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

time; il is 4 lifelong struggle with foe who's
energy il will be hard TO match, and whose Gun
ming no wise man may dare to despise- We
send you forth-Christ sends you forth-not 70
erioy the Injuries ola life of lette-ed but 70
enter upon the severe campaign which truth IL
vaging against error; TO receive hard blows and
deliver harder ones; to vrestie against princi-
palities and povers; against wickedness In nigh
places.
will not insult your ambitious hopes by in
tinating that il you feel too weak for the fierce
encounter to which God and good men welcome
you The pleasant PLACES Of wealth and leisure
are always in this country open TO young men
Of your capabilities and sttainments- / know
that standing where you are to-day, with such a
past as you are Just leaving, and such & future
as you are painting for. the very difficulties and
h4rdships Of she enterprise increase your ardor
to engage in it.
ChIist sends you forthto encounter subtle forms
of error, doing battle with weapons which only
a trained intellect can foil. BE ye. theref re,
wise ss serpents'' Be not misled by the fallscy,
born Of ignorance and Incidence, that as the war
fare is moral one, the tactics must not be car
nal. We must meet the perversions Of unsanc-
tilted intellect by superior intellect, sanctihed.-
Error supported by logic must De confronted,
not with vain repetitious Of dogmstical Asser-
tons, but by better logic, minisiering TO truth.
You have made some substantial sttRinments in
the elements Of wisdom but if you would win
any great ctories in the conflict before You,you
will need 10 70 on, ever widening and deepening
your knowledge, or you will soon find that you
are contending but with 3 sword of laih against
the keen Damascus blade OF error.
We also counsel you, BE harmless as doves. I"
We would have you, both for the honor OF good
learning, and the Wholesomeness Of your own
influence, beware on the one hand Of the perverse
pride, and on the other Of the csllous indifer-
entism into which the pursuit Of wisdom IS apt
to lead men. Beware ofthsi intellectual pride
and worse ambition by which the angels fell
and man can never hope TO win. Strive to re-
tain the simplicity, the ingenuousnsss, which is
20 charming in young man, but becomes gu
premely beautiful in 8 var-worn veteran in the
service Of truth And above all things, first,
last, midst, and without end, aspire 10 that
knowledge which will give both impulse and
direction to all other knowledge; which will
keepyour intellect unpervsrted and yoursHactions
pure; which will give consistency and wisdom to
sll your plans and your sctivities-ihs true
knowledge Of God, by Faith in His Son Jesu,
Christ
Go forth then, in Christ's name, into the fields
where truth is maintaining this stern conflict
Go, with your young enthusiasm, 10 re-sninate
those who are already bearing the burden and
heat Of the day. Go into the different profess
mons in which God calls you to serve HIM, each
one purposing with Gods help, 10 do sll that
one christian man can do, for his Master and HI:
fellows. Some OF your former classmates have
already seen service in this warfare. Two Of
them hive been called to give up their lives fol
the sacred cause. We name them here to-day
TO pay passing tribute ofrespect to their men,
ory: Chauncey Lsngdon Church. who fell a.
Chancellorville and Oakley Hale Smith. who
died Of wounds received at Drury's Bluff, both
men Of sterling character and excellent promise
These. who ~ Gods Distinguishing prOyidenc,
have been raised 10 the rank OF martyrs, and
the others who by Gods favor hsve come safely
out Of the eofict, have already done something
for the cause Of Christ. which YOU and all Of u,
may be proud ofAnd thankful for. Not without
| them has this last triumph ofrighteousness beer
achieved. And now your turn has come to en-
ter the field not like them we trust, 10 Kill anC
destroy men, but II combat Sin and wrong, viii
intellectual snd spiritual weapons We hsv'
aided 10 harness you for the fight. We shal
watch your career with sEection.ts and hopefu
solicitude Every triumph you win, will b
glory and Joy 10 Us. MAY He, to whom
trust we all alike dedicate ourselves, may CHRIS
himself own YOU for his disciples, and send you
forth with HIS seal on your foreheads, with th'
white stone craven with his name in your hand
and his blessed assurance animating your henrti
and making your lives eaectual for good, 10
sn with you always"
The exercises closed with the followin.
original Hymn written to accompany the Ser
mon. by Mr. Samuel ". TOrrey. OF the gradu,
sting Class