The Worthington advance., 1880-06-24
Don't Stay Away From Church.

VsA 0S0J AWAY GAOM N60ICus
"Were it not for public, private wor-
ship would soon be at an end. To this,
under God, the church of Christ owes its
being and its continuance. Where there
is no public worship there is no religion.
1t is by this that God is acknowledged !;
and He is the universal being; and by
His bounty and providence all live con-
sequently, it is the duty Of every intel
igent creature publicly to acknowledge
Him and offer Him that worship which
he himself has prescribed in His word. 1"
Rabbi Levi said, "He who has q syna-
gogue in his city and does not 20 thither
to pray, shall be esteemed bad citizen,
or bad neighbor. And to this they
apply the words Of the prophet, Jer:
xn.A. Thus saith the Lord against all
my evil neighbors-Behold, will pluck
them out Of their land"
Rabbi Eliezer, speaking as from God {:
IF thou wilt come to Ny house I will
60 to thy house; but if thou wilt not
come to Ny house, will not enter thy
house. To the place that Ny heart low
eth, to that place shall My feet CO." We
may safely ado, "Those who do not fre-
quent the house of God can never ex-
pect His presence or blessing in their
own"
"The wisest and the best of men have
always felt it their duty and their intrest
to worship God in public. As there is
nothing more necessary, SO there is
nothing more reasonable; he who ac-
knowledges God in all his ways may ex-
pect all his steps to be directed. The
public worship of God is one grand line
of distinction between the atheist and the
believer. He who uses not public wor-
ship has either no God, or has no right
notion of his being; and such a person,
according to the Rabbins, is a bad
neighbor; it is dangerous to live near
him, for neither he nor his can be under
the protection Of God. No man should
be forced to attend particular place of
worship, but every man should be
obliged to attend some place; and he
who has any fear of God will not find it
difficult to get a place to his 1ai,ad."
Mr.. - for twenty years did not en-
ter the house of God. The Lords day
was wasted in idleness and dissipation.
One Sabbath he is driven by rain
storm to the vesibule of the church.
AAC 4AoICAAo W tu0 "OIu u DTO-
claimed by His servant from the sacred
desk. The Holy Spirit sends the truth
home to his heart; he becomes intensely
interested. The next Lords day he is
found in the sanctuary. The gospel to
him is glad tidings of great JOY. A
public confession OF faith in the Lord
Jesus Christ is made. For more than
five years he has stood up in season and
out Of season, as faithful witness for
Jesus. Mr.. -- frequently attends
seven meetings on the Sabbath and
never feels weary. During the twenty
years he lived in sin, when Monday
came, we have heard him state, he was
worn out and disqualified for work. Not
so now. The duties of the Sabbath
give peace of mind and rest to soul and
body.
Sons of toll! Don't stay away from
church.
"Even the youths shall faint and be
weary, and the young men shall utterly
fail; but they that wait upon the Lord
shall renew their strength; they shall
mount up with wings as eagles; they
shall run and not be weary; and they
shall walk and not faint. ."-Licht and
Life.