Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-06-01
Everyday Religion.

A solid, substantial-lookIng woman, ev-
identity from the country, was examining
some dress goods in one of our shops. Fa-
brics of every style and quality were thrown
out upon the counter, and she examined
them critically, one by one, until the dap
per little attendant grew uneasy, and began
to recommend various styles, hoping, no
doubt, to hasten her in the choice. She paid
no heed to him, but went on with her care
full examination as before. At length she
said:
"Young man, don't intend to buy any
fimsy stuff, for that is all shine, and no wear
in it. / intend to have dress that will
bear good, solid, everyday use, and soap and
water when it needs it. ! want dress that
will stand the sun without fading, or a
shower without frizzling up, and if you'll
give me time enough ri see If you have
got any such thing here"
/ did not stop long enough TO know
whether she found fabric that would en-
dure so many severe tests, but her words set
me to thinking. | thought we all need Just
that kind of religion that will stand the
hard, everyday wear OF life; that will not
fade in the sun of prosperity, nor "frizzle
up" in the storms of sorrow and adversity !;
a religion that is no flimsy affair, but solid
and substantial enough to use every day.
/ began thinking over the various quail
ties Of religion with which was most fa-
miliar among our best regulated orthodox
people, and it proved most interesting
study. There was brother A, whose religion
is very conspicuous on Sundays and at the
prayer.meeting his prayers are fervent and
full of feeling; his exhortations recount
with unction his great attainments in the
Christian life. He is distressed over the
condition of the church and the world; the
lack of piety and conservation in ministers
and Christians. He is alive and earnest,
hardly able to restrain his exalted emotions.
But he somehow lays it all away with his
Sunday clothes, for it doesn't stand everyday
wear. Mr.. A at prayer-meeting and Mr.. A
at home are two different beings. His re-
ligion is not strong enough to keep him from
making everybody miserable aud unhappy
about him. 1t will not stand a single test
it is only fit to be carefully worn on special
occasions. No doubt Brother AS religion
is means of grace to some, but to others it
is u stumbling-block- sham aud shoddy.
Brother b rarely goes to the prayer-meet.
| ing, and when he does he sits utterly silent
through it all. We know he had hard
bringing-up, fighting his own way as best
he could, and that even now he has host OF
| besetting sins and temptations to struggle
against every day that he lives. We trem.
| BILE for him, knowing his weakness, knowing
how slight hold he has on his small hope
in Christ, how strong hold the world, the
the flesh and the devil have ON him. We
| sympathze with him, we pray for him; we
bear patiently with many things we would
not dare to excuse in ourselves. His re-
| ligion is good as far as he goes, and it does
help him over a good many hard places.
Brother G. has good, solid, substantial
article that stands the wear and tear of life
| grandly. lie has a quick temper, and il
helps him to hold it in check. He has
countless "thorns in the flesh," and trials
and hindrances on every side, and it helps
| him to be patient and cheerful under ALL He
makes poor, stumbling little prayers, but
they are genuine, and there is true, tender
depth to every word.
Sister ID. is one of the humbest most un.
assuming women in the world. She has a
little trembling hope in Christ, but feels
altogether unworthy of his mercy. Some.
times in our ladies' meeting she will ven
ture touching little prayer to her Saviour
that we all strain our ears to hear because
we feel sure it is going up to him from full
loving heart.
Her life is sermon itself Never a word
from her lips that could grieve or wound
another, for she speaks with the utmost char
ity and tenderness to every one. She shames
us all with her quiet forbearance aud sweet
submission in the midst of trials aud great
aillictions. Patient cheerful, with stead
fast loving trust in her Saviour, she is a
living epistle, known and read of all. Oh
that we all had rich supply of such re
ligion
1t is good to be peaceful and happy on
Sunday; it is better still if Mondays fret
and toll, and worry Of mind and body, cal
be met with patient endurance and stead
fast courage that will take us through, rest
ing in God, doing and bearing all things il
his strength. 1t is good to bask in the sun
shine of Christian fellowship, and grow
strong in the Lord by sweet communion
with him but it is better still to hold fas
and steady when almost overwhelmed by tn,
stern duties and discipline of life.
1t may take very little religion to maxi
us simply happy; it takes a great deal Il
keep back hasty, unkind words, to make u
patient with the steady grind of daily car
when everything seems to go wrong, whel
everything seems to be against us. 1t take
good deal when our best efforts for goo,
are misconstrued, when men speak evil o
us, when, do what we will, we are con
demned 1t takes great deal of religion
to held still when God lays us in the ful
mace of sorrow, or of pain, to see if there b
any gold in us.
Is our religion good for everyday use
Does it stand everyday wear, GROWN
stronger and dearer, an anchor sure an
steadiast2 Gods grace is sufficient for ever
need of every soul. We have only to G
every day for an abundant supply. Yeste
days grace will not do for to-day. 1t is lik
mama; we must gather it fresh ever
morning.
Sustaining and cheering as we go on, da
by day, towards our eternal home, we sha
find it at last giving us an abundant er
trance into the city of our God.-Londo
| BaDfiSf