The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1868-07-03
W. ~.u.si Js,.ats IA. Aou,s Of o.r God-NsHrr'u

We esu aef JsSsdks hs Aouss ~ oar God-SEHEhH'
In all Christian communities there are edi6-
cies get apart for the worship Of Almighty God,
consecrated to the public acknowledgment OF
our obligations and responsibilities. by erect.
ing such structures to his worship We recognize
his existence. his omnipresence; and we confess
to the belief that where two or three arc met to-
gether In Christ's name there will he be, i'm
parting his holy influence, vouchsahug his d.
vine consultations.
Believing and oonfessng this, tho hallowed
walls Of the church should surround . multi.
tude Of tried, tempted. sorrowing 80 we'll as
rejoicing human hearts; aud the dswning Of
the nrst day be hailed with gratitude amid the
wearying duties Of the week. few hours
snatched from the pressure Of life's affairs In
which to pause, reflect, and to make, II need
be, new resolutions for the government Of mo-
tive, thought and deed.
The healthy influence OF these weekly gath
erings In Gods house cannot be measured. II
We enter the sacred portals bowed down with
heavy grief, there, Is no where else, come with
their full meaning the precious promises OF
Christ.-I will not leave you comfortless, will
come unto you; though he be dead yet shall he
live and he that liveth and believeth In me
shall never die: and the world whose portals
have closed on our beloved, seems near to our
rapt vision and the gloom Of death vanishes in
the great light Of hope.
Of unrepented. unabandoned sin. II the pray
ers for pardon meet no response In the obdu-
rate heart, II the music neither elevates nor
sottens, Is II the spoken word rare not the ada
mantine wall reared by long self-indslgence,
still something Is done by the divine influences
Of the place-all cannot be lost. A restraint,
however feeble, is cast round the wild impulses
Of the undiscipiined spirit; some holy utter
ance finds its way to the inattentive ear; mem-
ory retains something Of the time aud place;
conscience Is awakened, asif but . moment
from It's sleep Of spiritual death.
Some pass through the welcoming doors, oh
how heavily oppressed with cares and gloomy
foreboclngs. Il Is we'll for such to drop, even
for the brief hour Of worship, this load OF
trouble ut the foot Of Gods altar. Let u lie
there while thought fees upward to the throne
feels the soit influence Of his divine pity or ao-
cents the profisred aid Of sll-suficient strength
How many have gone thence with every sor-
row soothed, every care lightened, every hope
cilded anew by the divine ray voucksafsd DUR
ing that short hour Of devotion and recogui.
tion Of "the divinity that shapes our end'."
What incalculable good is thus done by sim
ply sevsring the thread OF worldly thoughts
and turning them In another direction, break
inc up life's monotony by bringing to the attcn
lion the nob,est themes Of contemplation and
unWeaying the web Of envy, jesloey. ambition,
that 10 fetters every noble and kindly impulse.
Could consecrated walls 6nd uttersnce how
many Q tale they might tell Of sins repented
and forsakeu, OF sorrows sanctifed and sooth.
ed, Of good resolutions strengthened and evil
ones abandoned. Under those sacred roofs
them, In their unsoiled purity, to the service OF
the Most High; love has brought here its pray
ers that religion might hallow its dearest
homes; the mourner has been here with his
dead that the promise Of Immortality might be
renewed and It's cheering assurance dspel some
Of the gloom dsikening the precincts OF the
grave.
for by 30 doing We close upon ourselves chief
source Of moral Improvement; We refuse aid In
our conflict with the world; wetieny our or
wounded hearts the balm Of one great consols-
ton. Il becomes us, asa people, asa great
natioL, openly TO acknowledge our allegiance
10 the King OF Kings; and how can We do this
asefficiently rs by hocking to his temple Ia the
holy time holy because set apart to his Wor-
ship.
let us remember all his mercies to Us as peo-
pie. not forgetting his special blessings to each
striving, aspiring soul. Leave oil that would
dim the spirits purity or clog It's wings, far,
far behind. The SPOT whereon thou treadest Is
holy ground. Gather into the very depths OF
being every encouragement and warning that
n needs, and strive to realize how much more
90 be desired are treasures IN heaven than any
earth can afford.
PorssIe mot the house Of the Lord. Make Il
one Of life's prime duties to show by your pres
snce there . sense Of accountability, belief IN
something beyond the present, and . wise de-
termiuation TO avail yourself Of all the mean.
granted Tor religious, moral and intellectual
sdvsncemeut,