Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-02-06
Readimg for the Sabbath.
CONDUCTED BY
REV. RODENT LATHAM.
From the Associate Reformed Presbyterian,
SOME THINGS THAT OUGHT TO BE DONE.

From the Associate Reformed Presbyterian.
SOME THINGS THAT OUGHT TO BE DONE.
A month or two ago we indicated some of
the things that were difficult to do We now
propose to call attention to some of the things
that ought to be done, or at least should be
attempted to be done.
l. Ifany of our readers are unfortunately
the victims of evil habits, and are becoming
more and more addicted to profanity, to in
temperance, to prodigality, to licentiousness,
or to lust in any of its forms, their duty may
be difficult to do, but not difficult to under
stand, and that is, to break off their sins by
Righteousness, to turn from their evil ways, to
indulge no longer in course that will lead
to their ruin. Your resolution should he in
the language of some Of the ancients: "What
have we any more TO do with idols?" You
should reform now, instantly, for your we'll
being is involved in your reformation. Your
turning deaf ear to this counsel does not
render it any less timely or less judicious.
2. Some of you may be the baptized youth
of the church, without having as yet made a
profession of religion. 1t is incumbent on
you especially to confess Christ, and to par
take of the other seal Of the covenant of grace,
(the Lords Supper and thereby make right
use of your ba ptism. We hesitate not to say
you ought to do it, You cannot decline with
impunity. The circumcised Hebrew who
would not observe the Passover was cut off:
"But the man that is clean and is not on Il
Journey, and forbeareth to keep the Passover,
even the same soul shall be cut off from
among his people, because he brought not the
offering of the Lord in his appointed season ;
that man shall bear his sim
3. There may be some church members
who do not pratice secret prayer or private
devotions. They may content themselves
with the public and social duties. The per-
formance of one duty cannot acquit for the
omission of another. Now the Scripture
rule in this case is so obvious that there is no
room for disputation among Christians, and
therefore they who omit secret prayer must
allow themselves to be condemned by their
own conscenccs-at any rate they are COM
PEELED to admit that the word Of God disal-
lows the neglect of such prayer.
4. There may be some protesting families
where there is no family worship. We are
not addressing them who are without, but
them who are within.
If we are not mistaken, Christian people
generally agree on this point, namely, that
there ought to be an altar in every house, and
that the head Of it should be the priest. We
trust that an exhortation on this subject will
be heard without offence especially by pro-
Tossing families. Nothing is risked in saying
that when pure and unde6led religion shall
prevail in the churches, the voice of joy and
melody will be heard in the tabernacles of
the ighteous, and affairs will be called for and
used in the houses of protesting Christians.
5. Every congregation should keep the
machinery of the church in good running
order. As we keep our time pieces wound
up, the pivots, gudgeons and axles of our
vehicles and engines oiled and screwed down
that they may operate smoothly and efficient
ly, so the preacher, the elders and deacons,
the members, the committees, the door-keep-
ers, the clerks, the Sabbath school teachers
should be, if possible, of one heart and Of one
soul, striving together for the faith of the
Gospel, moving and acting in their respective
orbits without coming into contact or collision.
This being the situation, the minister is pre-
sumed to be all diligence in the discharge of
his duty to his people, feeding them with the
bread Of life, and exhorting from house to
house, as one having the care of their souls,
while the people render him all due obedience,
support and encouragement in the Lord, min.
istering unto his temporal necessities as he
ministers to their spiritual.
To change our phraseology, every congre-
cation which happens to be without minis
ter should secure one, if possible, and when
secured, do all they can to keep him, and to
profit by his ministry. And on the other
hand, when minister is settled over peo-
pie, let him serve them faithfully and to the
utmost of his ability, as one who is charged
with the weightest responsibilities. j. B.