p. 511 | Preparing for Church

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Aug 21, 1884

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 32.

Preparing for Church.

Probably in many households the hours before church are hurried, tumultuous, and undevout. The family rise late, and breakfast is tardy. The children are harassed about shoes, gloves, and lost or mislaid articles of dress. The first bell peals out its summons before anybody feels ready to hear it, and the progress to the place of prayer is a scramble to arrive before the opening anthem shall have been concluded. Dr. Arnot, of Scotland, used to beg his people to spend the hour before coming to church in reading, meditation, and prayer. If it were the habit of our congregations thus prepared in heart to go to the sanctuary, how different might be the impressions made on them by the sermons and public prayers.—Sel.