The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-05-14
we'll with them and With their children

well WIFI taom anu VIII JHolr CuAufcn
for ever
Had the old lawgiver, with his I'M
dimmed eye and undated vigor, as he
climbed up the rugged ascent OF Mt.
Nebo and stood upon Pisgah's towering
height, any premonitions that that ma
ton which he had led to the borders OF
Canaan would become nation Of idola-
tere? That the land of their inherit
ance would be wrested from them and
they driven into exile because they had
forgotten those com nandments and
statutes and ordinances which, through
him, the Lord had delivered unto
them? Whether he knew this or not.
yet this he did know, that 1t was
through no fault of his, through no
Sinking of bis duty nor neglect OF his
Office that Israel lost its God-given her
itage. His conscience was clear, his
duty had been done, and he could lay
down his staff OF Office with no misgiv-
ings that he had left unperformed that
task for which the Lord had chosen him
when he frat heard the call of God in
the midst Of the burning bush.
Nothing can bring a man greater
peace of mind and soul than the knowl-
edge that be has conscientiously striven
to perform his duty. When the evening
of life comes, and the frightening of the
shadows merge themselves into the one
great shadow OF night, he can lay down
his staff with the full assurance of the
realization of that promise of God,
Blessed are those servants whom the
Lord, when He coEeth, shall find
Watching" Whether q nam be priest
or layman, yet the satisfaction and the
assurance are the same. Duty conscien-
ti0usly discharged can rightly lay claim
to the promises of God.
The average man OF the world does
not recognize as he should his respon-
sibility to Almighty God and the
necessity of keeping all of Gods
statutes and commandments. The re-
iigious concerns OF some men are
managed upon q basis which would
be considered shameful and disgraceful
in any other department of life. Re-
ligion, and that which pertains to
those eternal matters OF mutual. rela-
tionship between the soul and its
Creator, are relegated to com paratively
obscure place In the thoughts and &C.
tlvities and engagements which fill up
the life OF the average man and woman
of today. There are too few who can
cay. in the words Of an eminent bust
ness man OF San Francisco. who, not
withstanding the fact that he ia one
of the busiest men of that city, can yet
say conecientiously, with me, l put
my religion first, my family second, my
business third" He can find time for
all OF his business activities, and yet
three times a day is found in Gods
house OF praise.
How does your conscience rest, my
brethren, when you know that you can
attend to your lodge, your parties, your
clubs, your social gatherings, four or
five times q week, and can only give
time-and that grudgingly-for one SER
vice week in the courts OF the Lords
house? Many do not 90 to church in
the evening because they say the night
air is bad for them. but the night air
does not prevent them from going to
places OF amusement and riding several
blocks in an open car. Are you salts
fed with that performance of your
religious duty which entails so little
sacrifice?
The rector made extended references
to the various duties which devolyed
upon a clergyman, emphasizing that
portion OF it which required him to
teach his hock their duty in the
matter of the spiritual life. He was
not condemning those who did not
attend divine service more frequently,
or who did not contribute OF their
means to the church. 1t WAS not for
him to condemn. God condemns. 1t
was only for him to warn them to
escape that condemnation. 1t WAS not
his duty to fill the church, nor to fill
the treasury of the church, but it was
his endeavor to fill them with the Holy
Ghost, and let that Holy Spirit prompt
them and compel them by the posses
sion of that Spirit to attend more
faithfully and conecientiously to their
religious obligations, go that they could
cay with the Psslmist, 1.-The zeal of
Thine house hath ever consumed me-"