Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-06-01
The Life of the Church.

Achristian sister, with whom we have no
personal acquaintance, writes us from a
lneighboring State that she has long wished
to say something through the Watchma'a
and Reflector to the churches on the subject
Of sustaining weekly prayer meetings, but
that she was not well enough, even if she
knew enough, and requesting us to do so,
talking to us plainly just as Jesus would If
as the life Of tie Christian, and prayer meet
imgs are the life OF the church, She could
hardly have expressed herself with more
| point or more to the purpose had she been
ever so well and ever so learned.
We are pleased to receive such sugges-
lions. They help to keep us nearer Chris
tan hearts. The press, like the pulpit, is
a power for good, only as it meets the real,
practical, present wants of the people. Luz
Their, who had preached the same day with
Melancthon to the same audience, claimed
to have preached the best sermon, on the
ground that he had directed himself to the
thronging crowd while the latter had de-
livered scholarly discourse of interest on
ly to the few doctors present. So, always,
he is the best preacher who herein is most
like his Master; and so, likewise, the relig-
common people" read it gladly.
But talk to us just as Jesus would, -
and how would lie talk should He come
among US as lie came to lis own III Judea
and Galilee. Is it certain that the honest
historian would not have to record again of
many a respectable" church in the city and
many worldly church in the country, ''He
came to His own and His own received Him
nOt?"
''Talk to US of the prayer meeting as Je.
sus would, "--plainly 50 that the truth may
penetrate even unwilling hearts with search
ing power; wisely, laying no grieyous bur
den, on the one hand, nor tolerating tata
ease in Zion, on the other, and recognizing
a diversity of obligation in the matter OF
the part both Of individuals and churches
as determined by many differences Of per
sonal and local condition; kindly remem
bering that no good comes OF scolding from
press or pulpit, any more than from the nur
sery, and that the words OFF esus were 'gra
ciOus words" notwithstanding His cIea
insight into the depraved hearts and wron;
: lives Of those He addressed.
Talk to Us. as Jesus wouId!" No; we ar
: too unlike Jesus. We haven't enough OF
2 His spirit, His keen sense of right, Hi
sharp discrimination, His zeal for God, Hi
| devotion to the Things OF the kingdom Q
! would the Master but commission some one
e with heart, and lips, and pen touched wit
a hallowed fire, to lay hold on the moder
a facilities OF pulpit, and platform, and pres.
what readJustments would soon come abou
: in all our moral machinery, and in tn
5 whole spirit and working of all Christia
$ labOrers
:. Can we doubt that such a messenge
among his first cares, would look to tn
e prayer meeting, holding, with our siste
: that a church without one was either dea
n or ready to die? that He would eniOin il
4 regular maintenance wherever two or tire
|, could claim the Masters presence? that h
+ would recall covenant vows and insist o
s. their fulfilment by all who were not read
z to renounce their Christian hopes that i
Il would remind those who have sinned i
II this thing OF their own fleece all dry ami
d others drenched with the dews of heaven
( that he would point the goddess neighbor
q to unconyerted children, to unfruitll
I Christians, to disheartened pastors, to Il
% means OF grace scarcely sustained and mil
d, istering little grace to the worshippers?
IL We may take occasion, by-and-by, to &C
Is something further on prayermeetings b.
we must be allowed to say here that a chur(
al actually without one, at its centre or in i
n neighborhOods, has reason for great scare
Is ings Of heart batchaan and Reflector.