Letters to Persons Who Are Engaged in Domestic Service

by Catharine Esther Beecher

by following the example of our Lord Jesus Christ.—He taught us to live not for ourselves but for Him—and to make it (as he did) our meat and drink to do the will of our Father in heaven. He taught us to deny ourselves daily, by restraining all harmful passions and desires, and, as he did, to go about doing good, in the humblest sphere in which we may be placed. Now, there is no dispute at all about this great duty. And all agree, that the things they differ about, are of no importance, except as they tend to promote a conformity of heart and life to the character and example of Christ. Those who spend the most time in religious exercises and meetings, consider that it is important to do so, only because it tends to make them more like Christ—and those who think so much of baptism, and ordination, and of believing the true doctrines, suppose that these things are important, only because they will lead us to become like Christ. There is not any minister of any denomination, who, if you ask him about these things, will not tell you, that I am right in all I have said about this matter. Now, if this is true, then we have a rule for judging how

much it is proper to go to meetings and to attend to religious exercises.

We go to such meetings, and attend such exercises, to warm our feelings and excite our minds, in order that we may do all our duties better. There is no merit in reading and singing and hearing, nor is there any use in great enjoyment or great feeling, unless these things tend to make us more gentle, meek, humble, faithful and diligent in our duties to God and men. And if we are baptized in the right way, and have the right ministers, and the right services, and the right doctrines preached, it is all of no value to us, unless we improve them so as to become more and more like Christ. Remember, then, that your object in reading and praying and in going to meetings should be, that you may become more faithful, kind, obliging, industrious, and exemplary in all respects.

I fear a great many people pray, and read the Bible, and go to meetings and try to get up a great deal of feeling, and think that this is being religious. But this is no more being religious than heating water is cleaning a house.

It is only a course of means appointed by God to enable us to accomplish the great object of life; which is to form such a character as prepares us for Heaven; or in other words, to become like Jesus Christ.

I would advise you, therefore, when you are deciding whether you shall go to a meeting, and how long you shall stay, to inquire, Will this best prepare me to be patient, long-suffering, meek, industrious and faithful in all my duties?

And if you think, that by going, you shall run the risk of injuring your health, and so of lessening your usefulness, or that you shall stay so late as to be tired and sleepy next morning, or unfitted in any way to perform your duties well, I pray you not to go. And if you think that religious privileges do not tend to make you more and more like Christ, I beseech you remember the dreadful condemnation of those who are exalted by privileges even to Heaven, only to be thrust down to Hell.

Now I hope you will not misunderstand what I have said. I do not say that you or any body else go to meetings too much, or think

too much of religious teachings, singing and prayer. I am afraid that most of us do not value these blessed means enough. But I am afraid that there are many of you who look upon these things as religion, when in reality they are nothing but the means God has appointed, in order to lead us to become religious. A true Christian, a really converted person, is one who is making it the chief interest and aim of life to become like Christ, and all these religious means are of no use, except so far as they tend to produce conformity of heart and life to the precepts and example of Christ.

If this be the case, then persons who go to meetings to meet companions, or to while away time, or to get their feelings wrought up to a high state, and do not use their religious privileges as means to make them more humble, submissive, gentle, kind, industrious and faithful in every duty, are making their blessings a curse.