Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1841-11-10
CIRCULAR LETTER
% = OIASO7O I1AAN III 7 I y AN = =
OF THE VERMONT BAPTIST ASSOCIATION.

I >=ss.. ss4ClRCULAR LIE TIER 81
! OF THE VERMONT BAPTIST ASSOCIATION. id
! Dear Brethren We wish to say some
thing to make you prize more highly, and to
induce you 10 attend more punctually your
Conference and Prayer Meetings. ...: III.
The Conference ought to be regarded as
a very pleasant place: for there assemble
the most delightful part Of the community.
They who love and frequent the place of
social prayer are the redeemed of the Lord.
Now on the evening Of your conference
suppose promiscuous party of persons as
sembled elsewhere for social interview.
In that circle may be found much that is
amiable and attractive; all the refnemeuts
Of cultivated life may adorn the company !;
but there are no christians there. Pass
from this place TO the rayer-meeting. 1t may
be in humble place, without any of the
glitter of the fashionable world. Blu: how
delightful is the society. Each one bears
the image Of Christ. In every countenance
is depicted the expressive loveliness Of reli-
gion. These are the excellent of the earth
kindred with Apostles and with the holy
| of all ages. They are the objects of the
I Savior's choice,-the subjects of his sane
tifying word and grace. and, having been
useful in elevating, enlighfening and saw
ing world Of sinners, they will stand at
last before the throne of God, dressed in
the righteousness Of Christ, and united in
the praises of the upper sanctuary. At
the conference are found the persons of the
greatest worth in the community. .y.-.
| The topics Of conversation appropriate TO
the conference room are highly interesting.
Compared with them how Insignificant are
the most elevated sub ects OF discussion
among the men of the world. The religious
conference ought to be regarded and i'm
proved as a school of moral and mental
discipline. 1t is not place for rapid dec
, Iamation, nor for dull and frigid repetition
of a few stale and thread bare sentiments.
j Ii is place for improvement in the high
: est kinds of knowledge knowledge oil
! God in his work, in his providence, and
) in the riches Of his grace as exhibited in his
word, and the knowledge of man In hi;
guilt, and in the means Of his recovery. /
our conferences are not highly entertaining
and profitable, if they are not sources o
t rich, moral and Intellectual instruction, a0'
. are at fault. A wide range of subjects il
: thrown before US in the word Of God Tor thu
y Interchange of our views, and TO the illus
tration Of these subjects all human learning
brought. Our social meetings need not b
Of meagre of interest. Every thing that engae
Is es man as an immortal being may there
discussed in connection with the doctrine
IS of redeeming grace. The Bible with il
y exbaustIess treasures of instruction, the Lor
y Jesus in the fulness of his glorious charat
= ter and work for sinners, the history Of tn
:. tpeople of God through the trials and pc
1e secutions of eighteen centuries, the preser
Il condition Of our race in their varied aspec
II of wretchedness and want and the NEAR
- of retaining the waste places of sin-lhes
~ II are suitable topics for the conference.
a. These meetings are adapted TO dere'c
"a and strengthen the gifts Of the disciple
he From the beginning here made, MANY ha'
nd been led step by step into the ministry
es Here also the talents of the lay memoe
We of our churches may iud useful emplo
no ment.
les The efficacy and blessed results OF u
he united prayers and mutual exhortatIons
an the conference are obvious. How often ha
nu The movings Of the waters of salvation be-
. first seen in the prayer meeting. fhlth
- The anxious sinner, and the trembling co
~ vert resort, and often while the people
,av God are bowed together in earnest, unit
Igh and solemn prayer, the light of the gosI
est breaks into their minds. The effects OF y
intercourse on the feelings OF christians 70
ing ards each other, TOO, are invaluable,
uer .n.h j. No other means IS adapted TO P
,ch. duce Il tends TO prevent jealousies, and
the promote holy harmony Of views ane
ions tender regard for each others reputation
nj. happiness. Christians love one another n
aun- the oftener they meet to talk about the L
Jesus, and to look on his image IN the co