Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1838-06-13

znec in the work Of the ministry, their
preparation for which would require the
I'D Of this Society; and secondly, that
he increase Of pieiy would produce an
increased liability on the part Of the
in support Of the objects Of this
Society. For these reasons, he thought
he friends Of This Society were called 70
express on this occasion their gratitude
for the improved state ol our churches,
spoken Of in the resolution.
The Rev. Mr.. Bacon offered the follow.
ing resolution -
Resolved, That IN the opinion Of this meeting our
Education Society, whose twenty fourth annlyersa-
IN We this day celebrate continues 20 merit our con-
fdence; and that as q direct means Of evangehzmg
the world, IL claims continued and renewed ef-
forts.
Mr.. B. said that it would not be neces-
sary for him TO dwell upon the FIRST clause
Of the resolution; as he presumed there
was no lack Of confidence in the Society;
but that all interested in il were satisfied
with the righteousness Of its plan and the
energy Of Its management.
But with regard to the second clause,
he said, there might be some question
There might be those, who. while they ac-1
knowledge the utility ofthis Society, were
not prepared to admit that il was directly
instrumental in eyangelizing the would
But the object Of the Society was to supply
the churches with able and faithful minis.
tiers, and this was essential 10 the ultimate
triumph of the gospel. 1t was certain, he
said. thatthe churches needed such sup
ply. No one could look abroad upon the
churches. without perceiving .heir desti-
tuition in this respect. The fields were
white to the harvest, but the laborers were
wanting. There were thousands ofchurch-
es in our land, he said, destitute of pastors;
and the question arose, whence this desti-
tution2 Had God neglected to provide the
ministers necessary to perform his own
work. Had he spread out field of moral
effort, without providing the appropriate
agents 70 occupy iti Had he created
spiritual vineyard. without laborers TO be-
stow upon 1.-THE proper cultivation These
questions could not be answered in the af-
6rmative; and the inference, therefore
was irresistible, eaher that the churches
were laboring under the darkest ignorance
or the grossest apathy respecting the d.
vine economy. Il was not the order of
Providence that churches should be rails
ed up without ministers-why, then, so
much destitution Of ministerial talent -
The explanation ofthis anomaly was found
in the faci that the church had neglected
the Dait assigned her by God in the pre-
laras;on Of ministers. God had provided
the material. He had chosen and called
ministers enough to. supply all the wants
ofthe churches; but there was an interme-
date work-their preparation for the min
istry-to be accomplished; and this work
belonged to the church. The state of So
Getty raised barrier often insurmountable
BY individual effort, against the entrance
into the ministry of those whom God had
called, and unless the church interposed
her assistance, thess individuals, notwith-
standing the divine call, would never enter
upon the work. Those who were called
to the work Of the gospel ministry, had Of
ten to contend against great embarrass-
ments and he was a believer in the doc
trine, that in ordinary cases man called
to the ministry would persist in entering
the work at all hazards-that he would
press onward against every obstacle, as il
were through FIRE and food, setting at de-
fance all personal and prudential calcula-
tons On the contrary, be believed that
il the church was remiss in her duty, and
failed to render proper encouragement to
those who gave reasonable evidence of
their ministerial call. many such would re-
lax into secular pursuits. And this, be
said, was exactly the state of the case
Many, whom God had called to the work
Of the ministry, but whom the churches
had failed to bring forward in suitable
manner, were now engaged in the various
walks ofsecular life,-in farming, in me-
chanical. mercantile or secular pursuits
This was the grand secret Of the destitute
state Of the churches with regard to minis
ters The responsibility of this evil rested
with the churches-not with the Holy
Spirit in failing to call men, or in any Of
the arrangements of Providence.-There
were no obstacles in the way Of all engage
ing in the ministry who were called by
the Spirit, except such as the church could
remove, and must remove before the final
triumph of the gospel would be secure
Some Of these obstacles were removed by
Society--and hence the correctness Of the
second clause of the resolution, viz: that
as direct means Of evangelizing the word
il claims our continued and renewed eff
forts. -.
La funhersupport Of the resolution, q
Number of Interesting and important. facts
were stated BY Mr.. Thresher. Secretary OF
the Society. and by Rev Mr.. Ilsley, of
Brooklyn. New-York. The resolution
was adopted. f1
There being no resolution before the
meeting. Rev. Mr. Malcom asked the atten-
J ton OF those present, to a few remarks con-