Attendance on Week-Day Services 3
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I will now mention some of the DIFFICULTIES, HINDRANCES, and EXCUSES, which lead to a neglect of such services, and which in the opinion of many justify that neglect.
TRADESMEN often say they have no time; they cannot leave their business—that is, they will not. I am aware that it is not, and could not, by any contrivance and forethought, be always made convenient for tradesmen, especially shopkeepers, to be at the house of God on a week-day evening; but could it not be oftener done than it is? Would not a settled purpose, a good plan, and a little preparation, generally leave the way open for such people to the sanctuary? Is it not enough time given to the world, to carry on its concerns until seven o'clock in the evening? If there be a party to be joined, or some public business to be attended to, cannot tradesmen find time for this? Oh! brethren, try, try! Be anxious to throw off the cares of the world, in enough time to be found in your place at the house of God, on the evening of the weekly service.
But your residence is too far in the country to enable you to attend. Then why go so far? Why sacrifice the pleasure and improvement to be gained in the sanctuary, for the enjoyment of rural scenes? The modern taste for a country residence is making sad work with piety. How many are there who, on this account, can attend only one public service even on the sabbath! And has it not proved a snare in other ways, leading to a neglect of their trade, and to expenses which their income was not adequate to meet? Your salvation, professing Christians, your salvation is, or should be, the great business with you—and everything else should be subordinate to it.
Some who will read this address are the MOTHERS of large families, and imagine they find in their domestic and maternal cares an insurmountable obstacle in the way of such services as I now recommend, and a sufficient excuse for neglecting them.
I readily allow that in many cases this is admissible. Duties cannot be in opposition to each other. There is no religion in neglecting a needy family, and allowing the home to be a scene of confusion—even though it be to attend public worship. And if this must be the result, judgment and conscience being witnesses, your way is clear, and the place of your duty is home. But be quite sure that you could not by method, diligence, preparation, and judicious delegation—attend to every duty of home, and yet leave opportunity for one weekly visit to the sanctuary. I have known mothers who were patterns of devotedness to home duties, and at the same time were exemplary in their attendance at the house of God. The devoted mother needs an occasional relaxation from her assiduities; and what so refreshing, as an hour spent in the house of God?
A more difficult case is that of the WIFE, whose husband is altogether hostile to true religion, and especially so to its week-day engagements. Constant attendance, in such circumstances, can hardly be expected; and many thus situated must forego the privilege, and seek to make up by renewed diligence in the use of the private means of grace, the loss they are compelled to sustain of the public ones.
LABORING MEN, I am aware, are under a strong temptation, after a day's hard toil, to imagine they are too tired for a sermon, and that they will be excused by God for going home to spend the evening in their own house, instead of his. In many, very many cases, this is not a legitimate excuse, but a sufficient reason for their neglect; their labor is so great, and so exhausting, as to utterly incapacitate them for that mental application which is necessary for a profitable attendance upon the means of grace. In this case the gracious Redeemer himself makes the same defense for them as he did for his slumbering disciples, and says the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Consider, then, dear brethren, the word of exhortation on this important subject; renounce all excuses; endeavor to be in a state of mind which shall not prompt you to seek after them. Be in earnest, far more in earnest, than are the generality of professors, about your soul's concerns. Give all diligence to make your calling and election sure. Hunger and thirst after righteousness. Live the life of faith. Set your affections not on things on the earth, but on things above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God. Be not satisfied with mere external religious decorum, and a consistency in which the world, or your fellow professors, can see no flaw. Let your thoughts be in heaven; feel and act as the citizens of the celestial state. Walk with God; rejoice in hope of the glory to be revealed; and steadily look at eternity. In order to keep up such a state of mind, comply with the admonition of this address. Let it be matter of conscience, not of taste merely, to attend the week-day services. You need them; and they will help and bless you.
Be regular in your attendance. Do not let it be a mere occasional thing to be there, when an admonition has been delivered on the Sabbath calling upon you for the performance of this duty, or when something extraordinary is to be heard. This is the case with too many. We see them sometimes, but oftener miss them. Be it with you, an ordinance fixed as the sabbath; keep the evening free from all occupation; make no other engagement. When invited to something else, say, "No, that evening is given to God." "The diligent soul," I repeat, "shall be made fat." This is diligence. May it be yours.
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