Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1838-10-24

80" Al TIC I9tl century, It's home and hid
e Ing place IS in the heart of the "Beast,n-
Z the Church of Rome. 1t is, in essence, a
part of the doctrine of the infallibility of the
Church. Wo to the church-called by what.
ever name-and wo to the world living in
SIN, when this doctrine shall have been gen
orally received. 1t is a doctrine that will
make "dumb dogs" that "cannot barkn OF
all who drink it in. 1t is doctrine that re-
CURES obedience to men, rather than obedi-
ence to God. 1t worships the creature, in
stead Of the Creator.
No christian, because he Lores Gods
church, IS at liberty to a0orship her, and ex-
alt her above her Great Head and Law Civ
ef' God has never required or permitted
one OF his servants to have any other stand
are oil duty but His revealed will. Who
ever Is acquainted with the history of the
church, knows that she has always been liza
Ole 10 be corrupted, and that she has from
Time to time been awfully corrupt. Hence
The necessity of Gods keeping the lawmak
ing power in his own hands. There is no
need OF going back, for an exemplifcation
to the days of Moses when Israel caused
golden calf to be made, to be worshinned
instead OF the Lord who had delivered them
from the power of their enemies; nor to the
tunes OF the prophets, when the Lords
chosen people sacrificed to Moloch; nor
yet to the days of Luther, when the church
calling itself by Gods name bought and
sold indulgences to sin. In our own ace
ana our own country, there are instances
In point. 1t is not yet 20 years since the
whole church was full of the sin of intem-
perance, and she is not yet thoroughly
cleansed from it. A large portion of the
American church Is this moment full of rob-
berry and blood. The church in general
cherishes the spirit of war and thanksgiving.
There is biting and observation-disclosures
gong to law the law of yiolence7 with
brother; there is avarice, selfshness zeal
ousy, ambition, pride and hatred. l do not.
OF course, speak comparatively. l would
not needlessly reproach Gods chosen, before
their enemies. But every one who reads
THIS, Will bea me witness that all these sins
are iearfully prevalent in the church of the
nineteenth century. What would be at
Is, to show the fallacy and danger of under
taking to prohibit individuals, who see these
things, raising their standard and steppino
forward. If the church, as BODY. were
what she ought to be, there would be no
need OF her individual members forming 9TH
er combinations for the suppression of GER
tain enormous sins. The fault is not the
iauit OF these individuals-it is the fault of
the body. The societies of this ace for
the suppression of certain sins, have orioi-
mated in the neglect, the omission, tho do
l'nquency of the church. Christians are re-
CURED, by the sentiments of the articles
now under consideration, to refrain from
throwing themselves into any society.
which processes to take higher moral ground
than the church." Now the church had the
privilege of doing away the sin of intern
perance. But did she do it2 No, verify.
She had the work on her hands for centu-
RES, and instead of reforming others she
was herself falling deeper and deeper into
the sin. 1t is so in regard to slavery and
war. These soul-destroying sins find a
hiding place within the pale of the church.
Hence the necessity of those individuals.
who would expel these sins from the world
as we'll as the church, coming out, so far as
it regards these sins, and separating them
selves, and combining their influence.
| The Editor of the Waterman appears to
be alarmed that any society should profess
to take higher moral ground than the church.
Call it what he pleases-taking higher
ground, or advance ground-no duty is plain
er to the members Of these societies, than
that God calls on them TO elevate their stand
ard and move forward. The Editor Of the
Watchman says: " II the church is corrupt
ed and darkened, let it be- enlightened and
purified" Amen. And how shall it be
done BY those who have the light and
the truth remaining silent and inactive? If
motif they are to rise, lift up their voices,
and act, why not allow them to combine
their acts, and lift up their voices together
If the Editor Of the Watchman, and the
writer OF the sermon, suppose that these So
cieties undertake to elevate their standard
: above the Gospel, they have wasted their
time In building a man of straw, for the
' sake ofwashing their strength in demolishing