Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-11-16
TEMPERANCE.
For the Telegraph.

ty Baptist Association, at their late SEES
sion, upon which l wish to offer one or
two remarks. First-The Association /
"reioice in the onward march of the Tenn
Derance Reform | also do most sin
cerely rejoice with them. But to every
christian it should be a humbling consid- !
Grafton that the Temperance, like the An
ti-sIavery cause, did not originate IN the ;
church Of Christ Sccond-The Associ-
alton rejoice especially inthe high ground
taken by the National Society at Sarato-
ga. That Convention did take very
high ground" indeed. In the speeches
that were made on the occasion it was
twice declared that it was IAN august as
sembIy!" an "august convention! -
One of the speakers affirmed the Temper
ance Association in America to be "a city
set on hil!" Another saidthat " eartNy
destiny hangs on the experiment commit
ted to our hands!" But the resolution
aIlud> d perhaps exclusively to the ground
of total abstinence taken at Saratoga.
Third-The Association resolve that
Tertotalism is the only consistent ground
for christians and recommend to the
churches composing their body to require
of all who shall hereafter seek admission
to their fellowship a pledge, or promise
that they will totally abstain fromthe use,
as beverage, ofaIl intoxicating drinks!
Now, Mr. Editor, permit meto say with
all due respect to the Addison County As
ISOLATION, through your Telegraph, that |
! hope not one Of the churches in that As
ISOLATION, nor anywhere else, will adopt
that resolution. The BaptiSts, of all oth-
err religious sccts, have heretofore been
mos. dcsrrvedIy renowned for their s.rict
and unbcndIny adherence to the scriptures
as their only rule Of christian faith and
practice. But alas how is the gold be-
come dim and the most fine gold changed
While to their enduring praise they Still
hold fast their former, their primitive Sen
timcnts in respect of baptism, in but too
many things within the last twenty year.
they have been imperceptib!y, but surely
! departing from the plain simple path oftht
gospel. And now in christian debate
one of our Baptist bodies distinguished
for their light graveIy resolve (such is tn,
influence ofpubIic opinion, right or wrong
on the wisest minds) that Tcet0to}ism i
the only consistent ground for chris
tians!" Should | happen into one Q
: their churches, during their religion
e hours, | might hear them qucrying witt
u their candidates Do you here soIemnI
$ PROMISE before God and his people, tina
you never will, after your admisso
among US, the Lord being your helper
put another drop of intoxicating drink t
4 your lips? The answer might be,
l. promise to take the word of God for m
/ rule Of faith and practice, and whatever
S forbidden in that, | hope shall refuse
u whatever isrCluircd, receive Could an
higher holler pledge be given or requi
ed ? Unto what are the members of GU
churches baptized Isit not unto rcpcr
: lance? Is it not a solemn and sirnfica1
pledge given by every reel pient that h
Will renounce his former life which h
lived in his Ignorance, and that hcncefort
+ he Will walk IN " mcUncss o. Lfc AID ne1
J. 05ed .cnce!" Can the churches of III
Addison County Association conceive
stronger, more scri plural, or a moi
g consistent" pledge to te temperate
I, all things" than is given in christian ba,
. tism?
' | should as soon look into the Bible ft
' a justification Of the b'astIy and DISCUS
ing wees of g utony and drunkenness, {
W | should for prohibition ofthe legitima
S and thankful use Of either bread or win,
Re or of any ofthose meats and drinks whic
God hath created - be received wit
thanksgiving Of them that believe an
know the truth. l call upon all the mil
IT listers and deacons and upon every men
II Der of the Addison County Association
n direct my sight to the chapter or verse
n the word of God, that requires the add
Up ioaal pledge, the new term of membe
ic ship, which has been recommended to Il
n churches OF that Association. What sal
al the scriptures How readest them ? a
h questions which should be 1ecarded as