Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-12-01

and the agency Of the Divine Spirit that afto
all there is but little chance for our criticism
or complaint? l send my child into the
garden to gather n bouquet of flowers sh,
does the best she knows, but she brings m,
some witherod flowers, some grass tangled
among them, and a weed which she has pick
ed. She brings with beaming face what she
has and offers it to me az her chosen bouquet
l am delighted with its fragrance and it,
beauty, notwithstandingthe withered flowers,
the tangled grass, or weed, and do not find
it difficult to cast out these and retain only
that which will form the bouquet in its greater
perfection. So may we not hope our Heav.
enly Father drops out withered flowers, tan.
ged grass and weeds from all our labor, and
arranges all after His own wisdom and accord
ing to His own love
FOURTH "Those who seek to promote re-.
ligious revivals appeal rather to the emotions
of men than to their understanding. Our thea.
tres make men laugh and cry-surely men
cannot bo moved toward Christ in the Same
way that they move them at theatres :" Why
not? The managers OF these theatres seek
to influence the will for the sake of gain.
The people must contribute large sums of
money, or they cannot continue their bust.
ness. Now, to persuade them to do this they
appeal to the sensibilities through which they
hope to influence the will in tho direction
which / have indicated With what success
they make their appeals no one can be left
in doubt Now, II men can be reached and
moved best through this avenue, why should
il be closed against the gospel of the Son Of
God? If man choose the livery of Heaven
to serve the devil in, shall every Christian
cast of this garment and denounco it Satan
appears clothed as an angel Of light do an
gels disrobe themselves because Satan in this
way tries to hide his cloven foot? Are we
not taught in Gods word that the children of
this world are sometimes wiser ia their gen
GRAFTON than tue children of light? Are not
the sensbilites one of the three grand dvi-
sions Of our being? Why, then, ignore eth.
er one OF these Why seek to divorce from
the understanding the sensbilites which are
God given May not the will be influenced
best Of all by that which appeals alike to the
understanding and the sensibility? Are we
not told that with the heart man believeth
unto righteousness ?" II there could be any
danger apprehended in this direction, may
we not expect that the idoatrous worship OF
the intsllect-to which so many are given in
this day-will call back the most enthusiastic
advocate Of heart religion to the golden mean
between the extremes!
Lit Us now notice the necessity for re-
vival First, we need it for the benefit of
the gospel ministry, that they may be lifted
up to a higher level in thought and feeling
than they could be without it, DIR. Lyman
Beecher declared that he never could have
done the work which he was enabled to &C
complish in Boston had it not been for the
fresh inspiration which he received as a Cos
pei preacher in the revival at Litchfeld. 1t
needs reviyals to enable ministers to preach
with the simplicity and directness that can
reach the hearts of their hearers They are
under a powerful temptation to simply charm
men with beautiful description, to dazzle
them with comparison, to enlven them with
wit and humor, to fascinate them with human
or TO overpower them by the force
of their own cold reasoning. In order that
they may overcome this temptation and
preach pure gospel adapted to the necessi-
ties OF the people they need frequent and
powerful revivals to refresh their hearts and
keep them in perfect oneness with Christ. The
Rev. Mr.. Tucker, who was agent for the Bos-
ton tract society, tells US that he went down
to Marshfield that he might spend the Sabbath
in the interest of his society. He chose a
Sabbath when he knew Mr.. Webster was at
home, hoping that he might have an interview
with him. When he reached the place he
was told that the pastor had arranged for an
with young man, and was recon-
~ tlllS gOuuB Llhu hu OppOIluul-
ty to present his cause. The young man in
sisted that it was necessary for him to preach
that day, as Mr.. Webster would be present,
but said that he would give Mr.. Tucker a
short time to talk afterh sermon. The young
man preached very learned, methodical and
elaborate discourse addressed to the intellect
Of Mr.. Webster. At the conclusion of the
service, while the people were dispensing, Mr.
Tucker was talking with the young man in
the pulpit when he suddenly turned and said
excuse me, Mr.. Tucker Mr.. Webster is waiting
,ospeak with me-" 'Tthought, " said Mr. Tuck.
or, that Mr.. Webster was waiting tospeak with
me, also, so followed down the aisle. l was
not a little sorry for the young man when
Mr. Webster merely bowed to him, and
stretched out his hand to me, and said, Mr..
Tucker, if you are not engaged, would like
10 have you dine with me, today 1 gladly
accepted his invitation and had grand din
ner, but much grander talk. He said to
me, that young man thought was interest
I'd in his discourse-and 1 was, somewhat
but when go to church l want to hear the
gospel just as Christ preached it. l was
greatly interested in your remarks, and think
you have very nice way of presenting that
cause The more intelligent and the more
cultivated man is the more he desires the
simplicity of the pure gospel of Christ.
abored some years ago with Dr. McGonegal
who was very scholarly man. His sermons
we're artistic and classical. He told me that
ne was obliged to adopt that method of SER
nonizing in order that he might interest and
profit certain members of his congregation,
Imong them very prominent New York
awyer. / had occasion, afterwards, to ride
with the New York lawyer, and gave him the
which his pastor intended for
him, but he said to me 81 am famishing for
he true bread of life, while my pastor is
simply to my intellect. l have
,nough of that in my reading and study.
When 90 to my church for worship want
he simple gospel of the Son of God" No
nan worthy TO influence a gospel minister
'ould feel any different, and yet there are SO
many in all our congregations who care moth
ng for spiritual truth that he needs repeated
eviyals to overcome the paralyzing influence
yhich they would exert over him. If we had
more pure and powerful seasons of revival
We would not have 80 many men, who, like a
certain minister of our day, is said to have de-
'lared to his congregation that unless they
epented, they would go to the place that !
nodesiy forbade him to speak of. This false
nodesty should be overcome and in no way
AN l see how this is to be accomplished only |
~ the power of God leading them 10 more
imple aud direct appeal to the heart and the |
of men. So much preaching |
o-day is like polished shaft whirling upon
Is bearings for the mere sake of whirlng |
laving no connection with any special work |
which it is hoped to accomplish. While in |
daringo, Illinois, in my morning walk went |
or several days toward the west from the vii |
age. l observed that a windmill was con- |
family revolving by day and by night, l |
poke to the owner and asked him if that |
windmill was constantly pumping, and if SO,
where he found sufficient water to supply |
uch a running pump, and what he did with |
he water. He told me that it did no pump |
ng that it was disconnected from the pump .
md only whirled for the sake of whrling |
Does not this mill resemble much the preach
ng of our day, only designed to entertain
nd please the hearer, instead of leading him
o a knowledge and acknowledgement of the
vine Redesmer2 Docs not such aimless
lbor and preaching seem like triaing with
iyine things, if not even solemn mockery?
ome of our ministers found the army the
'est theological seminary for their own i'm