Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-12-19
TERMS FOR ADVERTISING.
Sins Of Omission.

: "Sun1ay g. was day of solemn ioy {;
l. yet in The iltinoon felt n great damp,
orcrsionrd by nv ne9lectlng tn speak
plainly t. some who were deceivinq their
own s"uls. do not wonder ut The last
words oi st. Augn tine and Archbishop
. Usher, 'Lnd forgive me my sins Of
Z 4mission.'"
The above extract Ia from Rev. John
4 Wesley urntI, dated M,rch 9. 1919,
(Wesleys Works. volume 8. page 1855 }
On reading the p paragraphs here qroted 1t
struck me rs an idea Of most practical
Importance in every stage and situation
, of the Christian life. The demands of
moral oblig uions arc not to be ignored
or lr1ed with by the greatest and best of
men; they can only d., when at their
best, what du'y requires them to do; and,
OF course, can have no surplus of merit on
account of former good works done, from
which to draw to balance present deficien-
cies. And if men of such exalted positions,
Of so eminent worth and immense activ.
nes, have nee to pray LORD forgive mo
my sins of OMISSION" surely, the m my of
less note who are 40 far out Of sight
behind them in the Christian race may
well he adm pnished 10 give all diligence
20 make the best of the talents CT mmitted
Ia them, aaa improve 10 the utmos their
opportunities for usefulness Duty is
Imperative on all classes of G IDS servants,
whe,hrr they have ten, five or two taIents
and the fac, of having but ono will Justify
none in failing to improve what Is given.
lhe church suffers less, perhaps, to day
rom occasional loses through scandalous
SINS of commission than through the
bighting, insiJious influence of numerous
'ins of omission, that excite little observa.
ton. Instances, indeed are rare in which
clergy mon Of evangelical churches off md
| by gross violations OF the decalogue, but
| alas! it is 10 be feared that large number
lose their vitality and fail of success, BY
sheer negligence in reg ,rd to their minis.
teri ii Obligations. They mag be remiss in
cnItvating personal piety by self exam-
nrion, prayer and wachfuness; in
iil,gent study anil f'ithfu preparation for
IL cir pulpit ltbTs; in the no less
important duties of the pastoral visitation
lisagreetble duty OF personally repro ring
sn and warning the reckless trangressor.
| 1t we,e we'll ior every minister Of the
gospel TO ponder what God slid to The
Prophet Ezekiel that three verses 17lh,
Is b. 10 h: Son of mrn | have made
nee II wanhmlu to the house of Israel:
therefore thou shalt he IT he word at nv
muu Ii, and warn them from me-. When
| sly un,o the wicked. thou shalt surely
die; and thou giv,t bIm not warning. nor
.pcrkrst To wan the wicked from his
wicked way, to save his life; the came
wicked man stall die in his nqnty; but
his blond Will require ut thy hand Yet
If thou warn the aIcked, and he turn not
rom his wIckr'ine-s. mr. from his wicked
way, he sh iii die in his in'qul, hut thou
b st delivered thy soul And Is the
G ,mnlssn of tho gospel minister any
less w-ighty in its obligations and
molnenlOu> IN its results? Lord, pardon
oar sin. Of OMISSION in the past. and,
til ough grace. save us from incurrins the
1ulll ul thetn IN me III uie!
And how aho It sins of omission in The
membership oi the church, That there
IS Il sad decay Of spuuuual pety among
multitude, who bctr the Christian ntme
Is too obvious to need arguments, The
brckslid,r IN hrn,t snall be titled with his
own WAYS" lirrein lies The root of the
evil The btleIul If cts are seen iu The
alarming worl,llness IN It prevails and the
lhn hesi(ncng, vac!ll.iing, Inconsistent
course of life which more than counter
balances al their feeble, spasmodic efforts
such pu forth to aid the Cause Of Christ in
the world. A Llodi"eln church will
never convert The worId-a,cyer! She
must awake and put on her strength
come up ont OF her wilderness State
"becum" fair as the morn, clear as The
sun and terrible rs an army with banners"
before the Captain Of our salvation will
lead her ON to victory and triumph.
am no pessmist-no croker; have no
tairh in tie gloomy doctrine that the
church and the world are TO grow worse
;,;lu worse till time shall end and the
gospel p owe stupendous failure! No,
no; God has spoken glorious things
concerning the future Of his church anL
~.
Evang lcal Christianil, is fundamentally
right, essentially pure and is destined to
he inc:easingl, aggressive and spiritual;
and with facilities never before eqnalled,
md resources almost boundless, she is
gong On TO convert the world.
And yet do not close my eyes to the
fact that VIZ are TO have our past sins of
OMISSION p,rdunrd aud to have less of
Ib. I,,y it nG in ha
/ mi shy bugle call TO come up to the
help ot the Lord 'gainst the mighty forces
OF error and sin. ThG cbulch Is IN its
moral character and saving power what
the a'erage individuals composing it
makes it to be, Ii all her members were
measuring up to their duty anu privilege
the world would soon take knowledge Of
hem as being The true followers OF Christ.
Ga the Other hand, i: many are backsldden
IN heart and. through sius of omission. in
nIe also, gong away from Guu's ordi.
nances ami becoming ike salt that has lost
IT'S SAVIOR, or II light going out in darkness,
Low readily VIII rs Dligullng htuen,e be
leIt ON every Interest oI religion! Such
nave llttlc else 10 speak of hut an
unsatisfactory remembrance OF by-yone
lays, with only 'leHgion enough to make
,nem mserab e, not enough to MAKE III, III
happy, us Mr.. Wesley says OF II certain
ilass, if This be 80, "is there not n causeP'
Are here no sins Of omission back of all
nlsP How is it with your CLOSEUP Is the
path that i IDS to 1t grown over with
ass and wuedsp How is it with the
lunly altar? Has that gone to decay
ii I'VE you cared 10 cultivate family
religion, TO care lor the souls unher your
;hargeP Do you sanc,ify the Sabbath and
attend pubic worship IN the sanctuary
unless lrovIdenlially hindredP DO you
love the social means of grace and
continue TO bear Il consistent, glowing
eslmony % what God has done for you,
and invne Others in pubic and private to
,ouie and embrace the same Savior you
have found so precious 10 yuup Do you
Anbi ualIy oney The dying Savior's iniun,-
,lon, do this IN remembrance OF meP"
you bearing the bul den and heat of
he day with Your rehren cheelfully,