The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-02-22

regard it heavy burden to gather
the Cross for one short hour
each day. Surely you will rejoice to
90 into the Courts of the Lords house
and find it the "gate of Heaven" to
your devout and waiting souls. fy"u
love to frequent the society OF those
Won esteem us friends, and shall your de-
sire to hold communion with God, he
less ardent? feel assured that, If you
will but look at these privileges In
their true significance you will eagerly
thronc the Temple of the Lord and let
your voices be heard in solemn vows
and hymns of praise"
Iwould not have you, however, look
merely to the Services for an increase
of Christian holiness, but to regard
them as helps to devotion, as means to
an end. All experience in the pursuit
of holiness, clearly shows that the high
er life of the soul is only reached and
maintained by constant feeding upon
the truth. In these services the church
spreads her banquet of refreshing food
and you are invited lovingly to par
take of the royal feast. In the sweet
words of the SANITY Herbert.
"Who goeth in the way which Christ hath
gone, ..,. NJ:
than one
That travelleth by waves
Pertains nv God, though He be fare be-
May turn and take me by the hand' ana
May strengthen my decayes-"
Respecting the. kind and degree OF
abstinence our church has no defined
law. She wisely trusts her children to
do their duty, and would not bind you
by any Procrustean system. She hath
the lives of holy men and women, in
> all ages, as guide for her conduc,
), in this, as in all other matters, per
tanning to christian living.
y See does not leave off certain kinds
= of food, in order that you may fare
. sumptuously on others. She does not
). prescribe heavy diets and allow the us'
of lighter ones. This she deems un
wise and savoring too much OF bodll.
service. Her rule is to found in tn
collect for the first Sunday in Lent.
= The church asks you to give u
! feasting, that is to abridge both tn
70 quantity and quality of your food i
l. order to help you subdue your will
" that of the Holy spirit, to starve, for
~ while, your body, in the hope that
IL may help you to starve out sin tro'
No your soul, to abandon sumptuous liv
n. ing and thus save something to swe
your willing offerings for the poor an
ed to advance the welfare of His Hol
I'd Church. She hopes by the hunger
u the body to induce you to hunger an
E. thirst after righteousness. feel SUI
he that if you will, during this Lent, al
he stain from some food or habit you Ell
CHI 10y most, and religiously dedicate tt
I'D sum usually expended for the sam
10 your establishment will be very gre
I'm when at Easter you are permitted
ic. place upon Gods Altar so large an
Die ferinG mete for the Masters use. l a
I'm sure that if each family in its eve
on member would thus do the Treasu
be of the church would be quite reple
ct with holy offerings to complete a
err beautify this edifice we are erecti
out to the praise ofthe ever blessed Tril
on' ty.
I'VE Not only should there be an abs
ga nence in our daily diet-but it is
var standing custom of the Church for CO
son turtles to abstain from all world
the amusements and festivities of all XII
ned during Lent. The visiting and trav
tea ling for social intercourse and pleasl
ohe the attendance upon public seen
pom such as the Drama and the Ball Ro
Ills and eyen Holy matrimony is not &C
MS brated. These you are recommend
ISIS to abandon for, the more endearing {
low solemn scenes in the life of your {
ons fering Lord and Saviour. In connect
with this you should not expect !
Fea' Pastor to visit you, except IN
IN performance of some we'll def
TO duty, belonging purely to his minis
anu rial Office.
~ In the place of these scenes of so
A. intercourse and amusement, your t
e.. should be occupied in good words
49, abundant in good deeds-ever pres
,saa at the House Of Prayer, when open
nou worship-reading good books, espec
H.. ly searching the Holy Scriptures,
49, learn their testimony of the Love
,ow Jesus-seeking by earnest prayer
have the Mystic Cross, which
printed upon your brow, Stamped u
! al the web and wool of your whole e
!. 80 notwithstanding and renewing
~ j., day by day. Nor should you forge
oh pray God to pour out upon our Pa
,rer His Holy Spirit, so that the erring
80. be redeemed, and the sinner led to
~. 20 only Ark of safety, and we rejoic
coo fho xrovS of Yinn Throne