Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-02-04

heaven-daring sins on earth, and not be re-
proved? 1t is sin against which all men
should bear testimony, and liftup their voice
like trumpet till this giant-iniquity is ban
ished from the land and from the world.
VI. shall consider some of the difficult
ties which are sometimes raised in the way
of the performance Of this duty.
|. 1t is often asked, Is it aduty to reprove
my neighbor when there is no prospect of
doing any good?
| answer, it may be very essential to re-
prove sin in many cases where there Is no
prospect that the individual whom you re-.
prove will be benefited. AS in cases where
your silence would be taken for connivance
in his sin. Or where the very fact of his be-
ing reproved may prevent others from falling
into the like crime. Where the offender
comes properly under the description of a
scerner or a swine, there God has made an
exception, and you are not bound Ito reprove.5
But IN othercases duty is yonrs=7consequen-|
ces Gods. -
2. 1t is asked, Should reprove stran-r
gers? Why not? Is not the stranger your
neighbor? You are not to reprove,a stran-
ger in the same way that you would famil-
lar acquaintance, but the fact of his being a
stranger is not reason why he should not
God. If a man swears profanelv, or breaks
the Sabbath, in your presence, his being
stranger does not excuse you from the duty
and the responsibility of administering re-
proof, or trying to bring him 10 repentance &
save his soul.
3. 1t is asked, Should we reprove a person
when he is drunk?
Generally not; for when person is drunk,
he is deranged. There may be cases where
it is proper, for the purpose of warning 9TH
ers. But SO far as the drunkard himself is
concerned as general rule, it is not expe-
[ dent. Yet there are many cases, where re-
| proof to a man even when drunk, has taken
! such hold on his mind as to sober him and
turn him from his beastly sin.
! 4. Shall we reprove great men, and those
who are above US in society, and who may
look down on us and on our reproofs with
contempt?
That does not alter your duty. "Thou
! shalt IN any 1ciSe rebuke thy neighbor, and
not bear sin for him." You should bear in
mind the relation in which he stands, and
treat him accordingly. But still. if he sins
against God, it is your duty to reprove him,
In an appropriate manner.
REMARKS.
l. Do not talk about peoples sins, but go
and reprOve them.
1t is very common to talk about peoples
SINS behind their backs, but this is great
Wlckedness. If you want to talk about any
PERSONS sins, go and talk to him about them
and try to get him to repent and forsake them
DO not go and talk to others against him be-
hind his back, and leave him 10 90 on in his
sins, unwarned, to hell.
2. How few professors of religion are
sufficiently conscientious to practice this
duty.
| suppose there are thousands in this city
who never think Of doing it. Yes: profess
sors of religion live in habitual disobedience
to this plain, and strongly expressed COM
mand of God. And then they wonder why
they do not have the spirit of prayer, & why
there are not more REVEALS! Wonder!
3. See why so few persons enjoy reli-
gion.
They live in habitual neglect of this COM
mand, making excuses, when God has said
there shall be no excuse. And how can they
enjoy religion What would the universe
think of God, if he should grant the lows of
religion to such unfaithful professors?
4. We see that the great mass of profess
sors Of religion have more regard to their
own reputation than to the requirements of
God.
The proof is, that sooner than run the risk
of being called censorious, or of getting enc
mics by rebuking sin, they will let men 90
on in sin unrebuked, notwithstanding God
says, "Thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy
neighbour" But shall offend him if re-
prove his sin. Gin any wise rebuke him.
says Jehovah. 1t shows that they have great
er fear of men than Of God. For fear of Of
Tending men, they run the risk of offending
God. Yea, they absolutely disobey God, in
one of his plainest and strongest commando
ments, rather than incur the displeasure of
) men by rebuking their sins.
5. No man has right to say to US, when
| we reproye him of his sin, that it is none OF
our business 10 NEEDLE with him.
How often do transgressors tell faithful
reprovers they had better mind their own
! business and not NEEDLE with what does not
! concern them. And they are called med
l dlers and busy bodies, for interfering in 9th
er peoples concerns. At the south, they
, have got themselves into a great rage be-
cause we at the north are trying to convince
them of the wickedness Of slavery. And
= they sayltls none of our business, that slave
+ ~ Is matter peculiarly their own, and they
! will not suffer any body else to interfere with
them, and they require us to let them alone
and will not even allow US talk about the
subject. And they want our northern legis
latures to pass laws forbidding US to rebuke
: our southern neighbors for their sin in hold
: ing men in slavery. God forbid that We
y should be silent. Jehovah himself has com
> manded us to rebuke our neighbor in any
- wise, let the consequences be as they may
! And we will rebuke him, though all hel
- should rise up againstit.
e Are we to hold our peace and be partaker
h in the sin of slavery BY connivance as W,
= have been2 God forbid. We will speak O
n it and bear our testimony against it, and pra,
E over it, and complain of it to God and man
: Heaven shall know, and the world shall
know and hell shall know. that wp nrotoc