State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-09-13
PROSPECTUS
THRI FRIEND OF WAN.
This commandment have we from Him, that he
who loveth COP loveth his brother also

A. own image, his fundamental law has
required every man to regard every other
man as his equal, and to love him as he
loves his own soul. And ever since Cain
sought the favor of his Maker by preten-
ded worship, without love to his brother,
the progeny of Cain have dreamed them
selves,reigious while saying in their hearts,
sam my brothers Keeper
The second table engraved by the finger
of God on Sinai, contained solemn re-
enactment of that original law; decisive
testimony against such selfish and spurious
religion. Century after century holy men
were inspired TO tune the harp Of melody
and sweep the Tyre of prophecy, in unison
with the statutes of righteousness Oftheir
testimony, the fiftieth Psalm, with the first
and fifty eighth chapters of Isaiah, may be
adduced as incidental, yet glowing speci-
mems. But the religion Of Cain had cor
rupted and well nigh displaced the religion
of the law and the prophets, when Jesus
Christ himself appeared among men to
magnify and make honorable its require
lnents. For this cause his Sermon on the
Mount unfolded its long forgotten principles
and indicated from perversion its oft mis-
construed enuctmcnts. For this cause lie
went about doing good to the bodies as
]
might initiate his example. For this cause
he put forth the parable of the good Samar-
| itan, which teaches us to be ncighbor to him
who is fallen among thieves. For this
cause he tested the religion of the rich
young man, who imagined he had kept
the law from his youth up 10y require
ment which sent him away sorrowiul' For
this cause he drove the eXtUrlOncrS, as
thieves, with n scourge of cords, from the
house of prayer. For this cause he de-
nounced woes upon the orthodox and high
protesting Scribes and Pharisees, whose
hypocrisy was attested by their expressions.
For this cause he announced his fixed de-
termination to distribute the awards of the
last Judgement upon the principle of con-
sidering the good or i'll treatment of one OF
the least OF his earthly brethren TO be yiru-
ally the treatment of his own person.
Christianity willie it remained such, was
cmphaticlly the Friend Of 6Ian. II could
only become otherwise by II corruption
which should eXtingusll its vital principle
OF equality and impartial love. The mys-
terry of lniquity began early to work The
Apostles themselves were in pcrils among
false brethren,' who slowed 10 have the
preemnencc,' and 'lord il over Gods her
itnge.' In this spirit was revealed the .han
of Sin, who exalted himself above all that
is called God. Christianity degraded, be-
came the ally OF despolisn. Tyranny
dreaded the light that shone upon lis OWN
dcformity, and deemed it unsafe to entrust
to the injured poor the privilege OF reading
the Bible that condemned their own griev-
Gus wrongs
This was the slumbcr of the dark ages.
Luther iIlumined It's dungeons with few
Il. Fob live
in which Protestants so called arc re-
doubling its horrors, and becoming clam
orous for the perpetuity of its darkness.
In our own country, ESQ boastul of its liner
ties) they not Gully withhold the Bible from
their brethren, but claim, and hold, and buy,
and sell their souls and bodies as goods and
'chattels PERSONAL They forbid to marry
and put asunder whom Coo hath joined
together. They eXpunge, not the second
merely, but every command Of the Deca-
logue, particularly the first, the fifth, the
seventh, and the eighth. They cflectually
say to their brother, thou shalt have no
othcrGod before thy earthly masters They
nul the law Of obedience 10 the parent
and of instruction to the child. They de-
clare the wifi; and husband mot entitled to
the conditions of matrmnny.' They sancti-
fly and legalize the highest kind OF theft the
robbery of the labor of n whole life = the
person of the laborer himself They eXtort
not the unwilling 1.-THE OF the reaper's toll,
but the hire ITSELF and the reaper with his
hire! They use their neighbours services
, without wages, and give him not for his
work. They judge not the cause of the
widow, neither doth the cry OF the needy
come before them.
Such, TO an alarming extent, is the relig-
ion of the nineteenth century, in America
"a religion which claims 10 be tile religion
of Protesants and of the Bible! 1t pratcs
OF the horrors of the inqulsition, and erects
gibbots for the defenders of the truth -ihe
advocates of the poor! 1t builds the tombs
of reiormers, and accounts 1t INSANITY and
treason TO usk for the oppressed American
the occupancy of so elevated a condition as
that from whose degradation it was the Ia
, Dor of the Reiormers to redeem the benigh-
ted peasanry OF Europe!
a remonstrance has been raised against
these accumulated wrongs; rebuko has
been uttered against these unparalleled
sins. Satan is reused from his seat, and
wages war against the throne Of God and
of the Lamb. LawleSs violence las been
welded by the boosted guardians orthc law.
1 hu National Constitution has been tram
Piled in the dust, under the plea Of prcseN-
ing the Constitutions The bands of society
have been severed under the prctcXt OF pre-
venting dsunion. The contemncrs OF law
, have been clamorous for despotic legisIa-
ton. corrupted christianity looks COM
placently on, and cautions the tranSgressor
no, against his sin, but against its too sudden
abandonment! Its anathemas, so charitably
withheld from iniqiGty, are Numbered
fiercely upon the heads Of its reprovclrs,