I remember blaming my mother for sending me to church on the sabbath.
On one occasion the preacher had to send some one into the gallery to
wake me up. I thought it was hard to have to work in the field all the
week, and then to be obliged to go to church and hear a sermon I
didn't understand. I thought I wouldn't go to church any more when I
got away from home; but I had got so in the habit of going that I
couldn't stay away. After one or two sabbaths, back again to the house
of God I went. There I first found Christ, and I have often said
since,
"Mother, I thank you for making me go to the house of God when I
didn't want to go."
Parents, if you want your children to grow up and honor you, have them
honor the sabbath day. Don't let them go off fishing, and getting into
bad company, or it won't be long before they will come home and curse
you. I know few things more beautiful than to see a father and mother
coming up the aisle with their daughters and sons, and sitting down
together to hear the Word of God. It is a good thing to have the
children, not in some remote loft or gallery, but in a good place,
well in sight. Though they cannot understand the sermon now, when they
get older they won't desire to break away, they will continue
attending public worship in the house of God.
But we must not mistake the means for the end. We must not think that
the sabbath is just for the sake of being able to attend meetings.
There are some people who think they must spend the whole day at
meetings or private devotions. The result is that at nightfall they
are tired out, and the day has brought them no rest. The number of
church services attended ought to be measured by the person's ability
to enjoy them and get good from them, without being wearied. Attending
meetings is not the only way to observe the sabbath. The Israelites
were commanded to keep it in their dwellings as well as in holy
convocation. The home, that centre of so great influence over the life
and character of the people, ought to be made the scene of true
sabbath observance.