Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-12-07

that loses MS lie lOI my sohS' 0Hol4 HAAO
it, Such a man, though not lacking
courage, may by some be regarded as
weak and cowardly, for not daring to lift
up his hand against the life of his fellow
creature: but what then? Will the CEN
sure of a few frail, mistaken mortals d.
vest his innocent spirit of the peaceful re-
Election. that he died without the guilt OF
shedding human blood
But what will be the reflections of the
man, who in the very act of slaughterlng
others, when wrath and revenge fill his
heart, is himself in a moment hurried into
eternity, to receive his final sentence from
that Judge who has commanded him to
love his enemies, and not resist evil -
Can his reflections for doing the very re-
verse, be consoling? Or can a rational
being suppose, that with these dispositions
he can be happy in heaven, where all is
peace and concord? Ifnot, when, where,
or how is he to be Invested of them ?
Christ has declared, if We die in your
sins, where | 60 We cannot come" 1t is
presumed, none will say wrath and re-
venge are not sinful. My brethren, these
are momentous considerations ! May they
stimulate us to seek an inheritance in the
kingdom of heaven, in preference to vain
and imaginary immortality in the applause
of men.
One great means of keeping alive the
spirit of war, is that Partially which We
contract in our early education for the
manners Of pagan antiquity: from whence,
we learn to adopt ideas Of virtue, directly
opposite to hose which Christianity teach
es to be guided by laws of honor, whic h
that abhors; to initiate characters, which
that details; and to behold heroes, patriots,
conquerors, and suicides with admiration,
whose conduct they utter y condemn
Christians reprobate pagan immortality
and ldoIatry, and yet adopt their errone-
Gus ideas of virtue. Thus the conduct of
Brutus in the murder Of Caesar, and the
action Of Cato in the destruction of his
own life, are eNtolled as virtues and hero
ic deeds. Pagan ideas of morality and
virtue, are no rule for christians; because,
founded on their ignorance of Christian
acquisitions. Applause for Warlike a.
chlevements, was congenial with the re-
Ilglon OF pagans, many of whose Gods
were made out Of deceased heroes, sup.
posed to be exalted to heaven, as rewald
for the mischief which they had perpetra-
ted upon earth. Not such the religion OF
the christian his, seeks not applause, and
IS so Tar from encouraging to revenge in,
juries, that it commands to forgive them
as the condition of obtaining forgiveness
himself
1t has been observed by some, that it is
difficult to draw the line between defen
slve war, and that coercion used by the
civil magistrates, in taking life on some
occasions. How the civil magistrates OBJ
tanned this power, is question worth in.
vestigating. The people, from whom
they derive all the power they possess,
have no right to take their own lives, and
consequently cannot transfer it to them
A man may transfer to others right to
control his person-to regulate his con,
duct-and exact his services and for these
ne may receive an equivalent but what
equivalent can he receive for his lifei
Mans life is, therefore, his own to pre-,
serve, but not to transfer, or destroy. His
life, his conscience and day of probation
are unaIienabIe. wish my feIlow-citi
zens to examine carefully the propriety O
taking life in any case.
AS mankind are to become christian:
individually, and bear their testimony a
galnst evil ofevery kind they are not tc
remain IN the practice of any thing they
are convinced Is wrong, because other mer
continue in 1t: Therefore, a man who act.
IN warllke measure, contrary to his judg-
ment, will no moro be justified IN the ight
OF his Maker for so doing, than for theft
or drunkenness.
Let those, therefore, who heve tende
scrupIes against taking the lives of thei
fellow men, cherish those scruples, les
their feelings become hardened, and tn,
avenues to the heart closed against the ten
der calls of love, and they be left so to act
as finally to have the sac reflection, thai
contrary 10 their understanding, they hav,
slain fellow creature Nav these con
sclentIouS ones remember, that if war is
an evil every step towards it, is also an
evil and It is salutary scripture com.
mand, "abstain from all appearance of e
vii" Thes. v. %.