Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1912-05-15

our final salvation (which is the
most important) we should attend
church as a matter of education.
Of course it is the minister's duty
to preach only the gospel of Christ;
but did you ever stop to think OF
the composition of a sermon? In
order to illustrate the principles OF
the Christian religion, the educated
employs as a means to
this end, eevry department of litera-
ture. Consequently sermon con-
tains history, philosophy, science,
discovery, invention, art, mechanics,
poetry, psychology, moral and men
tai philosophy. and theology. In a
word, everything in the heavens
above and the earth beneath is en-
ployed in a sermon in order to en-
force upon the mind the principles OF
Him who is the author of them all.
lit follows that not a small number
of persons remain from the house
of God from pure ignorance. This,
however, is net the only reason, for
with some it is a diseased state OF
mind which they have inherited
from their parents, and instead of
doctoring it at once by forcing
themselves out of this criminal hab-
it, they are resigned to the fate of
passing it down from one generation
to another and meantime, giving
this disease to others in the commu-
nifty. 1t will be simply terrible to
appear before the Judgment of
Christ in such a churchless, Christ
less state. Some of this class have
quarantined themselves with a thou
sand excuses (rheumatism in the
foot, bad hearing, calomel Saturday
light, wife not well, husband got
UP too late, worked too hard this
week, had visitor Sunday, terrible
headache, loose tooth, had an en-
gagement, shoes worn out, dress not
good enough, had to clean up the
house, it was raining, day too pref
ty to spend whole hour in church,
automobile ride, staid home and
read my Bible, sent the children,
had to help my wife, did not have
any money to put in, don't like to
hear him preach, church too hot,
church too cold, seats too hard, ser
mon too long, music too poor, don't
like certain member, when the new
preacher comes, can sit in piazza
and hear the sermon, church is too
far away, like the ether church bet,
ter than my own, if the minister
would come land nurse me) we'd
all go, 1 used to go once, got in the
habit of staying away, never mind,
l am coming! Now, all of this is
enough to make the devil laugh!
We have but one comment: But
for all these things God will bring
thee into judgment" (Ecc. ll:9).
Now do not get miffed and dc
not laugh about a very serious
thing. If you cannot take that ex.
cuse, get on your knees and tell il
to God, it is no excuse. 1t is want
of disposition. On Monday many ot
these are out and gone. They have
gotten rid of the disease known as
'Morbus Sabaticus,' the English OF
which is Sunday Sickness"
But on Sunday too indisposed to
give your sin-burdened soul one
lone hour out of seven long days in
which to fly away and be at rest
from the cares of life;too unkind to
self to allow that tired body to for
get it's pain because the receiver
(mind) is absorbed in taking in
heavenly messages from the lips OF
the man of God; too indisposed to
employ a single hour as preparation
for Mondays battle, to render a
service to the world, to honor God:
too merciless of self to grasp the
rope of divine service which may
save the soul from an eternity oi
woe; too blind to see ones own ad,
vantage; too deaf to hear the music
of heaven; too Indifferent to craw
into the life boat; too unmindful ol
the danger of wasting Sabbath
too irresponsive to the pray erful so
licitations of ministers, godly pa
rents, Christian wives, praying hds
bands, anxious brothers, loving sis
ters, faithful friends, glorious
church, merciful God, dying Saw
iour. Oh. man, woman, child, how
can you be so cold blooded, SO crue
to yourself? If we are Indifferent te
the least duty God has imposed up