The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1859-03-09

In doctrine uncorrupt; in language plain,
And plain in manner decent solemn, chusie,
And natuIal in gesture; much impress
HIMSELF as conscious o. bis awful char C.
And anxious mainly tina, the flock he re ia
May feel It too aifsc;ionais in look,
And tender in address, ~ well becomes
a messenger Of grace 10 guilty men,
Here, was seen his wisdom, not in con-
ducting the inquiry meeting, which du-
ring most of his pastorate did not exist in
modern form, but in aresting the sinners
attention, and in guiding him, where col-
vinced Of bis sin, to the Savior. Il was
not his practice to say to the convicted
sinner, "Go, pray Tor forgiveness" but
like Christ to say, repent and Je2sCc. He
taught not that regeneration consists it
resolving to lead new life, but in be-
coming new creatures in Christ, through
the Holy Spirit. He taught not that
asking the prayers of Christians, or the
declaration Of a purpose to serve God is
itself step towards Heaven, He taught
rather that no duty is acceptably done
that no prayer is acceptably offered unless
proceeding from penitent heart, Equal
ly scrirtural were his instructions to those
commencing a christian course, and to
persons in every subsequent stage Of chris
tian experience.
1t is true that Father Bushnell was &C.
customed to conduct his meetings for con-
ference and prayer, with less Of formality
than most pastors of his time. He was
however lover Of perfect order and pro-
priety. He loved to hear the female voice
in praise, and to have it often heard in
supplication in the female circle. But
he never encouraged females to lead, in
audible prayer, the devOtions Of q promis-
cuous assembly.
Few School Houses, probably, have been
the scenes of more deep conviction Of sin,
or of more triumphs Of renewing and
sanctifying grace. In Cod. book Of re-
membrauce are recorded the labors Of
many pious students Of Middlebury Col.
lece, who were led, during the frequent
revivals OF religion under Father Bushnel's
ministry, to meet the assemblies here con-
vened. Here Fisk and Parsons and Henry
and multitude Of other young men loved
sit under his paternal counseiS, and in
their turn, add their exhortations to his
own Here the eccentric Marshall, in the
early days of Father Bushnell's ministry,
urged his quaint but forcibe expositions
OF divine truth on the conscience of his
hearers. Here the venerable colored
preacher, Father Haynes, was wont occa-
sionally to preach, pointing his hearers
with unerring retentiveness Of memory, to
chapter and verse, for any passage to
which he wished to direct their attention.
Here long list of ministers, whose friend
ship for Father Bushnell, and respect for
his virtues, led them in their iourneyings
to spend a Sabbath in his family, were
wont to favor his people with their instruc-
tions
But this structure thus distinguished,
having for more than half century well
answered the end Of its erection, has like
all earthly things, grown old, and yielded
its place to another, more ample in its
proportions, and more modern in its finish;
which has recently been erected nearly on
the same site. May the glory Of this
latter house, be greater than that Of the
former. MEMORY.