XX. Sowing and Reaping.

It is said that like causes will produce like results in all ages of the world. This is true, both in a moral and temporal point of view. If we sow wheat, corn, barley, thistles, we shall reap the same. Whatever our doings are, it will bring forth its legitimate fruit. “For whatever a man soweth that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting.” This has been clearly demonstrated in many places where costly churches have been built. The spirit of emulation has taken possession of the people, especially in church building. They desire greatly to go beyond their neighbor in this; and in most cases, they have gone in their planning operations far beyond their means; consequently, they are compelled to resort to the lottery department, pic-nics, sociables, banquetings, excursions, ice-cream, strawberry, and necktie parties, to carry forward the grand enterprise. One case will illustrate the many of this character; and yet, the results may not in every case be as sad as the one I now refer to. But nevertheless, pride, worldly conformity, spiritual death, will follow all such departures from the old landmarks. A society in this city have been struggling along for some years, in all the ways mentioned above, to raise money to build a costly church. The last banquet this society held (which was of the necktie order) proved very disastrous to some members of the church in their domestic relations, if not their eternal ruin. I took the following extract from the Sunday Mercury, which shows the nature of the seed sown:

“Of Twentieth street M. E. Church, Philadelphia, the brethren and sisters have been having a calico festival. By Sister Boyer, in New Jersey, the wrinkle was learned. Of the pattern corresponding to her apron, each sister deposited a gentleman’s necktie. By the gentleman, for a quarter of a dollar, the sister whose apron the article matched the pattern of his purchase, he was permitted ‘piously’ to ‘treat.’ By Brother Broin the party was opened. Sweet Sister Carrigan the brother led out. The more neck-ties of different patterns a brother purchased, the more sisters of course he ‘treated.’ Among the heavy buyers were Brother Kent and Brother Hoffman. What worried Sister Hoffman was that the religious writer of the Mercury might ‘be about.’ Of Sister Busby the apron was the handsomest. Brother Roberts on six neck-ties made investment. So, also, did Bartine. Altogether the festival was a success.”

This is about the way these things move; and—yet, there were things connected with this party of a grave character. A brother—a man having a family—a steward, and a leading man in the society, purchased a neck-tie. He very soon found a young damsel, whose apron corresponded with the neck-tie just purchased. He, of course, according to the rule of the party, was bound (to use a bar-room phrase), to “treat” her. She took his arm, and away they went to the place prepared for refreshments. The brother’s wife was present, and while looking upon the scene, her husband, joking, trifling, spreeing—and that with a woman he had no right to—no right within such relations; she became disgusted, indignant, at such a departure from pure religion—yea, from common decency and respectability.

Late at night they returned home, the wife with injured feelings, the husband delirious from the effects of the exciting scenes that he had just passed through. We would gladly draw a veil over the scene that followed, but God must be honored, the truth must be told. The balance of the night was spent in unpleasant words. In the morning, the husband repairs to a drinking saloon and gets drunk, which he continues to do. His family—a wife and a very lovely daughter, eleven years of age, took the matter very much to heart, weeping and wailing almost incessantly, which brought on the daughter a violent disease, and in a few days, death! The wife is very much worn down by grief, and expects in a few days to follow the daughter. If we sow to the flesh, we shall of the flesh reap corruption. A mistaken idea prevails among many religionists, that the end (if it be a laudable one) sanctifies the means; and this prevails to an alarming extent; hence, the resorting to many ways condemned of God, and by most, if not all, our legitimate bodies, who declare lotteries to be gambling, and are prohibited by law; and, yet, many professors of the grace of God resort to this, to raise means to build costly churches, and carry forward what they call the work of the Lord. “Shall we do evil that good may come? God forbid!”

Dear reader, remember every act goes to the account; every vain and trifling word; every misspent hour; every neglected Sabbath; every time Christ has been offered you and rejected; every gospel sermon that you have heard and have not given heed thereto; every profane word uttered; every lie told—yea, every act of life, and all the upbraidings of conscience, are treasures of wrath laid up for you to reap through all eternity! But if you have been sowing to the Spirit, life everlasting. Be not deceived, God is not mocked.