Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-04-24
From the Boston Recorder.
The Enlightened Idiot.

From the Boston Recorder.
The Enlightened Idiot.
A friend, who is constant reader of the Re-
corder has kindly sent US several choice selections
Tor our columns for which we feel greatly indebted
Among the number is the following, from the Pas
tors Journal, beautifully illustrating the fact that
the path of life is so plain that "the way-faring
man, though fool, need not therein" and also
showing that all kn0w much better than we do.
In the winter of 1923, as was preach
ing Tor few Sabbalhs in the town of
s., Vermont, it was my lot to make
my home, from each Saturday afternoon
I'LL Monday morning, in the house of
pious family, who lived two miles from
the place of meeting. In this family was
man, aged about thirty, who had been
affected with a partial palsy from his
childhood; aud who was considered s
nearly destitute of reason. His name
was Harvey. He occupied an apartment
by himself; had his meals b. himself;
and was unable to walk without those
peculiar co1tortions, twtches, and GaIter-
Ing OF the limbs, which showed the mus
Giles 10 be near y out of the control of his
will, while his tongue, about as much
palsied as his limbs, would seldom WELD
to his efforts to speak sufficiently to make
him understood. !
Harvey. however. would always 90 10
public worship; and, as he could neither
mount the wagon nor sit sill enough to
ride with safety would always 90 on foot
Through the snow. and through the
storm, Harvey aoould go; nothing could
hinder him. Once during a severe storm,
[ opened the house. made fire myself and
preached to eleven hearers; but Harvey
was there.
Ga my last Sabbath, after the family
and myself had been some time returned
aud were enjoying a comfortable fire,
Harvey arrived, wading through the
snow, and exhausted with his labor His
sister said, as the weary man took his
seat by the fire, "Harvey does MOI know
much, but he loves 10 go to meeting" In
stanly he replied. with to.'e which |
shall never forget, ''Harvey kno,rS better
than he Goes'' | thought | could not
mistake the tone and manner of. that re-
ply" Harvey knoacs better than he does
Il must be that soul knows what it is &c
r leel the burden Of sin. Deeply did con
denim myself that ] had neglected thai
= afflicted one. | had never spoken ONE
| word to him about Christ or about his
own soul; and he must have felt the neg
lect. But [ had regarded him as an ldi
| OF, and had not thought that the gospe
; could be brought home to his soul.
conversed with him. 1t was not habi
r moi caprice that carried him to the houS,
/, of God; he felt his uption-what al
e apostle calls ;'siE that dwe!lcth in ne
, He had felt conviction of sin He haC
: gone to the house of God, to know wha
d he must do to be saved. Oh! How
e condemned myself that had not preac h
It ed the simple gospel in its simplest man
e. ner! Now l felt the meaning of tn
Sc Savor's words, Feed my lambs" B,
n Harvey seemed to have learned the wa
i, of salvation, and to have cast his sor
n upon Christ. My heart was drawn Tow
III ards him with unspeakab,e yearnings.-
Id At this distance of time | dare not tru
- vetsatcn. Suffice it to say, that | cou
Id not but regard him as a child of God.
n gaz-d at his palsied limbs. This, the
ey thought |, is the adloh But be know
Ct he is sinner, and he knows Jesus Chri:
&c He is "qoise anto salration." Harv,
is- did not know much" bat The enlran
ITO of thy words giveth light; it giv,th u
re derstandng unto the SIMPLE" Ho
to will be shine in wisdom; how will /
en-, pllsied tongue be unIoosed in praise, VIII
M MANY Of the wise of this world will cur
a their vision, that in its fooIishness 'kn,
40 not God y Harvey kmosrs better tn
ST., he does" A thousand times have /
The words rung in my ears. [ have thong
in how lille knowledge is needed to CO
oI vince human soul of sin; and how
i'd tie of the WIS ION of this world is nee
- sary, in order TO make men wise u
ed, salvation! Henctkrlh will net desp
alb of leading child or an idiot 10 Chr
nd providing he has understanding to perez
ere tina; he KNOWS better than he DOES.
, IF Tract Distribution.
the The blessed results of tract disrIbut