Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1838-05-02
VOL. x. NO. SO.
must be diyersi,ies of opinion even among
those glorious beings. ,.-<s~ -

Men, moreover, are placed in various
situations. A thousand influences, arts.
ing from country, kindred. modes oil edu-
cation, pursuits, wealth or poverty, affect
the mind, and modify its opinions on all
subjects. - >z.s g. IS.
The character of the Bible. too, iindi-
Gates, that God intended 10 give exercise
to the mind, and to urgeit 10 a diligent
search for truth, by the same stimulant
which moves men to effort in every other
pursuit, the reward of success, as The re.
suit of toll. The truths Of the Bible are
not presented in few formal articles of
faith,-in a condensed summary of doc.
trines,-in regular category of princi-
Piles. They are scattered over the broad
surface of revelation. They are convey.
ed, sometimes, in the form of individual
and at other times, in the de.
tails of national history. They breathe
in the poetic inspirations of pious grief, or
of holy JOY. They appear in didactic
precepts, in affectionate exhortations, in
precious promises, in terrific warnings.
They take the shape of narrative, or song,
or argumentative discussion, or familiar
letter. In these varied modes, truth is
spread before the mind, and the doctrines
of religion areto be learned by study, by
comparison, by inference, like the truths
of botany or astronomy. The most dill
gent and humble learner will be the most
successful. ITO him that hath shall be
given" Since the minds and the situa-
tons of men are SO different, there must
be many degrees of progress, How UNI
reasonable, then, is the expectation, that
all men, who have the Bible, and are dis
posed to love and to study it, will make
exactly the same proficiency, and have
identically the same views respecting its
widely scattered truths! If the same
general conception be formed, concerning
a particular truth,-such as justification,
so that two individuals may equally place
their entire reliance on The S vior, aud de.
rive from this trust delightful peace, vet
how different may be the extent of their
ideas on this point How much more
may be included in the views of the one
than in those of the o,her,-ir the views
Of Paul, for example, than in those Of q
poor Karen, who has just emerged from
LAIo ALIIO I1O In
essence, in vital efficacy, the doctrine is
the same to both just as Venus or Jupi-
ter is the same planet to the eve both of
an astronomer and Of child, but how
wide the difference in the ideas which are
in their mindsl~ =.
1t is inevitable, that men will form va.
rious opinions of the doctrines of revels.
tfon, in proportion to their capacities, their
application, their humility and their love
Even those who agree in their general
OF a doctrine, will see il with
more or less of distinctness, and with
more or fewer adjuncts and connections,
Hence many, who agree in their views
Of justification, and the atonemrn,, and
other doctrines. employ some " hat different
Just as two travellers, who
should survey Niagara from The same
point of observation, would descrloe the
mighty cataract, in language entirely Co.
incident as to the prime pal facts, but diff:
fering in the details, in proportion as the
one exceeded the other in power OF Wis
ion, in attention, in cultivation of mind.
in taste for the beau,es end subIirnities of.
nature, and in reverence for its glorious
Author.
We shall not, we hope, be misunder.
stood, as intimating, that it is not equally
the duty of all men to learn, believe and
obey the trnth and that all men could
not so learn it, 10 a drgree sufficient for
heir salvation, if they sought for this
knowledge in right manner. But so
long as the mind shall remain imoerfect
and so many and various influences affect
it, an exact uniformity of opinion cannot
be expected. Any scheme of union, ac.
cording ly, which rests on this expectation,
must be visionary.
The second cause Of disunion is fobrd
in The selfish passions of men. These
are naturally reused 10 action by a dir
ference of opinion. Our pride inpels MS
to think our own views right, aad our
self-Iove is wounded. if others reject and
oppose them. We are not disposed to at
tribute their opposition to superior wis.
dom, but are rather prone to ascribe it to
some wllfui Perversion of intellect, or de.
pravity of heart. Hence, in darker times.
even good men thought it right to punish
those, who did not adopt opinions like
their own. Believing their own opin.
ions TO be in accordance with the word of
God. they thought it their duly to sup
press and extirpate, even by fire 6 sword,
every opposing opinion. as guilty and IA
tai error Thus Mr.. Cotton thought, that
Roger Williams was justly banisbrd. not
because he acted conscientiousIy, but be.
cause he had a wrong conscience.
The spirit of party is awakened Men
unite with those who agree in. opinion
With them. They wish to Strengthen
their own party. Others do the same:
and hence rival interests. jeaIonsies, onpo.
s;.ion and oman discard ans.,.. -