State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-09-19

H,NNEh since GOd Crenteu man III IllS
1A own image, his fundamental law has
required every man to regard every other
man as his equal, and to love him ms he
loves his own soul. And ever since Cain
sought the favor of his Maker hy preton-
ded worship, without love to his brother,
the progeny of Cain have dreamed them
selves religious 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 II 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 fiftietll Psalm, with the first
and fifty eighth chapters of Isaiah, may be
adduced as incidental, yet glowing spcci-
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
menis. For this cause his Sermon on the
Mount unfoldcd its long forgotten principles
and indicated from perversion its Oft mis-
construed enactments. For this cause he
went about doing good to the bodies as
well as the souls of men, that his followers
might initiate his example. For this cause
| he put forth the parable of the good Samar-
itan,which teaches us to be neighbor 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 by require
ment which sent him away sorrowllIl.' For
this cause he drove the eXtorioncrs, as
thieves, with scourge Of cords, from the
house Of prayer. For this cause he de-
nounced woes upon the orthodox and HIGH
protesting Scribes aud Pharisces, whose
hypocrisy was attcsted by their expressions.
For this cause he announced lis 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 vinu-
ally the treatment of his own person.
Christianity willie ii remained such, was
emphatclly the Friend Of ilm. 1t could
; only become otherwise by Il corruption
which should cXtineuish lis vital principle
OF equality and impartial love. The mys-
} terry of lniquity began carly to work I'he
Apostles themselves were in pcrils among
false BRETHREN who loved to have the
prominence and lord il over Gods her
of Sin, who exalted hi self above all that
is called God. Christianity degraded, be-
came the ally OF dcspotism. Tyranny
dreaded the light that shone upon its own
deformity, and deemed il unsafe To chtrllsl
10 the injured poor the privilege Of reading
, the Bible that condemned tlei: own griev-
Gus wrongs!
This was the slumber of the dark ages
Luther illumined its dungeons with few
, CLEANS of day light. But we live in an age
| III which Professionals so called - are re-
doubling its horrors, and becoming clam
orous for the perpetuity of It's darkness.
In our own country, $50 boastiul of its liber-
ties) they not only withhold the Bible from
their brethren, but claim, and hold, and buy,
and sell their souls and bodies as goods and
'chattels personals They forbid to marry
and put asundcr whom God hath joined
{ together. They cXpunge, not the second
| merely, but every command OF the Deca-
, logue, particularly the first, the iiilh the
; seventh, and Tie eighth. They eilcctualy
say to their brother, thou shalt have no
, otherGod before tly earthly MASTER" They
null the law of obedience to the parent
and of instruction to the child. They de-
clare the wife and husband mot entitled to
; the conditions Of natlimony.' They sancti-
fly aud lcgallZe the hghcs! kind of theft the
robbery of the labor of Il whole life the
person of the laborer himself They eXlort
not the unwilling 1.-THE of the reaper's toll,
but the hire itself, and the reaper with his
hire! They use their neighbours service
! 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, 10 an alarming extent, is the relg
ion of the nineteenth century, in America
"A religion which claims 70 be the religion
of Proteslants and Of The Bible 1t prutcs
OF the horrors ofiho iuquisition, and crccts
gibbots for the defenders Of the truth - the
advocates of the poor! 1t builds the tombs
of reforlners, and accounts il insanity and
treason TO ask for the oppressed Amcricail
the occupancy of so elevated Il condition Us
that from whose degradation it was the la
Dor Of the Relormers 10 redeem the benign
ted peasantry Of Europe!
| A remonstrance has been raised against
| these accumulated wrongs; rcbuke 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. Luwless violence has been
welded by the boosted guardians ofthe law.
4 he National Constitution has been tram !
Piled in the dust, under the plea of preserv-
ing the Constitution. Tho bands of society !
have been severed under the pretext of pre-
venting dsuuion. Tho contemners OF law /
have been clamorous for despotic legsla-
ton. A corrupted christianity looks COM
placently on, and cautions the transgressor !
not against his sin, but against its too sudden !
abandonment! Its analhemas, so charitably /
Withheld from iInqtiiy, are Numbered |
iiercelY upon the heads of its renrOvers