Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-05-26
the Folly OF Men MEAsURINo THEM
SELVES BY THEMsELvEs.


The FOLLY OF Men MEASURING THEM
SELVES BY THEMSELVES.
For We dare not make ourse Ives Of the num-
Der, or compare ourselves with some that com
mend themselves but they, measuring them
selves by themselves, and comparing themselV es
among themselves, are not wise. COX. x. II.
We want not TO shock the pride or the
dalicacv of your feelings. But on ques-
ton so high as that Of your eternity, we
want to extricate you from the power of
very vain and bewildering delusion. We
want TO urge upon you the lesson Of
Scripture, that this world differs from
prison house, only in itSbeing more spa
cious receptacle Of sinners,--and that
there is not wider distance, in point Of
habit and Of Judgment, between a society
ofconvicts, and the genera community of
mankind, than there is between the whole
community Of our species, and the society
of that paradise, from which, under the
apostacy of our fallen nature, we have been
doomed TO live IN dreary alienation. We
refuse not to the men of our world the pos
session OF many high and honorable vir-
tues; but let us not forget, that amongst
the mdrauders Of the highway, we hear
too, of iuhexible faith, and devoted friend
ship, and splendid generosity. We deny
not, that there exists among our species,
as much truth and as much honesty, as
serve 10 keep society together; but meas
uIe Of the very same principle Is necessa-
ry, in order TO perpetuate and to accom-
plish the end ofthe most unrighteous com
bina:ions. We deny not, that there -four
ishes on the face Of our earth moral d.
versity Of hue and Of character, and that
there are the better and the best who have
signaIized themselves above the level of
is general population; but so 1t is IN the
maIclactor'S dungeon; and as there, so
here, may positive sentence of condem-
nation be the lot Of the most exalted lnd-
vidual. WecAeny not, there are many in
cverV neighborhood, to whose character,
and whose worth, the cordial tribute Of
admiration is awarded {; but the very same
thing may be witnessed amongst the out
casts of every civilized territory,-and
what they are, in reference to the country
from which they have been exiled, we may
be-. in reference to the whole Of Gods IN
fallen creation In the sight Of men we
may be highly esteemed,-and We may
be an denomination in the sight Of angels,
We may receive homage from our imne-
diatc neighbors for all the virtues of our
relationship with them,-~hile our rela-
tionship with God may be utterly dissoiv-
ed, and its appropriate virtues may neither
be recognized or acted on. There may
cmanate from our persons a certain beau
teousness or moral coloring on those who
are AROUND us,-but when seen through
the universal morality OF Gods extended
and all.pervading government, We may
loolsas hateful as the outcasts Of felony
and living. as We do, in u rebellious prov
ince, that has broken loose from the com
munity Of Gods loyal and otedicnt wor-
shippers, we may, at one and the same
time. be surrounded blythe cordialities of
an approving fellowship, and be frowned
upon by the supreme juaicatory of the
universe. 81 At one and the same time, we
may be RECALLED by the incense of this
worlds praise, and be the objects OF Heay-
ems most righteous execration.
80 -
1t must be quite palpable to any man
who has seen much Of life and still more
lfhe has travelled extensively, and wit,
messed the various compilations Of moraIi-
ty that obtain in distant societies,-it must
be quite obvious to such man, how read
lily the moral feeling, in each ofthem, &C.
commodities itself to the general state OF
practice and observation that the prac-
tees Of one country, for which there is .
most. complacent federation, wonld h,
shuddered at as so many atrocities in an.
other country,-,hat in every given NEIGH.
borhood, the sense Of right and wro9g
becomes iust as fine or as obtuse as n
square with its average purity, and It's av,
erage humanity, and IFS average upright
ness,-that what would revolt the publ,
feeling Of 1 retired parish in Scotland a.
gross lioentiousness or outrageous cruelty
might attach no disgrace whatever to
residenter in some colonial settlement
that, Nevertheless, inthe more corrupt an
degfadedof the two communities. there
scale Of differences, a range of charac
ter, along which are placed the compare
tive stations Of the disreputabley and tn
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