Spots in our feasts of charity...

Front matter

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A BOOK FOR THE TIMES.

SPOTS

Preface

" The ways of Zion do mourn because " so few " come to her solemn feasts." This language of the " weeping prophet " is upon the lips of many faithful pastors. Neglect of the ordinary means of grace and of the various agencies for prosecuting the work of Christ is well nigh universal. The great body of believers seem not to appreciate the obligations that are imposed upon them in this regard. They conduct as if it were entirely a matter of choice whether the ordinances of religion are sustained by their presence. Hence the origin of this volume. What the author has seen and heard of the delinquencies

of Christian professors in relation to religious ores)

4 PREFACE.

dinances and other means of usefulness, as well as the fact that no work of such a character is before the public, suggested the preparation of this book.

As the title indicates, the chief design of this volume is to expose the delinquencies of church members in respect to the several subjects discussed. The only exceptions are the seventh and eighth chapters, which are designed rather to discuss the importance of those agencies, and press their claims upon the Christian's attention.

This work contains only the morality of religion ; and the reader should beware that he does not substitute this for religion itself. There is both the form and the spirit of godliness. The former may exist without the latter ; but the latter cannot actively exist without producing the former. While religion does not consist simply in the observance of rites, its genuine life in the soul will not fail to render its possessor faithful in this particular, Though an unconverted person may rigidly observe the means of grace whose claims are urged in this work, yet the Christian will never neglect

PREFACE. 5

and forsake them unless lie is a very poor representative of Christianity. There may be morality without religion ; but there is no true religion without morality. And this is a sufficient defence of the plan and publication of this volume.

W. M. T.

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Introduction

When important agencies are in operation for the advancement of a great and gooH cause, it becomes every individual to make himself acquainted with their nature and tendency, and to examine well his own position respecting them. Whether those which are the subjects of remark in the work before us meet our approval or not, it cannot be denied that the influence which they are exerting upon the cause of religion at the present day gives them a just demand upon our most serious attention.

A part of the institutions considered in the present work are of divine appointment, the utility of which no believer in the Scriptures can question, " The church," " the prayer meeting," " public wor-

INTRODUCTION.

ship," " the Lord's supper," " the missionary enterprise," are all either expressly or impliedly inculcated in the word of God. Nor will any intelligent Christian deny the fact that these instrumentalities are among the most efficient means by which the religion of Christ is now, and has been from the first, promoted in the world. No man ought to allow himself to remain ignorant of the nature, the design, and the probable consequences of these institutions, or the duties which devolve on him in respect to them. With an intimate and practical knowledge of these things must osrery man's usefulness and enjoyment in life be more or less connected. But to the Christian — one who has professedly associated himself with the church of Christ, and who sincerely desires to honor the Savior and to promote his cause in the world — this knowledge must be deemed invaluable. There cannot be a full and honorable discharge of the duties belonging to his high vocation without it.

As it respects the " Sabbath school," the " maternal association," the " missionary sewing circle," and other associations and instrumentalities named in this work, if they are not authoritatively required by the word of God, they are evidently means of

INTRODUCTION. 9

doing good whicli his providence has indicated, and on which he is known repeatedly to have bestowed his choicest blessings. It is an error to suppose that every duty binding upon Christians is expressly inculcated in the word of God. This could not be done without increasing the sacred volume to a size which would render it useless to the multitude. The wants of individuals, the circumstances of the times, the movements of Providence often indicate not only the usefulness of a particular measure, but the will of God that it should be adopted. The man who doubts the utility of the " Sabbath school," the " maternal association," or the " preparatory lecture," at this age, and in the present circumstances of the world, has a degree of scepticism in his composition, which, in other circumstances, might show itself in open infidelity, and which may, even under the restraints of his present position, yet make such developments as to evince that he really has no confidence in the teachings of either the providence or the word of God.

"Without attempting to decide whether the associations above named are the best means which can be adopted to attain the ends in view or not, we may be satisfied that they are instrumentalities of great

INTRODUCTION.

importance, which, while we know of no better, it is our duty to use with the utmost constancy and faithfulness. Those who attend upon these means of moral and religious improvement, in connection with the positive institutions of the gospel, with earnestness and fidelity, and those who are actively engaged in them for the benefit of others, are known to grow in grace faster, and to become more d^stinguishingly useful, than others who treat them with comparative indifference and neglect. The too frequent neglect of these means of doing and getting good, and the very careless and faulty manner in which they are sometimes attended, are evils which almost every pastor is compelled to witness, and over which he sighs and groans. This negligence, and its consequent pernicious effects upon the character of professors as well as others, are

" SPOTS IN OUR FEASTS OF CHARITY " which OUgllt

to be wiped out and seen no more. To call attention to these delinquencies, to lead the members of our churches to consider more seriously the " price that is put into then* hands to get wisdom," and to make them realize more fully the responsibility which rests upon them in regard to the improvement of their privileges, is the object of the work

INTRODUCTION.

now presented to the reader. The author lias thoroughly considered his subjects. He writes like one who has been called to meet the evils which he exposes, and has seen the good effects of the measures which he recommends.

These discourses, are suited to interest as well as to instruct the reader. The positions taken by the author are well sustained by arguments drawn both from reason and Scripture, and happily illustrated by a rich variety of anecdotes. The style in which the work is written is the author's own — easy, lucid, attractive.

Such a work as this is needed. It supplies an important place, which is filled by no other within my knowledge. It will be useful, not only to those who have had many years of experience and observation in the divine life, but particularly to young Christians who are just entering upon their course. It will aid them in the formation of right habits at the beginning.

In a work like this, touching upon so great a variety of topics relating to the order of our churches and the duties of individual members, some things may be found which do not meet the views of every one. The author has expressed his own convic-

INTRODUCTION.

tions honestly and with plainness, hoping that they will be thoroughly examined — adopted, if found in accordance with truth; rejected, if seen to be based upon any species of falsehood. It is confidently believed, however, that the views here expressed will meet with the general approval of evangelical Christians every where. If there should be any exceptions in the case, those who differ from the author will not find the difference so great as, even in their view, essentially to diminish the usefulness of the work. It is commended to the perusal and the prayers of all who love our Lord Jesus Christ, with the earnest desire and hope that it may prove an important instrumentality of advancing the great interests of his kingdom.

JACOB IDE.

Medttay, December, 1853.

Chapter I

Public "Worship. — Delinquencies and Duties of Christian Professors relating to. — Extract from Rev. J. A. James. — The fair-weather Disciple. — The half-day Disciple. — The inconstant Disciple. — The tardy Disciple. — The listless Disciple. — The sleeping Disciple. — Duty demands the constant Attendance of professing Christians on public Worship. — Countess of Burford. — Excuses considered. — Slight Indisposition. — Fatigue. — Christian Disciple should be the most attentive Listener. — Sleeping in Church discussed more

■ particularly. — Whispering, Reading, and kindred Misdemeanors in Service Time,

Chapter II

Prayer Meeting. — Observed by different Denominations. — Not subject of direct Commandment. — Small Attendance upon. — Statistics. — Incongruity between Profession and Practice in this Respect. — Excuses considered. — Distance from Place of Prayer. — Family Cares, —Pressure of Busi- 2 ' W> n

CONTENTS.

ness. — Fatigue. — Cannot take active Part. — Meetings are dull and uninteresting. — Hostility to the Pastor. — Habit. — Not unpopular to stay away. — Good Plan for Members detained to devote a Portion of the same Hour to Prayer. — Sabbath Evening Prayer Meeting. — Neglecting Prayer Meeting not Proof of Hypocrisy. — Thomas Absent from Prayer Meeting. — The Prayer Meeting needs you. — You need the Prayer Meeting,

Chapter III

Church Meeting. — Custom of Churches. — Object of this Meeting twofold: 1. Business; 2. Devotional Exercises. — Importance of. — Demands Interest of all. — Non-Attendance. — Some so ignorant of Church Affairs as not to know when a Brother is under Discipline. — Important Case of Discipline will not call some Members to Meeting. — Irresponsibility. — Sad Consequences resulting. — Compels a few to assume the Responsibility of doing Business. — Delays

Action to the Reproach of Religion. — Church in B . —

Another Case. — Often followed by Difficulties and Strife. — Church in S- — . — Another Case. — Supposed Cases. — Duty plain. — Remarks of Rev. Albert Barnes,

CHAPTER IY.

Preparatory Lecture, and Lord's Supper. — The Lord's Supper a simple Ordinance. — Observed in Remembrance of Christ. — Men always sought to perpetuate Memory. — Christ had Reference to this Element of Human Nature. — His Plan differs from that of Men in Simplicity. — Founded on Law of Association. — How important and solemn this Sacrament. — Hence the Custom of observing a preparatory Season. — Communicants' Prayer Meeting. — Lecture useful. — Best Plan should be adopted. — Preparatory Lecture poorly attended. — Members do not prepare for Lord's Supper. — Ab-

CONTENTS.

bott's Remarks. — Providence only should detain them from this Ordinance. — Should not stay away because of personal Difficulties with Members, or because there are wicked Persons in the Church. — " When they had sung a Hymn, they went out into the Mount of Olives," 76

Chapter V

Church and Parish. — Collision between them. — Object of Parish Organization frequently defeated. — Debts contracted and Expenses unpaid. — Sanctuaries mortgaged. — Some obliged to pay more than their proportional Part. — Ministers' Salaries unpaid. — Credit of Parish impaired. — Hence Parish and Church dilatory. — Irresponsible. — Duty of Believers and Unbelievers to support Gospel. — Parish is the Organization of Necessity. — Every Church Member ought to pay his proportional Part. — Should also belong to the Parish. — Address to Young Men. — Conclusion, 93

Chapter VI

Sabbath School. — What has it done ? — What will it do ? — These Questions answered. — Important Agency in the Salvation of the World. — Hence the Relation of the Church to the Sabbath SchooL — General Complaints about Lack of Interest in. — Duties of professing Christians relating to. — They themselves should be Members. — They should see that their Children are Members. — Should be willing to become Teachers. — Should pray for it. — Not allow it to supersede religious Instruction at Home, . 112

Chapter VII

Missionary Sewing Circle. — Character of Dorcas. — Female Influence in the Missionary Enterprise. — Benefits of

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Sewing Circle. — It affords Opportunity for social Intercourse. — For intellectual Improvement. — Benefits -he Participant morally and spiritually. — Furnishes Means to spread the Gospel. — Statistics showing Amount contributed by Sewing Circles. — Three Evils to avoid. — Levity and Worldliness. — Discord. — Converting Association into a Tattling Society. — Appeal to Females. — Dorcas a " Sister of Charity," 131

Chapter VIII

Maternal Association. — Power of Association. — Origin of Maternal Association. — Design of it. — Power of Mothers' Encouragement to. — The Opinion of a South American Statesman. — Mothers of Bishop Hall, John Quincy Adams, Kmill, Todd, and Cowper. — Benefits of Maternal Association. — Creates Sympathy between Mothers thus associated.

— Imparts Knowledge of best Mode of Parental Discipline.

— Increases Sense of Parental Responsibility. — Makes more faithful. — Report of London Maternal Association. — God has blessed this Meeting to the Salvation of many. — A Fact.

— Statistics of Conversions gathered from Reports. — Appeal to Mothers, 149

Chapter IX

The Missionary Enterprise. — "Will the World be converted ? — Small Contributions imply it will not. — Contributions not increase in Proportion to W ealth. — The Pleasure Excursion. — Only one Half Cent given daily. — Family of Six Hundred Millions. — Few perceive that giving is for their good. — Little System in giving. — Hammond, Baxter, Doddridge, and others. — The Shoemaker. — Christians wait to give. — Opposition to Agents. — Ingenuity and Effort necessary to obtain a liberal Contribution — Complain because so

CONTENTS.

many Calls. — Some plead that " Charity begins at Home." — Refuse to give because of some Case of Imposition. — " We know not that the Money reaches the Heathen." — Some cry, " To what Purpose is this W aste ? " — Curtailing Contributions instead of Expenses. — Some give only when cannot help it. — The Mite. — The small Gift, rich Entertainment, and splendid House. — The selfish Christian praying " Thy Kingdom come." — Giving a Test of Piety. — The burning Turf. — The Soldier. — Who is benevolent ? — Get to give, . 168

Chapter X

Mutual Christian Faithfulness. — The Bible View. — How disregarded, and why. — Lack of moral Courage. — - Fear of giving Offence. — Little Interest in spiritual Welfare of Church. — Benefits of this Fidelity. — Inspires Confidence in the faithful Disciple. — Begets Watchfulness. — Spares the Church much unpleasant Discipline. — Preserves Purity of Church, and gives Power over Men. — Spirit that ought to pervade the Church on this Subject. — A faithful Friend 194

Chapter XI

Christian Conduct in regard to the foregoing tested by Prayer. — ■ Prayer in the Ball Room. — Prayer for pernicious Fiction. — For Card Playing. — For Theatre-going. Rumseller's Prayer. — May go boldly to Mercy Seat with innocent Things. — Herein Prayer is a marked Test of Christian Conduct. — The Christian should not persevere in a Course of Conduct upon which he cannot invoke the divine Blessing. — The Church Member neglecting Public W orship. — The Prayer-Meeting Absentee. — The Church-Meeting Absentee. — Absence from the Lord's Supper. — Delinquencies in refusing to pay proportional Part, to contribute gen- 9. #

CONTENTS.

erously for Missionary Purposes, and Want of Fidelity, all tested. — Contradiction between Prayer and Practice ; why ? — Prayer a Test of Conduct in regard to other Things. — Appeal to Christian Professors. — Conclusion, ..... 208

Appendix,

Chapter I. Public Worship

Delinquencies and Duties of Christian Trofessors relating to. — Extract from Rev. J. A. James. — The fair-iveather Disciple. — The half-day Disciple. — The inconstant Disciple. — The tardy Disciple. — The listless Disciple. — The sleeping Disciple. — Duty demands the constant Attendayice of pro fessing Christians on public Worship. — Countess of Burford. — Excuses considered. — Slight Indisposition. — Fatigue. — Christian Disciple should be the most attentive Listener. — Sleeping in Church discussed more particularly. — Whispering, Reading, and kindred Misdemeanors in Service Time.

The object of this chapter is not to exhibit the benefits of public worship, but to expose the delinquencies and discuss the duties of Christian professors in respect to attendance thereupon. There is a looseness of conduct in this regard which poorly comports with a religious profession. The following remarks of an English divine # upon this subject, though penned with special reference to Christians residing in the city, I quote entire, for their interest, and general application to the church : " A general,

* Rev. John Angell James.

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regular, and punctual attendance upon all the means of grace is essential to the earnestness of a Christian church. There is a wonderful difference in this respect in the various congregations of professing Christians. In some instances you will see the hearers straggling along with a dull and careless look, as if they were going to an unwelcome service — dropping into the place of worship long after the service has commenced — looking round with vacant stare upon the congregation — undevout and listless, as if they were there they knew nor cared for why ; the seats half empty, and those that occupied them seemingly neither expecting nor desiring a blessing from above. There is no earnestness there. In other cases, how different ! You will observe a stream of people, just before the hour of service, flowing into the place, with a serious, thoughtful, yet cheerful air, as if they knew what they were going for, and that it was a solemn yet gladsome occasion. They take their seats with a composed, collected, devout manner. A look of expectation is hi their eye, which is first cast towards the pulpit, as if they waited for the preacher, with his message from God, and then upward to that God who alone can make the message effectual. A stranger, coming in, is struck with the appearance of earnestness that pervades the congregation, and almost involuntarily exclaims. ' How dreadful is this place ! Surely this is the house of God and the gate

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of heaven ! ' Yes ; and if he were to visit that place, time after time, he would see the same scene repeated, the same seats occupied by the same people, and in the same devout manner. The earnest hearer is the constant hearer, the punctual hearer, the' devout hearer. There is a spirit of indolence, selfindulgence, and mischievous negligence creeping over the churches, most fatal to fervent devotion, in reference even to the Sabbath-day attendance, which is rising out of the modern taste for residing in the country. Very many of the members of our religious communities, of all denominations, go but once a week to the house of God ; and this is on a Sabbath morning. All the rest of the holy day is spent in idleness — perhaps feasting and lounging over the wine through the afternoon — turning over the pages of a magazine, with little devotion and no profit, in the evening. If these persons were in their closets, studying the word of God, engaged in self-examination and prayer, mortifying their corruptions and invigorating their graces, we should think less of it ; but is this their occupation? I fear this love of ease is eating out the piety of our churches, and gradually turning the Sabbath into a day of luxurious repose, instead of Christian devotion. Modern tastes are sadly at war with modern piety. It seems as if many of the professing Christians of the day were trying with how little attendance upon the ordinances of public worship, how little of self-denial,

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and how little a public manifestation of their religion could satisfy their conscience ; and, alas ! how very little that is ! "

This somewhat lengthy quotation presents, in the main, the object of this chapter. Although its points of special pungency relate only to professors of religion in metropolitan districts, yet, in regard to negligence in attending upon public worship, they equally apply to many Christian professors in rural towns.

I surely need not spend a moment in proving that it is the duty of the members of our churches to attend upon the services of the sanctuary. "Were the Scriptures wholly silent upon the subject, and the example of primitive saints foreign to the question, still the countless blessings which have been scattered far and wide by the observance of public worship are sufficient to define the church member's duty in this regard ; for the professing Christian, if any one, ought to lend his example and influence to whatever is lovely and of good report. If it is the duty of any persons to support this ordinance by constant and punctual attendance, it certainly is the duty of those who have voluntarily taken upon themselves the vows of God.

The delinquencies of church members in relation to this subject are somewhat various. All delinquents are not guilty of the same neglect. Some are negligent in one way, and some in another. In

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order to present the subject fairly, and show that the foregoing charges are not made without ample reasons, the reader's attention is directed to the following classification of delinquents.

The fair-weather Disciple. — That the church embraces members who seldom think of worshipping God publicly upon a stormy Sabbath is proved abundantly by empty pews. The preacher usually may determine with considerable exactness, on the morning of a stormy Sabbath, who of his church will not be present. A few months' experience in the ministry will make him quite a prophet in this respect ; and it would not surprise him at all if the hearers, at such times, were the members of his church, and unbelievers only the absentees. But the facts in the case show him that some of his people, who make no pretensions to piety, are present, " rain or shine," while some of his church are absent. It is freely admitted that a storm may be a sufficient excuse for some professors to remain at home ; but, after granting all the exceptions consistent with Christian propriety, many are verily guilty in limiting their attendance to cloudless Sabbaths. It is evident, in almost every church, that it does not require a very violent storm to detain some of its members at home. There is not that conscientious regard to Christian example, in this particular, which ought to distinguish those who are to be ensamples to the world.

PUBLIC WORSHIP.

The half-day Disciple. — Domestic cares, impaired health, and kindred hinclerances may render a half-day visit to the house of God unavoidable. Reference is had only to those members of the church who unnecessarily pay but a half-day service to God. Such there are. They may be very careful to attend upon one service every Lord's day, and might do it really as a matter of conscience ; but the neglect of the other service does not appear to trouble conscience at all. In cities, it is often a kind of fashion to pay only morning devotions to God in the sanctuary. In the country it is not so much the fashion as it is a tyrannizing habit. It may be difficult to decide which of the two is more sinful, though it must be admitted that the first is the more singular. To subject religion, in any measure, to the control of custom or fashion might be consistent with the profession of a pagan, but is not with that of a Christian. If it is important for any persons that two services be observed on the Sabbath, then it is important for the Christian professor ; and is not he, if any one, in duty bound to sustain both services by his presence ?

The ixcoxstaxt Disciple. — Those already named are inconstant; but we refer to those who, fair weather or foul, summer or winter, maintain no order, system, or rule in their attendance. They are not periodical hearers, for in this there is^. system and order. They may be present constantly for quite

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a period, then absent twice as long, or vice versa. They may worship formally one half day, then be missing three. They are sometimes absent through the day, and present at the evening service. In short, they are so irregular in their attendance that no dependence can be placed upon them. They do not appear to regard the public worship of God so much a duty as a convenience. Their conduct seems to say to the world, " The sanctuary is a very convenient place to visit when inclination favors." It deserves to be gratefully recorded that this class numbers less than the preceding.

The tardy Disciple. — He may not be many minutes too late, but late enough to disturb the devotions of the congregation. For a moment, at least, all eyes must be directed to him, and a consequent sensation, if not a noise, created through the house. Such delinquents do well to remember the principle of a devoted Christian female, who replied to the inquiry, how she managed, amid so many domestic cares and duties, always to be so punctual in attendance upon the service of the Lord's house, " It is a part of my religion not to disturb the religion of others."

The listless Disciple. — There is quite a difference in the attention which different hearers render in the sanctuary. It is delightful to preach to some, and a sore trial to preach to others. While many are eager to catch every word that falls from the 3

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preacher's lips, and listen with profoimdest attention, here and there is one gazing about the house, tumbling the leaves of a hymn book, now lounging in a comer of the pew, then sitting in restless uprightness, and. on the whole, apparently determined not to hear. Such demeanor in the house of God is unbecoming even in the unbeliever, and in the professing Christian it is highly censurable. Yet such there are in the church of Christ. Their example we shall analyze in another place.

The sleepixg Disciple. — Unavoidable cares and toils through the week, deprivation of nightly rest, age, and disease may excuse some for sleeping in the house of God ; but there are professing Christians who indulge the inclination to sleep without the shadow of an excuse. They offer no resistance to the approach of the somnolent spell ; they place themselves in a position to invite the overpowering stupor ; they yield themselves up to the power of the soporific influence as willing slaves ; they lose the identity of hearers in that of sleepers. Then appearance is that of non-interest and spiritual declension.

Such is a brief, imperfect view of the delixquexcies of professing Christians in regard to attendance upon public worship. The infhienee of such an example upon unbelievers will appear as we proceed to discuss the duties of church members in relation to this subject.

PUBLIC WORSHIP.

Duty demands that church members should always attend the Sabbath worship. This should be their rule, to which there may be reasonable exceptions, since there are exceptions to all rules. Excuses which are sufficient to detain the non-professor at home may not be sufficient to detain the Christian. It does not become the latter to allow himself to be controlled by trifling considerations in a matter of so much importance. He should have more regard to the influence of his example. Although religion is something more than this simple morality, yet that is a very poor religion which thinks to live without it. Morality and religion beautifully harmonize in the character of him whose heart is right in the sight of God. The example of a Christian so devoted as the Countess of Burford, in regard to attendance upon public worship, has a powerful influence upon both the church and the world. For the last few years of her life, the countess was obliged to ride on horseback more than sixteen miles to her place of worship ; yet it is said of her, " Neither frost, snow, rain, nor bad roads were sufficient to detain her at home, nor to prevent her being there before the worship began." * The influence of her constant and punctual attendance upon the public means of grace was apparent on every hand. It was creditable to her religious pro-

* Arvine.

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fession ; it was expressive of sincerity and a pious heart in the view of numerous beholders; it was honorable to religion.

So will it be with every Christian who conscientiously observes the public w r orship of God. If his seat is constantly filled in the house of God, it is one. thing towards disseminating a healthful influence in the place where he resides. It is one ray of that bright example which he is obligated to set. On the other hand, if he unnecessarily absents himself from the sanctuary, — if lowering weather, or a slight indisposition, is excuse enough to detain him at home while some of his unconverted neighbors are promptly in their pews, — it is a stain upon his Christian character, which tears of penitence alone can wash aAvay. No one con Id be surprised that the scoffer should make capital out of such a delinquency to promote his diabolical aims. No one could complain if the unbeliever should say, " If the members of the church may innocently plead such slight excuses for non-attendance upon public worship, then may not I ? "