The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-11-14
RELIGIOUS READING.:
THE MOST EXCELLENT HARVEST.

While the wants of the body require US to be
Industrious and vigilant in gathering In the
fruits Of the earth, it being our duty to be as
prudent as the ant, yet it Is at the same time
our obligation not to forget that we have
souls, and that there is another harvest
equally as necessary for our spiritual nature.
He who overlooks this fact mistakes the high
est end Of his being, and fails to improve the
noblest part Of his nature. While the one
duty Is discharged, the other ought not to 10
left undone. As beings Of sense and prone 70
forget God, we are exceedingly liable to al"
low the things which are seen to absorb our
attention to the exclusion of things which are
invisable and eternal.
The spiritual harvest Is as much more i'm
portant to be secured than any other, as
eternity is longer than time. Think OF tho
ceaseless treasures of eternity. Angels,
doubtless, are incapable of surveying their
vast dimensions. As it was beyond the power
OF an apostle to comprehend the infinite
riches of heaven, so doubtless 1t Is beyond tie
power OF human language to express the IN
finite folly OF those who in this world OF pto-
bat1on, fail to secure those treasures winch
moth nor rust can consume, being content to
gather together the beggarly elements o:
perishing world, and feed on them al3ne
through all the hours, DAYS and years Of this
life, while there is bread enough to spare to
supply all the perishing millions upon earth.
Every thought, every feeling, every word and
every act OF every man, whether high or
low, rich or poor in this worlds wealth, may
be treasured up in that vast granary and
storehouse OF eternity, which God In his in
finite mercy has permitted to be filed by US
while on earth, and to be enjoyed by US for
ever.
This spiritual harvest Is not confined to one
period OF the year. Every good and perfect
gift cometh from God. Spiritual blessings
being the direct gift of God, 1t Is not for his
creatures to confne the work Of a genuine
revival of religion to any one period of the
year. Ihe idea that revival should be
sought only In the winter, is too prevalent
among the laborers In Christ's vineyard.
Some of the greatest revivals with which the
world has ever been blessed. have occurred In
the summer. The Christian Secretary of
Connecticut furnished an account OF such
revival at Colchester in that State. In the
very midst of the harvest season, when the
farmers were more busily engaged than at
any other period of the year, the revival was
progressing in its greatest power; but not
withstanding this objection, they found time
to attend meeting, and secure the more excel
lent harvest. The revival continued through
the winter. Instances of reyivals like this
and others similar to 1t that occur in the land,
show that the spiritual harvest may and
should be secured at all seasons Of the year.
A very deleterious influence Is exerted on the
minds Of Christians, when they think they
can cancel all their negligence towards God
and their own sou 8 through ten months Of
the year, by having what some ofthem would
term big meeting for few days or weeks.
To keep the Sabbath once In fonr weeks as
few churches in some parts OF the Mississippi
Valley are In the habit Of doing, Is kindred
evil, that sets at nought the institution Of the
Sabbath, which God ordained for man. God
being the same yesterday, today and forever,
desires to be worshipped and sought unto
regularly by his followers.-Watch Of
PrairieS D..