The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1890-02-20

camp follower lar In the rcaTf VI Wnat |
punishment shalt he be found worthy |
who skulks in his lent2
Again we will notice and answer some |
excuses men make for not attending
the stated services Of the sanctuary:
1. One says, II am SO tired when
Sunday comes, am obliged to stay at
home and rest" But is that, in the first
place sincere plea2 Is it not rather a
mere pretenCe2 When absent from church
are you really at home resting2 Are you
not out visiting your relatives or friends,
sometimes farther off than the house of
God? Or, il at home, are you not walk
ing over the crop, or planning the work
OF the coming week, or even arranging
everything for an early start Monday
morning2 Brother, how is it2 But If
you are really at home trying to do what
you profess, you are still in error. say
understaudiDgly trying to rest. For you
have not caught the idea Of rest in its
highest and truest sense. You have not
learned what the Sabbath. rest was 10.
tended in tho Divine Providence to be.
Fit type is it of the rest of the redeemed
in heaven, But the rest of heaven is far
from being season Of inactivity. SO
with its earthly type, the Sabpath,rcst!
1t is not au idle, a''",lcss inacti0n. True
rest is rather change Of occupation--a
diversion-a changing Of the thoughts
and activities into new channels. Indeed
it is olny thus that we can be saved from
ennui. SO the French Gull it. 1t means,
practically, that we are tired Of rest.
Yes, actually, we often find inactivity
the most urcsome thing in the world.
The normal state Of man is action, &C.
tion. True rest is but the relief that
comes from change Of activity.
The Sabbath was & iven US chat into
new and better channels the thought
and action of the soul should be turned.
| That for day the business of eternity
should take the place OF the business Of
| time. That we should turn from the
| thought of the trials and cares of earth
to the beckoping glories Of the better
laud. Brother, you are not refreshed by
your Sundays rest because it was not
rest. II you had just let 90 everything
Saturday night you would have gone
| back to your work Monday morning with
new zest and spring. But you keep harp
| ing on the old string. You stald at
| home, and your mind was filled with
plans for the next day. SO Monday found
| you unfrcshed. Brother, the Sabbath is
made for man, as we'll as for God; for
time a3 well as for eternity. Try its pre-
cious rest. Turn from thoughts Of
earth to thoughts of heaven. 1t will pay
here and hereafter.
2. But you tell rue, Even admitting
that, need not 90 to church. | can do
just as well at home. l can meet with
God. l can receive blessing AZ home as
well as at church." But granting what
claim, that you might do as well let me
ask, do youf You tell me that you can
read much better sermon than you
could hear at church; that you have
weekly one Of DR.. Talmage's sermon in
your sunny SOUTH" or CONSTITUTIONS" >"
But let me ask, do you really read the
sermonf But granting that you do; does
the printed column speak to you like the
living voice OF your pastor2 Certainly
the sermon in itself may be better, but
does 1T have the same eifectl Besides,
do you couple this reading with player?
1t was my great privilege for three years,
the last OF hiY life, to be the pastor OF
that sanity man, Rev. David Derrick Of
the South Carolina Conference. Often he
was unable TO tiil his place. But it was
MS custom when thus kept away to spend
the hours Of service in Bible reading and
prayer. Brother do you fill the service
hour with devotions9 Do you join prayer
to your sermon rcading2 And do YOU
not miss this in your substitute for atteu.
dance upon the Word2
No, nothing can take the place Of the
preachers living voice, the inspiration
OF the holy song, the united prayer, and
all the sacred influences Of the house of
Goo.
3: Yet you plead, "Wen, it is not con
Venient for me to &c to church." But,
brother, sister, duty docs not wait upon
convenience. Many and many Ia umc
sacrifices must be made. Indeed the
christian life is but one great sacrifice,
thousand thing are not convenient.
however desirable, but we must pay the
price. Others do it; 80 may you.
4. Yes" you say, "but it is well. nigh
impossible for ali of us to CO." Then,
beloved, take it by regular turns,
Parents, let the children have their time
Children, give the old folks chance.
But to conclude: 1. Brother, miss
you when your seat is vacant. need
your presence, your sympathy, your
prayers. 1t is much easier to preach to
you In your place than to your vacant
seat. Then | am beating the air, and
the spirit feels tho sad lack of your help
tul presence. 3. Sister, you are losing
ground, as you stay away from the house
OF God. Certainly, if providentially kept
1T 10 different. Your heart is here with
US. But if this be your choice, there is
no heart In the matter, and quickly you
will find yourself slipping, drifting far
from GOD. 3. l exhort you, dear brethren
obey God; inherit the promises He gives
us; use this precious means of grace;
put yourselves in the way of receiving
the blessing He is waiting to bestowl
We see it in the reciprocal influences
we exert over each other. One of the
snbtlest, and yet one Of the most rca,
things, In life is this influence noted in !
mans social nature. BY it men are con
stantly led upward or downward. b; it
men are saved or ruined. How many !
testimonies confirm this. ~ waa led to
Chrlst by the example and influence of a
oear lriend." 81 was brought to this
night OF SIN and despair through ungod-
ly associations"
Yes, God, mau's maker, knowing the
possibilities, knowing his needs, organ
ICES the church upon social basis
And the faithful of the ages have ever
justified the Divine wisdom here. We
nave felt the elbow touch of sympathy,
Heart b0a anoWnro1 - Lo.., |