Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-03-30
Extempore Preaching.

DIR. Robert Smith was settled at
Pequea, Penn, in 1750, where he con-
tinued to preach and also to teach in
his. Classical Academy until his death,
which occurred about the year 1885.
A near neighbor of DR.. Smiths was
Quaker, or Friend, whose name, al
though often mentioned to me, now
escapes my recollection. | will as
sumo it to be William Jones. DR..
Smith and Mr.. Jones were very good
friends, and often visited each other.
One day DR.. Smith said,
"Friend Jones, notice that although
we are good friends and neighbors, yet
have never seen you at my church,
or meeting-house as you call it."
That is very true, friend Robert,
but thee knows the reason. We qua
kers, as we are called, are not in fa-
vor of hireling ministry, who are
educated especially for that purpose
We favor those who preach only by
the Spirit"
We'll" says the Doctor, @without
entering upon the first point of your
objection at present, | think I can say
that we Presbyterians follow the teach
ings of the Spirit in our sermons to
the people"
"Oh! no, friend Robert, thee knows
very well that thee prepares thy dis
course before thee enters the pulpit" !"
"That is quite true, to some extent,
but nevertheless l can preach without
such previous preparation.
well, then" said the quakers, II
will try thee; | will go to hear thee
preach on this condition, namely, that
1 will give thee a text, which thee must
not see until thee goes into the pulpit. y
Il accept the Offer" says DR.. Smith.
"Very well, then, [ will go to thy
Westinghouse next First-Day; and
will send up the text by the sexton
after thee has made the long prayer
which | learn thee makes"
THAT is not quite what | expected
when you made the proposition" says
DR.. Smith, "but | accept it; and will
expect to see you at the Pequea church
next Sunday morning"
DR.. Smith entered his pulpit the
next Sabbath with some anxiety. A
glance over the congregation showed
him that his quaker neighbor was there
and at the appointed time, he expected
the text He commenced his services
in his usual manner, and after the
"long prayer" he commenced in very
long Psalm. | believe it was not the
10th Psalm throughout, but it was
quite long psalm. As soon as the
precentor, or fine singer rose, the
sexton came up the aisle, and handed
the preacher the text. 1t was from
the Book of Ezra, 1st chapter, and
latter clause of the 9th verse: "Nine
: and Twenty Knives. A sharp as
well as hard text, fought the doctor
The singing of the long psalm gave
him a few minutes for reflection; when
that was ended, he arose and annOun
ced his text, and noticed many q smile
upon the faces of his congregation
even some venerable elders could not
preserve the usual solemnity of their
cou1tenances. But the preacher pro
,, ceeded with his discourse. He spoke
briefly of the captivity of the Jews ir
Babylon; of their condition there =
the proclamation of Cyrus, of the won
dertul preservation of the utensils OF
the temple which had been taken from
Jerusalem by the conquerors of India
none of the knives which were used
for Staying and preparing the sacrifice:
were lost, mlslaid or destroyed. They
were, said DR.. Smith, under the specia
, care and protection Of God and were
in due time restored to the temple
He then enlarged upon the specia
providence of God. Not a sparrow
falls without His notice. and atht
very hairs of our head arc numbered.
: aThe Lord knows them that are His
t and none of them shall perish"
The quaker was not only pleased
but he was aroused and delighted
The next day he sent for d.. Smitl
to dine with him. After dinner hi
b invited DR.. S. to take walk arount
> his farm, and coming to a pasture
field in which were his cattle, he stop
peb abruptly, and said:
> II was much pleased with thy dis
+ course, friend Robert. last First day
+ Now, thee knows, we follow our lead
u er, George Fox, who bore his test
$ mony against hireling ministry; W
n never pay our public friends, but W
n sometimes give them presents. Iwisl
/ to give thee present. 1 have man,
9 good milch COWS. | wish thee to sc
e lect one for thyself.'
/ DR.. Smith wished to decline til
$ gift, but the quaker insisted, and sale
d II will be offended at thee if the
q refuses"
). The doctor having noticed a YER
IS small and ill-looking cow, said,
a "Well, if | must take one of tn
a cows, | will take that small red cow
n pointing to the one he had noticed
y and which he supposed the least walt
y able.
u .Well l Dc profess" says frien
0, Jones, "thee does not only preach b
q the Spirit, but thee can choose BY ii
e Spirit; that little red COW is the beS
"a one | have; my wife would not sell
Is for one hundred dollars, but thee sha
ST. have it.
And accordingly the same evcnin
the little red COW was driven to tf
re "Manse," and proved to he valuabl
20 acquisition to the Dominie's dairy
y Pyesb. Standard.
,h A young widow of very polite az