Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1838-04-11
VERMONT fELEGRAPH.
BRANDON. WEDNESDAY APRIL IL. 1883.
INACTIVITY IN THE cHURcH---IND
VIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY.

For the Vermont Telegraph
IN THE cHURcH---INDI.
vIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY.
BRoTHER MURRAY: herewith hand You
some thoughts on the general inactivity of
the Church. II you think them worthy the i
Telegraph, they are at your service. % |
Brandon, March 26, 1888. .-.. |
The majarity of The Church are mac
tire.-As proof that this is the case, have
only TO call your attention to that branch |
within your own observation. How large
proportion of active members do you there
fnd7 In Church Of 100, can you enumer-
ate more than 10 who may be said to be &C
tive Christians, doing the will of God, and
letting their lights shine in the world2 If
not, in what state do you find the 90? Were
you to move into that town stranger, how
long suppose We it would be before you would
find out the members Of that Church, unless
you chance to eetthem at the communion
table Would you judge from their gener-
al conduct from their want of conformity to
the world-its pleasures, fashions, riches and
honors, that they had solemnly coyenanted
with God their Maker, and the Church, that
! they would come out from the world and be
separated Would you judge from the spirit
manifested, if censured for an improper act,
tina; this spirit was tempered by the peacea-
bic fruits Of righteousness If neighbor
rs slandered, do you find them slow to be-
lieve? or do they exhibit willingness and
even desire to magnify and extend the re-
port7 Do you find them in all things avoid
ing ofence2 or are they busy bodies, looking
for and reporting to the injury Of others q
Would you, in judging them by the Scrip
ture, where your treasure is there will be
your heart ALSO" say of them, their treasure
is in heGUen2 or in the judgment of charity,
would You be constrained to say, their treas
ure is upon the earth, and they are of the
earth, earthy7
That this is humilialing picture Of the
majority Of The Church, to one who loves
her above his chief Joy, readily admit
bat from my limited observation, it is but
TOO true that the Church, as body, are Ut
terly in fault and until she becomes resen-
Grated, her influence must be limited, and
Christ continue to be dishoaored in the house
of his friends. This then being the case
what shall be done7 answer, enlighter
the Church. From the pulpit, LET an alarm
be sounded. Let the press speak with il.
ten thousand voices, and call dead Christian,
Christians, did say Can it be y to life
Let individual responsibility be enforced
Here lies the root of the matter. individual
members blend their responsibility with tn,
body. IL an important object is presented
j which requires action. it is thrown upon tn
: Church. The Church, being composed o
/ individuals, seeks some one to go forwar,
I with it. The ninety begin with one aceor
to make excuses. The object must be Civ
en- up, or the fe,O must do il. You ask then
(the majority Of its result,-they do nc
: know lit was taken up by the Church, an
brethren A and B were appointed to atten
], to il: the responsibility is off fiom them,-
I but where now rests the responsibility 2
: upon the Church as body? Certainly not
J, they have put it upon poor brethren A an
B, and thus upon brethren A and rest
: the individual responsibility.
: Take another case: A member of tn
4 Church becomes openly and uudisguisedf
!. incorporate. II is not one Of those case
# that comes under the direction in Matthew
: 1t is case Of great notoriety. Allacknow
n edge that il requires immediate actior-ths
the Church is suffering reproach on his al
9 count. You mention il to one Ct the ninety
u He admits its importance but does he at
on it7 No. Why not2 Because it belong
! 10 the Church. Aud is he not one of th
= Church True he is not an acting men
II ber-therefore not responsible.
j. The Pastor of the Church feel, his spir
IL stirred within him-sinners are dying-th
g Church are asleep, and he, almost ready
IS sink under the weigh! of responsibility res
ing upon him, calls on them to awake
i Brethren A and B hear the call, and coz
: mence visiting from house to house, exhoriin
n both saint and sinner to attend to the grei
/ interest of the soul. Only here and thel
{ they meet with those on whose minds the
: can fix conviction, their consciences bein
! cased with the unhallowed lives Of the m;
: jority. Have these no responsibility TIL
D brings me TO another point
at The rel0tire interest aohich the naajorit
is might srert. And here Iregret to say th'
Z, I cannot speak from observation, havin
v never been acquainted with Church whel
u all It's members acted up to the Requirement