The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-07-15
WliSAlrburp 8egister.
TUESDAY. JULY Is, 1873.
tommencemeni-Baccalaurea

The Scvcnty-Third Commencement
Anniversary II Middltbury College
trims the usual influx of graduates and
friends of ihr college, and nearly the
usual routine Of exercises; eXcitcments
and designations, will be the order of
the week. There are several reasons
why we must not expect the usually
large assemblies at the exercises. 1t Is
one month earlier and in the hurry OF
the haying season. The denizens OF
the larger cities are not yet through
with their work, ready to take their an
nual vacation and trip into the coun-
try the exercises are shortened up in.
to two days instead of three, the grad
uating class Is small one, consisting
of only nine members, and various 9th
cr reasons not necessary to mention.
The Baccalaureate discourse was de
livered to large audience, by Presi
dent Kitchel, on Sunday afternoon
The exercises opened with n voluntary
snd hymn, finely rendered, by the chop,
After the prayer, duet was .snr, Esq,
very fine effect, by A. j.
and his wife. of Ghiscoursc. of which
The Pres'five an abstract, was found
we-p6n Acts Ala, " Now, when they
saw the boldness of Peter and John, and
perceived that they were unlearned and
ignorant men, they marvelled and
they took knowledge of them that they
had been with Jesus"
His theme was 1.-THE elevating and
strengthening power of faith in Christ. !"
After an introduction explanatory of
the relations existing between the dis
ciples and Christ, the speaker remark
ed that to be with Jesus-to be, by faith
in gracious sympathy and intimacy of
spirit with Christ, elevates, ennobles
strengthens and completes human
character. Christian piety exalts every
natural gift, and gives us additional
power TO overcome in our struggles with
the powers of evil. This principle was
illustrated in the lives and character of
the disciples. There came wonderful
change on these men upon that day of
Pentecost. All at once they were
uplifted, cleared. dis enthrallcd, inspir-
ed; they rose to new royalty of charac-
ter. AS with the disciples, so with all
who come into the intimacy of oneness
with Christ. They retain their natu-
raj characters and gifts, only uplifted
out of the miro, carried over into new
lie BY inspiration of supreme love.
The love of Christ constrains them. Tn
der such a mastery of supreme affection
the whole being expands, and the new
man in Christ is all the more n man.
newly qualified. enlarged. and freed
from the bondage of sin.
Sin damages all it touches, and first
OF all wrongs the SHINING soul, derang-
Ing and enfeebling it. Such soul is
obstructed, cramped, dwarfed, defraud-
ed OF Its fullness of life and power, If
1t be urged that many Of the most bril-
liant achievements are those of genius
parted from God. we answer that these
are the exploits of insanity, and are no
just measure of the souls CAPACITY in
the full powers of perfect health. All
that sinful genius has ever done but
Ialntly shadows what il might and
should have wrought under the balance
and inspiration of its integrity.
The case of these two disciples is still
more instructive as illustrating the
working of Gods grace to supplement
defects. feter, the rash, impulsive, un-
governable spirit who could never bear
provocation, is rendered cool, deliber.
ating man, selfpossessed, judicial, gain.
ing at once two grandest victories, one
over his foes, and far greater ovel
himself. 1t is another Peter divinely
corrected and completed.
The bearing Of John is no less surpris.
Ing. The very soul of gentleness and
simple love. his bent is to fall, with
amiable compliance, into whatever
compromises may offer. But when
called to face angry assemblies, he is
toned up to the martyr pitch. The fac,
Of the gentle man hardens and grow.
stern. Grace took them both, as the,
were, and toned up thegentle John ant
toned down the passionate Peter, ant
tempered anew in Christ they stood be
fore this conclave of embittered oppos
ers marvel for their equinimity ant
dauntlcss.bravery. II was n heroism O
grace,as foreign to the one as the other
In his own nature. And in these mel
was shown Christ's faitbfulness to hi
promise. And We, too, in Christ, ar,
heirs Of that blessed promise. Go,
Will stand by his servant, and prompt
inspire and strengthen him at his need
We must do our best, summon ever,
faculty. then rely for our sufficienc,
upon Christ " As thy days 30 shall
thy strength be-"
But what struck them with wonde
beyond all else, in Peter and John, wa
that men like these, of no culture, I'm
iettered, unframed and unaccustome,
10 lace the great, or address public as
semblies, should he able, not only Il
stand thus mistaken in such presence
but to answer so discreetly, speak s.
eioquently, defend so nightly, master
ofthemselves and of the assembly @
their foes. That under these circun1
stances they could so speak and act
was the foremost triumph of grace.
Ii also signifies that a true Christian
conversion. converts tho whole ma
and carries over into the service @
Christ all there is of him, including hi
faculty of speech, "Out of the abur
dance of the heart the mouth speal
eths." Fluent speech proves nothing