Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-02-25
THE TELEGRAPH.
FEBRUARY rs.

BER1AH GREEN, President Of Oneida Insti
tute, delivered two sermons to large and
mCst attentive audience, in this village, last
Lords day To those who are acquainted
with Beriah Green, the highest enc omium
we can pass upon these discourses is, to say
that they were every way worthy Of the man.
The impression made was deep, and must
be lasting, The effect will be, life unto life,
or death unto death, in no small degree
Whoever, by such preaching, is not made
the better man, the better member of human
society, the better and more useful Christian,
does, most certainly, under its burning infu-
ence, harden himself for deeds of misanthro-
Ply, of rebellion against nature and God, and
of self-ruin. 1t is devoutly to be hoped that
there were very few Of the latter class.
Having taken brief notes, we feel strongly
tempted to undertake such an abstract as
our ability, time and space, will allow. The
lowing, expressive language, and many of
the sublime thoughts will be lost Only
skeleton Of some of the leading ideas can be
exhibited.
TEXT: Trust in the Lord with all thine heart :;
and lean not unto thine own understanding. In
all thy ways acknow ledge him, and he shall direct
thy paths -PRovERBs ill., s, s.
The object Of the speaker at this time was
! to exhibit confidence in God, in one OF the
various forms in which we are bound to
maintain tin opposition to leaning to our
| own understanding-to any of those views
OF expediency that set at naught Gods re-
vealed will. This revelation we are to con-
suit, and to regard, in all that we engage
in all that we do. To this we are encour-
aged by the assurance that he shall direct
our paths. The will of God is comprehend
ed in the two great commandments list,
"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all
thy heart, and with all thy SOUL and with all
thy mlnd."-2d, "Thou shalt love thy neigh
Dor as myself" Every requisition finds its
place in these two injunctions.
Those who are governed by erpediency,
instead Of consulting the mind and will OF
Heaven, make the circumstances in which
they are placed their rule of conduct. They
will obey God if it be conveniently cir.
cumstances permit, Expediency, thus de-
fined, is, to wide and frightful extent, the
basis Of human action. Go to the so called
wise statesman-open 10 him the Bible, and
ne will laugh you to scorn The Bible i:
for those who occupy less responsible sta
lions than himself! He must be allowed t.
act on higher ground! The meaning of which
is, In minor matters, it is safe to go and come
at Gods commands; but in directing thu
welghtier affairs Of human society, God il
, not to be trusted w are then to lean t,
our own understandings, and be governed
by circumstances.
The speaker would contemplate. TIL,
relation which we sustain to God. Huma,
beings, moral agents, were created with refer
ence 10 the glory Of the Great Wise an,
. Benevolent Creator-in accordance with
liked plan which extends throughout crea
ton. His law given to man, is not arbitra
ry acquisitions; but was made and give,
with perfect knowledge of all the eircum
stances and conditions in which we can b,
placed. So to speak, it was made in &C
cordance with the fitness Of things. Whel
DO we, or can we, subserve the great an,
glorious ends for which we were created
I Then, and then only, when we act in &C
cordance with the will of High Heaven.
2. The relation sustained between ma,
and man. The Bible requires US to love on
neighbor as ourself But says one, / ana
wise statesman! What have to do witt
the Bible2 My acts must be governed b,
higher views! Now, by thus refusing &