Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-07-19

cause the church has always resisted, and
, continues to resist the efforts that are made
to put down the system.
This sin charge on the whole church,
The church persecutes those who are en-
deavoling to get the slaves free. Christians
persecute their fellow Christians, and min
listers persecute their fellow ministe RS, who
are in favor of liberty. know man who
has been greatly prosecuted by ministers of
the same church, and often left through
their influence without dollar to procure
bread. l have known where, through the
influence of bishop and a presiding elder,
mob was raised against him, that followed
him six miles, and would have taken his
| life, had they been able
In the legislative conventions of the
church, the subject of slavery has been
carefully laid aside, and men have been ar
raigned and censured for being abolitionists,
and in that way, as it is said, disturbing the
peace of the church. And rules have been
adopted fOrbidding ministers from agitating
the subject of slavery. One body passed
such resolution as this: "ResoIOed, That
we will have nothing to do with the aboll-
tlonists or their purposes" This, | should
say, was equivalent to resolution that they
would have nothing TO do with the claims
of humanity. Thus the church is guilty of
systematic and cold Indifference in relation
to the sufferings of the slave, and Of perse
cutting those who are awakened to do what
they can to relieve the oppressed.
5. The church is guilty, because it is
wickedly opposed to coming to the light.
am glad to see so many here to-day,
especially of our white friends. But am
confident, that if had given out that was
going to preach in favor of the Colonization
Society, should have had all the first men
in the church 10 hear me. And why do
they not come now? Because they don't
want to know the truth in regard to the
guilt Of the church. Why are men afraid
sanctioned by God, why are they afraid of
up against anti-slavery meetings. How ma
nv good people refuse to read or hear any
thing on the subject of slavery. How many
would forbid ministers to speak out in re-
gard to it. If they are not guilty, why
afraid? | am not afraid of the works Of
darkness. If | am wrong, let them show it,
and shall be obliged to them These breth-
rem are not afraid TO discuss Infdelity, be-
cause they know it is false. But when it
comes to anti-slavery, they cry out and stop
their ears, and cry, Stop that! Why is this ?
1t is because they know it is true.
6. The church is guilty, because it will
not take the advice of God to Israel, in sim
liar circumstances" Up, sanctify the peo-
pie, and put away the evil thing from among
you"
They will not bring up the men who are
guilty, and administer the discipline of the
church upon them. They admit that slave
nv is sin. There is no man that will say
that robbery, and murder, and sacrilege, and
breaking up the social relations, is not sin
And slavery is al this. Yet the church
says, "You must not touch it; our minis
tiers are supported by it, and our charitable
societies are supported by it, let it alone, or
you will destroy the church. If we were
to say that slavery is wrong, there is brother
such-a-one, an able minister, or a liberal
supporter Of our church, will be brought in
guilty of a crime"
And where is the mighty harm, if we do?
IF brother Such-a- one had lett his family
and gone off with another woman, his being
an able and popular minister, or liberal
supporter, would not screen him. You
would cast him out. But he may take the
poor slave, perhaps member Of the same
church, and tear him away from his family,
and yet nobody dares to say he is guilty, and
do We SO? Do you say, No minister has
this, and know the man? He is pow
erful theologian, and popular preacher, and
the churches are always crowded when it is
known that he is to speak. This man went
to Salem, in New-Jersey, where there was
a man who had wife and three children
and took the man, by the help of constable
from this city, bound him, threw him into a
vessel, carried him across the bay, into
MARYLAND, and sold him to the traders
This was not more than six months ago
Now say, whether such man ought 10 be
in the church? Yet he remains in good
standing. He has taken away from the
wife her beloved aud welded husband, and
robbed three children of their earthly pro-
tector. and then gone away to preach the
gospel. These are facts, and the church is
guilty, so long as it does not draw down the
law upon such criminals. If they saw a
man drunk, they would discipline him quick
enough. That is right. If he had taken
away his neighbours property, there would
be no difficulty, he would be turned out
Right. But when he comes and takes the
husband from his wife and the father from
helpless children. there is no discipline
and you must not say word about 1t, be-
cause it is an eminent and popular Preacher
| say, for one, that will not keep silence
over such things. will cry aloud, and de-
clare, that the church is guilty IN the case,
deeply guilty, and must repent, or meet the
frowns Of offended Heaven.
V. Twill now consider, very briefly, the
awful consequences of this guilt
God says, IL will not be with you, except
you put away the evil from among YOU
} What an awful consideration! believe the
time was, when the church could be compar-
} atively innocent in this matter, but not now
And If, God is not with the church, wha,
can the church do? Is it any wonder that
no more good is done? Is it any wonder
that the church is in such state? Look al
the divisions that prevail. Look at the aw,