Your ever attached, though unworthy friend,
GEORGE MORTIMER.
* * * * *
I insert the following address, not only because it may be generally
useful, but because it may be as applicable now to those for whose use it
was originally written, as at the time of its publication: and if a
stranger may be allowed to urge their attention afresh to the warm and
affectionate remonstrance of their late pastor, he would just remind
them, that Divine worship, on the Lord’s day, being a paramount duty, an
attendance upon both services is obligatory on all sincere Christians,
except duties of mercy or necessity preclude such attendance. All other
excuses or reasons admit of no justification, and in the great day will
be viewed only in the light of positive neglect of God’s service, arising
either from sinful disobedience, or culpable indifference. The partially
formal observance of the Lord’s Day, by an attendance on the morning
service, spending the rest of the day in pursuits entirely alien from
sacred duties, is the Sabbath of the mere nominal Christian, not of the
sincere disciple of Christ.
ADDRESS
TO THE INHABITANTS OF THE TOWNSHIP OF THORNHILL
Thornhill, Oct. 1, 1840.
My much-endeared Parishioners,
I PERSUADE myself you will receive with your wonted kindness a few words
which I am desirous of pressing on your serious attention.
Our church, I am happy to think, has, through your own liberality and the
kind assistance of our English friends, been so far enlarged as to admit
of considerable increase in the attendance; and it affords me matter of
much satisfaction, that even before its completion, the whole of the
extra-sittings were secured. And though occasionally pained at the
irregular attendance of some, still I cannot but feel gratified in
meeting, on the Sabbath mornings, so encouraging a congregation as that
which usually attends.
But here I am sorry to say that much of my satisfaction, as connected
with our church attendance, terminates. For when the morning service is
concluded, as though the Sabbath itself were also ended, we see no more
of the mass of our congregation till we meet them on the following
Sunday. A painful inquiry, then, as you will easily conceive, is often
presented to our minds, as to the probable manner in which the remaining
hours of your Sabbath are employed. Some few of you, I know, are kindly
endeavouring to instruct the young in our Sunday-schools; some few also
(oh that there were more!) make a point of instructing their own families
at home; and some few more attend the evening service in the church. But
what, I would affectionately inquire, becomes of our congregation at
large, after the morning service? As consistent churchmen, I take for
granted that you conscientiously confine yourselves to the ministrations
of the church: for, convinced that the principles of dissenters are in
direct opposition to—are altogether subversive of—the interests, if not
the very existence of the church, you cannot but abstain from everything
which may seem in any degree to support them; and as your attendance on
their place of worship must be so considered, I may naturally conclude
that you refrain from frequenting them. But as you go to no dissenting
place of worship, and as only a very small number attend the evening
service in the church, in what way must I suppose that the rest of the
Sabbath is, for the most part, employed? Oh, think not that I am
uncharitable, if I cannot help suspecting that it is too frequently
frittered away in idleness, or in unprofitable pursuits; in unhallowed
reading; in domestic amusements; in visiting or receiving visits; in
Sabbath rambles; or possibly in some other still more decided
profanations of this sacred day.
Under this impression, then, you will permit me to urge upon you the
bounden duty of increased conscientiousness in regard to
Sabbath-employments? Let the golden moments be duly appreciated and
diligently improved. Religious reading, family instruction, and personal
devotions, should, of course, employ a portion of your time, especially
your Sunday afternoons; but as to your Sabbath evenings, I should hope
that you will be convinced of the paramount obligation, to devote these
to an attendance on the second service, which is now regularly afforded
to you in the church: and that you will strive also so to arrange your
other matters, as to admit of your being accompanied by as many as
possible of your respective households.
I ought not, perhaps, to withhold from you, that much surprise has
frequently been expressed by my clerical and other friends, that I should
not as yet have succeeded in obtaining a more regular attendance on the
second service, which, at so many different times, I had been attempting
to establish: and our excellent bishop was much at a loss to account for
the painful circumstance. I am hoping, however, that this reproach will
ere long, by the Divine blessing, be removed from among us. Public
opinion is now so universally in favour of having a second service in our
churches, whenever the clergy have it in their power to give one, that I
have no need to enter upon this point. But surely if it be admitted that
it is the duty of the clergy to provide such a service, is it not equally
a duty on the part of the people to attend it when it shall be provided
for them?
Suffer me, then, to request your kind and willing co-operation in this
matter, calculated, as it so evidently is, to promote the spiritual good
of yourselves and of the neighbourhood at large. And will you permit me
to tell you how repeatedly my heart has sunk within me, when I have
adverted to the little I have hitherto been able to effect in this
matter? How grieved have I been to look around our church on the Sabbath
evening, and to see so many seats vacated, which in the morning had been
so cheeringly filled. Oh how difficult do I then find it to believe that
such absentees can feel much of affection either towards myself or my
assistant—their church or their Saviour. But I try to check these
feelings, and would hope for better things. I well know the kindness of
your hearts, for many a proof have I received of your affectionate
regards. And I trust you will not only bear with me in this
expostulation and appeal, but so co-operate with me, that in my next
report to our respected bishop, I may be able to convey the gratifying
intelligence, that the attendance on the evening service is little short
of that, which, with such pleasure, we so generally meet with on the
Sabbath morning.
Believe me,
My much endeared friends and parishioners,
Your truly affectionate Rector,
GEORGE MORTIMER.