St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1882-06-23
From the New York Observer.
The Care Of Old Converts.


ministers, the subject for discussion
was. "The Care of Converts" | do
not think that the subject, as stated
by the chairman, was limited to young
converts, though am sure the discus
sion was.
1t seemed to be assumed that all con
Verts. whom the church of Christ had
the JOY of receiving into its fellowship,
were young people, and many sound,
common sense opinions were eX-
changed in regard to their treatment
and training opinions which showed
that the brethren were pretty well
posted. at least theoretically, in Chris
tian ethics.
But, as already minated, the fact
was overlooked that our converts are
not all young people. Many of them
are not. A very respectable minority
of them are either III their prime, or
have passed beyond it, and are some
times found to he in their dotage. The
religious nurture of such, and their
training in the practical duties of Chris
tianity, devOlve upon pastors tand
churches responsibility fully as ar
duous as that required in the care of
those who come to Christ in their youth
and early manhood and womanhood.
The young are built up on a new and
clean-laid foundation. There is no
rubbish of error to remove before be-
ginning the superstructure of Chris
tian character. Ante-dating their con-
version they boosted of no settled re-
ligiOus convictions, no strong partiali-
ties, no confirmed habits of thought or
life. Hence, resting on Christ, their
faith grasping with an unquestiOning
grip his teachings, with judiciOus train
ing i'll Christian activities, our sons
become as plants grown up in their
youth, and our daughters as corner
stones polished after the similitude of
palace.
1t is otherwise with those who are
converted in advanced life. They
need much help to get rid of the seat
folding of old beliefs, and the debris
of wrecked faiths, strongly tinctured,
it may he. with all sorts of rationalism
and error, which they have long and
fondly cherished, and which must all
he swept away before they can he sue
cessfully built up in Christian life and
doctrine.
In their weaker moments, it is
through these old loves that the tempt
er often attacks them, so that they are
sometimes found struggling amid the
darkness of doubt, unable to find the
light.
There is likewise the work of over
coming not only old preferences and
preiudices, but also inveterate habits,
before they can walk untrammeled in
the paths of holiness. In all this they
look, as they have the right to do, to
their spiritual teachers and guides for
The touch Of helping hand
And plying love shat will understand,
To clear the rubbish and wrong away,
And lead to the life Of an endless day"
Furthermore, with them the time is
short, and the work is great. Though
it requires a lifetime to become a
Christian. ripe for the Saviour's king
dom. by their wilful omission, which
they now feel and confess with mex 70
pressible regret, they have postponed
till their last days on earth, IA work
which should have been life-l long
care and effort, that of growing in
grace and in the knowledge of Christ,
and thus into meetness for heaven. So,
in their case, there is need of double
diligence, on the principle observed in
ordinary life, that if we have much to
do and little time in which to do it,
we double our activity or, if we have
IA considerable distance to travel and IA
short time in which to accomplish the
journey, we proportion our speed to
the time and distance. 1t is this con-
slueldJlOll, WITH Ille OJltG laCIS alluded
to, that throws such solemn emphasis
in this particular branch of every pas
tors ministry.
Though it may not be wise to hurry
young converts into positions of toe
great prominence in the church, invest
ing them with official duties and re.
sponsibilties far beyond their wisdom
and years, it is surely not unwise t.
pursue such a course with the Older
class of converts, especially if they
have lived lives of good repute.
The experience and wisdom thai
they have reaped from their past socia
and business relations may, if utilize,
by their promotion to official positions
be helpful to their own personal, relig
ious development and spiritual ad
vancement and the church's create
prosperity.
As one looks at the arduous work o
helping and training converts, the ole
in years as well as the young, all babe
in Christ, each one a novice in Chris
tian experience, the question rise
spontaneously to the lips, "WhO il
sufficient for these thingsR" But fol
the promised grace of Almighty Coo