Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1865-08-04
COMMENCEMENT.

The exercises OF the sixty-frst Commenc-
ment OF the University Of Vermont opened
on Sunday with the Baccalaureaie Sermon.
This was preached BY Prof NJ. II. BrCkHAx,
the feeble health Of Presiden, Iorrry not
permitting Linn the necessary exertIon. Pres
ident Tgrrey. however. was pre-ent IN the
pulpit. and made the opening prayer.
The BAocALAUKEsTE sERHoN
18th Behold. ! se.e you forth as sseep IN
the midst Of iroluss 5e ye, meresre, lrisc a.
serpeHfs and harmless as dOros He commence
ed by considering the advantages on the side Of
Error IN It's contest with Truth: from the energy
and ability Of wicked men: their anima,ing ha-
tired of goodness: their cunning; their negative
end, having but TO destroy which : far easier
than to build; their advantages Of position, fgh-
ting Oh interioe lines, attacking at choice any
one point Of Christian revelation while the ad-
vocsie Of Truth must keep defended al points
Of the lines Of the citadel and their uuscrupu-
lousress IL the Of means Into such an ar-
psreutly unequal coutss; ofsheep against wolves.
the Master sent his disciples Into the same
world, and the same contest. be still sends his
followers, and they mus. as Of old, be prepared
for the conflict by becoming as wise as serpents
and harmless as doves
Considering the need Of IVisdora IN order 10
the successful prosecution Of Christian effort On
Earth, Mr. Buckbam net and re:ute5 ST the
outset the popular error that gcoi nan nav
be an ignorant man snd still know all he needs
TO know and insisted earnestly that the Chris
tan man must be az wise as be can be. not to
increase his selfish enjOynents. bu, in order to
augment his capacity for christian service He
considered next the sources Of Vision. in
knowledge and EIperience-is Acquaintance
with Truth and acquaintance with Fac,s. The
wise man combines both OF these and becoming
well grounded in principles he learns BY study Of
facts how To apply them. Christian wisdom is
simply wisdom applicable 70 christian ends. and
all knowledge is Of value because It nav he used
to the christians great end. Ii Aristotle can
teach n TO argue, and Demosthenes TO plead,
We should learn Of them. The two kinds Of krorl-
=. 7ge which are especially useful however. are
'dge of The Scriptures and kDorleige Of
kh0rA heart
as the correct translation is.
uileles., las doves. the reverend
-. .,r.i5s-. I the dat, Fers to character
which bess, the seek ~ for w'sa'm 10 Inc pains
=, I.,Tnipp,-tbe tenL' sDcy 10 indifference and
stoicism-ths petty faults # cy n'olsn anu mo
-o..pe.. which betray the thin On man who has
forgotten that complete man sn< nun
" .but also worker and wurshippe.S INC *
s,ions which beset the learner in his scs ui'e-'sH'
Of tina, knowledge CT TIE world which is I s'eSsA-
" in order to effective work, but which Cox
much which else we're better unknown; snd '"e
temptations from consciousness of po~n.
In view Of these dangers two qnesiions arise
First. j. there not somewhere in the circle Of
knowledge something to rectify these bad ten |
denotes Second. is there no species Of wisdom ,
which in itself becomes guiding principle: ,
Z These questions were answered in the af5rma-
tive; and it was shown that both requisites are b,
found in the knowledge Of God in Christ World ,
" wisdom without this knowledge can succeed {
only in q world without God. In Gods world
He cannot not safely be left out Of the calculation
The authors Of the French Revolution and our
great rebellion did this. and it was because they
reckeued as if God had nothing to do with ne
world that they failed. In orderio snccess We
must discover Gods purposes and work IN the
line with them. Finally, it was shown that this
knowledge of God is spiritual aud not an H.
tellectuAl knowledge. and that we must 60 for it
10 God himself, BY prayer ard communion with
Hin. q
The discourse. of which We have thus
sketched but the leading points, was at once
simple, interesting, direct, profound. Ii
; closed with the following impressive address
TO the Graduating Class, which they rose to
reoeiw:
Gentlemen ofths Graduating Class:
Owing to the feeble health of him who should
naturally have spoken to you to-day, 1t devolves
on me. in the name Of your instructors, to ad-
dre.. TO Won few parting words Of counsel and
blessing You are about 10 leave ''ihe quiet AND
Till air of delightful stud,es. IN which you have
spent four years which you viii always eoani
.mony the pleasantest Of your lives, and to en-
Ter upou the serious work OF men, hope with
,ucb purpose OF Christian service. such high
ambition f,r the honor Of serving your gener.-
ton BY the win q God. that it is Christ himself
Who sends you forth with his commission: hs
!, ooe eeosr bat . very dubious word Of cheer
that I have given you to-day, in reminding yo9
Of the legacy which Christ Jeff TO all Who Val
uork Tar hum; IF they have persecuted Me.tney