Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-07-28
For the Telegraph.
CIRCULAR LETTER
OF he STA ttshMrn Association.
[CONCLUDED.1

W ne OHU jtSOUI <1SSOCLut (OH'
CONCLUDED.
Fifthly.-A more punctual and devon:
attendance on the public service of God,
On the Lords day, it is believed, would
produce the most salutary effects on the
cause of true plety
The neglect Of the sanctuary and it's
kindred means of grace, is always, as it
respects personal piety, attended with dis
astrous consequences. The Christian ad-
dicted to this evil cannot expect to make
proficiency in the divine life. On the
contrary, his progress must be retrograde.
He soon loses his wonted interest in the
worship of God, private as we'll as public:
lays aside the Bible, lets the fire 90 out
upon the domestic altar, quits his closet,
and suffers every thing pertaining to his
religion, EXCEPT the mere outward profess
sion, to languishand decline. While the
Christian who piousI v visits as often as
the consecrated day returns, the place
where God honor dweIIeth,' will feel a
lively interest in preached gospel, and
in all the stated means of grace; and will
find his more private and secret devotions
quickened and rendered sweet and deli ght-
ful. by means Of the lessons of heavenly
wisdom impaired in the house of God.-
The rich influence of 'the day which
God hath blessed" will accompany him
through the business and duties of the
week. His spirit will often be refreshed
by rejecting on the devotions in which he
participated in the assembly Of the saints !;
and he will not be a stranger to the feel
ings of the pious Psalmist, when he said,
Zone thing have desired of the Lord ::
that will | seek after: That | may dwell
in the house of1he Lord all the days ofmy
life, to behold the beauty OF the Lord, and
to inquire IN his temple" The sanctua-
nv, in its appropriate and hallowed service
es, must stand confessed 'the most efftctu-
al guard, support and ornament of virtues
cause" Then, sure y, the sanctuary
should be respected and countenanced by
every professor of religion, who aims at
eminence in piety, and who feels himself
under any obligation to that Divine Being
who hath given unto us all things that
pertain to life and godliness, - and who, by
rich and eficacious grace, hath called US
''tc glory and virtue"
We exhort you then, brethren, beloved
that "ve remember the Lords day, ito
keep it hoIv;"-'not forsaking the assem-
bling of yourselves together, as the man
ner Of some is, but exholtjng one another
daily. and so much the more, as We sec the
day approaching' Let Christians, in
accordance with the true spirit 6 this last
passage, often assemble, rot only for rub,
lie worship On the Lotd's day, hut during
the week, to pray and confer upon the
great things ofrcIigio and another world
and, he assured, the Lord will graciousI y
REGARD them. and will tless them with the
influence of his Holy Spirit And, under
this Influence, We hazard nothing in say
ing, they will wax stronger and stronger
for the Lord.
Lastly, as another means of promoting
! a dcener rietv in our churches, we recon-
mend that measures be constantly in orer
alton to secure faithful. evangelical ano
enlightened ministry. Tie fathers, sc&cr
are Hcvo and do the prophrts lie torer
/ cy?' That the churches may increase il
pletv, it is very essential that they be sup
piled with ''pa5tors after Gods own heart
with "workmen that need not to be a
shamed' in the faith, discreet
prudent. and capt to teach.' The grea
Head Of the church gave some pastor
and tcachers-for the perfecting Of tn
SAINTS, and for the edjfying of the bod y Q
Christ" Unquestionably, the institution
of living ministry is among the most IN
portant means of Heavens ordainjng, 70
the moral renovation of our fallen world
) And much, we believe, is depending o.
the character and qualifications Of thi
ministry, whether the church Of Goo
(which he hath pu1 chased with his ow
blood" shall be characterized by deep an
efficient pietv, or be worldly, languid an
inactive. 1t must, in order to be produc
: tive of the greatest amount of good, be
l ministry of strong moral power, as we'll a
of deep personal piety. Hence youn
men called of God to preach the gospe
should be encouraged and aided in the re
quisite preparation for their high and hoI
! Vocation. And when. leaving our sea
! of learning. they shall be called by tn
J churches into the field to labor for Go
e and for souls, they must be sustained
J. their arduous and responsible work, by a
d adequate temporal support, and BY tt
o prayers, the symPathies and the cheerf'
= co-operatlon OF their brethren. And he1
v permit us to say, that the pastoral relat'c
J. whentonce formed, should not be hastl
St dissolved: but be rendered as permane
e as circumstances and the nature of tt
n case will admit. Much evil to the eau
e of piety is often oecasioned by hasty d!
At solution of this sacred relation, and by Il
'e too frequent change of pastors and teac
ID ers.