Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-12-18

by such reasoning as this are greatly to
be pi,ied
There are those who would abolish all
human governments. The Boston Peace
Convention of 1888 published this doc
trine. -
This charge is utterly false. 1t has
not a shadow of foundation in truth. II
is, doubtless, attributable, however, in the
present case, more to failure Of the head
than to fault of the heart. The NAL
who reasons so lamely and absurdly, as
just now seen, must not be expected al
ways to apprehend correctly in matters Of
fact. And these remarks are peculiarly
applicable 10 those who trust 10 others to
reason and gather facts for them.
The truth of the case is this - This
sect, everywhere spoken against hold
that the followers of Christ, the Prince OF
Peace, ought TO have nothing TO do with
the law of violence-but be governed by
the perfect law of love, so magni6ed by
friend Mitchell, in the morning. This is
entirely different thing from making a
violent onset'-as the speaker elsewhere
had it-against all human governments.
The misapprehension, or misrepresenta-
ton, here pointed out, has been prolific
source OF the ob'oquy and abuse every
where heaped upon the advocates Of rad
ical peace principles.l
Primitive Christians absolved them.
selves from the governments around them.
But the civil powers were then corrupt.
Slavery was upheld by law. Idolatry
was the religion of the land, established
by law. How was Christianity to sue
coed against such opposition2 by silent
influence, like the running of The stream
that undermines the wall-not by VIC.
lent onset against government.
If by violent onset he means phys
zeal violence, 1t certainly is not applicable
to those who have nothing to do with such
violence. If he means il. by i'm plication.
to De relteration of his previous charge,
that this sect undertake to overthrow
and abolish all human government, il is
the same untruth it was before. But if he
means what is involved by the doctrines
have stated they hold to, then he has no
right to use the language he EMPLOYS
So that in any and every aspect of it, the
language ne uses is altogether unwar-
rantabIe.
Again What does he mean BY the
silent influence of Christianity 2 and bv
its not making violent onsetP Does he
mean that Christianity is never to be ag
gresslve! that it is to hide itself and have
no open encounter with SIM And what
becomes OF his morning prayer-in,ro-
ductory to his sermon on the Law of God
in which ne besought the Lord that the
church might be the light of the world
and be saved from luke-warmness ~
But especially what does he do with the
precepts and examples of The Savior and
his apostles, which require christians 10
De bold for truth-valianl for God-.war-
ring good warfare? 2
And again If the ption' Of he
governments with which the primitive
christians found themselves in contact
their holding slavery established by law.
&C., were sufficient justification for their
absoivlng allegiance TO them, what is Inc
reason the same corruption may not be
equal justification for christians doinc the
same thing now2 If there be anything
oil corruption lacking in the outward form
OF modern governments, il is made IN in
hypocrisy and intrigue. What | ask in
the history of human governments, exbib.
It's corruption eqnalling that of the gov
ernment which. protesting to be the most
republican and christian on earth, at the
same the holds and treats as goods and
chattels, in the hands of lustful tyran,s
every SIKH person of its own population .
challenge The production of parallel
But | have not done with my friend on
inns point. He taught, in other paris of
Ills sermon, that human governments,
@0'oe0er corrupt, are ordained of God
ana must therefore be received as bless.