Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-04-26

controls every affection OF the heart, and
the exercise Of every power Of the mind,
that he I" can do nothing against the truth"
3. Another theoretical error is, tina, we
are not to have the Spirit but part Of the
time-That no one can reasonably expect
always to be filled with the spirit of God,
while on earth. But the Bible is opposed
to this doctrine. In Gal. v: Is, we are COM
manded to "urdlk in the spirit" A mans
walk, in a moral sense, as used in the scrip
lures, includes his whole moral conduct
Hence we can always be in the Spirit.
Again, The Savior, speaking Of the Holy
Ghost, in Join xiv: l6, says, 81 will pray
the Father and he shall give you another
Comforter, that he may abide 1oith you for
erer." And in verse 18th, "He dueUeM
with you and shall be in you" Thus we
see that God designed to have the Holy
Ghost abide with his children always, and
that he was to d1ceU in them as really and
steadily as the sun rules his system. An
effort to apply this only 10 the Apostles, is
but to evade close doctrine.
4. A fourth error is, that it is only the
privilege of christians to have the Spirit
Those embracing this sentiment do not
seem TO think the gull of not coming up to
duty, by being filled with the spirit" and
receiving him ''to abide with them torerer."
But Gods word will bring in verdict of
gully, against every one who is not filed
with the Holy Ghost. Acts v: 80. owe
are his witnesses of these things, and so is
also The Holy Ghost whom God hath given
to them that obey him." Then if men are
guilty for not obeylng Col, they are FOR not
receiving, and walking in the Holy Ghost
Why men should be considered guilty for
Sabbath breaking, perjury, profane swear
ing or adultery, and not. equally so for dis
ooey'ng Gods command which says "be
filled with the Spirit" cannot PERCEIVE
| say, without the hazard Of successful con-
tradiction, that he who is not always filed
with the Holy Ghost is as truly rebel, as
he who assassinates his fellow. In extent
| will not compare them.
II. Error in practice. The natural result
of such theories as have mentioned is, cor
responding erroneous practice. There are
two practical errors now in the church which
take the lead Of all others.
l. While christians have such views.
they will never put forth any very vigorous
efforts to make the church holy, or to obtain
more OF the abiding influences Of the HOLY
Ghost. This is true in fact, as seen all
around US. How much more holy are most
OF the churches around US than they were
10 years ago2 None. The few feeble eff
forts they make are to get more into the
church, and II their lives are intoler0bly
wicked, get them out again, which thew find
much easier than TO make them what thew
ought to be. What was the design of all
the Eplstles? Evidently 10 promote the
holiness of the churches
2. Christians embracing such sentiments,
will naturally do what they do in religion,
by worldly wisdom and policy, which al
ways corrupts the church, and leaves sinners
10 60 to hell in their sins. This is the rea-
son why our array Of means accomplish no
more. They are moved by human policy
upon the wheels of worldly wisdom The
power Of the Holy Ghost is not in them.
Dear brother am fully persuaded as much
so as am of the existence Of God, that un-
til the church learn that God gives his spirit
to those who ask Alright, more certainly than
ne does cropto the huSbandman who sows
and tllls the ground-that TO be spiritual, is
to have the Holy Spirit dwell within and
control the whole man, so as to make him
think, feel and act in his sphere, as God
thinks feels and acts in his-That the shirt
Is to abide with US forerer-that it is more
than a privilege to have this sprit-,hat it
is an awful sin to live without being "fuIl
Of the Holy Ghost" however moral thew
may be externally without it; and until thew
j act ID strict accordance with this doctrine.
! we shall continually have before US, the
distressing picture presented in nv first
NO amount of money-no number of minis
tiers however mighty in intellect or educa-
tIon-no number Of schools, missionaries
or missionary societies, can atone for the
deficiency. The soul-the life is departed
unless this be received and acted upon.
In my next will present some Of tho
peculiar characteristics of the spiritual man,
Yours, &c. T1moruv
For the Telegraph.
Brother Murray In YOUR naner No 90