Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-06-28
VOL. IX....NO. 40.

blameless in the sight of men, it by no.
means follows that he is blameless in the
> sight of Con. The temptations to the
abuse Of wealth, always increase with the
accumulation of wealth, and these temp
tations are very speedily increased by all
the modes of rapid accumulation. Of
some Of these abuses fear we have been,
In an unusual manner, guilty.
suppose it will be granted as an uni
versal truth, that GoD has made nothing
for itself alone, but every thing mainly for
the sake of others. The sun does not
shine for itself, but for the system. Tai
ent was not given for the happiness or
the exaltatlon of its possessor, but to en-
! ighten, and bless, and adorn society,"
And wealth is subjected TO the same law.
1t is not bestowed upon US, for our graft
fcation, but as a means ofrendering US
happy, through the happiness which we
bestow upon others.
Now, greatly fear that rapid accumu-
lation has tended, in a remarkable man
ner, to shut out this cardinal truth from
the minds of men. When property has
seemed capable of yielding so large an
increase, men have been unwilling to part
with any of it for the purpose of moral
and social benevolence. Nor is this ALL
The rapid extension Of their means has
opened the way for still more rapid ex-
tension of their desires, 50 that the portion
that remained for the purpose of charity
seemen to grow less and less, with every
successful accumulation. Thus, as the
ability to bless mankind insreased the dis
position to bless them has diminished /
am aware that, for some time past, the
contributions to our benevolent societies
have been large, but greatly mistake if
those contributions have not flowed prin-
cipally from those in mediocrity of Cir
cumstances, and from the young instead
of from the older members of the commu-
nifty; and fear that it will be found that,
in the case of each individual, the more
rapid has been the accumulation of wealth,
the less energetic has become the spirit of
benevolence.
In the Scriptures, GoD informs US that
he rightfully puts forth claim to every
thing which we possess, and, to remind
US of this claim, he demands that a por-
ton of whatever he has bestowed shall be
consecrated to him. By enactiDg the law,
of the Sabbath, he asserts his right over
all our time. BY enactlng the law Of be-
nefcence, he asserts his right over all our
property and talents. And when he en-
Joins this law upon the Jews, he also
promises that they shall be prospered in
their secular pursuits, in proportion to
their obedience to it. And still more, he
distinctly intimates that if we refuse VOL
lar dor hot Job hao lair
.. he will take it from US by the judgment Of
his hand. l suppose the principle Of his
government to be the same at the present
day. fear that we have withheld from
GOD that which was his own, and that
he has, in judgment, reminded us that he
may rightfully claim the whole
But still more While we have sinned,
in refusing to acknowledge COP in our
substance, l fear we have also sinned
in manner in which we have used
that which we have appropriated to our
selves.
Besides a sensual, we are endowed
with an intellectual and mora nature
: Our intellectual and moral attributes sur
-; vive the grave, and on the proper cultiva-
ton ofthem our happiness or misery, in a
y future state, necessarily depends To cul
tvate them, then, must be our indlspensa-
bic duty, and for this cultivation the pos
session of pecuniary independence Certain
y offers peculiar facilities Our obliga-
tons, therefore, to render ourselves both
E wiser and better increase with the in
o crease of our porperty. Wealth Is part
y of the price put into our hands where
). with to obtain wisdom, and for the prop
- err use of it we are justly held account
. able
= Now, do not see that the leisure and
IS opportunity which increasing wealth be-
:, slows, has been commonly employed for
- r. developing, either in our own minds or in
~ those of others, the love Of the beautiful,
:. the true OF the good. do not perceive
! that, as men have accumulated wealth,
. they have been at all the more disposed
! to acquaint themselves with the laws Of
GoD, to investigate or to admire his
~ works, or to submit themselves 10 his will
| do not see intellectual and moral cult
walton advance with the means which
Cop gives for its advanc ement Every
:, man can easily Judge for himself, wheth-
IL er or not this is rendering to Cop accord
l. ing to his benefits.
t. But this is not all. fear that these
s. means of spiritual improvement have been
Is employed in frivolous seIflnduIgence,.
ee and, too frequently, in degrading sensual
al Qualification. l fear that the portion of
re Our property, which belongs to COP or to
d our Spiritual nature, has been consumed
N in costly dress, superb furniture. iuxuri-
. Gus ente rtainments pricely establishments,
h and all those forms of ostentatious display
" which foster no better principles than
n, vanity in our own bosoms, and envy in
9 II. chic orror