The Litchfield County post., 1827-08-09
THE HAPPY EFFECTS OF MINISTERIAL
ACTIVITY AND DEvOTEDNESS.

HE HAITI EfEEOIS VI MINIS Email
ACTIVITY AND DEvOTEDNESS.
To the Editor efths London Euaa. AEagasins.
SIR,-T am rejoiced that this subject has
recently been introduced into your hOnOred
pages, and hope you will allow my mite to he
added to what has already been introduced
on so important subject; too important it
cannot appear to our minds,fOr it pleased God
in ancient days, by the fOOlishness of preach
ing to save them that believe; and it pleases
Him to do SO still.
Some months ago,I was in a neighborhOod
where knew there was a faithful minister of
Jesus Christ, and happening to meet with
some of his hearers, | asked them several
questions, and among the rest, whether their
chapel was well attended Yes, said the pious
people: 10 the morning it is comfortably full.
and in the evening quite crowded; in the af
ternoons our minister breaches in the villages
around US. On asking them whether this
had been the case for long time, found it
had not; and that when their present pastor
came among them, their congregation was in
rather low state. Upon showing some anx-
iety to know how 50 pleasing a change had
been brought about, the honest husband said,
Look, Sill, at all the cottages you can see
from the place where we stand" | did SO,
and certainly from that situation could see a
considerable number. When this jealous
hearted cottager perceived that had taken
survey, We'll, sir" said he, ''if Mr..
has not preached in every house you have
seen, he has preached in nearly every other
house; and this is the way in which he has
filled the chapel.' docs he preach in your
house :" | asked. mo, no. said the good
wife, he does not preach in such houses as
ours" Why not = asked their visiter. so
he knows we shall be at chapel to hear him {;
he breaches at those houses where the peo-
pie go to no place of worship" And on ex-
pressing my surprise that such persons should
allow the good man to preach in their hou-
ses, these worthy persons said" Why this
surprises US; but he goes himself, and civiity
asks them, and none Of them deny HIM"
" And pray" said |, how often does he visit
these cottages, and the adjoining villages and
hamlets 7" Judge Of my establishment, sir,
when was told that this laborer indeed, du-
ring greater part of the year, breaches four
times on the Sabbath, and every night in the
week, except Saturday night. was instant
ly reminded of these words, "And daily in
the Temple, and in every house they ceased
not, to teach and preach Jesus Christ" had
just been reading place in your Magazine,
ION Filling Place of Worship" and |
could scarcely help eAclaiming, This is the
way, this is the way; o we ministers of our
Lord Jesus Christ, Walk We in tall of you
walk in it; for the glorious work, after all
that may be said, or written, will principally
devolve on yon. Ind every man, shall seceiw
has oun se'card, according to his o,Un labor.
You will not be surprised, Mr.. Editor, that
| was pleased with such neighbourhood as
this. A few weeks after this conversation, |
met with another interesting cottager in the
same extensive parish; and among many
pleasing accounts which she gave me of the
happy influence of the word of the Lord. |
was much impressed with the following !:
" Sometime ago." said the female, "my hus
band was much against hearing Mr.. -.
and when one Of my daughters, (dear crea-
ture, she certainly died in jesus was i'll.
wished Mr.. to come and visit her,
When my poor thoughtless husband knew
this, he declared that if he came into his house
he would shoot him, and actually loaded his
gun for that horrid purpose. On telling this
to my daughter, she said, 0 mother, you
have no faith when Mr.. comes, nv
father cannot touch his gum The minister
was therefore sent for. without knowing any
thing about this. and the gun was charged in
the house when he arrived; but instead of
doing him any harm, before he left the prem
ises, my husband made him present, aud
never opposed his coming afterwards."-
Fear not, We servants of God :; your heavenly
master says" Lo, ana with you always
sc.
Still more recently; one evening as was
visiting one of the weekly services which are
held SO frequently in these cottages, saw a
remarkable object before me, and when
came up to it. behold it ,oas female, a poor
,oido,o, aged seventy-s gears, gerry infrm-
literally going to the meeting on her hands
and knees found on inquiry she could not
leave her habitation "a miserable one it ISL in
in any other way; and that this was her usual
way of going to hear the word of God o,
Mr.. Editor, and We Christian people of Eng
land, do send the Gospel to the benighted, the
neglected poor; and put something into the
pockets ofpoor itinerant and home Missiona-
ries, to relieve the bodily wants of the wretch
ed, while they unfold for their advantage,
THE unsearchable riches of Christi
Yours, affectiOnately,
4 LOver Of Christ and his Country.