Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1871-08-04

siue world There are weak souls strug-
giing against the temptation which is horri-
Die to them, bat which they have not
strength to put from them weary souls SO
tired they would gladly rest from life for
ever down deep under the grass fresh Young
souls, shocked by some cruel disappoint-
ment, ,aghast at the grim, forbidding aspect of
the life they loved SO much and dreamed SO
fair; souls with wounds of death and sepa-
ration still fresh and bleeding. All these look
up from the pews to the minister. through
sad eyes that plead for help.
What is the response? Sometimes good
words, Christ-like words, that sink down
into the troubled depths of the soul, calming
and cheering. The minister may never
know ii, but it often happens that a few
words of his enter into and become the rul-
ing influence Of life, are remembered long
after be is gone where, perhaps, his greatest
reward Is seeing, at last, the fruits of all his
weary years of labor on the earth Bot
sometimes alas the minister offers these
yearning souls only spiritual 'boly-clabber'
and gravel stones dry, doctrinal disquisi-
tions, denunciations of other denominations,
liieless. see-sawing away on some dead and
buried idea that has not the remotest
connection with any actual life in the world,
or dreary 'goody' talk, delivered with the
sleepy air which says, Il utter this, not be-
cause it is expected of me Sometimes it is
I'll raps and blows lie deals cut relentless
ly the terrors Of the Lord, the thunders Of
the word, terrifying or hardening the almost
souls that one earnest word of
Christs love would have won forever.
As Polly INDUCED in these reflections, in
that comfortable, superior feeling frame of
mind always impaired bv realizing sense Of
our neighbors infrmities, Conscience-that
unploasantly plain speaking, neyer-to-be-
silent friend, who is always lurking in am
bush, ready to pounce upon us when least
expected, conscience appeared TO Polly,
right there on the stone wall, and sternly
demanded
How is it with some Sunday school teach
ers Of my acquaintance? Are not they also
to a little congregation Of tender
souls, sensitive to the slightest influence, not
only from the words Of the teacher, but yet
more from her character With their lips
they may learn the beatitudes as given in
the fifth chapter OF Matthew. but don't their
hearts too often learn such beatitudes as
these p
Blessed are the rich, for every one shall
respect them.
Blessed are those that wear fine clothes.
for they shall look pretty.
Blessed are the proud for they shall 60 in
the best society.
Blessed are the gay and trivial, for they
shall have good time.
Blessed are those who indulge in witty
gossip about their neighbors' for they shall
be considerd agreeable.
And then, Polly, continued Conscience,
. when there is only one short half hour out
of the whole week to be devoted To that in
struction which might do so much for these
little ones who must one day @ out into the
world and fight its battles for themselves, if
the teacher is so little interested that she
can content herself with asking around once
the too often incomprehensiblc questions Of
the textbook, and thinks her duty done, why
| call that another decided ease Of 'bony-
clabher' and gravel-stones.
Polly thought it was time to 90 in TO
brcakiast.-P. Thorne, an Cirisfial Regis-
fr-