Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-07-23

church. lie took for his text John viii: 90" II
the Son therefore shall make you Free ye shall
be free indeed" Subject" Christian liberty
What Is It? First, not freedom from control,
or from obligation to do right; not synonymous
with lawlessness. Second, not consistent with
indifference to the truth. Third, not liberty to
proclaim error OF preach false doctrine. Fourth,
not liberty to occupy a false position. Mr. Hale
illustrated this point by reference TO the General
Convention OF Congregational Ministers and
Churches OF Vermont, who adopted resolution
to the effect that pastor Of a Congregational
church must accept the Word OF God, as teaching
evangelical doctrines. Every man, he said, has
right to revise his opinions and adopt new be-
liefs, II satisfied OF their correctness. But have
the churches no rights9 May they not insist on
their pastors preaching the evangelical doctrines,
and, II he renounces them, his seeking some other
field Of labor2 Must they turn themselves out OF
house and home for the sake OF accommodating
their neghbors9 FVth, Christian liberty is free
dom from bondage to sin. Si1th II is full liberty
to receive and welcome light from every source.
More light may break forth from the Word Of
God Let us welcome It. Christian liberty per-
mts, Christian fidelity demands, such a course.
Take heed that 1t be light, and not darkness
that II comes from Gods Word from the heaven
above and not from the pit beneath. Not all that
Is new Is necessarily true. There may be some
virtue yet in the old paths; some truths which the
world will never outerow or get beyond. Chris
tian liberty involves the right of private iudg-
ment to the fullest extent We, as Congrega-
tionalsts or as Christian believers, adopt not one
article Of our creed because It was held by John
Calvin, or Jonathan Edwards, or the Pilgrim
Fathers; not one, because Of its endorsement by
the council Of Boston Of Oberin The crucial test
OF every doctrine, OF every position, is the law
and the testimony. We believe in the right OF
appeal from all human creeds to the Word oil
God. That is our only rule OF faith. As has been
well said Congregational churches are orthodox
and evangelical, because the Bible so teaches
We cannot, in our own minds-in our acceptance
and understanding Of the teachings OF Gods
Word--separate between them and the doctrines
called evangelical. Deny those doctrines, and
you so pervert the Word Of God as to make 1t
another gospel, which is not another Is 1t any
hardship that the pastor OF an evangelical church
should be expected to interpret the Scriptures
evangelically2 Let us not resolutely take our
stand just where we may happen to be, and say,
We will remain connected with particular branch
Of Christs church, while we may renounce one
by one the distinctive doctrines held by that
church. Brethren, ye are called unto liberty;
only use not liberty for cloak OF righteousness,
or to subvert the truth and simplicity Of the Cos
pei Of Christ but as servants OF God and to serve
one another.
AT THE CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH.
In view of the fact that last Sunday was imme-
diatelv preceded nv the niuetieth birthday of DIR.
Nathaniel King. and Immediately followed by the
| eiphty-seyenth birthday of Hon. Daniel Baldwin
Mr.. Wright preached upon "Old Age" from the
text-"Tbe hoary head is a crown of glory, II it
be found in the way Of Righteousness. Proverbs
mi. 81. Abiding to the fact that people usually
want more years Of life but regret to discover in
| themselves evidences of old age; and admitting
that longevity is often attended by infirmites,
invitations. bereayements. loneliness and sorrow
| confessine that there il some ground for the
charge that the Young in our land and times fire.
ouentlv lack respect for pray hairs and invoking
pardon for them; the preacher proceeded to men
ton some of the advantages of age. o. Exemp-
| ton from MANY of the demands which are prop
erly urged upon the Young and strong; a rest
that ia earned. and il enioyed by right. ca A
retrospect in which the pleasant Is usually more
u
Of Difference which. II II be not all that 1t should
| he. ia vet more than would be granted to the
voupe of the same rank in character and attain
mept az A wealth of experience which can be
made valuable to those who are to succeed them.
(5) A discipline through which they are likely TO
form more correct views Of earthly and material
attractions in their relation to what is spiritual
and eternal, than they could hope to form earlier
| I'm life. and at the same time the endowment OF
immunity from many foundations. (6.) The
gradual looseuiup of the ties that bind them to
earth as the time for their departure draws near.
ny To tbose who are sustained by Christian
trust. the distinct evidence. given in the steady
waning NJ their bodjlv mowers. Of their speedy
entrance into the realms of true light and life
:, ia not old ape alone that causes the wreck OF
happiness which we notice in the experience o.
some Flse this would he the uniform experience
But there are generous cheerful bright-faced
boneful old men and women. as well AZ the coyet
ous. ouerulous, sad. and despoudent. Making al
due allowance for inevitable sorrows, Mr. Wrigh
argued that old age is time Of reaping thai
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