Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1842-01-12

- -videos, ! think. sbsr David, when be
-. she 5lsi Psalm, enjoyed the sweef
"a ,ubduiug Influences Of the spirit, and
!. VA, afraid 10 be left again 70 himself,
-, he fall into sin. Na,han's plain preach
!. would NOT Of itself have produced this
h.pUy effect. & "a eg~
i. evident, think, that the Influences
4 he spiri, were enjoyed in the days Of
4. prophets, from what Stephen said, in
i, plain and cutting appeals 10 the Jews
ave ,liIf.DecLed, and uneircumcised in heart
IA ears, ye do always resist The Holy
Ghost, as your fathers did, so do ye." AS
,boush be had said, your fathers, who lived
|. ,be days Of the prophets, resisted the
I,auences Of the spirit, and you their chill
l,.u do the same. Peter says, that "ihe
,oObecy came NOT in the old tine by the
iii Of men; but holy men Of God spake
. ihey were moved BY the Holy Ghost"
The prophets wrote and preached under the
.hau.uce Of the Spirit; in short, nothing
Iu ever been done to promote true religion
"a rhe world, without Divine influence,
aide from the truth. The word TO Zerub-
| hb.l was, "NOl by might, nor by power,
tus By my spirit, saith the Lord.v The
ughliesi intellect, aud the most powerful
soqueuce could accomplish nothing to pur-
,ms without Gods spirit.
To the 81 question: -" Did any people
rpenl Of their sins and become converted
pGod, from the preaching Of Christi" the
pme answer may be given, as 10 the FIRST.
That men were converted under the preach
g Of Christ, there can be do doubts but
what caused them 10 repent and become
wvsried7" says my brother, in bis 4,h
question:. ! answer, the same that caused
a,n to repent in the days Of the prophets,
Under the preaching Of The gospel by The
Posles. The bare word. preached or writ
va, will never produce genuine repentance,
sound conversion. Il may awaken, and
ilrm, and often Il "cuis 10 the heart" as
The case Of The Jews TO whom Stephen
reached but instead or subduing theil
lnus, and converting them 10 God, il only
ariIed their hatred and in rage, the,
pashed on him with their teeth. Aud thi
rs Ihe general effect Of our Lords preach
H the plain ruth, by him spoken, con
lnned the Jews, and often excited ,hei
busy and haired. Says Christ ~
MO kill the, man that has told yot
kmlh." Sand because I tell you the
mh, We believe not" Whenever The
pacAiug Of Christ was effeciual in pro
isting genuine repentance, il was accom-
ruied with 3 wine inll.euce, which melt
n aud moved the hearl.
10 answer TO the 5,h question: Are me
constituted by nature as to see the errc
b their ways, when the essential gosPe
nlhs are presented7" | would say, ,hs
stenever the essential truths Of the gosp.
pc SO presented 10 the mind, that the slime
lilly apprehends them, he has the power |
Rsing and knowing the error Of sis way
a il is matter Of doubt 10 my own min
ELelher i, be in the power Of man, SO
resent the truth to deptaved, darken
mind, as 10 produce genuine conviction Al
Eformation. "The god Of this world hs
Minded The minds OF them that believe moi
that. The sinner puts darkness for liz
lnd error FOR iruih,,n and YET there is nolhi
all this that will furnish an excuse
Ne sinner in his blindness and unbelief.
J Tie Glib question involves principle
: nal interest 10 the cause Of ruth. .Ha
; nsn the power to beside whether they "
hange their course and serve God, or &C
hue 10 lransgress his laws I" II the s
r has moi this power, IN sense that "
institute moral obligation, then he i no
lml agent, and therefore Is not accoun
: eor his action. The truth is, men Ia
I power, and they exercise i, either
{ 'ssivug or rejecting the gospel; iRscrvi
. 'dcbeying God or in disobeying hims 2
Pel is addressed to men rs INTELLECT
I moral beings; and urges upon IN
: a'sn's high and holy claims; and
) H'l agents. they are under obl'ga'is
\ most weigbiy to submit uucondi'iona
= aese claims. a.
Z h'egard 70 The 7Ih question. ! would $
: Va sinners are truly sorry for their p
: ,hOsoughly refotm iheir lives, and
? "a true, believing heart, 70 do The VIII
u'i God, i, is all iha, God Requires
|" as" What doth The Lord require Of ID
= ~do justly, TO Lore mccoy. and 70 W
?, eoY with lhy God z" -s