The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-02-01
cred desk or lecture platform, is al

cred desk or lecture platform, is al.
Eagerly looked forward to-
theme on this occasion was 1.-THE
and its Divine inspirations" based
"a words found in ii. Peter, 1-21: Z" For
prophecy. came not in old time by the
i'll of man, but holy men of God snake AZ
, they were moved by the Holy Ghost"
Delivered without notes, in the fervid style
80 natural to the man, it was an eloquent
forceful plea for the Bible as an iufalible
guide to man, q sermon worthy the man
and the occ sion. Space forbids only a bare
outline OF the thoughts presented, although
the WArcHMAN would gladly publish it in
full.
ln his opening remarks Mr.. Frost referred
to the fact that men wrote the Bible, that it
Is broad and deep as humanity, book in.
tensely and thrillingly human; but the text
declares that God and man united in giving
this prophecy. IL is generally understood
that men were inspired to write the Bible.
HOW that inspiration was given, the speaker
would not attempt to say; but the Bible as
we have 1t has been accepted ~ the Word
OF God by the Christian church since the
time of the disciples.
The various theories Ofinspiration as held
by the people of the present dav were CON
sdered by the speaker at some length, and
the fact deduced that this theory of divine
inspiration and divine influence has got
great many people into trouble. If we will
only take the old Bible, read it, and believe
~ budb 10 Juo utSb bhluE We Cdu no.
Three propositions, fundamental to cor
rect thinking, were submitted, three stakes
set, and any intelligent soul abiding there
can safely rest First the book is super.
naturally inspired; the religious aim Of it
teBtiffeS to it's supernatural quality, and the
vitality of the unity of the Scriptures tends
TO the same idea. 1t Ia impossible to tell
where the line is that separates the natural
from the supernatural. but we know there
Ia such line.
In hoo L. .,,a. a.,
give VS. direct revelation. The Bible is all
right, our notions of 1t may be all wrong;
and lastly, the book is so inspired az to give
us an infallible guide to a religious life In
closing the consideration OF this last propo-
sitiou Mr.. Frost said: 1.-THE serious diff
culties about this blessed old book are
pretty few. If there are mistakes in it, let
1t be so, that's all, and l don't care person
ally II these Old Testament writers made
mistakes in philosophy, In astronomy, or
geology. Genesis starts out with the dec
laratiOn that there is one God, and that
runs through the book to the last chapter
OF Revelation. Suppose you are to make
difficult Alpine pass; it is dangerous
undertaking and you must have guide.
Do you examine that guide in botany, in
geology in philosophy No, you ask him
how many men he has guided safely over
the pass, five hundred-how many has he
Lost, not one. He Is the man you want.
Now there is u book that has stood for two
we ask, how many souls have been ship
wrecked by following its teachings? Not
one. How many sons or daughters have
been led astray by ii? Not one. How
many defaulters have been made by the
Sermon on the MOUNT Not one. But how
many souls have been comforted by it, how
many have been guided from the pitfalls of
earth filled with joy in life and made
triumphant in death? How many Oh, lift
up your heads ye everlasting gates, and let
Thar fhnx Ia
kindred, a multitude that no man can num-
Der. Many over whose remains in county
graveyard or city cemetery we have said:
Earth to EARTH ashes to ashes, dust to
dust
Give me the wings of faith to rise
-, Within the veil and zee
The saints above how great their joys
How bright those glOries be.
II am concerned about the land ahead
where fruits are waving over fields of end
Less green. 1t is long road sometimes
human sight fails and falters and we must
have guide. Now il this book can guide
me to where God wipes away tears from all
ewes, that is the Bible for me, and, thank
God, find it there. Now, il this church you
dedicate to day be devoted to this work, it
will fulfill its mission. May God bless the
church and bless the Word in it,"
The ritual service OF dedication was then
read, and consisted of the address by the
pastor; singing the hymn " o thou whose
own vast temple stands, built over land and
sea-" by choir and congregation; first lesson,
Rev. Sylvester Donaldson Mortified; sec
ond lesson, Rev. l.. Ii. Elliot, Waterbury
singing, We rear not temple like Judah
of old" responsive reading, led by Rev. A.
j. Hough OF Montpelier; presentation of the
edifce, Hon w. =. Dillingham;; declaration
and prayer, Presiding Elder A. b. Truax
singing doxology by choir and congregation,
and benediction by Rev. Leonard Tenney of
Waterbury.
At the evening service the sermon was
preached by Rev. II. w. Worthen of Hard
wick, former pastor.
The representatives of the press present
were indebted to Rev. w, X. Davenport for
courtesies extended, which made their as
alignment a pleasant pastme. Methodism
throughout the state will congratulate the
Waterbury charge upon the completion of
its beautiful temple, and its successful dedi-
cation, free from dollar of Indebtedness.