THE DESPAIR OF THE DELIBERATELY DAMNED:
An Accomplished and amiable young woman had been deeply affected by a sense of her spiritual danger. She was the only child of a fond and affectionate parent. And the deep expressions which accompanied her discovery of guilt and depravity awakened all the jealousies of her father. He dreaded the loss of that sprightliness and vivacity which constituted the life of his domestic circle. He was startled by the answers which his questions elicited; while he foresaw, or thought he foresaw, an encroachment on the hitherto unbroken tranquility of a deceived heart. Efforts were made to remove the cause of her disquietude; but they were such efforts as unsatisfied wisdom directed. At last, the Bible and other books of religion were removed from her possession, and their place was supplied by works of fiction. Oh, how little may a parent know the far-reaching of the deed when he snatches, the Word of Life from the hands of a child!
An excursion of pleasure was proposed and declined. An offer of gayer amusement shared the same fate. Promises, remonstrances, and threatenings followed. But the father’s infatuated perseverance at last brought compliance. Alas! How little may a parent be aware that he is adorning his child with the fillets of death, and leading her to the sacrifice like a follower of Moloch.
The end was accomplished: thoughts of piety and concern for the immortal future vanished together.
But in less then a year, the gaudy deception exploded! The fascinating and gay young lady was prostrated by a fever that defied medical skill. The approach of death was obvious and the countenance of every attendant fell as if they had heard the flight of his arrow.
I see even now that look directed to the father by the dying martyr of folly. The glazed eye was dim in hopelessness, and yet there seemed something in its expiring rays that told of reproof and tenderness and terror--all in the same glance. And that voice-- its tone was decided, but sepulchral still:
"My father, last year I would have sought the Redeemer. Father, --your child is.... "
Eternity heard the remainder of the sentence, for it was not uttered in time.
-James Angell James-
The Anxious Inquirer
"
All this ado is that men might be saved from sin. What a devil then is sin! It is the worst of devils! It is worse than all devils! And they that are devils, sin hath made them so."-John Bunyan-
The word
"worship" leaves various impressions with many present-day, blood-bought saints: the mortuary is the most common impression.The next most familiar impression is that of a figure dressed in a black, flowing robe advancing toward an altar illuminated by tapers.
In an effort to drive out death-chilling formalism, many have over-reacted. This is a common error with men who are but earthen vessels. But be careful not to throw out the baby with the bath water!
In most of our present-day church services, God’s people are like
"dumb driven cattle" if we may borrow Longfellow’s description, but "worship God" was the command of the angel to the Apostle John.--(Revelation 22:9)."
Worship" is a good Biblical word meaning essentially the same thing as when a dog falls at the feet of his master.Abraham worshipped--"I and the lad will go yonder and worship.
" (Genesis 22:5).So did the Psalmist worship--"O, come let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our Maker."--(Psalm 95:6)
The wisemen worshipped--" (We) are come to worship Him.
"--(Matthew 2:2).
Even the angels of God worship Him--
"Let all the angels of God worship Him."—(Hebrews 1:6)Worship embodies four particular duties, each a necessary part of the whole:
1.
2. The confession of our sins and of our unworthiness is another part of worship.
3. Dr. Bob Jones, Sr. has well said,
"When gratitude dies upon the altar of a man’s heart, he is well nigh hopeless." Thanksgiving is necessarily an essential part of worship, or we become like those nine lepers who never returned to thank the Lord for their cleansing.4. Lastly, supplication pours from the worshipper’s heart. We are all active in giving our petitions, but these ought to be the last if not the least part in our worship.
Here are the "ACTS" of worship. Every saint ought to consciously practice them through the week as well as on the Lord’s Day.
"W