Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-07-14

are naturally entirely destitute of holiness;
that no one can be saved unless his heart be
changed by the special influences Of the Ho-
ly Spirit; that mans only hope Of happi-
ness is founded on the atonement which
Christ has made for the sins Of the world;
that those who accept the terms Of salvation
through penitence and faith in Christ, and
strive to live in pray erfulness and holy obe
dlenCc, will be saved, while those who re-
Ject must be forever banished from the pres
ence Of God. The suspected heresy, con-
slsts IN some impalpable and microscopic .
conceptions respecting the transfer OF origin
al SIM and the mode in which that spirit Ope
rates, whose movements revelation informs
US are as inscrutable as the winds. was
continually reminded, during the tedious
discussion, Of the remark which very con- +
sCientCus gentleman made in reply to the
observation, that the difference between the
two parties was so minute that it was almost
impossible to learn what it was, and, there
fore, it could not be worth such contenton.N
"Ah," was the sincere reply, ''there lies the
chief danger; it is so insidious and conceal
ed that it cannot be SEEN" Such errors had
better be left alone.
4. Several, who wearied the Assembly
with long speeches, apparently had not the
l1IOSI lClIlOtC luCd VI t1IC bNIHC III NOOoNN'
They simply had got the impression that
some great heresy, awful, mysterious, and
unintelligible, was creeping into the church
through the Rev. Albert Barnes. and that it
was their duty, as good orthodox men, to
contend firmly for the faith. 1t was painful,
vet amusing, to see with what simple heart
ed and conscientious ignorance, they would
beat the air, and cry avaunt to spirit which
their own Imagination had cOnjured.
5. There were some few individuals, who
apparently saw the minute shade Of differ
ence between the two partles and who SIN
cCrelv believed, rhat though the difference
appeared small, it in reality led to results SO
extensive and dangerous, that fidelity to the
church demanded that they should contend
against the latent error with firmness and
decision. This number was, however, very
small, and am persuaded that not one half
Of the General Assembly can tell or under
stand the difference between DR. Junkins
and Mr. Barnes.
6. was thoroughly convinced that Con-
gregatiOnalism avoids some difficulties
which the Pre- ,byterian form Of church gov
eminent must encounter. A clergyman in
PhiIadel phia publishes book, some senten-
Ces in which are, by some persons, deemed
Objectionable. The tOcsin of alarm is sound
ed far and wide. The excitement reaches
and peryades churches a thousand miles off.
All along the courses of our great rivers, in
our thronging and wicked cities, and in the
new villages of the most remote sections Of
the country, there is mastering for the &C.
clesiastical conflict Agents Of the different
| parties pass through the churches, to awaken
/ sympathy and enlist effort. For months
the time and attention Of pastors and peo-
! ,1lo t,1rDoI fro,,o 10 Of
! sin and retaining souls, to preparation Tor
the approaching strife. They meet, and
for fortnight exhaust their time & strength
in excited debate Friends are estranged,
and the seeds Of dissension are spread far
and wide. In the mean time curiosity is
strongly excited, and the book is scattered
everywhere through the land by tens of
thousands The debate terminates, and the
vote is taken. One half think the book a
good one, the other half think it a bad one.
Perhaps there is a majority OF a scOre on
the one side or the other The assembly
then disperscs not with glowing hearts to
promote the Advancement Of pure religion,
but under the strong temptation Of eXultng
in the triumph. or brooding over the defeat.
In a country like ours, extending over
thousands ofmiles. there must be continual
ly arising. in one section or another occa-
sions of dispute. These subjects must una
vodabIv be brought to the General Assem-
blythe great heart Of the Presbyterian
church-and thence be sent, in throbbing
pulsations, through all the veins & arteries
; of this immense organization.
In COngregatiOnaIism matters of local in
terest are confined to the place which gave
them birth, and there are always enough Of
ready pens to appeal to the jurisdiction OF
argument, the only arbiter in matters OF
reason. whenever the faith delivered to the
saints is in jeopardy.
In the present case, Mr. Barnes appca
from the decision Of the synod of Philadel
pha suspending him from the functions O.
the gospel ministry, was SUI tained by a ma
= ioritv of about forty. But as the synod in
Philadelphia, being a party in the case
0 could not vote, the majority in the whole
! body. consisting Of about two hundred anc
! fifty, would be about twenty five. The
question, therefore, still remains, after al
J. this agitation precisely where it would be
y in COngregationalism without any of thi
! contenton-to be settled by an argument
alive appeal to scri pture.
l. GUILT TIE SOURCE OF SORROW.-My
Il father had been III for long time, and
II had become so much accustomed to his
J. pale face and weak voice. that | was no
~ frightened at them, as children usual,
u are At first, it is true, sobbed violently
If for they told me he would die but hel
n dav after day returned from school an
- found him the same, | began to think h
IS would be spared to me One day when
g had lost my place in the class and don
> my work wrong side outward, cam
p home discouraged and fretful, and wer
p into nv fathers chamber. He was pale
d than usual, but met me with the same al
le fectionate smile that always welcomed m