Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1900-09-01

Every one of us, no matter how limit
ed our outlook. can see a present duty
and try to do it. There is no one sc
humble that Henry Laurence's epitapt
may not be his if he will.
A third reason for regular attend.
ance is because of the instruction re-
ceived. The Psalmist said--"I was
glad when the Lord said unto me- lei
us go into the house of the Lord. III
should always make us glad to be
called to the house of the Lord. And
if we have the proper spirit, we will be
| glad of this privilege we have of going
to Gods house, to pray and sing, to
| learn from His word. And with this
spirit God will dwell in us richly and
the prophet called come ye. and let us
go to the house of the God of Jacob
and He will teach us of His ways and
we will walk in His paths" There we
learn His words, scripture truth is
taught, in psalm prophecy, gospel and
eplstle are teachings that are all in
spired and profitable for instruction.
The Bible is the Christians daily food.
How important that we go when the
Lords table is spread We go to church
not so much to give God something, as
to get something from Him. Food for
our daily journey. strength for our
weakness, comfort for our sorrows.
We daily need the help we find in
Gods house. A help we can find no
other place. and by regular attendance
we get clearer views of duty, helpful
tion for our work. We get nearer to
Christ and the closer the fellowship
the more strong and useful our lives
will be. How many of us, if we staid
away from church, would devote in
our homes the amount of time that is
spent at church service? A Sababth
smile, like summer without flowers,
like the world without the sun. We
can be Bible students at home, yes;
but we can not receive that spiritual
blessing, the grace, strength comfort,
wisdom and light. For in Gods house
alone does He meet us with these in
heir fullest extent We all know of
lovely Christian lives, noble Bible stu
dents who are never found in Gods
house. But why? Their lives are con-
fined TO their own rooms, for God in
His providence has seen best to send
bodily affliction TO them. But we who
are in good health, find so much to oc-
cupy our time, so many places to go,
so many papers, books and magazines
10 read that if it were not for the in
,truction we receive from the depart
ments of the church on the Sabbath
and prayer meeting. our Bible study
would be neglected.
Let us, therefore, pray for an under
standing heart and may we all so ap-
preciate the privilege of going to the
house of the Lord for instruction in
lIlS NtlN. tllel We may SdN WIN IIt
Psalmist
MY soul longeth, yea, even faint
eth for the courts of the Lord"
Another reason why we should at
tend church is because of the example
TO others. Constant church going is
always a good witness for God. When
every Sababth we drop our business,
our worldly tasks, and turn away from
the indulgences of the week, and go to
Gods house to every service, we are
preaching a sermon to the Indifferent.
Perhaps a sermon more eloquent and
more impressive than we could preach
words-Christ calls us His witnesses.
We are to testify for Him. How can
we do this if we do not go when people
have a right TO look for MS. If a doc
tor is absent at office hours, he will
soon have few patients. If clerk is
absent from the store, he will soon lose
his position. What shall we say of
the absent Christian? The vacant pew
cries out, 20, Indifferent Christian
where are your VOWS. Think of the
bad example you are setting to per-
son who is inclined to be an unbeliev-
er. One who is Watching your devo-
tion to the God you have taken as your
saviour, and the life you are living as
one of your children. What must
strangers think about the absent mem
bers when they drop into our church.
Many a person has been driven from
the church by the indifference of its
members. o. may we never be the
means of keeping any from the church
on account of our indifference to the
services in Gods house. May we al
ways be found in our places, at every
service. The whole community should
know where to find the Christian
IN the Sabbath unless kept at home
On account of sickness.
Absent Thomas became doubling
Thomas. "Be thou an example of the
in word, in conversation, in
,harity, in spirit, in faith, in purity"
A little boy said to his father as they |
entered hall, What are these people |
there for?' "GO and ask them |
my SON" The boy asked but received |
10 reply, Then it was that the father |
said, my son. those are wax works. |
They have no life, they only seem to