The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1868-03-26

need not Wonucr to sec the non professor
stand back and refuse to become mem
Der OF the church. For be will with truth
ask, "what advantage will it be to me II
cannot get rid of this old adamic sinful
nature? I may as well remain where
am" And so he does, all in consequence
Of the distractions OF a revengeful Instead
of a forgiving disposition shown by the
protesting Christian.
VI. L'regaLwiy on public worship.
This is another obstruction in the way
of the growth Of Christianity. Yet 1T Is
one which is not so regarded by many
good meaning, thoughtless Christians
why" cay they, '.now can my remain
ing at home on Sunday be any obstruc
tion to others yo Or again Can no.
worship God as aceeptably in my own
house as in the public assembly Let
us see. Every individual exerts an influ
ence for good or for evil, and especially
the protesting Christian. Attending pub
lie worship steadily is not only beneficial
to the individual thus attending, but he
thus sets good example to others.
Proiessed Christians who are irregu
lar in their attendance virtually say to the
world, at is a matter of little or no con
sequence whether we attend public wor
ship or not, it is well enough to 20 now
aud then, when it is convenient, not too
hot er too cold, too wet or too dry, or il
visitors do DOT come, or if | can pat of
my visit from Sunday to Monday" The
outsider thus locks in upon the church.
and comes To the conclusion that, the
church and her requirements are only oi
secondary Importance, and so he remains
without the pale. But again, the church
member processes to love the church and
The worship Of his God, yet he is so sci
dom found in It that, we have reason to
suspect his sincerity nevertheless. when
he joins lu with the congregation with
great fervor and apparent devotion, sings.
We fear, an untruth, the beautiful hymn
/ love thy Z;on, Lord
The house of thine abode.
/ love thy church. o God!
FCg her my prayers ascend;
To her my cares and tolls be giv'n,
I'LL tolls and cares shall end"
Now, who that knows this man who so
seldom attends public worship. can for !
moment believe that, he sung this hymn
with heart felt sincerity No, in plain
Euglish, he has sung lie, and if he will
but examine his own feeling in the light
of his past indifference to the church
must himself so conclude Thus we see
abe distractions thrown in the way of the
growth of Christianity by the irregular
attendance on public worship by the pro
fessed Christian.
VII. Dishonesty
Dishonest Christian a nis-nomer =
"Ah yes" say you, this very house (the
Chourt House, is ussed every three
months, and the very spot on which you
STAND Che Judges stand) is occupied by
the Jud ge to pronounce for or against dis
honest Christians as well as for all other |
classes Of men" This is humiliatiu- in
deed. Aud, . what an obstruction, this |
- the growth of Christianity The non
professor lonks up to the Christian as pat
tern of integrity, OF moral. universal hon
esty. We are sorry to confess that nrany
protesting Christians are only legally hoa |
est, that Is honest according 10 Law
Hence, if brother Christian wishes to |
do business with him it must be accord
ing to law, not according to a moral or to
a christian sense of right. Therefore.
abe necessity OF entering into a ,rrifcn
contract with all the binding obligations
forfeitures and penalties attached. that
you would tssten upon the most uotour.
iously dishoeest rogue iu all the land
Is this not little too bad ? This gives
occasion for the non professor TO exclaim
How is this ? Thus Christians profess
so believe in the same God-to love the
sane Savior-to love each other-pro |
fess to hare been born again-and TO have
passed from death unto life, and yet, in
the face of all these professions canuot
trust each other In business matters with |
out FIRST entering into written obligations
how is this There must be some
thing wrong either with them or with
their religion, and unto | see more con
sistency with p.ofession and practice, | |
will stand aloof from the church" Eel |
low Christian, what will we do with
this logic of the outsider for it is only
too true. The only remedy left us is lice
up to our profession, and then be is dis
armed.
VIII. Nh5cralay.
Our liberality depends very much upon
our love for the cause. The Christian
not always the most able to give, vet it is
fair to presume that, his heart has been
changed, and now that it abounds with
love to God, to his fellow man, and de
Fights in assisting as well as in seeing the
extension of Gods kingdom on earth
Consequently, illberality where there IL
ability to do cannot be attributed TO the
Christian. Yet we find many. prolessed
Christians, notwithstanding their loud
possessions Of faith and Of conversion, and
OF love for God and his church. are the
most illiberal of all others, not only with
respect to the building of churches, to
the support of the gospel to the relief OF
The poor and distressed in their midst