Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1894-03-22
Attendance upon Worship.

Attendance upon Worship.
There is an unhappy neglect Of the
duty Of worship, on the part Of very
many protesting and calling themselves
Christ,ansr' Lowering the name Of that
duty by calling 1t going to Church.
they very conveniently blind them
selves to the fact that they are really
refusing to render to GoD the worship
due uLto HIS name. If the question
were put to them broadly snd distinctly
do you refuse to worship GoD?' they
would repudiate the idea; certainly not,
they never refuse to worship Con. going
to church is very different thing.
How is it? That seems to be the real
question. Gong to church has unfor-
tunately, gotten to be considered as
going to hear preaching; and the mis-
fortune Of the day in popular theology
is that hearing preaching is the grand
end and aim OF going to church. Among
the great mass of sects that disgrace
Christendom, the one thought,in atten.
dance upon the house Of GOD, is to hear
a sermon. Who will preach today, is
the one question Of moment aud the
pleasure or satisfaction that the atten-
dant takes IN hearing the preacher, is
the most common motive in going to
church. The thought Of holy duty.
uorsAip of GoD, hardly eyer comes into
thell minds.
And yet if they we're rightly and
scripturally instructed this would be
their frs. thought. Whose oftereth
Me thanks and praise he honoreth
Me- is the LORD declaration, and to
20 up to GoD house because He hath
put his name there as the house of
prayer for all people, and in order that
we may offer to Him thanks and praise
and to glorlfy His Holy Name; this is
avorship. and this is the highest act Of
religious affection; this is the duty owed
by every person who processes to know
HIM, the only True COP and JESUS
CHRIST whom He has sent In this the
Episcopal Church stands out by a
most scriptural beauty, distinct from
the denominations around her. She
calls upon her followers and members
to hold fast the Scrlpturai duty OF wor-
ship for which, she claims the house Of
COP is built. Therefore she consecrates
her church building. They are not
meeting houses neither are they preach.
ing houses. Of course the congrega-
tons do meet IN them and after wor-
ship is concluded, the priests lips that
should keep knowledge do preach in
them. But that is not the purpose of
them. They are built for divine wor
ship. To render GoD thanks and praise;
to worship Him, and give him thanks,to
offer upon HIS altar, aims as we'll as
prayers, this is the purpose that she puts
before her members. Unfortunately,
very many of them, fall into the tone Of
thought and feeling Of the more numer-
GUS bodies around them. Insens!bly,
they get to associating, gong to church
with the hearing of sermons, and con
sequently conceive that preaching is
the grand object Of their efforts. If
they happen to like the preacher and it
is convenient, and they chance to feel
perfectly we'll, they will go to church,
and-come home again. That is the
end of it.
Conceive if you can, Of any person
thinking thus of Divine worship
Realizing the truth of COPS promise
"whoso offereth Me thanks and praise
He honereth Me and to him who thus
ordereth his conversation Alright, |
will show the salvation of GoD''-also
this pledge where two or three are
met together in My name (not to hear
preachlng) there am l in the midst
of them -such an one puts by every
hindering circumstance even not stop
to consider convenience, or preferences;
he is going to the consecrated House
of COB, to porship Him, and come into
His most Holy presence, and to fall on
his knees before Him Offering up praise
and prayer. Thanksgiving and aims, as
the honor due unto Him, because he is
Christian believer not II heather
publican.