The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-02-17

thern people whom he was happy to re.
cognize as his own countrymen.
His views we're just what we know
that the South holds, but were presented
in manner not to give offence to the
most RI dical.
The lecture was illustrative rather than
argum tentative. The General has rare
gift in story telling, thus making his lee
iurc highly interesting. He disclaims
any hostility Of the southern people to.
wards their northern brothers, and says,
if there have been individual instances Of
i'll treatment to northern immigrants, they
we're the exception rather than the rule,
that good men coming there with :he in
tenton of becoming permanent citizens,
are welcome.
lie evidently is believer in the theory
Of Wendell Phillips, and says that the PEG.
pie OF the TWO sections ought 10 affiliate,
that reconciliation would be better eff.
fectcd if they knew each other better
The point of his view is that, in the war
both sides acted from an honest conriction
Of what was right, and their difference in
opinion is to be explained from the fact
L" circumstances change views" The
speaker several times elected applause.
General Major is "A graduate Of West
Point--was class mate OF Gen. Phil.
Sheridan, of whom and President Grant
he spoke in complimentary terms.
Last Sabbath the pulpit of the
Methodist church in this village, was &C.
cupicd by Professor Brainerd The sub.
iect treated by him, was that of the
Scribe" who, although associated with
the Pharisees, Saducees and Herodians,
who attempted to puzzle and copiound the
Savior by their adroit and impairment
questions, We. did not seem to cooperate
with them very freely, but rather sympa
thized with the Savior, and admired the
tact and wisdom of his replies to the
hrong who sought to ensnarc him with
their expert questioniDgs.
In him Jesus saw there were elements
of character, and disposition of soul,
which if properly cultivated, would lead
him to embrace the truth, and become an
advocate for the Gospel, and promoter
of the kingdom of God. Hence he ad-
dressed him in the language of the text.
Thou art not far from the kingdom of
God"
Thou art standing on the boundary
line. A step in advance will place you
within the bounds Of my kingdom.
The case Of the Scribe" was illustra.
tive of very many in the present day.
They are really and truly such friends at
heart of the cause of Christ, that it can
be truthfully said, They are not far from
the kingdom OF God"
To this class MIR. B. gave christian in
s,ruction, and sound gospel advice, highly
practical and conducive to their CONVEX.
sion.
First. They should not wait for God
to do his part in their conversion. He
is ready and waiting for them. He says
explicitly II wait to be gracious"
Secondly. They do not need TO wait
for a revival Revivals are desirable,
and should be sought for and promoted
by every church, but they are not necessa.
ry to the conversion Of sinners They
ought not to wait for a revival before
they resolve to become Christians. Such
delay may involve death to the body and
utter ruin to the soul.
Thirdly, They do not need to wait
for an increase Of feeling and conviction.
To wait for more, is to have less. Ac-
ton hege's feeling, waiting weakens it.
Whoever waits for feeling courts defeat
and ruin. Let there be no waiting but
instantaneous aud vigorous action.
In closing this very practical discourse,
he laid down two steps, which were alb.
solutely neces sary to enube the sinner to
come within the sacred limits Of Gods
kingdom.
lst a G,m decision. a resolution Of
soal, fixed determination TO move on.
ward in the line of Gods requirements
and abandon all sinful practices, and lead
a new life
ID. Earnest and impor,unatc prayer
to God Cor parjcn and acceptance, and
that rest and peace OF mind which i tho
glorious consequence.
These steps taken, the acceptance is
certain. No man, no person can take
these two most essential steps. and be eX
Guided Christ will meet him, and vel
come him, and make him happy subject
Of his kingdom, entitled to all the pre-
negatives, blessings and joys thereof
The discourse closed with an earnest in
vitaticn to all present, to take thes'
. steps, and become the active and worth,
subjects of "thc kingdom Of God"