Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-07-17
PIETY FOR COMPANY.

PIETY FOR COMPANY.
| 1t is not unusual for people to keeI
their best household things--the bes1
bed and china-for their guests
some keep for them their best looks
and manners and words; some gc
still further and keep all their piety
for them, Not bit of it do they use
for themselves or for their families
1t is never seen on ordinary occasions
and SO is, perhaps, all the nicer, and
there is all the more of it for COM
pany. Enough of it there surely is
If not a surfeit. The visitor is treated
to it with liberality like that of the
western housewife who, on being
told by her minister that she mighi
put less molasses in his tea, insisted
that if she made it all molasses il
wouldn't be any too good for him.
1t was Mrs. Simpkins' parlor--a
nice religious looking parlor, very
A monstrous. great bible, bound in
morocco and gold, with q purple rib
bon book.mark, a yard long, dan
Cling with crucifixes, lay alone, i'm
seeming sacredness on the center
table. Three certificates of life mem.
bership in religious societies hung in
heavy gilt frames upon the wall. Nc
idle ornaments or vain curiosities on
the what-not but divine songs and
sacred hymns, Baxter's Saints Rest
Taylor's Holy Living and Dying
Howe's Blesscdness Of the Righteous
books of exalted piety, that bear
their readers like angel wings to the
very gates of the beautiful city
Beside them were choice piles OF
magazines labled "Guide to Holiness. y
The air of the place was still and
solemn, almost holy. Deacon Wilson
telt that; it was while he waited
there for Mrs. Simpkins. He took up
a number of the "Guide to Holiness,
and opened it. Perfect Love-
"Heaven Below" Living Below Our
Privilege" he read in the table ot
contents.
what a goodly woman sister
Simpkins is !" he said to himself, and
laid the magazine in place, feeling
himself SO far from holiness that the
very titles to the articles were dis.
couraging to him
81 am glad there are some good
people," he added, looking around
the room at the "parlor bible," and
the life memberships.
eyes, Sister Simpkins is very de.
voted woman
Mrs. Simpkins entered with swee,
and placid countenance, and grave
subdued manner, like one Just leav.
ing chapel service or closet medita.
tion, and in low, chastened tones
welcomed the deacon, and assured
him or her high estimate of the priv.
ilege of Christian communion, Of the
strength she derived from Christian
association, the comfort from Chris
tian sympathy.
The deacon had barely time te
make suitable response, when she
inquired:
"And what is the state of Zion
deacon? What say the watchmen or
the walls?
The question was general, and the
deacon was safe in the answer, "Fcw
60 in at the gates
"And why2 Why is it" exclaimed
Mrs. Simpkins, with an air and ton,
Of touching solicitude. "Why mus
we wait so long to see the spirit o.
God poured out? Surely the fault il
in ourselves. The church is Twins
far below her duty and privilege
Too many of us are not sanctified
wholly sanctified-onew with the Lord
Too many of us still cling to tn,
world, still have appetites for tn
flesh-pots of Egypt. We have com,
out of the world and must not lool
back.
"Oh,' groaned the good deacon, g
feel sometimes that i am the Achal
in the camp of Israel, the Jonah tha
hinders the ship"
"Do you ever read the Guide I,
Holiness 2" asked Mrs. Simpkins
when she had fully delivered he
opinion on the condition and duty O
the church.
The deacon confessed that he ha,
not.
"It's an excellent work, deacon,
said Mrs Simpkins, with increase,
warmth of manner. II can recon
mend it with entire confidence.
have taken it years, and find it YER
spiritual. Perhaps you would like t
read it. Take the last number if yol
would"
''Thank you, sister. not to-day
Some other time, perhaps"
"The work strenuously urges tn
doctrine of entire sanctification tina
it is the privilege Of all Christian
What do you think of it deacon
questioned Mrs. Simpkins.
i "Oh, ! don't know" sighed tn
good man. The command is, "B
We holy as am holy but, oh dear
sometimes I'm afraid that l haven
even been justified-that, after all,
shall be cast-away."
"We need faith, faith to lay hold O
the promises" urged Mrs. Simpkint
"But my life is too poor, sister,
groaned the deacon. 81 come so ia
short in everything. The thing
would not, do, and what l would,
do not"
II believe it is our blessed priyi
ege to live above sin," began Mr.
Simpkins, when the door opened
and smutty, uncared-for little fel
low OF half-dozen years, put in hi
head.
j, "Yes, darling, you may take on
off the bureau. Now don't distur
mother any more"
81 believe it is our blessed privil
ege," resumed Mrs. Simpkins, "t
live above sin, to have Christ dwell
, ing in us continually, filing us wit
perfect love, raising us above a
doubts and fears, and strengthenin
us with the hopc Of glory
"a blessed privilege" echoed tn
deacon, as he arose to CO."
II thank you for this visit, deacon,
said Mrs. Simpkins. ~ think it
good for the saints to speak to on
another. Come again soon, deaco,
and borrow my "Guide to Hol
ness"
"Thank you, thank you,' said til
kind hearted deacon, fastening b
movements, seemingly at this secon
mention of the magazine. ethan
!. you. am glad we meet so often
the house of God, sister,"
~ am never willingly absent frol
. the means of grace" answered Mr.
Simpkins, with something like
, glow of satisfaction in her swe,
/ face.
~ am glad you love Gods wol
: ship, sister. Goodbye"
And the deacon took his leave,
one way benefited. Mrs. Simpkir