Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1838-09-19

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and thus,dsubject him to the discipline G
the church" "A .,-. p
! 1--WE see why it is, that religious con
lroversles generally produce snch dsas
tiers IN the church. 1t is no; the mere
existence Of conflicting opinions, nor The
pubic discussion Of them, that produce.
these evils. 1t is an old maxim, thai
truth is chiefly elected by controversy =
and controversy. properly conducted, 50
far from being unfriendIy to the cucida
tor, and ascrn4encv of truth, is absolutely
essential to that object. Falsely named
Peace-makers, who, by stopping all free
and open discussion OF conflicting opin-
ions, would quiet the public mind, agi,ated
by the collision OF error with truth, might
indeed, il they could gain their object,
produce a calm; but it would be the calm
of the dead sea, the calm of universal
stagnation. Controversy. with all its
present evils, is preferable to that repose
OF the public mind, which permits soul
destroying error to sleep nndisturbed by
the side of heavens eternal truth. No,
It IS not controvcrsy,conducted upon Chris
tan principles, but that unhalowrd mode
Of theological warfare, mIsna med contro-
versy, a warfare, in which not an authors
sentiments, but his character, is the main
object Of attack, in which, bis arguments
are answered by the impeachment of his
motives, or by questioning his soundneSs
IN the faith, and his principles rendered
odious not by development of their
appropriate tendencies, but by covering
them with o1ious epithets, it is controver-
sy, conducted upon such principles, that
has covered Zion with slck-cloth.
Suppose that in all controversies among
Christians, this frct was kept distinctly
before the public mind, that the points OF
disagreement are, even in the judgment of
the disputants themselves, less important
than those in which they agree, that these
differences raise no wall of partition be-
tween them, that while they differ as the
ologians, they love and fellowship each
other as Christians, and that the object Of
each is, not victory, but the development
and ascendent influence Of truth, contro-
versy would honor the church. While
the shades Of difference among brethren,
would, by this means, be rendered visible
TO all, the influence of the great law Of
charity, that harmonizing principle OF the
moral universe, would be rendered still
more conspicuous. and the church would
indeed be honored by her divisions. The
adoption of these principles by all Chris
tians, is 10 introduce the Millennium When
free and open discussion is the law of
Christ's house-when his people of every
name: can differ, and still love and fellow
ship each other as brethren-and when
the object of all, is the discovery OF truth,
wherever it may be found, then, the time
is near, when the watchmCn of Zion shall
"sne eyetoPve," when peace shall be
within her walls, and plenteousntss with
in her palaces Then, the Angel of
God. standing in mid-heaven, shall blow
his trumpet, summoning the sacramentaI
host 10 the "battle. Of the great day Of God
Almighty" And while the armies Of the
living God are marshalling, and extending
their lines, wide as the earth itself, for
general onset upon Satan's empire. anoth-
or Angel shall take the vial Of God, and
pour it out upon the "seat of the bcaH;, "
and Ibis kingdom shall he full of dark
ness," and amid ",hunderings and voices"
il shall be shaken, as with great earth
quake, 10 its deep foundations. Fl I'd thus
spirit pervaded our beloved church, :hen
had her "peace been as river, and her
righteousness Of the waves Of the sea