Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-02-25
Tres, Lest ther should lose reput

anongm mon alton
Hthey are ever required to make con-
fessien Of more than they think consistent
with their reputation, they are more arx-
ious how it will affect their character, than
whether God is satisfied.
Search your hearts, you that have made
confessions, and see which most affects
your minds, the question what God tho't
Of it or what men thought Of it. Have
you refused To- confess what you knew
God required, because it viii hurt your
reputation among men2 Will not God
judge your heartsl Only be honest now,
and let il be answered.
Is. They win yield to custom what
they know to be injurious to the cause of
religion, and tothe welfare Of mankind.
u A striking instance of this is found in
the manner Of keeping New Years day.
Who does not know that the customary
manner of keeping new years day, setting
out their wine and their rich cake and
costly entertainments, and spending the
day as they do, is a waste Of money, hurt
full to health, and injurious to their own
souls and to the interests Of religion p
And yet they do it. Shall we be told that
persons who viii do this, when they
KNOW it IS injurious, supremely love
God! care not who attempts to defend
such acustom, ii is wrong. and everychris-
tan must know it to be So And those
who persist in it when they know better
demonstrate that supreme regard to God
is not their rule Of life.
IA. They will do things of doubtful
character, or things the lawfulness Of
which they strongly doubt, in obedience
to public sentiment.
I You will recolltct that on the evening
of the first day of the year took up this
subject, that those who do things of doubt
full character, of the lawfulness of which
they are not satisfied, are condemned for it
in the sight Of God.
Is. They are often ashamed to do their
duty, and so much ashamed that they will
not do it.
Now when person is so much asham-
ed to do what God requires as not to do it
it is plain that his own reputation is his
idol. How many do you find who are
ashamed to acknowled ge Jesus Christ
ashamed to rcprove sin, in high places or
low places, and ashamed " speak out
when religion is assailed. IF they su
premely regarded God, could they ever be
ashamed of doing their duty1 Suppose a
mans wife was calumni sted, would he be
ashamed to defend his wife2 By nc
means If his children were abused
would he be ashamed to take their part
Not if he loved them, it would not be sham
. that would deter him from defending hi
wife or children. If a man was friendly
. to the administration Of the country, an
f heard u illuminated, would he b osham
cd to defend it, He might not Think
V etped:rnt to speak, for other reasons; bu
: if he was a true friend to the go1 e7nmen
= he would not be ashamed 10 speak in it
: behalf, anywhere.
f Now such persons as l am speaking o
: will not take decided ground when the
e are among the enemies Of truth, whcr
e they would be subject to reproach for Dc
., ing it. They are very bold for the trut
c when among its friends, and will make
= great display oftheir courage. But whe
put to The trial, they, will sell the Lord Je
" sus Christ, or deny him before his EN-
/, tmies put him to open shame, rather tina
If rebCke wickedness or speak out IN h
cause among his enemies.
ID l6. They are opposed to all encroacl
o ments on their self indulgence, by advan
n ing light on practical subjects.
if They are much disturbed by eve,
!. Il. L. ~
es or breaks in upon their habitual self-i
n diligence And you may talk as niue
of and preach as much in favor oft as y
n please, there is only one way to reach Il
he, kind Of people, and that is, by creating
re new public sentiment. When you ha
it brought over, by the power Of bene,
lencc and of conscience, d sufficient nu
nd Der 'insthe community TO create pub
it sentiment in its favor, then they will adj
+od your new proposals, and not before.
in, II. They are always distressed at W
res they call the ultraism ofthe day.
out They are much afraid the, ultrai
ofthe present day will destroy the chur
ap- They s1y'we are carrying things too
| in and we shall produce a reaction. Tia
ac- for instance. the Temperance Reformati
90 The true friends of temperance now kn'
in that alcohol is. the same thing, whereve
,alli is found, and that to save the world
one Danish intempetance it is necessary
ingtbanish alcohol in all its forms. =
her pinch of the Temperance Reformation
APPS never yet been decided. The mass of
set, community have never been called to
God selfdenial in the cause. The place WI
at a it viii pinch is when it comes to the q
lent ton whether men will exercise selt-de1
loss to crush the evil lfthey may contlnu
ans drink wine and beer, II is no self-denis
hey give upardent spirits, 1t is only CHI
I - -. IL e.. -. lick alcnhnl Il Ia