abou
] among their stock, or their crops. ls thi
4 keeping the appointment which they made
7 or should have made with God in thoi
o olosotG
d On leaving the sanctuary, il might be we
to question your own heart: "Soul, yo
r have been in the house of God; were va
; there as worshipper or amere spectator
r. Did you meet God himself in His house; di
you see Him in the sanctuary In III
prayers and hymns, did you behold Hi
: with views of sdoration, of gratitude,
Is penitcnce and faithl Was it a man yo
% heard addressing you from the sacred desl
l. or God himself; that is, did you receive il ;
N the word Of man, with spirit of eriticis
"a and opposition, or. as it is, indeed, as Il
a word of God, with spirit of attention,
Ie reverence and sclEapplicatiou! Did yc
receive il merely into your ears, or into
t good aud honest heart, to carry itawsy wi
rs you, that the words OF Christ might dive
u Ia YOU, and dwell in you richly?