The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1859-04-23
candidating!


The following is number three Of Geri.s
Of articles published in the Congregntionalist.
giving the trials and pcrpleAitcv to which a
ministerial candidate" was subjected. There
are hints thrown out in Il which would pro6t
any congregation to consider The picture
although vivid, may not be overdrawn. Il
will repay a careful rcadIng;l
The Sabbath proved to be a beautiful day.
The vernal sun shone in his strength, th-
huds on the liacs began to swell, and the
voices OF the birds we're heard singing thanks.
givings TO the Giyer Of all good. The VIII
J .aRe was pleasent one--and delightfully."- situ-'
a'eu' where great variety Of scenery remind-
ed the beholder Of the munifeence of the
Creator. Mr.. DoLsop. however, could no,
enjoy these things. While on every side he
saw much for which he Eel, deb, Of graft.
tade' he was not happy. Iio was to 20 to
the sanctuary, and dndeAvor 70 preach the
Gospel, while he felt little Of the true syirH
Of the preacher
The eonyietion seized him, that the eonpr..
CATION would come, not TO hear the GOSPEL
but to hear and to see the man. lie mus,
80 to be looked at, not heard lie must 90
to minister the curiosity Of the hearers. and
ure, would as certainly prevent ms settIement
rs the declaration Of a most dumnNble heresy.
He could not help feeling That that no was
somewhat in the same predcament with the
stalled OK" who is brought out to be eI-
hibited-and then 20 auetumb before the re-
lentless knife OF the butcher.
lie fell upon his knees, and eafneStly mn.
plored the help Of God, that he might be en-
I'abled to present the truth in the love Of il,
and with sincere desire that lie might be
glori6ed. lie prayed thai, whatever might
be the Judgment formed of the pFtHvhrr,5 the
people might not reject his meSsagel
In due time, the notes Of the Sabbath bell
were heard u,tering their pleasing tones.
The neighboring hills caught the sound, and
echoed it from one to the other. Had Mr.
| Dobson been in camer state Of mind, the
melodous sounds would have charmed him.
| As it was, it was only call to an unweleoms
task.
When the bell began to toll, he set out
With Col. \, Tor the sanctuary. The COM
manding form of the Colonel rendered him
fNounllNhbho every NHNEtt anu no hOONtT ulu
they step upon the sidewalk, than the eyes
of all ehurch.goers were turned towards them.
Those In advance cast glances behind, thoss
in the rear endeayored to look over, or
around, or through those ahead Of them, that
they might catch one glimpse Of poor Mr..
Dobson, while those on the street at right
angles to the one on which they we're walk
-. 4
along.
al wonder" said, Mr.. Bales to his wife
"who the Colonel has got to-day. There is
nothing very prepoSleSsing in HIS appear
ance."
lie may be good man, for al, that" said
Mrs. Bales.
GOOD man or poor, hope he Sil9 suit"
sqid Mr.. Bales. "For my part, was salts
fed with our former minister, and think he
was as smart minister as We need, or can
expect to command. ] am sick OF these cam
ddates. They are as thick ns the locusts in
Egypt Sabbath before last we had one, last
Sabbath another. and if / can see straight
this one is new conner. Where he is from
don't know, nor do I know where he will
20, Dul ~ ne SUITS tue rest content.
am anxious to have minister. There is "
great deal Of force in Deacon BIS illustration,
lie says a flock Of sheep wll thrive much
better when one man feeds them, than they
will to have one man to fodder in the morn
ing, and another at noon, and another at
night II is so with a church. They need
n shepherd, aud not stated supplies, nor caB-
didates"
By this time, the beii had ceased tolling,
and Mr.. Bales and his wife hurried along
. and took their seats in the sanctuary. After
; the player on instruments had regaled the
audience with voluntary, the preacher arose,
and after a short and impressive invocation.
! rsud portion Of Scripture and a hymn.
I During tho prayer that followed, he was
I enabled to rise above the despoDdsat fssl-
inEs ef the rsorning, iRosope good, dsgTsS.--