Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1846-04-30
A Voice from the PuIpit--The Pastoral
Relation.


We take the following extracts from sermon
lately preached by Rev. Mr. Bennett Of Woburn,
in Mass on the occasion of his 25ih anniver-
say as pastor Of the Congregational Society tn that
place They bear directly upon the practice, so
common of late years, Of changing Ministers and
people for some slight feeble causc-and the
words of his text, ~ dccH among my peOph,"
were sngularly appropriate to his subject The
pLainness with which the following truths are ut
tered, is by no means their least recommendation.
They are we'll worth every body's reading:
To drceH in any place, means to abide there-not
merely to tarry few weeks, or few months, or
few years. but to settle down with view to
permanent residence. When minister accepts
the invitation or people, and consents to settle
among Them il is always with the understanding
that he is to dceH in the midst ofthem. But much
to the detrment both OF ministers and people, there
is not that permaneney in the ministry now, that
there was half century ago Then, we used to
say, for example, DR.. Ripley of Concord, Dr. ke-
lopg of birmingham Dr. Homer Of Newton, DIR.
Osgood of Medford. These men dwet among
their own people all the days Of their life. The
moment the name Of the minister was mentioned,
we associated with it, the idea of the place where
he was settled, where he dwelt among his own
people Oh, how different noD Now, we are
compelled to saw for instance, Mr. c., OF l.
formerly. then Of s., then of W, Me-, then
of A.. Mass, and where he is now we cannot
telI-the last we heard Of him he was preaching
N.
Its almost necessary, now, for ministers TO build
their houses on whees-and If things go on TOR
twenty wears to come as they have for twenty years
past am not certain that shall not find 1t nee
cssary TO construct a railroad through every town
with special car for the accommodation oil minis
ters and it will have to be half priced car, too,
for no minister will be able TO pay full fare 1t
is really deplorable to see to what things nave
GOMEZ I'm some towns, | have been on SIX or sew
en- different councils, to settle and unsete ministers
where. l have no doubt it would have been vastly
better for them to have kept their old minister to
the present day. But it is not always the fault OF
the people that minister is dismissed The fault
is quite as often on the other side. Ministers are
as much to blame in this matter as their people
Often they do not settle with the intention OF stay
ing any longer than they can ind a better tefd-
Instead of identifying their own interests with those
of their people, they are all the while watching Tor
an opportunity 10 change their position. Is there
vacancy in an eligible parish they seek Tor an
introduction to that people. Andwthout the knowl-
edge of their flock, they sometimes go ana
preach as candidates. Now this is wrong-il IS
absolutely cruel 1t is about the same thing as II
would be for a married man to be all the wh'ie
looking out for prettler woman than MS own
A minister who will do this ought never to be
settled over any people. He ought to follow the
example of those coquetsh women, VINO receive
attentions from many men aud marry none IN
deed they usually come to like result for aI'ei
having excited the attention oil several parishes
without gratifying it, they cease 10 receive u''eu
tion. and are compeIled to live in single blessed
ness Such conduct certainly discovers hckl'
mind and unstable heart. 1t is adapted to destroy
that confidence which people have righi &c
repose in their own mnster-for, II he is ordained
over them, he is their own to all lntents ana put
poses; he has nothing to do with seeking any oihe
parish neither has another parish any lhihg 70 u'
with seeking him Ifthey want minister let theh
look for some one already in the market, and no
violate the tenth commandment, by coveting an
thing that is their neighbours Coyeting their min
lister is Just as bad in the sight of God as coYeunl
their neighbours house. or their neghbors wIe'
his manservant or his mald-servant, or amy thlhg
else that is their nephbors. minister is Gel
tainly something-and if he is settled once over
people he is thers-he is their own minister II
belongs TO them as much a servant whom the
have hired; and that society deserves severe "a
buke which tempts him TO leave them, by ohenh
him higher salary. All such temptations, howe'
err every faithful minister will resist, ana say,
The language of the Shunamite in my text i awe
among my own people"
In some places il is now regarded almost as a
objectionable offence, for clergyman to be Owe
fifty years of age. Indeed even before he is forfl
some begin to whisper, that it is time Tor their oil
minister to ask dsmssion, that they may secur
the services of young man-such complaints reac
the ears of the pastor-hs sensitive heart is grie
ed at the fact that his performances on accour
of his age, are so unacceptable to his People--b!
being unable to cause his grey hairs to turn blacl
third set of teeth to grow IN his head his onl
course Of safety is to ask dlsniisson. NOW, IS
right to treat faithful servant oil Christ IN III
manner2 Because, forsooth, man is not DO
should his head be cut oil? Who thinks OF cea
ing to employ blacksmith, or carpenter or
shoemaker, or doctor, or a lawyer, or sialesma