Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1873-07-07
2Relieioa1s Department.
PREACH WHAT you PRACTICE.

AS many persons undertake to make
themselves, as well as others, believe
that all the practices in which they in
dulge are right, we offer few argu-
ments in favor of certain of these, that |
are common in our community, as well |
as elsewhere. Many will oppose our
arguments, as they do already the prin-
ciples which will be advocated in this ar
ticle; but if any good results from the
perusal, it will abundantlY reward the
writer. To the large class, who do not
attend church, and do not send their
children to Sabbath School, as well as
to those who only occasionally visit the
house Of worship, we address these lines.
If you do not attend church. all right.
There is no specific command in the BIZ 4
BILE, that would compel you to do this.
The Sabbath was appointed as day Of
rest, and it viii be pleasant to sleep a
portion of the day,-the papers that
have not been read during the week will
afford you amusement and profit There
are many things that ought to be done,
as often as once week. and Sunday is
broken day any way, and the chores
can be done up. Your neighbor may
wish to exchange the animals, which
have been snapped during the week, or
60 with you on fishing expedition.
You can not afford time during the week
to attend to these things. If tie me.
chanic does not practice church going,
he can just as well finish off cart or
cupboard as not, during the day Sun
day. The merchant or man of business,
will find the quiet Sabbath an excellent
day to post up his books and complete
his correspondence. The. mother and
the housewife, by attending to the small
er duties, can teach the children the
value of time, by showing them that no
day, not even the Sabbath, should be
wasted. If berries are ripe, it will be.a
capital time to send all the children out
to gather them; and it is very pleasant
while the church bells are ringing SO
softly, to go out upon the waters of the
beautiful lake and spend the quiet hour.
Not only as matter of choice and con-
venience, should you keep away from
church on the Sabbath, but on account
of the expense of the thing. You may be
tempted to be benevolent, and will very
likely pay out, in an unguarded mo-
ment, something for the support of the
gospel, for missionary or educational
purposes, and you cannot afford it.
! There are enough who belong to the
church that will, and certainly should
pay for these things. Ifyou attend the
day and evening meeting, you will b.
fortunate if the preaching and the pray
ing does not affect you more or less. 1
will not do to become serious and alarm
ed about yourself, as it may lead to con
version, and how can you become
= christian and carry on your business. I
e VIII De awTuI nard to quit swearing ant
l. the other habits that you contracted s.
n long ago. besides you will be prett
i closely tied up if you undertake to d
Il just as you are commanded in the "te
n commandments. IF it is actually nee
b essary to be religious in order to reac
IS heaven, you can put it off some tim
d longer yet. A man generally has. lii
% tie time during his last sickness, to al
IF tend to these things, and as he canno
re do much else then, he might as we
TT leave this for his last job. He will b
al very likely to have an inclination in thi
lie direction when he becomes weak and II
it allies that he has but a few days to liv.
) AS you do not practice church goins
e. you will not wish to have your childre
led into the habit, by being seduced int
the Sabbath School It is quite tas
to wash, brush and dress up the boy
= and girls for this purpose. They do nj
:. like to be taken in from their sports an
= sent to place where they must be (;
!, eircumspect as deacons, and be compe
\ led to learn and recite long lessons, an
engage in speaking and singing. NJ
J. can you always spare them from labo
- during the day. They spend some
" their time in school and you would iii
= their services on this day. If the DO,
;, catch meal of fish or shoot wild gam
!. it will be excellent for supper. The
- is danger, if you send the children /.
: the Sabbath School, that it will seriou
ly interfere with some of their habit
:. 1t would be very notifying to a profal
= father to have his little son reprove hi
for swearing; and it is much easier
the child to acquire the habit of usil
ct. spirit or tobacco if he does this youn
M than it will be after he has grown oldt
X and been taught that these habits a
~ bad, by some chicken-hearted Saba
"a School teacher. You are willing to
er- your children come up as you did, a
ost yon do not believe if they are allowed
ers do what they please, and become Z
I've quainted with things that are called ba
1as that it will be any worse for them tn
it was for you.
I'VE To those who habitually or occasit
lch ally attend the house Of worship we We