Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1842-09-07
VERMONT TELEGRAPH.
BRANDON, WEDNESDAY. SEPT. Z, 1912.
The Onion Rlver Baptlst ASSOCIATION

Held its anniversary at Huntington, on
the 1st and I'd inst The introductory SER
mon was preached by H. Stafford, of Bur
lington.. When entered the house, the
preacher was reading the latter part of the
18th chapter of Paul's epis,le 10 the Romans,
including such phrases as--" recompense TO
no man evil for evilp..-" avenge not your
selyesn-" be net overcome of evil. butoyer-
come evil with good"
The texlused by the speaker was -" Thy
kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in
heaven, so ia EARTH" Luke xi: 2. The
main object of the speaker was,to discourse
on prayer for the advancement Of Christ's
kingdom in the lDorld. No other prayer
could avail but the prayer of faith, dictated
by the spirit Of God. In speaking of The in,-
port Of the petition contained in the textile
speaker expressed the view that il conten-
plates an entire resolution. Look into
heaven. No war; contention, strife, or Jar
there. In the world there is war, slavery
and violence. The gospel has power to eff
feet an entire reuolution in these things, in
the world.
At this point, the instant inquiry in my
own mind was has the gospel been pr each
ed then ? If The gospel contemptdtes an
1 entire revolution, and if it has the poOer to
effect ii, then it has NOT been preached, as a
general thing. Because the principal part
of the preaching has not only had no such
effect or tendency, and is having none, but
directly the reverse. 1t is preventing revo-
luton. Its The most effectual preventive.
No others are SO efficient in preventing the
revolution which the gospel contemplates,
as the teachers Of the religion now popular
in the world. They array themselves
against every measure that lends TO produce
this revolution. Christ began the revolution
and set an example of perfect work. He
laid perfec. foundation. But those who
have built on it with genuine materials have
always been few and far between. The
multitude have brought hay, wood and stub
bic to the work. " hat is this revolution
which the gospel contemplates and has pow
er to effect? The putting away Of selfish
| ness, and the bringing in of benevolence
The adjustment Of war, revenge, and all
violence, and the establishment Of peace
forgiveness and love. The few who are
engaged in this work are opposed and hin
g n ht, ba of IL:
! ious guides and teachers Of the day, than BY
all other influences together. .
) The speaker, under his second genera
E proposition, after speaking of prayer as
means to be used, said that the work is com
$ mitted to the Church, and TO the ChurcI
q alone r.
The inquiry arises here, 10 know who th
} church are. Can they who are otposin!
: this revolution be tie true Church? Ca
!. they who cry for blood and support syster
Of violence, be those TO whom God has con
II mitted the work Of staying blood and oyeI
e throwing violence ? ea
?, The speaker said Paul went about build
= ing1p churches. Here we have ii. Th
principal thing 10 be done in these days i
/, to build up churches. But what are the
built off And on what foundation are the
e built? Is the Terolution advanced in Pre-
e portion as these churches are built up? N
They are composed mainly of men Of VIZ
lence, who make self-preservaion and sci
| ft Gret ard
B. trarY to the self-denying and self-sacri6cir
requirements of Christ.
Al Again:-T This work must be accomplish
s ed by prayer. The effectual, fervent pray
= Of the righteous man ayaileth much.
Now do not the facts in the case pro,
= that efectual prayer has not been used
The effect which it is said this prayer wi
OF produce has not appeared Ii has no, pr
OF ducedrcvoluuon,o genuine aud radical refe
ne nation in the hearts and conduct ofthe ma
:. Of church members themselves. Physicia
: heal myself. The prayers that have be-
re used have not been accompanied with CO
" sistent acts, and Of course have been wor
ge than useless. There has been too mu
y. Praying 10 be heard and seen OF men. I
~ prayer is awaiting except that which com
" from the hearts Of those who are engaged
doing, what they can, for the accomplishing
of what is prayed for All other is mocke
om To pray, thy kingdom Gomez and do no
! Of those things which Christ taught, by p
"A cent nd eyamnla 10 he necpSSaru IN mod,
- peace and holiness in the world, and sa
rs. men from sin, is like praying for harve
sly and al the some time neglecting to till
his ground and sow.