"Do you mean those whose lands

his

very

did come he preached them a very prosy sermon of unusual length, on the text, "Feed my lambs." He had not yet finished when that original old minister known as "Camp-meeting John," arose from a seat in the congregation, and said: "Brother, I have had some experience in raising lambs myself, and I have found that the following rules are absolutely essential to successful lamb raising: First give them their food in season; second, give them a little at a time; and third, give it to them Warm."

ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM advises us to give to detractors the following warning: 66 Have you anything good to say of your brother, I am ready to listen to you, my heart is open to receive your communication with gladness; if it be anything bad my ears are shut against you; they refuse to be sullied. What profit am I to derive from hearing that some one has behaved badly? I was ignorant of it, and you telling me of it can only make me sad. Why should you not speak to him? Let us meddle in our own business only; we have quite enough to give an account of our own thoughts, words, deeds, and omissions; let us bring that restless curiosity and scrupulous examination to bear on our own conduct, instead of setting up ourselves as censors of others, and spending so much valuable time lost in scrutinizing and diving into the deepest recesses of other people's hearts.

DR. SKINNER was once soliciting aid for foreign missions, and applied to a gentleman who promptly repulsed him with the reply, "I don't believe in foreign missions. I won't give anything except to home missions. I want what I give to benefit my neighbors."

"Well," replied Dr. Skinner, "whom do you regard as your neighbors?"

Why those around me," replied the brother.

"Well, how much land do you own?" "About five hundred acres." "How far down do you own?" "Why, I never thought of it before, but I suppose I own half way through." Exactly," said Dr. Skinner. "I suppose you do, and I want this money for the Chinese, the men whose land joins yours on the bottom."

The hardened brother had never thought of that and gave a good sum for foreign missions.

VOL. XXVII.

A Good Church Member.

BY THE EDITOR.

"That long as life itself shall last,
Ourselves to Christ we yield;
Nor from His cause will we depart,
Or ever quit the field."

After a certain communion season a newly received member of the congregation remarked to us:

"I have now become a member of your congregation, and wish to perform my duties to it. What is required of me in this respect? I feel in earnest, and wish to be a live, active member, and so far as possible to perform all my duties.""

After expressing our pleasure with his pious determination, we proceeded to answer his question in detail. What are some of the duties which Christians owe to their congregations? There be many whose piety and pious work are so broad and general that their influence is nowhere felt. Some one once asked a certain person whether President Pierce was a man of much power?

The answer was:

NO. 9.

and the community in which he lives. There is a certain class of religious pretenders, who are like certain hangers on to good society in England. They have no fixed homes or social standing of their own, but crouch around in the shadow of their superiors, holding on to their skirts. Diners out of the grace of other's merits. In religion there is a similar class who travel around from one congregation to another, remaining nowhere long enough to take permanent root. Indeed not wishing to take root anywhere, but rather to live as congregational parasites, absorbing substance without giving anything in return. The moment they are asked for a contribution for the support of the flock they hasten away to another church, until a like request frightens them to still another.

In order to enjoy the blessings of a home one must be a member of a particular family. It will not do to make one's home promiscuously with everybody in his neighborhood. A congregation is the spiritual home of its members. There ties of affection and sympathy, of mutual joys and sorrows bind brothers and sisters in Christ together into one spiritual family. The congregation is the soul's home on earth. Those who have no fixed, local home-attachments of this sort, are always weak in faith, and usually worse in practice. Much of the cry for church-union indicates a spurious Christianity. And our pastoral experience has taught us that as a rule, persons who feel an equal interest in congregations of all denominations, make very poor members of their own Church. They are always ready to neglect their own under the plea that they must help all of God's people of

every name when duty calls. Their example and influence are always embarrassing and damaging to the flock in which they claim to be members. They are usually the hardest to please, the readiest to croak, the most discontented in their own spiritual home. We hold that a person can zealously confine his influence and usefulness to his own congregation without being a bigot. And furthermore, that in the present state of Protestant Christianity, God's people can build up the cause of Christ most effectually by concentrating their work and worship in their own flocks, and through them work upon the outside unregenerate world. "We promote the cause of Christ best by building up around us. He promotes the interests of the nation best who does most to elevate his own family. He best builds up the Church at large who best builds up the Church at home. My son, why wilt thou prefer the bosom of strangers?'"

2. A good church member must inform himself clearly of the doctrines of his church. He must strive to become an intelligent member of it. Every one cannot become intelligent, in the common acceptation of that word. And many who are not thus, are among the best Christians. But they know what and in whom they believe.

It is to be presumed that a confirmed member of the Reformed Church has been at least measurably instructed in her peculiar doctrines. He has learned what she believes and teaches concerning human depravity and human redemption through Jesus Christ, her doctrines of the Church, sacraments and ordinances, of repentance, faith, and everlasting life. But a faithful member of the Church will not cease studying the Catechism and the Bible after confirmation. His previous instruction has only taught him how to search and study the Scriptures during his subsequent life.

There are some people who call the Reformed the "German Presbyterian Church. They allege that her creed is the same as that of the Westminster Confession. Especially is this view sometimes pressed when efforts are made to proselyte among members of the Reformed Church.

It needs very little learning to dis tinguish the difference between the Reformed and the Methodist and other systems of religion. Many who could not clearly define the points of difference, can discern them by a sort of religious instinct. We hold that, to be a true and consistent member of the Church, a person must be able to know and feel this difference. No such a one can or will labor with churches of other denominations, and zealously fall in with measures which his own flock could not consistently practice. For by so doing he will withdraw from the latter his influence and labor, and in a measure turn them against it. He will thereby virtually proclaim his want of confidence in and respect for his own congregation. Whilst he refuses to leave it and go where his sympathies seem to be-for they cannot truly be in both he or others will use his nominal membership to decoy people out of his own church into other folds. We hold that when persons change their views, as sometimes will happen, and can no longer feel at home in their own church, the only consistent and honorable course is to leave it. When, however, they believe in the same doctrines, but are disaffected from social or secular considerations, aspiring to better so-called society, or seeking a class of people who will bring them more patronage or votes, the dis-atisfied persons disclose a low and contemptible motive. We have repeatedly been told by persons who have thus sought another home: "I still believe as I always did." Why then did they change their church relations? Is this not a confession of their want of honest purpose and principle?

3. A faithful church member will take part in all the ordinances of his own congregation. We know fathers who take half their meals in eating-houses, whilst they leave the mother and the children to eat theirs at home. And very poor fathers they make. We know sons who prefer taking their meals at saloons and hotels, to the more pleasing repast their dear mother provides for them. They are poor sons, and usually bring sorrow to their parents and themselves. "A foolish son is the heaviness of his mother." The

father and son may find a more convivial class of associates at the saloon and the tavern, but the home-circle and meal are infinitely better for them. Thus the service in one's own church is always the best for him, and has the first claim.

No good and true member of a congregation will select only certain services which he attends, whilst others are neglected. We have often been surprised to find persons, otherwise earnest and pious, attending church services only once a day. They will frankly tell you that they think once is enough. Some attend only in the morning. Some only at night. Some never attend a weekly service. We have known such who pleaded unavoidable business engagements. Yet we have

known them to find time on the same evenings to attend a concert or a social gathering. A true and faithful Christian will so far as possible attend every church service on Sundays and weekdays, and partake of every communion. "Cursed is he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully" (or negligently). Jer. xlviii. 10.

This irregular and incomplete attention to the Lord's cause is a great evil. It weakens the work and worship of a congregation. The pastor is annoyed and disheartened by it. The neglectful members lose the gracious blessings they greatly need. Many a precious seed of truth which the pastor laboriously and prayerfully gathers, they are not present to receive when it is sown. Their oft-vacant seat will in time have its effect on others of a weak faith. For in this, as in many other cases, every one influences a half a dozen or more others. His coming will lead others to come. His absence will lead others to be absent.

Every successful business man will employ no persons who are not always and punctually at their post. And the head of the business is the most prompt and regular of all. He well knows the importance of system, precision and punctuality. Yet many such a man, wise and strict in the enforcement of good rules in his business, will constantly violate the same rules as a member of a congregation. If his laborers were half as negligent and irregular at

their work as he is in the work of his Master, Jesus Christ, he would discharge every one of them. And for good reasons. For such conduct would ere long ruin him, as similar conduct is more or less ruinous to a congregation. In this respect "the children of this world are wiser than the children of light." Every mechanic who is absent from his post for a day expects to lose his wages. And if he is away without sufficient reason he may lose his place.

A certain young man once sought comfort with us. He was a machinist, but had lost his place. "How came you to lose your place?" we asked.

แ

Why, I attended a base ball match when I ought to have been at work. Whereupon the Company discharged me."

"The Company did right," we replied.

Yet professing followers of Christ, laborers in His cause, will vacate their places of duty for every trifling reason, to the serious detriment of themselves and their congregation. O, that God's. people would more generally help their pastors to infuse the same system of prompt, vigorous, energetic action into their congregations that they demand and practice in their business affairs!

4. A true member will bring his heart's best devotions along with him to church. Some people might as well put. their marble likeness dressed in broadcloth or silk into their pews as themselves. Their hearts are not in the service. In a sort of a half heedless frame of mind, they listen to the sermon, singing, and praying, whilst their minds wander after their business cares, dress, investments or speculations.

"Some go to Church just for a walk, Some go there to laugh and talk, Some go there the time to spend, Some go there to meet a friend, Some go to learn the parson's name, Some go there to wound his fame, Some go there for speculation, Some go there for observation, Some go there to doze and nod, But few go there to worship God." Matters are not as bad as the last line would make them. God be thanked, many, very many church-goers worship God. But alas, too many do not, even though they outwardly seem to take part

in the services. It is not easy to collect one's thoughts, and devoutly to engage in every part of worship. At such times, more than at any other, Satan tries to annoy God's people with undevout suggestions. A venerable professor once told us students in the Seminary, that he believed the devil sometimes set a babe a crying in the congregation in order to disturb the devotional thoughts of the worshipers. And we feel confident that the evil one several times served us and our flock in this way, by sending a dog running through the aisles and pews, exciting nervous women and enraging irritable men, setting giddy young people a-laughing, and sorely trying the patient sexton who vainly endeavored to capture him. We remember that on three different Good Friday evenings, in the midst of very solemn confirmation services held in several churches in a certain neighborhood, his Satanic majesty raised a great disturbance by means of false alarms of fire.

Once we had some twenty-five catechumens kneeling, and fifty more were waiting to be confirmed around the altar, and were in the act of laying on the hands in confirmation, amid the almost breathless silence of a crowded church. Suddenly there was a wild whoop of fire outside, beneath an open window, which startled the congregation. Then followed the wild cry of fire, the clanging of fire bells, the boisterous shouts of a neighboring fire company, putting all devotion at defiance. Many people rushed out of the church terror-stricken. The devil gained his point.

God's people need much grace in order to worship Him aright. Hence they ought to pray for His help before they leave home, and as they reach their pews. Have a hymn book of your own, and always join in the singing as well as you can. Follow the pastor in the prayer, and think well as to what each thought in it means. Be an attentive hearer. Try and remember the text. Turn to it in your Bible when you reach home. That will help to fix it in your memory. "Be not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the word;" such "a man shall be blessed in his deed."

The Christian Politician.

BY LEWIS H. STEINER, M. D.

"Fear God; honor the king." The Apostle thus sums up, as it were, in a few words, the whole duty of man. While the Church has dwelt upon the first clause, it has been too careless as regards the second. In accordance with the monastic theory, a man can best work out his personal salvation by separating himself from the world, and devoting himself to works of asceticism and to endless repetitions of prayer; and in accordance with the too-common practice of the Protestant Church, the Christian is to devote himself exclusively to the work of the Church, and totally ignore the State as an organization peculiarly of this world, and therefore to be left entirely to itself. But what are the facts of the case? Is not the State of divine constitution, as well as the Church? And if so, do we not owe obligations to it, from which we cannot sever ourselves by any assumption of superhuman saintliness such as would imply freedom from human duties?

In honoring the king are involved such respect for government and interest in its proper conduct, as would make it the Christian's duty to interest himself in every thing that concerns the political relations of his country. The peace and prosperity of the land, the protection of the good and virtuous, of the honest and industrious, the punishment of all offenders against law and good order, the establishment and preservation of national reputation, the enactment of just laws, and the repeal of those that are unjust and pernicious,surely these are subjects that should interest the Christian, as much as, if not vastly more than any other citizen. And if so, then the science of politics, that is, "that part of ethics which consists in the regulation and government of a nation or state, for the preservation of its safety, peace and prosperity; comprehending the defense of its existence and rights against foreign control or conquest, the augmentation of its strength and resources, and the protection of its citizens in their rights, with the preservation and improvement of their morals"-then this should never be re