He Didn't Want to Hear It.
HE didn't want to hear a sermon on covetousness as it looked as though the preacher was begging money. And he should not preach on style and fashion, as the refined neighbors were very fashionable, and would stay away from church. He didn't want to hear the preacher reprove people for bad conduct in church, especially the brethren's children, as it offended them and looked too rough. He didn't want the preacher to say much about dancing and Sabbath breaking, as the young people would not come to church to hear the preaching. He didn't want anything said about Sabbath-schools or missions, and no one should ask him for the poor, as he paid for what he wanted, and worked for his money and others could do the same. He didn't like to hear the preacher exhort too warmly, as it might bring some into the church before they were ready, and they might fall back into the world. More than three or four sermons he did not want to hear in one place, as it would keep people away from their work, and might bring a “lot” into the church before they had counted the cost. He did not want a preacher to visit him that was not exactly in the “order”—hair, coat, vest, pants, and all—because it had too much worldly influence, and he did not want any one to look only as he did, as he dressed just right. He would not go to a church where carpets were in the aisles; yet his own parlor was spread with Brussels, and lace adorned the windows. He was one of the strictest of the strict, but where were his children? Out of Christ, and they never heard their father pray.—Gospel Preacher.