Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-06-17
&eadiug fut the Sabbath.
CONDUCTED BY
REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
THE HIRED MAN AND HIS EMPLOYER

| LHtptOyof. Hotut1o, you o'0 Anu"oohA"'s
and attentive to my business we are all well
pleased with your manners; but there appears
to be something in your character, which | dc
not altogether understand.
Thomas.-Well, if you are not satisfied
with me in any point, tell me, that may re-
form or, if it be what cannot alter, though
I should regret the necessity, must look for
another place.
En.p-The latter I should regret as much
as you, and as to reform, that is not exactly
what mean. You always evade the harness.
ing Of our horses when we wish to ride out on
Sunday to visit our friends. You are alone
some time every morning and evening. You
never can be found to attend to our wishes
when our friends are with us on Sunday. In
truth, rather suspect you are of opinion that
and my family ought to reform.
Thom.-NowI understand you. epdeav.
or to serve God, and keep his command.
ments, which you think sometimes interferes
with my duty. Do you dislike
Emp-Stop, Thomas. do not dislike re.
ligion. You know I hold pew in church
I pay my stipends-I 60 to church in the
torenoon-I am member of Bible Society,
and pay punctually my subscription for aid
ing in the circulation of the best book in the
world-I give to the poor, and deal honestly
with all men. This l call religion. Do not
say dislike religion.
Thom.-Do you allow me to speak freely
Emp-You may, undoubtedly, for your
good sense pleases me; we cannot doubt your
integrity.
Thom-I wish 1 better deserved your good
opinion; but to leave that-your notions Of
religion, I confess, are very different from
mine You believe the Bible-we shall try
religion by it, shall we?
Emp.-Certainly. I admit whatever is
there.
Thom.-Then "Remember the Sabbath day
to keep it holy, in it thou shalt not do any
work." is the fourth commandment. "Pray
without ceasing," is also the command Of God
The Sabbath cannot be kept holy if it is EN-.
ployed in any other way than in worshipping
God, by reading the Bible, by prayer, praise,
hearing the Gospel preached, religious con-
versation, meditation, and the reading Of
books strictly religious. Now there is no
more religion in visiting neighbors. in conver.
sstion about farming, trading, politics and
fashions, than there is in buying, selling and
aboring. Religion means the communion Of
the creature with God, and practice of all
duty, because God commends it. When we
are commanded to "pray without ceasng," ii
cannot be too often to be alone every morn
ing and evening, to pray to God in secret.
E'np.-O, you are praying then, when you
are alone every morning and evening; is thai
it? Our minister sometimes breaches on the
subject of secret prayer, but | was not aware
that he meant retiring to some lone place as
you do. Indeed we could not conjecture how
you we're employed. But how you spenc
your solitude in prayer I cannot understand
I would not intrude on your secrets, but | an
curious to know what you say and do.
Thom-In mans religious affairs he
should speak with prudence and caution
But as | am sure you do not mean to make
any bad use of what I shall say, nothing
shall be concealed. Before venture to speak
to a great and holy God, endeavor to com
pose my mind by meditating on the great.
ness, the goodness, and the mercy, Of my Faith
er in heaven, and on my own meanness, and
sins and wants; l then kneel down reverenty
and confess to Him who knows all hearts
every one of my sins that I remember, and
hope try to remember them all. I do not
forget my original sin, and as I know He
hates sin, and that those who die in their sins
must be most miserable forever, in place Of
endless woe, 1 pray Him, for Christs sake, to
pardon my sins and give me right, on
account Of Christ's Righteousness, to heaven,
when l die. 1 thank Him for all the good
things 1 have by His bounty, and beseech
Him to make me good man, to make me
love Him with all my heart, and His laws
and all men. also pray for others that they
may be brought to know the salvation by
Christ, and l do not forget you and your
family
Emp-Why truly, Thomas, all this might
we'll employ more time than you spend alone
But if you had family and saw much com.
pany, played an evening game of whist, or
danced with the young folks to midnight or
later, you would not think all this necessary
indeed you would not continue this practice
Thom.-Good company would not prevent
it and should avoid all other company as
much as could For the whist and dancing
they certainly would stop the praying, so l
would avoid them altogether.
Emp-What? you think them wrong! Do
you think whist and dancing improper?
TAom.-You say they would keep me from
God, and you are right. Whatever keeps us
from God is wrong.
Enp-"Keeps us from God!" don't un,
derstand this. Is every man kept from God
who does not pray as you do? Surely you
admit that though my religion is not so pre-
else as yours, yet it will bring me safe to
God is what l was about to say; but, really
coming to God is what have no distinct un'
derstanding of. Bring me to heaven mean
yes, my religion you admit will bring me to
happiness at last?
Thom.-You will excuse me from answer.
ing that question. lido not wish to pronounce
on any mans state. leave that to God.
Emp.-Come, be candid speak plainly. |
felt some temper rising when you spoke of the
cards and whist keeping man from God
but will be cool-this is an important bust.
ness admit that you have more knowledge
of the Bible than l for you read it much. l
never doubted before that was a Christian
and would attain to happiness after death but
to say the truth, the thought of being made
happy by coming to God has started a new
train of reflections. You seem to be made
happy by going to God in prayer, and you
would forego the pleasure of whist and dan
cling for that happiness. know nothing Of
this. Some strange doubts spring up and
trouble me. TO God we must 60 at death
for "the spirit returns to God who gave it. ,
How can our spirit be happy in returning to
God, if we are never happy in going to him
here? But no-I will not doubt. | have
always been much at ease on this point. |
cannot have been mistaken all my life. Such
man as am cannot 90 to perdition. What