Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-12-17

part!" so' oaf
Ihe text was, f" Will a man rob God -
ifom the third chapter of Malachi: and
the FIRST part of the sermon related To Cod.
dealings with the Jews, showing what won.
oer1ul things be had done for them. how
much OF love and gratitude they owed him
now 'ney robbed him, went off after false
goos' and were finally and justly punished
ior their sin and rebellion. We hear
much to the effect that life is burden of
disappointment. This man of an oppressed
race leaning over toward his people. said
l tel! you, dear friends, it's very seldom
that man does MT get the desire of his
heart If he really longs for love her. on
earth' some way the good Lord brings it to
him. NJ If he longs for the pleasures Of sin.
Uod gives him his free will and be oe,s
MS desire. But" rising erect and lit
ing hands and face upward" but Won
must not forget that God holds the
ba ances !"
He turned to the second part of the SER
mon with this: ut is easy enough to
crltIclse the Jews. There is always a lit.
tie pleasure in contemplating the falings
OF others, Ii we can for the time being for
get that We too are human. Shali me rob
GodI Do you see how near to our hearts
COMES the question asked by the prophet
IN those faraway days? Do you see how
his words apply to us?' Leaning over
the pulpit again, with sudden tears IN his
eyes, curious fullness Of the lips and a
Waillng cadence in bis voice." For we
too are IN bonds; lce know what it means
to nave task-masters; ace have felt the
lash t1e have gwen our best and dearest
tor the oppressor's gain; ace have been
driven to make brick without straw; De
have wept by the waters our harps have
mourned for the joys of other lands I"
The effect OF these words was instantaneous
and remarkable. Many persons burst in
to tears, and fifty voices responded, d" Yes
yes, we knows, We knows all dat I"
Sprlnglng upright, he made answer with
ringing emphasis, " Yes, we know! We
do know what pain and longing and suffer-
ing and passionate desire are! Our fathers
and our mothers, and our sisters and our
brothers, and we ourselves, are brothers
and sisters of the Jews,-sealed as such
by common bondage and common degrada-
ton. Like them we have cried day and
night for deliverance The tobacco-6eds
and the cane brakes and the cotton planta-
tlons of the South are our witnesses. The
waters OF her rivers and the businesses of
her swamps testify to our slavery and our
suffering! Her fields, her forests, her
towns, her cities, her wide web of social
life, her very bone and marrow, show how
we know wrong and scourging and contume-
ly and death "
1t seemed as if he must stop, for nearly
all the women and large portlon of the
men were sobblng. But he rose to fuller
height and there was defiant tone in his
voice as he cried g Had we not a right
to lift our hands to heaven as the Jews
did and cry, How long, D Lord how
long? how long?' Have we not deserv-
Ted tie victory? Have We not deserved
iaurI h1sni1ood Izappeai to these white
4 tpfet 6fen here. With Us foan7Eht, do we not
asser2e TIE ssb aud pr privileges Of man
PIlts,J apd Nopanhood - He paused a
E'moment, his rigid lips softened into ten
der smile, his large eyes again brmmed
with tears, he stretched out MS arms and
again leaned toward his audience Dear
friends, the Lord heard our PRAYER
When there was no human ear open to us,
he bent down from his mighty throne and
gave US his ear When there Was no hu-
man arm reached out to US, he stretched
down his strong and loving arm and led us
through the wilderness Dear friends
remember the Lord d,-remember the Lord ! >
Once more standing straight, all alive
with excitement, pacing up and down the
platform behind the desk with rapid steps
he exclaimed Remember the Lord
} he led US through the wilderness IL,
made way for US when we could Mt see
any He turns the wrath of man to hi,
praise, and by means of the war we are
coming into our own estate, We've 90
over the worst of it We are in the Rec
Sea yet, but the Lord will bring US through
The great waters are piled on either side
! and our hearts grow faint, and our fear
I wrestle within us. but the Lord will bring
: us through He'll bring US through it all
we shall get our delvera nee and stant
I safely on the other shore! Its the Rec
j Sea yet, but the Lord will bring u
j through! Dear friends, trust in the Lord
Z We shall come off conquer0rs through hlu
] who hath loved US -
This was language to move to the ut
! most the hearts of those to whom and o
r whom he was speaking; and from nearl..
0 every seat in the house came up, through
the wailing and sobblng of the congrega
: ton, fervent responses, Bress de Lo'd
: .sAmen and amen." "Trus' de Lo'd!
), :. We's mos fur de Red Sea !" Mo:
y fru,-mos' fru :" A score of men shout
e ed and clapped their hands; half hun
e dred sprang to their feet in excitement
u one old woman jumped on her bench, thre'
b her arms above her head, and falrl
n screamed, Stan by de good Lo'd, ever
e body Stan up straight an hang on te
d his big hand and he'll bring us all fru!
IS The scene was absolutely startling an
4; painful 10 its widness; and it was severa
y minutes before such silence came as en'
:. bed the preacher to add his few words
Is exhortation,-that all should remembe
W what God had wrought for them, and q
ii everything they could to sustain religion
er the church, and the army.
IN One evening there was plea tor WI
'e berforce College. The speaker asserte
r that it was in danger of being sold II
e. debt, and urged that the colored people
ar the land oug BIT to save it from such
ly fate. Do you tell me-" he said, tn
YOU have given great deal of none
On lately? Do you say it was not so befo
to the war began? l answer, that is as
ng sbould be-. 1t is burden to be a man,
to h,,.don +o he a woman. Did you drea