Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-04-23

TO me. / remember when sickness came
to your dwellings. How anxiously you
watched and hoped and feared. 1 shall not
forget how we prayed for life which SEEM
ed trembling in the balance. Sometimes
God heard us and the loved one was spared.
Then how happy we wore. But some
times the cup did not pass by. There was
an empty crib. There was vacant chair.
There was a silent room, aud oh how
your hearts achedi And l shall ever re-
member your desolation and how in my
poor way tried to minister to you in your
griefs. And II seems as if there was some
peculiar tie that binds me TO almost every
household. II l have not been with you
in sickness and death, have married you,
or baptized you, or welcomed you TO the
church, or helped you when seeking Christ,
or in some way had reason fCr special
knowledge and interest. Indeed, of the
more than 400 resident members, all but 81
have come into the church within these six
years. Some pastors in their relation TO
their churches are like the cap stone Of
marble column; they givo it grace and
beauty and perfection. But they can be
removed with but little jar or strain and
another can be substituted. Other pastors
are like trees in rich soil their roots go
down aud stretch out and penetrate every
household. could wish to-day that / was
moro like a cap-stone and less like a tree.
This tearing of ones self from hearts and
homes where he has been so kindly well
coined and enrooted is the most painful
experience of a PASTORS life. 1t is harder
for him than for the people. They have
one another. lie goes among strangers.
4. Ny pulpit miniStrations are noD end
ed. This is the last time shall ever stand
of right in this pulpit. 1t will be OF court
esy on your part II ever speak to you from
this place again. For six years have l
held forth the word of life among you. az
did not come to you with excellency of
Speech" and my preaching has not been
with the enticing words of mans WISDOM"
But l rejoice that the Lord has not permit
ted "l1is Word 10 return unto him void"
that he has not left my ministry here TO
barrenness and unfruitfulness. On one
aud another of the old sermons l have
packed away, not a few Of your names are
inscribed, with the statement added that
that sermon was specially serviceable in
leading the person named TO Christ.
would rather have upon them that proof Of
Gods acceptance, than 10 have all the Roy
al Societies OF the world set their seals OF
appreciation TO them. love TO preach. l
have specially loved 10 preach to you. You
have been attentive, uncritical and appre-
ciative. Your up-turned, interested faces
as have announced my texts, have often
fred me with a needed inspiration. shall
almost envy my successor the privilege OF
preaching 10 congregation SO large and SO
appreciative as that which has been gath
cred here. My first sermon in Brattleboro
was from the text "Go and tell Jesus" and
from that day to this "Christ and Him cru
Gifted" has been the ever recurring theme.
believe you will all testify this day that
/ have "never stunned TO declare the
whole counsel of God"
Well, whatever may be said of these
years of public ministry, they are ended.
Amer this day as your spiritual instructor
you are to see my face, and hear my voice
no more. ] have preached my last sermon
to you who are out of Christ. Oh how
can go away and leave you where you
are? Could mine eyes but have seen your
salvation 1 could have depalted in peace.
And to you, beloved, there will come from
my lips no more OF that Gospel which has
been so precious to you. The joy Of break
ing unto you the bread of life, the privil-
ege of leading you unto the green pastures
and by the side of still waters, l now re-
sign to him who is to come after me.
1t remains now TO speak those words
which rise TO our lips when called to say
good bye. And the first is, forgive. MY
life among you has not been faultless.
have been well nigh constantly with or be-
fore you, so much have we had to do, so
many have been our special gatherings. 1t
would be strange indeed, coming in con-
tact with me as much as you have, if you
have not heard me say, or seen me do, ma
ny unwise or foolish things. trust you
will forgive and forget them all. When
the artist was about to paint the portrait OF
Alexander the Great, he so placed the fin
ger of the Emperor as TO hide an ugly scar
upon the forehead. So l trust the finger OF
charity may be permitted 10 conceal the
defects of my life among you, as most as
suredly 1t covers all the imperfections that
may have been manifest in any Of your
lives.
And tho next word is Mdnkfulaess.
There are times when words but mock US,
so feebly do they express our emotions.
1t is 80 with me to-day, as attempt to ex-
press the gratitude feel in my heart for
the kindnesses of these six years. At the
first, how heartily you welcomed usI How
helpful were your hands How beautiful
ly year by year your favors have multi
piled !! And in these latter days your de-
votlon has been such as to well nigh justi-
fy the words of the parting Paul TO the
clinging, fearful disciples at Ceserea, "What
mean ye for to weep and break my heart ~
How grandly you have sustained me in
my public work. Like Aaron and Hur,
you have stayed up my hands
on the mountains, and like Josh
ua you haYe wrought valiantly in tho val
leys. When came TO you, you were but
little company, down in a dingy base
ment, somewhat alienated over former pas
tors, with heavy debt and a great uniin-
ished meeting house over your heads. But
In tho name of our Christ we set up our
banner and resolved to possess the land.
saw yonder parsonage arise. 1t will ev.
er be hallowed house. From 1t my moth
er went to Heaven. heard almost every
hammer-stroke that brought this place out
of chaos into order. / watched the brush
strokes that turned unsightly walls into
this audience room, which has become to
us like the Palace Beautiful in Bunyan's
dream. Then saw you stretch out your
hands InMarda raninna haunnh IiIra Ihn