Milford chronicle., 1905-09-29

trinsic worth and to the brllllancy Of
the sermon as to the spiritual prepara-
tions we make at home for the recep-
ton Of the Bread Of Life. This Sab-
bath day, in a Christian home, you
awOke in a spiritual atmosphere You
did not see any fishing poles. You did
\ not see the carriages being driven up
for the long mountain rides You did
not see the pleasure parties starting out
1 for a yachting trip. You arose in the
l'spirit Of prayer. After breakfast you
gathered the children about the family
altar. Then before you started for
Sunday school you all knelt. Then
you uttered prayer like this: 20
God, Ike Enoch, may we walk with
thee this day. BE with our Sunday
school. Give the teachers power to
eXpound thy word Give the scholars
receptive hearts to listen to thy lessons.
And, 0 Father. thou great and omnip-
otent King, be with our pastor. He is
one Of US. May we lift up his arms.
May he today be man with mighty
power for Cod May just the right
word be spoken which win bring down
"a shower of blessings to our hearts"
Are not those prayers having any re-
suits? Why, friends, as ! speak this
morning l feel Il strange influence lift
ing me up. That influence, Oh my
people. comes from the prayers of the
family affairs of my church That
power comes from the prayers of my
people here in this church home, pray
ing for me. That power cones from
the fact that when you started for
church you and your households We're
in praying atmosphere. 1t is hard, /
awfully hard, to make the necessary .
spiritual preparations for a Sunday /
service when we are out i'm the country .
in a worldly summer hotel l CON
gratulate you that You have been able
to start this holy Sabbath in the right
way upon your knees before your fam
ly affairs.
A Vacation From Church.
Then l also congratulate the home
'omers because you have come back
o your opportunities of religious work
IS well as to your temporal work ana
o your church worship. A vacation
rom the store Invariably means a va
alton from church labors and church
work. Thomas Guthrie, the great
scotch preacher once wrote a book
ntitled "OutNof Harness" In it he de- !
cribed himself as away from his pull 5
il amid the Alpine hills seeking health
nd relaxation from toll. IN one chap / l.
ar he described himself worshipiug ,
18th n couple of prominent English di- i
ines in Il little Swiss village church. d
$ the service went on, leu by the vii S.
ge pastor, he looked across the aisle s.
{ the noble brow Of a great London 8
reacher sitting there. Then he COM /
lred this silent preacher to u mighty
lgine with its fires drawn. The {,
.rews, the boiler. the mighty driving y
heel, the smokestack were all there
ut there was no water in the boiler y
ld no coal in the furnace and no
cam was being generated. The great n
r0bbing life Of the engine was still Q
. So with yOu during your past va 20
tiOn. You may have attended the Il
urch services, but You went to q
urch simply as worshipers and not Y,
workers. And my friends, true P'
Iristianity is not developed simply
bending the knee in prayer, but in
boring in Gods vineyard. 4
The vineyards of Christ's great city q,
e now ripe for the plucking. Your "a
nday school class is ready TO well ?:
me- you back. The boys and the girls
yht al to he brought into the Chris g
n life this winter. The missionary 8
'iety needs building up as never be- 8
e. You must 20 to work there this s
lter. You only gave half hearted 8
vice last year You must do better ?
5 year. The young peoples meetings :
,d reinforcement as never before. :
these opportunities of gospel work ]
opening to you Oh, welcome you :
TX not simply to worship but to A
secrated labor in Gods vineyards, tos
in Gods great harvest fields. 4oI
hus wherever I look, find the re- Pm
IS of our vacations are blessed.
ne, store, church, all surround us J
b their mercies. Now. my friends.
b these mighty opportunities of Z
istian usefulness and Christian
with surrounding us. we are stand :
upon the threshold Of a new church
r. What are we going to do with s
Shall the church year of 1905 and s
be a mighty year for spiritual re- 5;
S in our lives? The year is now 8
,; the year win soon be gone Let si
Onsecrate ourselves and our church
our Sunday schools and our prayer WO
tngs and our missionary societies --
lis dear service as never before.
us bow our heads as we say. IvsG
I'd, take this pulpit and take these
s and take us all into thy keeping,
for the work of thy grace may m
church year be the best year of ~
lives. When the vacations of next 7.
come around. may we 60 forth Il
the mountains or down by the RAs
hore, feeling that we have not
led in vain. And If during the paw
some Of us VIII leave. not for the sun
tons Of earth, but for the triumphs i0l
eaven. may those Of us who 90 Expr
Y the news hcavenward that the
old church to which we belong is I, N
g work which win gladden. the B.
is Of angels and make the celes-
welkin ring with never ending joy. s