Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-12-08

DANBY.-Rev. L. w. Brigham Of Rut-
land occupied the pulpit here, in place Of
A. W. Eastman, on Sunday the 21st ult.
The services at the Borough, in the fore
noon, was we'll attended by an apprseia-
tive audience, the subject being "Regen-
Grafton" In this discourse Mr.. Brigham
proved beyond doubt that man is not
totally depraved, as many are taught to
believe. 1t may be true with reference to
a mans character, but not to his organic
structure. He said there were two views
of regeneration in the world, one Evan
gelical and the other Liberal, and dame
trically opposed to each other. There was
difference between regeneration and
conversion, the former being Gods work
and the latter mans. A man may be
converted but not regenerated, and the
change from sinful to righteous con-
dition of life, is not a miraculous one. 1t
was subject to the natural law of develop
ment. There were two classes Of Chris
tians in the world, one negative and the
other positive, one being practical and the
other non-resistant, but majority were
OF the latter stamp. Death and not pain
was the penalty Of sin; pain was merely
a warning to us that we were pursuing
wrong course. This applied both to our
moral and physical nature. Man was
compared to a musical instrument, the
different faculties of his nature cores
ponding to the different keys of the
instrument. These faculties must be in
harmony in order to have peace and en-
joyment. In order for man to be re-
generated he must be converted and stop
SHINING. This discourse taught us a
very beautiful as we'll as practical lesson,
in showing us what was our duty in obe-
dience to the laws of our nature, and in
order TO be regenerated. We are sorry
that we are not able to give the discourse
entire, but time and space forbid, SO that
we will merely content ourselves by Civ.
ing few of the principal points upon
which the gentleman so eloquently
touched. ....
The services at the Corners in the after.
noon was not so we'll attended on account
Of its not being generally known. His
subject was "How shall we know that we
are Christians" He said there were many
tests by which we might know this. 1t
does not make a man Christian to be-
long to the church merely. The true
Christian carries the evidence with him
in his daily walks. The old saying, 81
know that have passed from death unto
life because love the brethren" is an
other and very good test. Mr.. Brigham
explained in very able manner what
constitutes christianity. He said that
and religion were synonom-
ous, and christianity that did not en-
Iarge our manhood and our spiritual view,
and make us better, was no christianity
at all. Christianity has reference merely
to this life and not to the future we
should live for to-day and not for to-mor-
row; we cannot be prepared for what is
10 come in, the future, unless we are faith
Jul to-day, and do our duty. The intu-
tions of the soul were the best evidence
If the existence of God and of immortal
ty. His subject suggested many practi-
al questions, which were answered in a
,ery philosophical manner. This dis
course clearly and plainly answered the
question embodied in the text, and must
lave removed all doubts, il there were
my, which the hearers had in reference to
What constitutes Christian. 1t proved
hat christianity was practical, and that
It was no evidence because man was a
member of the church he was Christian
he must be a practical Christian, with
moral stamina enough to grapple with the
temptation of the world. He must be
long suffering, benevolent, temperate,
meek and humble, and the man who can
not identity himself with all these graoes,
is no christian. He spoke at the Borough
again in the evening. Subject: "What is
Truth" We have never heard these sub
iects handled in more able manner, and
we regret that more could not have heard
the discourses. They gave universal
to all, notwithstanding the
audience was composed of nearly all de-
nominations. They were pronounced ex-
cellent by ell wac heard them. Mr..
Brigham is a gentleman of deep thought
and very fluent and pleasing speaker,
and his discourses philosophical. We
hope he will preach to us again, and
when. we hope, there will he larger
number in attendance !. C. W.
Danby, Nov. 23d, 1870.