Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1841-12-22

/
in righteousness doth Judge and make
war against all sin. Yours, ever, IN the
Cause of every righteous reform.
SARAH W. FOX.
| For the Vermont Telegrapk
Hinesburgh, Dec. sth, 1871.
Dear Brother Murray:
By a vote Of the Addison County
Baptist Ministerial Conference, at
its last meeting in Ferrisburgh,- /
forward, for publication in the Tel
egraph, the following
.~ E SAY.
Does tie wr5hen ond preached oco7d
possess Divine energy, aside from the
influence efthe Holy Spirit2 I most
unhesitatingly. answer, No I I am
aware, however, that this short an
swer alone, will not satisfy the criti-
cal inquirer after truth 5; the e0hys,
and the eozeretores will of course be
demanded.
In sustaining the position I have
taken, the following reasons may be
urged: -
1. The different effects of the Cos
fpel, preached by our Saviour him
self, and afterwards by the apostles.
No one, I think, will object, that our
Lords preaching was plain, pointed,
and often very cutting. His illus
trations were the most natural and
convincing. In short, his was the
most perfect model Of correct preach
ing. But, compared with the apost-
les, it was not successful. He gained
f but few converts. And Why? The
reason. is obvious. The Holy Spir-
it was not yet given. Says Christ,
cit is expedient that I go away: fol-
:, if I go not away, the Comforter will
mot come unto you; but if I depart
I will send Him unto you, and when
: he is come, he will reprove the world
r of sin, of righteousness, and of judg.
ment.'' Howbeit, when he the
Spilit of truth is come, he will guide
you into all truth.'' This promise
:, was most signally fulfilled on tht
: day. of Pentecost, when the disci pie:
: were assembled with one accord il
: one place." The Holy Spirit, Ik'
$ a mighty rushing wind, came upol
: them, and filled the place vher
# they were assembled and they be
e gan TO speak with other tongues, a
IS the spirit gave them utterance." ]
o is said Of the apostles, that the
. preached with the Holy Ghost sen
: : down from heaven And this j
=" what gave energy and effect tothe wor
. preached. And if | mistake no
' this is the general impression of tn
n, church. Why SO much praying fc
lie the Holy Spifitin the time of a re
/, iviyal? If there is Divine energy
I the ,cord, aside from the influence
ID of the Spirit. then all you need to d
is, to increase the amount of preach
ing get all the ministers you can
le set them to preaching, and keep the'
9 preaching night and day, the MOI
'r preaching, and the less praying, ii
at better. But is this The acay TO say
III souls, and glorify God !? No! "a
on have not SO learned Christ en-
by might, nor by power, but by N
an SPIRIT, saith the Lord" IF we wis
. TO promote a revival of religion, al
: for this purpose, send for an eficie
~ and successful Evangelist, the frste
he fort is, TO et.the church right. v
have no expectation that sinners "
ire be converted until christians get hur
", bic. No! there must be much deep, fl
lie cent, agonizing prayer IN the churc
not or the most plain and pungent preac
A. ing will be powerless. "Paul nj
, | plant, and Appollos water, but u
!, giveth the increase"
2. A sound argument may
- drawn from the hguratiVe use WIN
w. the apostle makes of the VOL
hey Eph. 6 II. ssAnd take the helm
'rld lof salvation and the saoord Of
OF SPIRIT which is the auond Of Goe
fhe The ,,y,,.d of God. is here called