The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1858-04-03
our Annual Fast,

90 question the pruprioiy OF perpehnllhR inc
custom of our Puritan ancestors, through the
appointmcnt By the State Executive, OF an
annual Fasti not because there are wanting
annually or at any time reasons 20 JUSTIFY "a
call upon the entire people Of the State 10
humble thomsclyes before Almighty God ~
view Of their manifold sins, and 10 seek 10y
prayer and hstlng toaycrt his judgments and
propiliate his favor but because often Meth
or the executive ror the people Penerally'nnd
not even majority Of proiossed Christians
have any heart for such an observance OF lhe
dny m COMFORTS with its title, or promises
10 mike Il the medium Of amy higher good
than It's rest or recreation. There Is only
moekely In perpctuatiug from mere respect
10 AN ancestral custom the empty show OF
fasting and humiliation II We have no kind
red emotions Of sorrow aIh penileuee with
those who originated the institution There
nre however circumstances IN our present
condition and IN the condition Of the whole
country, which justify the hope that the sew
cral days appointed for this object in this and
ncighborine States will be observed with mQrg
general propricty aud profit than has been
common for many years heretofore,
The spirit Of worldlncss that has been for
wears growing more aud more intense among
all classes Of society and even threatening
to scculsrilc the Christian Church 30 as 10
oblilcratc is distinctive characteristic as the
salt of the earth aud the light Of world has,
by one Of those sudden rcvcrscs in human NJ.
fairs with which Providence occasionally
teaches TO individuals aud nations the mad
ness and folly Of their exclusive devotion to
material objects, been for the while rcprcsscd'
and muldtudcs, disappointed in the prosecu'
ton Of their plans for accommodating wealth.
have opened their eyes, and, as one awakhg
from q dream, begun 10 enquire What shall
it profit man though he gain the whole
world and lose his soul, or what should man
give in exchange for hj0 soul" Never, VIC op-
. prehcnd, in any former period Of our countryH
history, have all classes Of its people-the
Ihigh and low, the rich and poor been
| constrained 20 zee and feel their dependence
upon an oycrruling Providence for whatever
pertains 20 their condition as during the few
months past, and while the din Of business
and the insane hurry of the multitude tina,
traffic in the crowded cities have been for a
while suspended men have become thought
ml and serious, and disposed to listen to the
voices Of conscience and revelation proposing
TO them the higher aims and ends Of life
Under such circumstances, asw have alre9d!
intmutcd, hc,Proclamation Of the Executive
7 Of our State inviting the people to tte-ot-
scryance Of day ofpraycr and fasting can.
net fail to receive more than ordinary atten
ton.
1t is not our province to prophecy unto the
people or 10 set before them what exercise
and sentiments rT5Tiic w.
pulpit belongs this part Of popular insiruc
ton, and vet inasmuch as We address som'
and perhaps many who seldom or never list
en- to the message Of the preacher, it ma,
not be impairment in us to address TO sucl
a few suggestions which their case seems t'
require IIearkcn, therefore, We who are un
accustomed to worship in the House Of Go'
on the Sabbath, or turn aside from you
business on the recurrence of our annual Fas
: dny,- to the cxhurtutou of tho lay preacher
Consider first of all to what end pertains YOU
exclusive pursuit Of objects that can neve
satisfy the demands of your immortal nature
. Remember that life to you-to all of us, i
invested with solemn responsibilities that
= involves more important, quesiionings thar
mcrcly-r"whot shall we eat, or what shall W
drink, or whcrcwithal shall we be clothed,
/ Often, doubtless, in your serious hours, whc
$ YOU have suffered reason and conscience 4
debate with you about your duty and destiny
YOU have felt the truth of this, and for III
+, uTunrrt rcri11ir.-irt~t entertained a f''sFFes
t to rise above the sordid pursuit OF matcrio
) objects to higher style of living to the cor
= temptation of your relations to your make
c and future state of being. But the visio
: passed from your view your purpose to h'
p gin n new life was forgotten, and the WORT
. resumed over YOU and still holds its wonte
swnv. Shall its dominion terminate only wit
e your probation here below? If it be so, Ill
a will to YOU have been failure, and its suns,
' hours will be illumined with no pleasant re
respect Of duties done in its morning houi
A or nj midday. III II De not so, theh the po"'
II of habit must he broken by the resolute pu
" pose of the soul, conscious Of its condition
S, but resolved to rise above it and be free
u There must be sober and persistent rcflecto
!, such, just such, as We are invited to entertai
c on the return of our annual Fast day. ii
s ten therefore, We who have heretofore hecdC
q not the invitation of the civil magistrate, M
i go into the house Of prayer and give one DIT
b. from those devoted to your secular pursui
T. to an earnest consideration of your relation
s to the Most High. Humble yourselves b
ID fore him in view of your wasted priyilcges,ne
ected duties and manifold transgressions
-, his righteous law, and seek 10y penitencc al
prayer for strength to begin and persist in
!" new life. Who knows but that so doing, q
nivina cpnrpv Tint Ia nnv rpnoVntinu rnul