Westmore and East Charleston, Vermont.
By D. T. BOURDEAU
ANOTHER UNEXPECTED PRIVILEGE.
This was, to meet with the friends at Westmore, last Sabbath, April 12. I went about eight miles with horse and sleigh; and as my horse could go no farther through the deep, melting snow, where the roads had not been beaten hard, I left my team behind, and walked over two miles and a half to the place of meeting, where I found a few brethren engaged in a good prayer meeting, at the close of which I spoke to them on perseverance. I also started a Bible-class. It is better for a few to meet than to have no meeting at all; and the more a meeting costs us, the greater the blessing and the greater the final reward. The prosperity of young believers depends largely on their punctuality in meeting together to encourage each other by their united influence in the service and worship of God. Hence, Paul exhorts us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but to exhort one another; and so much the more as we see the day approaching. Heb. 10: 25. We learn by comparing this text with the previous verse, that in thus doing, we provoke one another unto love and good works. But the great danger is to easily excuse ourselves for not attending meetings. But we should manifest as much of a spirit of sacrifice to keep up our meetings, as we do in our worldly pursuits. If all had the offer of one dollar for every time they met, they would not miss many meetings. But the presence and blessing of God, and to do duty, are worth more than money. How men will wallow through the snow day after day to save a few pounds of sugar. Can't we as well walk a few miles to attend meetings on the Sabbath? If the title to your farm were disputed, and saving your farm depended on your going twenty or fifty miles through the worst of roads, would you fail of going? Well, should we not make as much of an effort to secure the eternal inheritance? It is very easy to reason like this: There will be but few, if any, present, therefore it will not pay for me to go. This is to follow the poor example of others. Better reason like this: There will be but few present, hence the greater need of my attending. Two, thus disposed, will make a meeting and claim the promise, and peradventure, one poor soul who is under conviction may drop in and be helped in the narrow way. There is often more at stake at small meetings than there is at larger ones, when important battles have been fought. Small meetings are important connecting links in the great work of saving men. Satan knows it and makes a desperate effort to break them up. Brethren, keep up the small meetings. Keep the fort. Others who do not attend may watch you with deeper interest than you are aware. Under the watch care of Brn. Worthen and Litchfield, the permanency of the work in East Charleston and Westmore, will depend largely upon the faithfulness of the friends in those places. Barton Landing, Vt., April 14, 1873.