The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-03-11
Gusnius State go,1raal.
SATURDAY EvE'G, MARCH. IL, 1871
SUNDAY READING.

Ii.
PRFAoppRs AT the autumnal session c
tbe Ranfist Union. at Cambridge, the othe
day. Mr.. Spurgeon said: 81 recommen
every Young minister to make preaching
his first business. The pulpit is the Their
moplya of Christendom. Your people ma,
grumble that you don't go about and drinl
as many cups of tea at their houses as they
would like. If you give them good fooC
on the Sabbath they will put up with
good deal. If the Sabbath joint is only
grim scrag of mutton, with plenty O
divisions and nothing to divide (laughtel)
you will soon discover that YOU. people
will not be satisfied. In the next place, DC
not neglect visitation. 1t Is true that
cannot visit my 1850 members. But my
visitation is done by the elders.
Next let me say a word or two to the
people. It is remarkable fact that min
listers of the Gospel are not able to live on
much less than other people. daughter
They cannot make shilling go as far as
other people can make a sovereign. Some
of them try very hard, but do not succeed.
A member once said to a minister who
wanted little more salary as his family
increased. ri did not know that you
preached for money" "No, don't" said
the minister. 81 thought you preached
for souls" $50 I do but | could not
live on souls Qaughter) and if I could it
would take good many the size of yours
to make a meal" (Renewed laughter.)
SPIRITUAL GOODNESS IN CHURCHES
When we examine the surface indications
about us, we are astonished at the little
interest that church members have in each
other as such. In many cases those who
enter Christian church are left to strug-
gle into acquaintainship as best they may,
left to battle with their embarrassments
without sympathetic look or q cheering
word. And if members are tempted
astray, no one feels under obligations to
call or to lead them back to the fold again.
Not a few will stand ready to say, rather
complacently than christianity:
"Just as l expected. told you SO.
Couldn't hold out"
If there were no youthful and inexperi-
enced disciples, no timid, trembling follow
ers of Jesus--if religion were something
to lounge in, or promenade through, in
mere luxury and show--if going to heaven
were nothing more than tcrchlight pro-
cession-then persons might choose their
comrades and adopt their regalia and mot
toes according to their tastes and times.
Reu. alexander CLARK.
All the while the truth is this "They
were Frozen" and as long as criticism,
censure, Judgment, exaction as a tax, de-
votion dunned out as toll, are permitted to
chill the church, just so long will young
and tender communicates be killed by the
frost. There is too much spiritual Novem-
Der in our churches"
1t were we'll if those who always talk to
the heart recollected that men have heads
as we'll. Now, the Saviour was preacher
whose head was in his heart, and whose
heart was in his head. He never addressed
the emotions except by motives which
commended themselves to the reason, nor
did he instruct the mind without at the
same time influencing the heart and con-
science. iaasg
1t is an old saying that charity begins at
home; but this is no reason that it should
not go abroad a man should live with
the world as a citizen of the world he
may have preference for the particular
quarter, or square, or even alley, in which
he lives, but he should have generous
feeling for the welfare of the whole.-Oum-
berlond.
Christians, whose social relations are all
of the clique order, know not how seriously
they fail of the spirit Of the Master how
much good within easy reach, they fail to
do in the world, and how many sources Of
good to themselves are at the very DOORS
He that is greatest among you let him be
the servant of all. Interior.
How strong our churches would become
if all were baptized with the spirit of this
resolve: "By divine grace will act as
though there was no other one to act,
waiting no longer for others"
Some men make great flourish about
always doing what they believe to be right,
but always manage TO believe that is right
which is for their own interest.
Learn to have not one life for God and
another Tor the world but let your life
be divinely devoted and divinely quicken
ed. Let every footstep be walk with
God.
The oldest Methodist church in America
is the "Old John Street" in New York,
which has just celebrated its 104th ami
versary.