The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-12-12
From the Temperance Standard,
MARKET HOUSE SERMON.
BY A LAY PREACHER.

BY A A PREACHER.
Tine following sermon was prepared
for a meeting of the clergymen of Phila
delphia, at the close of the week of PRAY
err, Nov. Is, 1844J
Beloved Brethren IL am happy to SEE
before me all the ministers of the variou;
rel gious sects in this city of Churches
and to enjoy the privilege of giving YOU
some friendly counsel. AS | get nothing
for my services, | shall not hesitate to tell
you the truth. In doing 50 | shall offend
none bu. those whom the truth ofends,
Ny text is a part of the forty-second verse
OF The eleventh chapter Of Luke.
"7Hcse things ought ye to haze done,
and not 10 leace the other unaome.n
Brethren, you have devoted a week to
prayer. In the announcement thereof, YOU
complain oflhe spiritual dearth in the
churches generally. and the extreme evils
in the world around u.s. And YOU have
prayed God to pour out his spirit, and stir
up the churches, and cast out the evils.
Prayer is a good thing, and | will no.
tora moment doubt that your PRAYERS
have been sincere and devout. But prav.
er will not do every thing. There is
more wanting than prayer. Though
men fought always to pray" yet thew
should never stop there. You know this
as well as any one, and hope YOU are
about 10 act on it.
knew an old negro down in MARYLAND
who was q very good servant, in the main,
but exceedingly lazy. He became reli>
gious and prayed great deal, for he had
preat faith in prayer. One night after
getting in bed, he bethought himself that
he had not fastened the door of the orn
crib, and that the cattle might get al the
corn. But the night was very cold and
he snug and warm in bed. So he Just con-
cluded 10 depend on God, and after pray.
ing a long while that God would prosper
him, and enable him to do his duties. and
would take care of his wife and children,
aud especially that he would see that nos
thing went wrong about the barn during
night, the old man turned over content,
and slept till morning. But when he
went to the barn in the morning, he found
that the cattle had got to the corn, and
some Of them had nearly killed themselves
with 1t. Alter this lesson, old Jacob used
say that there was no use in bothering
The Lord about our W business. He
had learned that when God has given men
he means and ability to perform a duty,
he expects them 10 do il without Gepend-
ing any further on him.
Dependence on God, by brethren. is a
christian quality. No man can be a
christian without it. But it won't do 10
use it as a cloak for incidence orinaclion.
When ! went to school, used 10 take nv
book and slate to the teacher and tell him
| could not work the question. He would
ask me If | had tried, and he told me a sto.
OF a WAGNER who got his team stalled
10 The mud, and went to Hercules for help.
Hercules bid him go back and put his own
shoulder 10 the wheel and spur up his
and if that would not do, he would
then come and help him.
Divine Providence has given us heads
and hearts and hands. He has endowed
US with the power to think and to feel and
10 Go. He has taught US TO know good
rom evil. Duty requires us to exercise
.hese good gifts, under the direction of his
laws, and 10 pray him to bless our labors.
without works is IDLE. Hand in
hand they accomplish wonders,