^J .0^. \^>^S. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I I.I 1.25 5IIIM IIIIIU 116 (i; I: m IIM Z2 III— U i 1.6 ^?J /, m W d 0/% ¥ ^V'%,'# Photographic Sciences Corporation ^^ iV «C :\ \ % .V « Cb' .0*. '^J'^^^ #^ peuvent modifier une image reproduite. ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dans la m^thode normale de filmage sont indiquis ci-dessous. □ Coloured pages/ Pages do couleur □ Pages damaged/ Pages endommagees □ Pages restored and/or laminated/ Pages restaurees et/ou pellicul^es r~^ Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ D Pages ddcolordes, tachetdes ou piquees Pages detached/ Pages detachees Showthrough/ Transparence Quality of prir Qualita indgale de I'impression Includes supplementary materia Comprend du materiel supplementaire / edition available/ Ie Edition disponibie I I Pages detached/ rj] Showthrough/ [~n Quality of print varies/ I I Includes supplementary material/ □ Only edition available/ Seu Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc.. have been refilmed to ensure the best possible image/ Les pages totalement ou partiellement obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure. etc., ont 6t6 film^es A nouveau de facon a obtenir la meilleure image possible. This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est filmA au taux de reduction indiqu^ ci-dessc js. 10X 14X 18X 22X J I 1 26X SOX 12X 16X 20X 24X 28X 32X The copy filmed here hee been reproduced thanks to the generosity of: Harold Campbell Vaughan Memorial Library Acadis University. The images appearing here are the best quality possible considering the conditu'on and legibility of the original copy and in keeping with the filming contract specifications. Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All othfar original copies are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion. and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impression. The last recorded frame on each mici'oficha shall contain the symbol —»' (meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely Included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand comer, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames an required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: L'axemplaire filmA fut reproduit grice i la g^nirositi de: Harold Campbell Vaughan Memorial Library Acadia University. Lee images suivantea ont it* reproduites avec fe plus grand soin, compta tenu de la condition et de la nettet* de i'exemplaire film4, et en conformity avec lea conditions du contrat de filmage. Lea exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en papjer est imprimte sont fiimte en commen^ant par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la derniire page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second plat, salon le cas. Tous les autres axemplairas originaux sont filmte en commandant par la premiere page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la derniAre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la demi4re image de cheque microfiche, seion le caa: le symbols '-^- signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbole V signifie "FIN". Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre fllmte i des taux de rMuction diffirents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour itre reproduit en un seul cliche, il est fiimi i. partir de Tangle sup^rieur gauche, de gauche ^ droite. et de haut en baa, en prenant le nombre d'Imeges nteessaire. Les diagrammes suivants iilustrent la m^thode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 nmm iac>iacr<3S>'ii^ ( DUTIES OF THE CHURCH MEMBER TO THE CHURCH. BY Eev. THOMAS MUEPHY, D.D., AUTHOP OF "PASTORAL THEOLOGY." T O li O N T O : JOHN IMllIE, PIUNTEB, 28 CoLSoiiNE Street. V nDTJTISS OF THE V CHURCH MEMBER TO THE CHURCH ^ITTS little Manual is intended to awal;en attention -^^' Za to serve as a guide to the cine dutu..s which each of its members owes to the church. Many -=— persons become connected with the church, and nvp mombers of it for "ears, without soemms to recognize Z Xii It has upon them. They do not reflect upon he obligations whicli this relation imposes sufhc.ently to be lea to make even an effort for their l"^'' "",'?'\"'=;v, .j^^ ,^^,;,j, ae- It is not proposed to poiu out aUU^ dut.es vhich^de^ souls, imt s, I ^^^^^ ^ jl,^ -V^ord :rGod o te involve/in the relationship existing between the church and its members. Each church member is urged to rea thoughtfully tho s-.i^g.stions he-^^i^Xm^x^t^^^ imon them with self-application, and to regard them as liints opening tT.e way to faller views of those momentous relations Xchbe sustains to the Church of the living God. DUTY I. TO PKAY FOE THE CHUKCH. Tbe dutv of T.raver is placed at the head of the list of AatieTMng pon the members of the church because when it is faithfully performed, other duties become easy and moro likely to be fulfilled. y--» A t DUTIES OF THE CHURCH MEMBER The great object to bo sought in prayer is the influence of the Holy Ghost ; and when the Spirit is present in power with any church, then beUevers are built up in piety ; peace and love pervude the body ; members are arlded, and the blessings of the gospel spread more and more throughout the community. It is for all this that v/e pray when we pray foL- the Holy Spirit. To pray for the church is to pray for the advancement of our own spiritual interests ; for not only do all its mem- bers share in the blessings of the church, but the very act of praying will invigorate every healthful power of the souL The man who prays habitually and fervently for the cause of Christ will have no coldness in liis own heart. He will love the brethren, he will take an inter-^t in whatever pertains to the true welfare of the church, a] d vill show by his whole deportment that he is living near ti th t divine Lord who, with equal positiveness, has commandeu as to ask for the welfare of Zion and promised to answer suclx petitions. Duty and privilege, hope and love, interest and benevo- lence, conspire to lead the Christian to pray day and night with all faith and fervor that God would send down blessinga upon his Church. The Church will not flourish without this prayer of her members. Without it, all will languish ; with, it, she will become as the garden of the Lord, and no drought or storm will be permitted to blight her beauty or fragrance. Let every one of her members, then, cherish such a sense of the duty of prayer for her that it will be impossible for it to- be forgotten even for a single day. Let it be regarded as a duty, a privilege, a daily calling, the omission of which is not to be thought of. '* If I forget thee, Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth." t DUTY II. TO ATTEND CHURCH. The various ordinances of the Cliurch were established by her great Head for the accomplishment of the highest ■i. TO THE CHURCH. O comcs to bestow. It will chill the heart of your pastor, and iilmost make the words to freeze upon his lips. Attend upon the second service of the Lord's day, for that is the time when strangers are likely to be present and may be impressed. Attend upon the meeting in the middle of the week, that the distractions of the world may be broken in upon. Be aDsent from the sanctuary no more than you would be absent from your daily meals, for your soul is de- pendent upon the one as your body is upon the other. The habit of attending upon the hon?e of God should be so firmly establislied by every Christian that he would be sorely uncomfortable if compelled to be absent. God has ^epoken on this matter, and we must hear : '' And let us con- e DUTIES OF THE CHURCH MEMBER Bidcr one another, to provoke unto love and to good workfr, not forsaking the assembhng of ourselves together, as the manucr of some is, but exhorting one another." DUTY III. TO SUPPORT THE CHURCH, The support of the ordinances has been distinctly en- joined or implied under all dispensations of religion. It has not been left to mere temporary impulse or inclination, but has been made a matter of Divine institution. This subject needs to be brought before those who connect themselves with a congregation of God's people, for there are multitudes who seem to overlook it, as if they had nothing to do with bearing the expenses necessary to sustain the worship ot tlie^ sanctuary— an oversight which surely must arise from want of consideration. -. , v i i When it is remembered that salaries, fuel, light, repairs^ insurance and various incidentals have all to be provided lor, it will be seen that the whole amount necessary for the sup- port of a church is not small. Every comfort should be pro- vided for the house of God, so that it may not be mlerior in taste and attractions to the average of the residences iii- which its worshippers dwell. Strangers should not be re- pelled by its neglected appearance. It should attract by the evidences it affords that it is cared for. , . , • Everyone should consider that the church is his ow^i Sabbath home ; that he is in the full enjoyment of all its privileges ; that the well-being of the church is a matter ot vital importance to him, and to those who are dear to him ; and that consequently it belongs to him to bear a share ot its expenses. No one should be satisfied without bearing some part of the expense of conducting the worship ot Ood s house. The resolution of every member of the churcli should be that of King David: "Neither will I offer burnt o.'ieriDgs unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me u.n,in «• + The determination of every one should be that no etton shall be spared in promoting the peace of the churcri. it should be a fixed purpose not to strive, but to be like Mim ot whom it is said, - He shall not strive nor cry ; neither sha i any man hear His voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall He not break, and smoking flax shall He not quench. Oh, let it be the noble, noble aim of every one to pursue the Christlike course of disseminating good feehng, and making the circle in which he moves happier and more loving. DUTY VI. TO GUARD THE GOOD NAME OF THE CHURCH. The enmity of the world against the Church is so in- tense that all means are used by which injuries can be in- flicted on her. It is the unremitting aim of all that is Satan- ic to bruise the seed of the woman. And of all the meana by which this hostility is carried on, there is none more formidable or more frequently resorted to than that ol striv- ing to damage the good name of the Church, and so .)er power for blessing the world. Hence the demand that every one of the church's members should guard that good name, both by defending it aramst assaults, and by seeing to lU that ho does not himself wound it by unnecessarily exposmg the sores of which he may be conscious. The good name of the church is her great power. VViUi it she is irresistible ; without it, she is weak and will be despised. The enemy knows this, and hence t^.e mcessaiit efforts to soil it. With this good name untarnished, hei o^^ a mpmbers are constrained to toil and suffer for her glory ^; even the world, while it would destroy her, is compelied to uu au. reverence ; men are easily draAvn to espouse her cause ana TO THE CHURCH. 11 receive her blessings ; and honor unceasing is rendered to her Divine Lord. In this good name of the church there is a power which contains blessings for the world far greater than men ever knew. Now it may be said emphatically to every one of her members, This good name of the church is a sacred trust committed to your keeping. Be sensitive to it ; be watchful that no stain shall rest upon it ; be zealous to defend it when- ever unjustly assailed. To this end do not tell the wor^d of the sins of the church of which j^ou may have knowledge ; do no magnify the failings of her members ; do not disparage your own church in comparison with others ; do not take up an evil report against her ; do not censure your church, her officers or her members, but rather defend her when right, and use every possible effort to have what you think is wrong amended. We should not unnecessarily tell the outside world the troubles of our church. They are our family troubles ; why expose them ? The world will not understand all their ex- tenuating circumstances ; it will only gloat over the defects^ of those who profess to be Christians. On the contrary, be it ours to live down in quietness the reproaches for which we may know there is too much foundation, and which, rather than recklessly repeat, we should personally mourn over in-, shame before God. Be it ours to do our part toward making the Church worthy of the good name against which the shafts of enemies will be hurled in vain. Be it the study of every one of her members to do his part toward making the Church so truly excellent that with just pride in her he can take up the glowing language of the Divine song : ** Walk about Zion, and go round about her ; tell the towers thereof^ mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces, that ye may tell it to the generation following." DUTY VII. TO STAND CY THE PASTOR OF THE CHURCn, This duty migl'f well have a mmual devoted to itself alone. Only the more prominent points of it can here be 12 DUTIES OF THE CHURCH MEMBER -touched upon. If the pastor occupied the position of a private Christion, it might seem arrogating too much to ask for the discharge of special duties toward him But he is not simply a private Christian. Involved m the perform- ance of the duties of his office are the interests of the whole church and of each of its members; and hence the duties owed to him are of the highest moment. The spiritua wel- fare of every member of the church is connected with his ministry. Manifestly, it is the duty of every member of the <;lmrch to pray for its pastor. He needs his people s prayers tltv illi he may truly and faithfully interpret the XV ord of God and preach it impressively. He needs them that he may wisely discharge the duties of the pastoral callmg many of whicli are so difficult and delicate, and the issues of which ^vill be eternal. If Christians do not prav for him, he will make mistakes and be unfaithful, and the interests com- mitted to liim will languish. If they do pray lor him, the. Wessin^r of God will make his work easy and successtul. Me needs such prayers more than other men because his mims- 3ns pertain to the things of the Holy Spirit, which is pre-eminently the gift bestowed in answer to prayer aiu be- cause such vast interests are involved m his work. Oil, (hen, let prayer for the pastor be the habit of every member- prayer most earnest. It is the dutv and the interest of every church member to defend the good name of his pastor-not only his name for inte-rity, but also his reputation for mdusti-y and hdelity in his office. The good name of the pastor is his power. With it, he is mightv for good ; without it, he is shorn ot both honor and strength. And that good name of the mm- . ister is liable to be assailed by the ungodly world so as to iuiure the cause through him. As a public man and a recog- nized leader in the cause of Christ, he is a target for the arrows of the enemy from many a quarter. Let him be ever «o upright and watchful, yet these shafts of detraction will 1 » i. i^ 1--.-^ xT^ ,,t;i] of tiir»^'3 hp oondemned. even by be snot ai nnn. xxc >tUi at in.--- ~- _ <]hristians, when the motives for his actions are not seen or understood, and when, if they were, he would be praised TO THE CHURCH. 13: rather than censured. By all the members of the church, therefore, the good name of the minister should be regarded as a sacred trust, and should be defended by them as tenderly as their own, for their own and their children's interests are clearly connected with it. There is a habit, often indulged m without thought, of criticising the minister's sermon, and that sometimes°before children and those who are indifferent or unfriendly to reli- gion—a habit that does much harm. It destroys the effect of that sermon for good. It tends to produce prejudice against minister and message. It is unjust as well as un- liind ; for there is no minister who does not sometimes preach an inferior sermon. He often must come short of his own standard, even. By bodily ailments or temporary distrac^ tions, or by various calls upon his tine, it is often rendered absolutely impossible for him to make the needed prepara- tion, and the sermon has to suffer. Allowance should be made for this. And let it be hinted that the fault may be in the hearer rather than in the message. Church members should co-operate with the pastor.. Help your minister ; he cannot accomplish much unaided. Do not let him stand alone while there is such a vast field of work lying around him and you. Help him by attending faithfully upon his ministry ; by being always present and seated so near to him that he may feel the influence of your sympathy ; by receiving the Word attentively from his lips ; ttnd by bringing others under the sound of his message. Do not discourage him by being absent. Assist him by informing him, Avlien there are those who are sick, or sorrowing, or spiritually awakened. DUTY VIII. TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE BENEVOLENT OBJECTS OF THE CHURCH.. Giving to the cause of God is an act of worship. The Scriptures put this beyond question : ** Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the lirst-fruits of all thine increase." There is scarcely a ; u or method of manifesting our love and. the sacrifices we are willing to make for Him who gave up alU ^ ii Tir— *« 14 DUTIES OF THE CHURCH MEMBER even His life, for us. It is an act of worship which is sure to be followed by the Divine blessing, for the promise is, " ihem that honor me I will honor ; " also, " Give, and i^ shall be given unto you; gDod measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. On the other hand, the individual or church that will not render unto the Lord the gifts which he asks will certainly not prosper, for the warning is, - There is that withholdefeh more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty." It is the mani- fest duty of every one who has been redeemed by the oioocl of Christ to give regularly to His blessed cause. The amoitnt to be given by each is a matter purely between himsclt and his God. The duty is simply that each one should do some- thing, remembering that when we give as God hath pros- pered us, the larger gifts of the rich and the smaller ones of the poor are equally a^-septable in His sight who looks only upon the heart. We il. e merely assured about this matter that '' the Lord loveth a cheerful giver." DUTY IX. TO ADOPT SOME BRANCH OF CHURCH WORK. The rale of duty which God has given iis leaves no room for question as to the solemn obligation which rests upon every Christian to lielp in that great work which the gospel has yet to do in the world. It is no more certain that any one is a Christian than that he has been made such in order that he may do his part in the work of Christ, ihe old stirring call still rings out, '' To the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty!" It is no un- meaning thing that a part of the law of the kingdom, as Christ himself announced it is, '* Son go work to-day in my vineyard." When the glorious King went up into heaveii, to be absent for ages as to His bodily presence, He lett the memorable charge for His people as they should successively enter His kingdom, " To every man his work." , ^ . . The first thing for every member of the church to do is to study out very carefully what, according to his talents and opportunities, he can do. There is teaching in the babbath- TO THE CHUKCn. 16 scliool, visiting the poor, the ignorant and the sick, writ- ing letters, helping in the Dorcas Society, taking part in the pastor's aid association, collecting for benevolent objects, aiding in the service of song, and many other branches of work, one or more of which should be selected as a special department of effort. But no person should wait for an organization ; whatever his hands find to do he should do witJi his might, and at once. Organizations greatly help Christian work ; but while they should be used to the utmost, it is better for each one to work for Christ just where he is, j ist as he has the opportunity, and just in that scriptural way which promises the highest success. One thing to be studiously avoided is waiting for some great undertaking before we attempt anythmg. It is the constant doing of little things — the daily, hourly speaking kind words, alleviating little ills, conferrmg little favors, honoring Christ in small matters — that makes up the glori- ous aggregate of a Christ-like life. Something should be attempted all the time, organization or no organization. The call upon every member of his Church is to be at the Mas- ter's work, whether the special thing of the moment be great or small. How solemn are the words of warning ! — *' To him that knoweth to do good, anddoethit not, to him it is sin." Let each one, then, work on until the service of Christ shall grow to be his delight. It may become such, and then his life on earth will be a constant blessing both to himself and the society in which he moves. DUTY X. TO HELP IN THE SABBATH- SCHOOL OF THE CHURCH. The Sabbath-school is the activity of the Church exerted in the department of Bible study and teaching, and especially among the young. It is the plan which the wisdom and piety of the Church, under the guidance of Christ, who is ever with her, have wrought out through generations for the pur- pose of bringing the children and youth to the salvation of and of training them in habits of benevolence. It is a ^Q DUTIES OF THE CHURCH MEMBER. field of Clu.lstia„ ^^^ZZ^^^'S^"^'^ most signally rested ti-om the beo«- -^ „<, aiffl- Sabath-Bobool js ''1'. «:f ^ °^, ' XTk to be done. There is- cultv in ««'^7f "S^'^S that will pay more certamly no branch of Chustian ^""' , ,, p.,a the results ot which more quicWy and .'"o^^,, f^S^^^^^pace. All can do some- will extend so lar in both time ^na sp ^^ ^^^^.^ thing here, so f ^^.^ ^^^^f^ Shod of -^^^^^^ ''^"'^^ "ll'" one. It IS the ''est-kuown moui ^ ^^ f^.^^ utter the outlying masses oi '^"'^^'y/^^^^ ^S power of the gosp^ disregard of ^^^^'''.^^^\~:Zl^ilumniug the rising According as is »'^^'°"''frt„'; and godliness of wliichsalva- generation in that P^^J °f ^ ^ fJ^H ° chief aim ; and when it tion is the crown J^^yo^^^^^^^^ y^eir v;hole lives, with the saves them, it S^t^ |'iem lo ^^^^^^^,_ bloom of their yo^^f • *° Vffi^^i^av surely claim the co-opera- A cause so noble as "'f J^^^ j^ /,i should become con- tion of every member of the C lim h^ A ^^^^,^^^^^ nected in some way with »■ eimei ^^embers of its sionavies to gather in '^eslec'ed °h.ia en o classes. The aim ^hou dbe kept betme y.^ ^^^^^^ berof the »j;^^\So„t\he Sabbath-school. Means community shal be e" w u u ^ ^ ^ success will be should be farnisned l'y7'"°'^\?,°fcoin every heart that the secured. Prayer should go up f^^^y^'°^ elch member of the blessing of God may rest upon t Upon e .^^^ ^^^^ Church it is enjoined n^°^t «rnphat.cauy ^^^^ ^ bath-Bchool and take a f ^^^^f^J^^^^^^t^rself ; if that cannot be not, go out and gather a class lor y" ' j ; necessarily done! then fiU the I'l^ce o some teaoto J^'^ ^^^^^^ ^^ .^^^^ absent for the day ; and if Jat j "O* ;^^ benefit by your some adult class and »°t'\g""^ t?" ;„ the Sabbath-school, presence. If you P°«'P°f «i^'S-erent to it, and then the ^ou will become more and tno^^ m^^™^ -^ ^itber depart Children whom you nnght 1 a^^,^W«;^^^.^j^ ^^^^ y„„ delay, from its classes or 1"^''" ^-'^^.pmi-for tUe work is great aiia Oh, be prompt, prompt, 1 ItUiVir i. • '" souls are perishing.