The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-03-26

guest, first upon him, and then upon the
floor where he stood; aud looking down
he noticed, what had before escaped his
observation, that the carpet in front of
the glass was worn quite smooth. The.
ophilus felt the hot blood crimsoning his
cheeks, as he turned hastily away and
entered the door leading to the pulpit.
After the doxology by choir and con-
gregation, and the Lords Prayer by pastor
and people, and the opening hymn, came
the Scripture lesson. Theophilus had
selected the fifth chapter of Second Co.
rintbians, because it contained the text
for the day. But now, as he read, he won
dered why he should ever have taken that
text for that sermon. He could not see
that it had anything to do with scientific
discoveries, either past or future. And
when he came to the words, "Now then
we are ambassadors for Christ, as though
God did beseech you by US: we pray you
in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God"
he thought it could not be that he had
ever read the words before. They seemed
in that presence to be invested with such
a new and strange solemnity and power.
Then came the "long prayer" On this
particular occasion it was not very long.
Never before had the Rev. Mr.. Hybrow
made such laundering work. He rather
prided himself on his pulpit devotions
He was seldom at loss for word. But
now he could not pray. 1t was such
solemn business, standing there in that
presence, with that ear so close to catch
each sound, aud those flaming eyes TO de-
tect the least insincerity.
U ha fuI hot tp-
he thought, as he tried to pray, for
there is not word in my tongue, but 10,
oh Lord, thou knowest it altogether
And yet, have not professed always to
believe this Have been all these years
praying to others, or to myself, and not
to my King ?"
And so, amid frequent pauses, and much
embarrassment, and in trembling tone,
the prayer struggled on to its close.
1t was time now for the sermon. The
opbilus had dreaded to have the time
come. He wished that he had exchanged
with neighboring minister, as he had
planned to do. He wished that he had
brought some other sermon than the
particular one he had prepared, and of
which, he remembered, he had been 80
proud. Somehow it did not seem to him
like message from the King. He could
not remember that there were in it
any beseeching words for unreconciled
sinners.
Scarcely lifting his eyes from his manu-
script, turning the pages rapidly, emitting
paragraph here and there when he
could, he hurried on to the end. Only
once he stopped, when he heard behind
him deep sigh, as of pain, and looking
back saw the stranger, with grieved ex-
preston upon his face, looking down upon
his hands. And Theophilus perceived
then, for the first time, that they had been
pierced with nails, and that the palms
were quite bloody. Aud he remembered
how he had solemnly vowed to preach
nothing save Jesus Christ and him cruel
fed. Aud he shuddered, and had almost
forgotten himself; and in the presence OF
the people cried aloud, God be merciful
to me sinner
After the closing prayer, he was about
to give out the hymn, as usual, when he
heard voice behind him say, in tone
so loud that it seemed as if all the people
must hear, "Read the letter thou hast
prepared F"
The letter of resignation He had for.
gotten all about it. How could he read
it He wished that he had taken good
advice, and not been so hasty. He thought
of Pilates wife, and her disregarded warn
ing. Oh, if only he might take back all
that he had said, and have space given
him to profit by what he had now learned,
and begin anew as an humble, faithful
on hoe IF Nhriot Of fh..
cross He wept as he thought how proud
he had been, and how unfaithful. No
wonder his people had found fault. No
wonder, their hungry souls unfed, they
had left him and gone elsewhere.
But the voice said Read" and he did
not dare to disobey. So he drew the
paper from his book, and was about to
begin, when dimness came over his Wis.,
ion. He grew weak and faint, his knees
trembled, and he staggered in his place.
He seemed to see his people rising, and
reaching their hands toward him to keep
him from falling, and then he awoke.
His wife was speaking to him, You
have had a troubled dream, Theophilus,"
she said.
"Thank God, Mary" he exclaimed,
"ith niSu VI iCiiCI' hobh pOus
the Sunday has not yet come. 1t is not
too late. That paltry sermon is still in
my drawer, and shall never preach it."
"Why, what do you mean ?"
mean," he replied, solemnly, "that
have been in the presence of the King.
My God and Savior has been here. l
have seen him, and have seen myself.
You know l never had great faith in
visions, but have had vision to. night
that trust | shall never forget"
And then he told her all.
The next morning Mr.. Hybrow put
into his study stove the sermon on
Progress" and several others of his
" best efforts" When the Sabbath came
he went into his pulpit and, taking for his
text "Thus saith the Lord" he told his
people, with tears in his eyes, how guilty
he had been-that he had been too prt u
to preach Jesus Christ and him cruci fed !;
and then he told them of his promise and
purpose for the future, that henceforth he
would endeavor to be faithful embassa-
dor of the great King.
Every afternoon of the following week
found the pastor out among his hitherto
neglected flock. How surprised and glad
they were to see him
What ails our minister" said one old
farmer. Has he got the second blessin'
that heard 'em tell about last summer 7"
IL. - ~