Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1838-03-28
VOL. x. NO. 81.

derlngs in the desert, expressly designed
to try and humble them and -prepareihem
for prosperity, were yet .deemedln greater
danger from this than from any other
source. How often Was the warning
repeated and urged upon them, +" Beware
lest thy heart be lifted up and thou forget
the Lord thy Cod and yet even those J.
Oft repeated warnings We're all IN vain.
as their subsequent history showed, and
as was often confessed in the lamenta-
tons of later prophets over the ruins of 3
their people. So also has it been in the
Christian church. When the fires Of r.
persecution have ragged, and they have
been driven from the honors and enioy-
ments of this world to God, the church
has become humble. But so soon asihis 3.
external pressure has been taken off, and
the natural tendencies OF the heart have
had opportunity to ~oparate unchecked,
how soon has size forgotten, God Ia the
citation OF pride, and through her wan
derings from him become exceedingly
corrupt And event this day the scourge.
of affection has been found essential 10 ;
make her humble and keep her from ruin.
Indeed, the greatness and extent Of the >
dangers resulting from this source almost.
exceed belief, and cannot be too strongly
stated: The sin Of PRIDE is not in its
nature open. and gross, and shocking to
the common feelings Of mankind, but is
peculiarly plausible, deceptive. and fas-s
cinating. Nor are it's evil effects at once
manifest, like species of mental intoxi- :
cation, it steals over the soul, relaxes its
moral energies, and pIunges it into an .
ocean of unhalIowed and dsbasing indul-
gencies. -. e..
And to be keenly alive to It's approach,
and to reject, with loathing and horror,
the very first drop of its Circean cup,
requires moral energy which few pos
sess. Yet such must be the spiritual
vigor of the church, before she can en-
dure the state Of prosperity implied in the
f conversion of the world to God. For in
this it is implied that the scourge Of at:
Fiction is no longer 10 be employed, as a
means of producing humility; but that
her prosperity is to be like the wave Of
the sea. And if the church.. with her
present degree of holiness, is unable to
; endure even the small measure Of pros
| perity which God sees fit to bestow, how
! could she endure the accumulated and
/ unheard of prosperity of the day when.
, the kingdom, and dominion, and
the greatness Of the kingdom under the
; whole heaven, shall be given to the PEG.
o pie of the saints of the Most High7 This
: IS, indeed, a subject demanding deep AID
serious thought; for the whole of the
t great question, Can the church be pre-.
= pared TO endure the conversion 7Uf .rt1S
) world to God7 centers here. Can she
/ have resources and honor, and, wealth,
= and influence, and yet remain heavenly
e minded and low! y in heart! If she can.
= not, this world can never be converted 10
e God, Prosperity will but be the ruin of
f the church. She will rise but to- fall
V again, and never can she enjoy constant
It prosperity and the smiles of Heaven. Of
o course, the church needs special pre-
i paration on this subject, and one ada pted
J. to the age in which we live, and TO the
n prospects before US. No common degree
of humility will suffice. A character
must be formed of humility, 50 pure,
: deep, and strong, as to endure even the.
trial OF millennlal prosperity. And i
: can be done. For if pride can be ex-
cluded from heaven, and if the church
it can be prepared to endure eternal pros
T. perity there, and yet remain pure and
l. low y in heart cannot the same results be
il produced by the presence of God, and
ID by breathing the atmosphere Of heaven,
h even on earth2 1t may be: it will be {:
= for such is the promise Of God.
Of 1t is a duty that God himself demands
r the church no longer to evade And if
| l. b [ :.
Is and aid Of God implored, the work can
lie now be done, and the church can be re-
n deemed from sin so odious, so degrad-
r ing, so destructive. Her public senti-
a. ment may be made energetic and pure.
1t To seek the appreciation Of God only,
ut and to adore God alone-to be pure.
er meek and lowly in heart, may become
I'd the constant. habtuaI, and delightful
IN state of mind throughout. the church, and
I'd to oathe with horror. infinite The leas.
if deflement of pride. Then will prosper
eff ity, however, great, have no power to
IS, corrupt. So intimate will be the CON.
f. munion of the church with God-so
IN clear her views of eternal things-so
p deep her sense of the utter vanity oi
at worldly distinction and human, praise,
~ thdt SHptduohS Sacn as lew can now
n resist. will be stripped of all their power
cd the baseness, the pollutions, and the
to ingratitude, the unnumbered~ evils OF
all pride, will be so fully seen and deeply
to felt, that the whole soul of the church
re will be turned against it as with the ener.
to gy of omnipotence.-Pres. Bess1sr.r
to ..-
lat THE D1GN1Ty OF individual Ac-
IS, r1oN.-The sense of original PERSONAL re.