Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1889-11-15
THE NEW MINISTER.
Rev. q. W. sprnRuc Higgins sis Work
with the uuivrrsnIi-t Parish.

ABSTRACT uF ms SERMON LAST SUNDAY
WORDS uF SPECIAL ArrLtCATiON-M
srRNGuE's PREVIOUS WORK.
Notwithstanding the inclement weather,
the Universalist society greeted Rev. +. W
Sprague by attending the services in a body
last Sunday morning, at the beginning Of
his pastorate. \ little expression of cor
diality which must have been pleasing to
the new pastor was the arrangement OF
flowers about the pulpit and in its recess.
On the front Of the pulpit was the word
"wecome, worked in white flowers ON
background Of green. Mr.. Spraguc took
his text from St Matthew w., l9-"And
he saith unto them, follow me, and | will
make you fishers Of men, Following is a
brief abstract Of the sermon:
Jesus was about to brgin the practical work Of
his ministry. He had been preparing himself for
his conflict with the Ignorance. aud sin Of men
To get his work begun In new hearts he deter.
mines uBun the plan uf having twelve coupan Mons
or followers. our text npprehends him right at
that point where he is engaged In calling the first
two disciples. lie had preached repentance. but
hitherto he had been alone Christ saw Peter aud
Andrew casting net into the sea, and said TO
them, Follow me, and will make you fishers Of
men These words sounded familiar to them in
that they were To- hr fishermen still hut strange
IN that they were to be- fishers Of men. They for
suOk all and followed him with the immediate
prospect Of becoming fishers Of men, hut know
steal of catching fish they were to labor 10 catch
men. So Christianity is not after men tu cut them
loose from responsibility, hut Ia widen the field of
their usefulness aud give them some higher
thought and work The question is not So much
what they can do for a man as what he eau do for
II. hence for himself lie must rpnch himself
through others thrst's law u.s. seek first the
kingdom Of God aud his righteousness and all
things nccdlul shall hc added unto YOU" Christ
assigns nuhlrr work, aud We should labor for that
! meat which rudurcth to everlasting life
When Christ called petcrand Andrew they knew
| that they were not tu look forward to glorious
Incidence, hut that they were to minister to 9th
| ers. lead the young, protect the weak teach the
B ignorant, encourage the surruWful, lift up the
/ fallen This is what it was to catch or rather tu
viii, men. So the mission Of Christ today Is not
/ So much hat lt can dc for you, but what sou can
! do for it. Ones self is not the primary cunsdprn
ton. but to think of the true interests Of that re-
lgion ITSELF and its relation to the well being ui
/ the whole world. The fundamental fact is that
| God rules the natural aud spiritual worlds By hi,
| experimenting guidance. Men are 10 do his work
aud enjoy his good pleasure God has a design in
each life, however obscure. and each one a work
! 10 do. Sin has utrrferrd with perfect order and
| progress hut while this may r,'tard, it does not
/ ahhul Inc accomplishment OF Gods will. Hi,
counsel stands, and He sees the eud from the be,
] ginning. We arr all workers for God The rartl
/ is one vast vineyard tiud its owner and prourtp
/ tor. We the HhurrrS therein As tod is the Great
/ Power. and man is the agent. 50 Christ is TIA,
means 10y which the world is to b. saved But
| work is before MS all
Christ is the means in our hands 10 advance, tn,
civil social and religious lif" tu impart free edu
cation, Co ri,illlc and BLISS. To furnish an atmus
/ pherr for the growth of art. science and phos
uphy. and to correct and save the lives and inter
tsts of men But very much depends upon hu
/ man fidelity.
| Therefor. the great practical question " thu
day is what is my duty towards this religion
/ which has done and is doing So much for human
n.y. WHAT can think Of, what can speak wha
act can perform aid this most benrfcrnt caus,
what In other words can do for Christ. an,
/ Therefore for others aud myself
Mr. Sprague, at the close Of his sermon
spoke these words Of special application
stand hyfpr. YOU my Christian friends. a.
your pastor. have accepted the call to be- the
minister ut the word In your midst After sun
dering many tender relations with another parish
You are now my people. and am YOUR nastor
And am glad tu say that am most happy to h
the teacher Of truth in tins church. and / dcsir
to number YOU all as my friends. am not her
To review any past history. nor to discuss any dif
trr"ncrs Of opinion which from time TO time hav
arisen. hut am here Ia preach the gospel Of ou
Lord Jesus Christ | am here 10 attend to thu
spiritual interests of this people by pulpit AN,
pastoral work and. with the Apostle Paul, an
determined to know nothing hut Jesus Christ am
him cruclhrl But this in itself rightly conceive,
and faithfully administered, is no small charge
This is that for which You have called me, and
. is that which II is my purpose to artuu to tn
l~et OF my ABILITY ~ accrdng 10 your invita-
/ ipn feel the responsibility resting upon me To b
an efficient minister of Christ, aud am PERSUADE
. that Won are quite us sensible Of your trust
ann of mime Nuu and { are. Ia he. "laiurrr~ Q,
I grther hut. as Paul says. it viii be- with tod
. May Wr. them ia.rNrr mindful of the dignity OF
/ our calling. ami of the all seeing power that uI
] holds liz, amt being assured that iud has Hutt.7
what il is aud resolve, that Whatsoever our ham
finds tu du We Will do 1t with our might"
MIR Sprague is ;i3 Years Of age and ma
tive Of Philadelphia He was educated il
schools in that city receiving the degree q
\. NJ. from the Peoples college He grad
uated from Tufts divinity school Colleg
- III 1