Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1837-02-17

falls from benches were made, these were
few out of the many exploits that wbiled
away the time, and broke the monotony OF
study. In the afternoon few silly with
drew, locked the door, assembled the house
and placed a board over the top Of the
chimney, salued the house with volley
Of stones; gave three cheers for the master
that would not whip and departed.
The remainder of this | have not been
able to find.
Dr.. CLAIMING ON RELIGIOUS SEcTs.-
We subjoIn another extract from Dr.. Chan.
ning's letter to the Editor of the Western
Messenger
In all scots recognize joyfully true dis.
cples ofthe common master. Catholicism
boasts of some Of the best and greatest
names in history, so does Episcopacy, SC
! Presby'eranism, &c. exclude none.
know that Christianity is mighty enough
to accomplish its end in all l cannot how.
ever speak of religious any more than oil
political parties, without betraying the lit.
lie respect have for them, as par,ies.-
There is no portion of human history more
humbIIng than that of sects. When med
tate on the grand moral, spiritual purpose
OF Christianity, in which all its glory con-
S'ss; when consider how plainly Chris.
tlanIty attaches importance to nothing but
10 the moral excellence, the disinteres,ed
divine virtue, which was embodied in the
teaching and life of its founder and when
from this position, look down on the sec,s
which have figured, and now figure in the
church when see them making such a
STIR about matters generally so unessential;
when ! see them seizing on disputed and
dlspulable doctrine, making it a watchword,
test of Gods favor, bound Of commu.
Mon, ground osselfcompIacency, badge
of peculiar holiness, a warrant for condcm.
ming its rejectors, however imbued with
the spirit of Christ; when see them over.
looking the weighter matters OF the law,
and laying infinite stress here on a bishop
and prayer book, there on the quantity of
water applied to baptism, and there ON
some dark solution of ucomprehens IDLE
article OF faith when see the mock dig
nifty Of their exclusive claim to truth, to
churchship, to the promises of Gods word;
when hear the mimic thunderbolts of de.
nunciation and accommodation, which
they delight to hurI when consider how
their deep theology, in proportion as it is
examined, evaporates into words, how
many opposite and extravagant notions are
covered by the some broad shield of myste.
ry and tradition, and how commonly the
persua sion of inGaI',bi'y is propor,loned to
the abiurdity of the creed when | consid.
er these thugs, and other matters of like
import, l am lost in Arrangement at the
amount of arrogant folly, of self compla.
cent intolerance, of almost incredible blind.
ness to the end and essence of Christianity,
which the history Of sects reveals. have
indeed profound respect for individuals in
all communions of Christians. Blu, on sects.
and on The spirit of secls, must be allow
ed to look with grief, shame. pity, had
almost said, contempt. In passing these
sensnres, claim no superiority. am
sure there are thousands of all sects, who
think and feel as | do, in this particular.
and who, far from claiming superior intel
l'gence, are distinguished by following out
the plain dictates, the natural impulses, and
spontaneous judgments Of conscience and
common sense.