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

lows where be leads. Of what use ia the
camp follower far in the rcar2 OF what
punishment shall he be found worthy
who skulks in his tent2
Again we will notice aud answer some
excuses men mako for not attending
the stated services Of the sanctuary:
L. One says, II am 80 tired when |
Sunday comes, am obliged to stay at |
home and rest" But is that, In the first |
place d 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 of 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
moruing2 Brother, how is it2 But If
you are really at home trying to do what
you profess, you are still In error. l say
understandipgly trying to rest. For you
have not caught the idea Of rest III its
highest and trucst sense. You have not
learned what the Sabbath.rest was in
tended in tho Divine Providence to be.
Fit typo is it of the rest of the red. emcd
in heaven, But the rest Of heaven is far
from being season Of inactivity. SO
with its earthly type, the Sabbath,
IL is not au idle, aimlcss inactiou. True
rest is rather u change Of occupation--a
divcrsion-a changing Of the thoughts
and activities into new channels. Indeed
it is olny thus that we can be saved from
epnui. SO the French call it. 1t means,
practically, that we are tired Of rest.
Yes, actually, we Often find inactivity
the most tircsome thing in the world.
The normal state Of man is action, ac.
ton. True rest is but the relief that
comes from q change Of activity.
The Sabbath was given US thas into
new and better channels the thought
and action OF the soul should be turned.
That for a 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 gioriss of the better
| laud. Brother, you are not refreshed 10y
your Sundays rest because it was not
rest. If 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 sta,d at
home, and your mind was filled with
plans for the next day. SO Monday found
you unfreshed. Brother, the Sabbath is
made for mau, as we'll as for God; for
time a3 we'll 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 me, Gwen admitting
that, l need not 20 to church. | eau do
just as we'll ut home. can meet with
God. | eau receive blessing AZ home as
well as at church." But granting what
claim, that you might do as we'll let the
ask, do you' You tell me that you can
read a much better sermon than you
could hear at church; that you have
weekly one Of Dr.. Tslnagc's sermon in
your "Sunny South" or CONSTITUTIONS" ;"
But let me ask, do you really read the
sermon2 But granting that you do; does
the printed column speak to you like the
living voice Of your pastor2 Certainly y
the sermon in itself may be better, but
does it have the same eirectl Besides,
do you couple this reading with player!
1t was my great privilege for three years,
the last Of his 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
his custom when thus kept away to spend
the hours Of service in Bible reading and
! prayer. Brother do you fill the service
hour with devotons9 Do you join prayer
| to your sermon rcading2 And do YOU
not miss this in your substitute for atten-
| dance upon the Word1
No, nothing can take the place Of the
| preachers liviOg voice, the Inspiration
OF the holy song, the united prayer, and
all the sacred influences Of the house of
Goo.
3. Yet you plead, "Well, it il not cou-
venlent for me to &c to church," But,
brother, sister, duty docs not wait upou
convenience. Many and many Tune
sacrifices must be made. Indeed The
Christian life is but one great sacrifice,
a thousand thing are not convenient.
however desirable, but we must pay the
price. Others do it; so may you.
4. '1 es," you say, "but it is we'll nigh
impossible for al. of US to CO." Then,
beloved, take it by regular turns,
Parents, let the children have their time.
Children, give the old folks a chance.
But to conclude: 1. Brother, / miss
you when your seat is vacant. I 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 the sad lack of your help
tul presence. 2. Sister, you are losing
Btounu, as you stay away from the house
OF God: Certainly, if providentially kept
1t Is 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. 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 bestow!
We see it in the reciprocal influences
we exert over each other. One of the
subtlest, and yet one of the most real
things, in life is this influence noted in
mans social nature. BY it men are con-
stantly led upward or downward. 3; it
men are saved or ruined. How many
testimonies confirm this. ~ was led 10 |
Cnrlst by the example and influence of |
oear friend" 81 was brought to this |
night OF sin and despair through ungod-
ly associations"
Yes, God, mans maker, knowing the
possibilities, knowing his needs, organ
ICES the church upon a social basis,
And the faithful of the ages have ever
justified the Divine wisdom here, We
nave telt the elbow touch Of sympathy