The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-04-20

charge in the fullncss of the blessing of the
Gospel Of peace, and be resolved that Christ
and Him cruciGed shall be the subject OF
your knowledge, and the theme OF your preach
ing. There is no reasonabIe excuse for a pro-
fassod minister to be living in a low state OF
spirituality, without the fire Of religious
zeal, or the high attainmens Of a sancti6ed
heart and life. Those who preach the COS.
pei should themselves be living apostles,
known and read Of all men. Go 10 the new
appointment with new conservation Of all
you have and are to God, praying that be
may give you souls as your hire. If your
charge be good one, be thankful, and see
that it does not detcllorate upon your hands ;
if it be weak appointment, in the name OF
God make it strong la regard to your sup
port, trust in God and do your duty, and you
may safely hope to be led.
The charges will soon be receiving their
new ministers. We trust that tney have
united in prayer to God to have the rig man
sent them, and let them receive The preacher
as che sent from God to labor for their spr-
itual welfare. Do not draw any conclusion
the reverse of this, until you have thoroughly
proved him. Many charges who have been
at first disappointed in the minister sent, have
had reason in the result to thank God for
their disappointment. Tie charges may do
much to help their preachers, and render them
more efficient. Sustain your minister by
your prayers and hearty cooperation. Let
his preaching be rendered effective, by being
mixed with faith on the part Of those who
hear it. An exchange has the following
timely hints on the reception of the new min
lister:
Every man in every charge has an inAu-
encc either to advance or retard the Gospel.
II he has made up his mind TO find fault with
every thing and every body, and especially
the new preacher and his family, he will ac.
complsh part Of the work OF retardation.
There is o wonderful power in ice, and es
pecially in the ice about the human heart. a
reluctant grasp of the hand, slow. unwilling
movement Of the person, with a heagtless cast
OF countonance, accompanied by few cold
words about the dead state Of religion in
our charge, 'the miserable character Of
last years preacher, etc., will do wonders in
mischief, and make the preacher wish he had
gone to a charge Of different spiritual condi-
ton. Somc of you will like the prcaching
Of tho new minister, and some of you will
not. This is, in the general, according TO the
constitution Of the human mind, but some-
times the disposition not to like is to be
charged to the uglincss of habit. Some men
in all societies are critics of preaching, their
time being mainly occupied in reciting to 9TH
ers the poor delivery, the poor logic, the poor
rhetoric, or the poor something else of the s'r
mon They glance or wink to friend across
the aisle or in the corner, about this or that
passage, and as soon as the start home is made
or they get into qudnunc, the preacher or
his sermon are laid under terribetribute. A
man may form the habit Of looking after and
treasuring up stories Of any sort; this Every
body knows. So a man can hunt up, treasure
up, brood over, magnify, and retail preach
er's faults, and alter awhile have u sort Of
comfort in the miserable work. Now, sup
pose there are things about the new preacher
you do not and can not very we'll like, is it
good policy to tell your children, your boys
and girls, your hired men and neighbors so?
viii preacher reform in his habits because
Ihere is active backbiting concerning him ?
Can he? Will his spirit not rather be sor-
rowed if he discovers that brother when
face to face with him is redolent with smiles,
but when behind his back is full of nottlGs
and knives Is'it good way to promote
godIipess to be perpetualIy picking flaws and
finding tapt?"