Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-05-31

successfully and undoubtedly for the vol |
untary principle, that a man cannot be
born into q system of faith-that be must
make the Bible his only guide. Now,
this principle had since been introduced
into all the institutions of civil and reli
gious freedom which distinguished our
happy land.
He would say, then, under the circum-
stances in which the Baptists in the Unit
ed STATES were place., -where there were
no acts Of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS there were
no tithes-where there were no courts of
Inqulsition-where there was no union of
Church and State-where there was no
sword Of majesty placed in the hands of
religious despotism, they ought to act un-
shackIed and fearlessly. This was the
land where we spoke as we printed, and
printed what we spoke, and there was
none daring to make US afraid"
Mr.. G. went on to say, that the Baptists
wanted no new Bible, they merely wished
to have the privilege Of printing and cir
cnlating il as they understood it now
Were they to stand still and not step for
ward and give the Scriptures unmutilated
and uncoDverted to the nations of the
earth! They were called upon, under
existing circumstances, to have a distinct
organization to accomplish the purposesfor
which they Were met, because it was of
all organizations in Christian efforts the
most popular. In America and Europe
there was no institution which laid a
greater hold Of the popular feelings than
that connected with the circulation of the
Scriptures. He conceded with the pre-
vious speaker, that the Baptists might as
well establish schools for the instruction
OF the Heather, as organize a Society of
their own for the distribution of the BIZ
bic in foreign lands. But, he insisted.
that that fact did not initiate against the
adoption Of the contemplated project. 1t
was no argument to maintain, that, because
two or more Iaudable undertakings could
be carried into execution at the same time
one should not. He next warmly advo-
Gated the diffusion OF the Sacred Scriptures
IN Germany and other parts of the CONT.
nent Millions and millions of Bibles
might be easily disposed of among those
people "perls6ing for lack Of wisdom. "
And the same remark might be made in
reference to the Germans and Welsh and
other foreigners residing in our own coun.
try. They wanted the word of God, and
ought TO be supplied with it.
MIR. Z. next went into detailed bistorr
OF the controversy between the Baptists
and the American Bible Society, and re-
lated the numerous facts and. circumstan.
ees which led to, and grew out of it. He
Insisted that the Baptist denomination, i'll.
used ss they had been. lad no other course
left them TO pursue than to withdraw from
the American Bible Society If, in max.
ing these remarks, which he had done
without premeditation or arrangement
and which were only full expression oil
the feelings Of his hean,) a single word
had fallen from his lips calculated to
wound the feelings of any brother pres.
ent, he sincerely asked his forgiveness,
for he had no such intention. His object
was to promote the glory Of God in the
circulation Of the Scriptures. Hethouobt
Baptists were under as much obligation
to give the pure version in print as "a
preach it. If his long experience in the
Christian ministry entitled him to ar
opinion, he hesitated not to say tina, five
times as much could be done by distinc
organization as by leaving the matter
to Missionary Societies-that was, as IA,
as foreign transIatiOns were concerned
> And, he prayed God that the convention
would come exactly to that decision which
should be pleasing in His sight, and Hi.
name should have all the glory.
ITO be Continued