The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-11-13


| shall wax and zwane no more.
Then will the faithful followers in
the church militant be caught up IN
the glory of the church triumphant anu
{, their reward will be very great. But
| not alone for that distant day does the
| believer wait for his reward. He sees
abundant fruit for his labor all along
| Labor for Christ brings rich joy. That
| a man may be and is the means OF lead
| ing fellowman to- hide his life with
| Christ in God brings unspeakable JOY
| The angels sing and shout when soul
turns from his sins to Christ MS
Savior, but it is not their part to take
a man by the hand and lead him to the
Savior This is the greatest work done
on earth, and it is mans part in the
church to do even more than Christ
could while on earth. Many here have
been engaged in this blessed work, and
the fruits are plainly seen in those
turned to righteousness. You have been
winning stars for your crown OF re-
joicing. God is your sure pledge that
you shall have reward.
Faithful attendance on Christian duty
makes the strongest life man or wo-
! man can live. Call it routine life, IL
you will, or living in the law, and not
in grace; religious exactness of the Old
Testament, and not the liberty of the
New Testament-it is still the only way
to live a powerful Christian life. Much
every way have we been helped by the
visitors and strangers dropping in on
us and worshiping here, contributing
by their presence and means and words
of cheer and influence to help this work
along More still have we been helped
by the ones linking their lives with
ours and taking on them the vows OIL
religion, though not so faithful in every
duty But most of all have we been
helped and cheered by the members and
friends who have been regular and
faithful in attendance on every service
men and women who have felt that
when their church opened for service
and had health, there was only one
proper place for them to be, and that
was in the sanctuary. These have been
the strong pillars of support in this
church, and we surely feel that when
the call is made to the place where
the rewards of earth are given these
will respond with bounding heart ana
quicker step because of faithfulness TO
Christian duties. They can do SO be-
cause of the close relation between the
church and Christian responsibility
Salvation and growth in grace link
close together with attendance on
church and it's ordinances. No
wonder the outsider cannot see the
good of uniting with the church
and processing Christ if it does
not make that one faithful to MS
church.
Everyone feels that something is
wrong if the professor of religion IS
not faithful to his church How often
is the minister made to feel alarm at
the absence of this and that one from
the services He feels sure that no one
can deliberately neglect Gods house
and grow in the likeness of Christ; for
absence will grieve the Master and
harm the church and tend to lead away
the heart from God. And all thought
full Christians will feel the same way.
Infidelity and atheism and crime in the
city do not harm the church and the
cause of Christ like the staying away
of professed Christians. Sad thought
it is, that in this day the Savior is be-
ing slapped and injured in the house
of his friends by their neglect. True
Christians, now as ever, are not those
found in the house of God only when
it suits their easy convenience; who
will never practice self-denial for the
holy duty and privilege of worship;
who are so often found elsewhere, but
willing to give any trivial excuse for
their neglect of Gods house. Such
people have not been the pillars in this
church, as they are not in any other
church.
The most helpful ones went to church
They felt it a duty to be here as much
as the preachers. They have had a
just conception of the purpose of the
church, that gave them tender con-
sciences. 1t was a great wrong for
them to stay away. The church was
and is Gods, and part Of Gods gracious
gift through the sufferings of Christ
and they dared not fling upon it cold
Indifference without wounding the Saw
ior. They have felt, and rightly, that
Christians who throw aside the church
as an optional matter, cause many to
turn their backs on Gods mercy. They
saw a dying world, at times with ach-
ing heart and longing for some one to
come and lead it to Christ, but dis
gusted and disheartened as they looked
on a these cold worldly, unbelieving
Christians who hardly ever darken the
door of Gods house, or go there under
protest. They saw that over such
Christians many We're tumbling into
perdition; and they turned away and
to their church in true loyal, faithful
ness. Always present unless for some
reason that they could conscientiously
give to their Lord and Master. And
| this made them strong in service and
pillars in the church of the living God.
| This church has never been without
many such people, and but for them
nothing but failure could have been
seen here. Money, standing influence,
prayers even-nothing can take the
place of regular attendance on God 8
| house.
And in just this way the church has
become precious to you What rich,
full blessings have come to you in this
placei How the cares and worries of
life have rolled off you herel What
sweet foretaste of heavenly joys and
comfort for burdened hearts; and en-
dearing Christian fellowship causing
you to tarry long after the benediction
was given. What hallowed memories of
this place will arise before you when
looking backward from the other end