Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1846-12-10
StarnY SUNDAYS.

Bushnell, of Hartford, recently preached
.fmon to his people on the Uses and Duties Of
Stormy Sundays, from the text Fire and hail
snow and vapcrs stormy wind fulfilling his word
From this text he in his peculiar manner, lectured
them right plainly on the wicked habit of staying
away from worship on stormy Sundays. After al
hiding the fact that every created thing pleasant
and terrible, including the flying artillery Of the
weather, were invoked to praise the Lord he turn
ed to his fair weather hearers. for whose special
benefit he had prepared the discourse, and chosen
fair and genial day on which to deliver IT, and
told them in the outset that he meant them, by in.
Producing his subject after the following strain -
There is a class among you, who visibly enough
cannot sympaihize with all the sentiments Of this
glowing and lofty psalm. The principal signih-
Eance oil the weather, at least OF all foul wealth
p, appears in their estimation, 10 be, that It ex-
them from worship. The SHOWS, and vapors
aud stormy wind, do not much fulfil the word oil
JehOyah as call them away from this word and the
worship of his house. Their seat is sure to be va
cant every stormy Sunday aud too often where there
is only slight promise of rain, of any other kind
OF unpleasant weather IL the wind blows, or the
walks are wet covered with little snow; il the
cold is uncomfortable the heat little too in.
tense il fog damps the air. or an wind chills
il, they take out an indulgence from the weather.
and consider the worship of God as relieved by a
dIspensaton.
The Doctor then went on to prove that stormy
Sundays not only very harmless TO all persons
but invalids but that they really have high relg
ious purpose II is very desirable according to his
doctrine, TO have stormy Sabbaths, and ought to
improve them opportunities Of special blessing in
attending the public worship Of God Towards
the close he enforced his doctrine in this strain:
i hope that all my fair weather hearers are pres
ent and, being present. that they will receive the
salutary lesson give them. ! have not said, and
did no; TO say all that could relate to a sub
ject unpleasant have not rebuked your self
indulgence / might have done. ] have not
spoken of the chill worship often suffers by the
thinness Of the assembly and the many empty seats
displayed for was not willing to ask your atten-
ton here patrons Of the place. have not dwelt
on your excuses, and removed them-the plea that
you had better spend the day Of God by yourselves;
for you know that you spend il in no such exercise
worship. or preparation for better word-the
plea often present TO the gddy heart Of vanity that
a stormy day is no fit occasion for the display of
your person. plea that you cannot yourselves ut
ter because of lis conscious want Of dignity but
which nevertheless has power with many-the plea
that il will Injure your health 10 encounter the
rough weather for you will expect me TO be here
in every storm that blows, and you can as well be
"eie as - anu u w 'n'tecn years a'ienuahce on
my duties here without any consideration Of the
weather, in lis widest storms and fercest cold,
have never suffered the least injury. there is not
much reason TO lear for yOu-cerainiy not for any
who in equally sound health. To invads
will make allowance, though even they would
commonly suffer BY no exposure incident 10 their
attendance There is such poison in wet and
cold as many love to suppose; and if were not so
selfindulgent, so ready to shrink from the rough
moods of nature, we should have clearer minds and
stronger bodies. The worst and most destructive
poison is confinement, aud the pent air that sim
mers all the day, in heated rooms, unchanged