Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1841-07-14
CHRISTIAN EFFORT SHOULD BE DIRECT
ED TO DEFINITE OBJECTS.

ED IL DEFINITE GB1EGTS.
Thatxchristians are under Obligations
to labor personally for the advancement
OF Chfist'S kingdom, is sentiment now
very generally admitted in theory, how
ever much it may be denied in practice.
The time has been in the church, and
that not very distant-When its members
were scarcely exhorted or expected to ex.
ert any other influence than that of pas
slVe, consistent piety There is remark
able contrast between the writings Of d.
vines in the last and the present centuries.
However valuable the former may be-
and from their great excellency wewould
met detract-they were certainly very de-
hcient in urging christians to personal,
positive effort, for the extensionEof the
kingdom of Christ. This duty islproba-
bly, better understood now by the thurch
than it has been since the days Of The
apostles. Would to God it Were a .sxten,
siyeIy practiced as it is we'll understood.
There is. if we are not mietak ken, gen.
feral desire to perform it, pressing the con-
sciences of most of the distiples of Jesus
in this day oflight. The,Gficutly is that
this sense and desire of duty are too gen.
eral in their character. They do not
! sufficiently notice partichlars,-do not
centre upon specific objects of labor.
When a vast work is to be accomplish.
ed, men are too apt to fix their minds
upon the grand END, without considering
the details by which that end is to be
gained. We look upon beautiful statue,
and admire the genetal appearance of the
whole, without once thinking of the in
Vulnerable strokes and delicate touches of
the chise that were necessary in bringing
out, and perfecting the features, drapery
and limbs. So christians look upon the
conversion Of the world, as a desirable
and sublime event, but too frequently over
lock the minute details OF labor, by which
! it is 10 be procured. They do not sufFi-
GENTLY direct their efforts to the specific
objects which are essential to the produc-
ton Of Tire great end.
! There are not few who seem to think
it selfish to exhibit great deal of inter
est in any one branch Of christian benev-
otence, Or for the prosperity of any par
tlcGlar church, when there is SO much to
be accomplished for the world at large
add Ia the expansiveness of their benevo-
Ience, they overlook the interests of home,
and sometimes, it is to be feared. the spir-
tuaity of their own hearts.
They forget that the prosperity of each
church IS essential to the complete triumph
Of Christ's cause. Before the church
universal can be holy and prosperous, all
its branches must become so, for if every
4 portion of the church, but one, were pros
porous, the depression of that one would
detract from the glory of the whole. A
sound building can not be reared of rot
ten timbers A kingdom can not be in a
healthy condition while any of its prov
inces arein suffering or til rbu'ent state
A stream can not be perfectly pure or
clear while any Of its tribut5 Ties are pol
luted or muddy. So in order to the puri-
ty and efficiency of the church universal,
all the branches of which it is composed
must be pure and efficient
Those specific duties, then, which are
adapted to promote the prosperity and pu-
rity Of the individual church of which he
is component member, are first in obi
cation upon every disciple of Christ. We
doubt the honesty and sincerity of that
r mans prayers and labors forthe introduc-
lion oflhe millennium who does not strive
e by his example and influence to give a
E millennial character TO the church with
which he is connected. He Possesses moi
, a proper foreign missionary spirit who
does not perform missionary workat home
The christian, therefore, who would con.
sistently and most effectively labor, fol
: the universal triumph of the gospel, mus
e engage in those minor duties of christian
4 iy, which are necessary to bringing al
within his own circle ofinfuence to the
f obedience of the faith.-Baptist Record.