Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-11-29
Rear and Front.

Two friends came home from prayer
meeting one june evening with very dlher-
ent feelings. One was depressed and sad,
the other more hopeful than he had been
for weeks. q" ! was grieved by the careless
look Of several persons at the rear Of the
vestry," said the first friend. God did
not seem TO be with us" was cheered
by the attention of those who occupied the
front seats" said the second friend. One
young man took part III the meeting for the
first time. Took part in the most encour-
aging way, too, for he repeated passage OF
Scripture, showing on what book his mind
had been fixed during the day. Two other
friends truthfully appeared TO be almost per-
suaded TO confess Jesus. God seemed very
near" One friend was looking 10 the rear
of the meeting among the shadows, the
other at the front, where the sunshine Of
Gods presence was very clear. There Is
always a spot OF sunshine somewhere in the
meetings in Gods house, either at one end
or other of the prayer-ruom II you do not
find il in one place, look for 1t IN another
my brother and sister And you, my brother
in the ministry. | trust you will also be dill
igent in the same search. How often you
prepare your remarks for prayermeeting or
your sermons. with hopeful heart. "Surely
You say. But when YOU speak, your utter
ances DO not seem TO arrest much attention.
The persons YOU hoped would listen most
eagerly seem most Indifferent aud your
heart grows sad DO you not sit down many
times with the feeling, 1t is no use to talk
and toll here I'm not doing any good 3"
DO YOU not know what that feeling is
But did YOU look over your audience care
fully ? Nou saw the Indifferent But did
YOU scan the others as closely Wasn't
there at least one face that was turned
thoughtfully towards YOU part Of the time
while you were speaking? Yes, two or
three seemed interested" Well. brother,
God may have meant your message for them.
| One soul helped towards heaven, one sonl
/ interested in the old old story" What a
| happy thought that is There was a CLEAN
| Of sunshine then in front or rear. And,
I brother, there may have been one also Just
/ in that corner where there seemed the least
/ hope. Do you not remember once, years
/ ago, when you went into the prayer-meeting
with number Of young companions. care
| less about your soul You watched for
/ something to lest about. But one word OF
your pastor-some simple thought about
your need of Christ-startled you. made
YOU long 10 be a Christian. luu were al
most persuaded" But you did not let the
feeling betray itself You took a hymn
book and turned the leaves. or whispered
something to your friend in sin to drive all
good thoughts from both your minds. Do
you not remember that evening Or there
may have been more than one evening when
you did this. Yes, you remember. You
will never forget those words which followed
you until you confessed Christ. And YOU
pastor, seeing your careless face. felt as yoI
feel Perchahce be never knew he did yol
any good. May not your words have foun,
Judgement thus in some indifferent soul
Yes, you speak Gods truth. lie will bles
it, Look both b rcar and 'front.' Christian