Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-06-07

he intensity with which the spirit labors at
the point When the Savior "prayed be-
ing in an agony" he doubtless trarailed in
so.lL. In that "his soul was exceeding sor-
rowful even unto DEATH" Henry Martyr !
so Travelled in soul, for the salvation OF
souls whom he never expected to see till
the Judgement, that, in the open air, and in |
the snow and frosts Of a cold winters day. |
be was in free perspiration. Others of
orr own time and acquaintance have had
similar exercises.
A. This should be carefully distinguished
from certain kind Of distressing anxiety,
experienced by some, in time of great reli-
gious excitement, for the conversion Of their
| friends, merely because they are THEIR
friends. This may be realized by those
who are strangers to the indwe!iing of the
Holy Ghost, 10 travail Of soul, and even 70
all true religion. 1t may arise from sheer
sel6>hness. The real travail Of soul may
be distinguished, from this kind of anxiety
by the three following things:
First: 1t is always accompanied with
strong desires 10 have God glorifed in Sc
curing the object for which the soul labors.
The glory Of God is the prominent object
in the view Of the person who travals in
soul.
Second: The worth Of the soul appears
unreasonable, or the importance Of the OBJ
Ject to be secured appears vast, not because
1t is our friend, or the object Is 10 promote
on" cause, but because the soul is immortal
capable Of infinite bliss or amazing wo, and
the bearing the object has upon the desti-
MES Of our fellows
Third: A person accustomed to travail
of SOUL will be thus exercised abroad as we'll
as at home, or Tor stranger for whose sal
vatlcn he may labor, as we'll as for near
relative. We sometimes see ministers who
manifest great anxiety for revival in their
own congregation: they may be in an agony
about IT, but just let them go to Deighbor-
ing town, and their anxiety and agony are
no more, because they have no seIfinterest
in it, Such persons are not acquainted with
travail Of soul.
! ii. Prove the reality Of this exercise from
the scriptures. My limits will allow me to
present but few Of the many passages of
, scripture teaching this doctrine. shall
! therefore present few Of those affordino
as think, lncontrovertible evidence. Jer
TX, !, "Oh that nv head were waters and
mine eyes fountain of tears, that might
weep day and night" &c. Here is an ex
preston OF anguish Of spirit as deep as can
well be imagined. Isa. Xvi, 8, Gas soon
as Zion travelled she brought forth" Mark
XIV "a, My soul is exceeding sorrowfuI
unto death" Luke xxi IA, "And being in
an agony he prayed more earnestly, and his
sweat was as it were great drops of blood
railing down TO the ground" Leaving the
| disputed point, about what the Savior prayed
al mat time, one thing is certain, that is.
he dgo"1zed in prayer, or trardiled in soul.
fom. viii, lo, "The Spirit itself maketb
infercesslon for US with groanings which
cannot be uttered" Here is travail Of soul
under the influences of The Holy Ghost, o.
Grating upon our faculties and rolling the
burden upon our souls until our groaniugs
cannot be uttered. Rom. tx, 1-3, 81 saw
The truth in Christ, lie not, nv conscience
also bearing me witness n the Holy Ghost
That have great heaviness and continual
sorrow In my heart for could wish that
myself were acursed from Christ for mv
brethren my klnsmen according to the flesh -
There is difference Of opinion about the full
import of this text, but one thing is perfect-
~ clear, viz: That Paul had inexpressibIe
anguish OF spirit, or deep travail of SOUL !
Phil lii 10, "That may know him and
The power of his resurrection, and the fell
lo"shIp OF his suffecings." We know tho
fellowship of his sufferings when we nrav
being IN an agony, or when we travail in
soul. Gal. iv, 10, "My little children Of
whom travail in BIRTH" &c. Isa III; II
" he shall see the travail of his soul and ho
These passages l deem quite
sufnclent to establish the point beyond the
power oil successful contradiction thu, ,ho
exercise OF travail of soul is gerry promi- !
nent characteristic of the spiritual christian
ILL., The influence of this exercise or Of
those who become so spiritual as to h.ve;t ,
Upon this point the Scriptures are verv ,
PLAIN. DIS soon as Zion Travelled she ;
brought forth" In this exercise the chris :
ian is, by the Holy Spirit brought 50 rs., ,
he Lord, as to "know that their ,..on