The Republican., 1897-04-01

connect yourself with some particular
branch without regard as to what it
will accomplish for you spiritually.
1t would be more honorable on your
part to engage in any unlawful enter
prise than to be Influenced in a mat
ter of this kind by such motives-for
the one is the act of hypocrite, and
the other of an openly wicked man,
and of the two | would sooner occupy
the position of the latter. This may be
considered somewhat of an extrava-
CANT expression, but when we con-
slider the opinion of Jesus himself of
it. He likened them to whitened
sepulchers, clean and spotless on the
outside, but within filled with all
manner of corruption.
Having united with a branch
of the christian church through
proper motives, it is fair to presume
that you are acquainted and fami-
liar with all of it's doctrines, pol
ity and requirements; that you fully
realize the solemnity and binding
qualities of the vow that you have
taken upon yourself; that you will at
all times stand ready to defend its
doctrines when assailed; that you
will cheerfully be governed by its
rules of polity; and that you will
earnestly endeavOr to live up to its
requirements, and that you will sa
credly keep and observe your VOWS.
This much can be reasonably eXpec-
ted from any reasonable man. If you
make promise to your friend, the
law of honor, if nothing else, binds
you to keep it, and if founded upon
a valuable consideration, the law of
the land will compel it's observance or
infiict a penalty. The obligations
that you are under to your God far
surpass the law of honor or any other
human law; the consideration has
passed from Him to you, and is con
tinuing to pass every day and hour
you are permitted to live, in His mer-
cies shown you, and in the provision
He has made for your comfort and
happiness, and if we fail in our obi
cations to Him, we can but naturally
expect to suffer the penalties of the
divine law, which never fails in doing
exact justice, though frequently TEN
pered with mercy. Therefore be true
andloyal to the church of your choice;
it is expected of you, not only by those
who compose the membership of the
church, but by the whole community
regardless of creed. Also be loyal to
your pastor. He is the spokesman of
the church, the shepherd of the flock
and comes TO you as the Master
representative to minister unto you
in spiritual things; therefore hear him
gladly, and if you feel that you are
particularly benefited by his preach
Ing, don't be afraid of spelling him by
telling him so; little encouragement
f'om time to time will do him no
harm; he will appreciate it, and it
will give him an insight into those
particular lines on which you proba-
bly, have had trouble and he will be
better equipped to still further help
you. Advise with him and permit
him to be your friend; take him into
your confidence and confer with him
in regard to troubles and perDleXities
of magnitude. | am sure he will
gladly hear you and advise you as to
your best interests. If at times he
seems to be somewhat reserved to-
ward you, and is not just 50 friendly
as you think he ought to be, try the
experiment OF throwing off your own
reserve, and see if it does not thaw
him out.
And again, attend upon divine ser
vice just as often as you possibly can,
and in doing so always give your own
church the preference. Don't get
into the habit of running around and
dropping into a religious service here,
there and everywhere when you have
service i'll your own church. The
congregation visited is not expecting
you, and will be surprised to see YOU;
your own people are expecting to see
you III your pew, and will be disap-
pointed if you are not there. l have
often thought that this one thing is
a fair index to ones general makeup.
Take for instance a man who is true
and loyal to the church of his choice,
always in his place at the preaching
service, ready to aid and assist the
minister in any way he can, and /
will show you a man in whom the
whole community has confidence and
can rely upon. Your own pastor is
expecting you to be in your place and
is disappointed if you are not there.
never had occasion to prepare and
deliver sermon, but ] can imagine
that when the pastor is in his study,
engaged in the preparation of his ser
mon for the following Lords day, he
has, in his minds eye, the faces of his