The Hour Before Church
By W. Arnot
THE HOUR BEFORE CHURCH.—I have in my eye at present the hour before you go to church on Sabbath forenoon. I am anxious about it. The note struck then is likely to give tone to your spirits all day. Redeem it as much as you can from family duties; redeem it wholly from plaiting and putting on of apparel; redeem it wholly from all vain conversation. How very much the power of the minister depends upon the preparing of the hearer's heart! If you once come up to church with your mind crowded with trifles, what can minister's do? They can do nothing but beat the air. What else can they do if there be nothing before them but air to beat at? It will make a sound and that is all. I fear that many of my dear people spend more time on Sabbath morning in putting veils on their faces than in taking the veils off their hearts—more time in trying to make themselves appear before men what they are not than in trying to make themselves appear before God what they are.—W. Arnot.