A Good Criterion on the True Standing of a Church.
By D. T. Bourdeau
An excellent test of the spiritual prosperity of a church is punctuality on the part of its members in keeping up their religious meetings, and exhorting one another, and so much the more as they see the day of the Lord approaching. Heb. 10 : 25. This is evidence of Christian union, brotherly love, and love for God and his cause; of real faith in the immediate coming of Christ, and in the need of unusual earnestness in the use of all the means of grace to obtain a special preparation to meet it. But where, under ordinary circumstances, the meetings of a church are poorly attended, it is a sure sign of deficiency in these graces, and good evidence that the interests of this world are eclipsing those of the world to come. And one good way for a preacher to ascertain whether a church keep up their meetings or not, is to meet with them when he is not expected. The absent ones may excuse themselves by saying that they were weary and unwell, or that the weather was unpropitious, while the preacher, perhaps in feeble health, had to travel days in storms and over bad roads, to attend the meeting. And very often, those who excuse themselves on the ground of ill-health, are found busily and earnestly engaged in their worldly employments, as soon as the Sabbath is over. With many, the trouble is that their minds and energies are so taken up with things of this world that when the Sabbath comes they have no strength or taste left for the service of God; and they think that they are excusable if they take up the sacred hours of the Sabbath in recuperating their wasted energies. This is robbing God of his due. The Sabbath is not merely an animal rest. It is a rest from our own work, to be employed in the nobler work of our Creator. But behind this backwardness in attending religious meetings are other great lacks. The study of God’s word and private devotions must have been neglected. There must be a great separation from God, a lack of communion with God, and a destitution of the blessings of his Spirit which always lead to a performance of duty, not to long to meet in the assemblies of God’s saints to worship God, build up his precious cause, and enjoy sweet communion with God and his people. Cherished idols and a guilty conscience may keep some from attending meetings. How can such meet Christ and holy angels at his coming? Others may be kept away from meetings by alienation of feelings toward brethren. To such I would say, How can you expect to worship together in Heaven if you cannot worship together here? Oh! press together, and love one another as Christ has loved you. Do not deceive yourselves with the lazy thought that God will be as well pleased with you if you remain at home, while he tells you to not forsake the assembling of yourselves together. Supposing that all should remain at home as you are inclined to do, what would become of public worship and all the benefits resulting therefrom? But if it is lawful for you to excuse yourselves, it is also for others. God knows that we need to meet oftener now, and exhort one another more, than ever before. These golden opportunities will not last long. May we cheerfully improve upon them. If heavenly employments are repugnant to us here, what shall we do among the inhabitants of the celestial abodes?