Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1840-09-09
1o2
from an the light and happiness it viii

Are no, the effjrts of the church at IT.
rreaen,. and have they not been fora long Pr
lime past. paralyzed, both at home and al
abroad. by blind trust in an arm OF flesh, g
rather than in the power and trust OF the !,
living Godf = =
r. not God almost forgotten bv his peo- 4
ME. while they go forth profrssedlv as
sheep among wolves, yet trusting in their D
own power AMI skill for protection and .
being ashamed TO acknowledge Col as
the only protector against the wrath of :
fierce, cruel. and rebellious men, lest they
BE- considered rash, and thereby suffer re-
proach Tor the name of Jesus2 y
Wny is it considered safer and wiser !
for sher2 and doves TO attempt 70 resist
and destroy wolves and vultures IN certain
circumstances, than 10 exhibit their own
meek and anoffendng spirit, and thus by
their intrinsic loveliness and winning
power, change the wolves themselves TO
lambs2 Beloved friends, do you not see
that nothing ese than this will effect the
desired changef Violence will not melt
the hardened heart. Military power and
protection will not convert; the world, nor
will Il enable missionaries TO do it. Pun
---never dld-never will Nolhing else
than the grace Of God, exhibited in the dv-
inc agonles Of a cruciied Jesus. dying jon
and by his enemies can accomplish this.
Are not we his representatives and may
we not claim The same privilege? May
not we also die for and By our enemies,
rather than injure or destroy them!
Does not benevolence require that we
should take the most effectual course TO
melt their hearts 10 the obedience of the
gospel Is that benevoleGce which stoops
10 punish those who iniure. or threaten TO
iniure US or our friend, while by consen-
ting 10 suffer and die for them. we may
convince them Of oui love, and the love oI
God TO them, and thus be the means OIL
winning them 10 Christ2
flour enemy hunger. may we not feec
him instead Of shooting him! fhe thirst
NAV we not give him drink instead o
hanging him. And instead Of goin.
forth 10 convert the world under cover O
cannon, walls, and guards, ray we no
take our lives in our hands and go fort
trusting in the Lord Almighty alone 3
Benevoence needs no gbbets nor prisons
Love needs no warriors nor hangmen 70
lis protection. Then let us learn TO
mighty through God alone. TO the pulin
down Of strong holds If we die 10 III
onset, still victory will BE- ours. The mo
Mhe christians, Victory an DEATH! o.
leader overcame the world, By suffering
10 destioy his life; and so may we. Itv
would be like our Master, we must cor
NIT ourselves 10 him that "judgeth right
ousy," and " threaten not" while we sui
e-: thus did Chris. leaving an examp
that we should follow his steps," Da
we initiate him, and leave those who me
iniure u.s. in the hands Of Him who W
in the last day render to every man acco
ding to his works.
If we stop TO build walls Of protectio
and endeavor 10 chain the sel6shness a
opposition of man by handouts and ma
aces, we shall find that Christ has no 81
pathy with US, and men will see that
have no trust in God and our progress
converting the world will be, as it has be
in line past, in inverse ratio with the
forts we make for that purpose.
If our designs are merciful, and @
measures Cbrist-like, we need not f.
wha, man can do unto us, nor stand ur
orr defence. like those selfish ones "
tren,ble, lest they may be injured by lht
who are alike selfish. 1t will not incre;
The opposition of the objects of our &C
will. because we use no Inenaces TO frig
en- them into an acknowledg ment of
truth, or to hear it spoken nor will II
lessen their opposition, if we approa
them with an array OF arms batlemer
AMI physical penalties, threatening devas
ton and death il they interfere with {
rights and interests.
Dear christian friends, how long wi
be, think YOU, ere the bright and gori
dawn Of the Millennium will usher
upon our Inflated world; when weap'
OF violence shall be no more, if chrisli
are TO be last who lay aside those inst
ments Of death and il they are to con,
uc their use, Till all the wicked have
came mild and peaceful? Is hat vir
which only ceases 10 resent injuries,
cause provocations cease 2 and only cea
TO resist evil, because there is no evil
resist
What begets violence. BIT violen
and how can strife and contention be d
en- from the earth. except christians
lay aside all the eusigns and characte
tics Of such spirit. and show TO the WI
the superior excellency Of the princi
of love and forgiveness2
Surely, it would not be unsafe for
world were we, and all saints, to lay a
carnal weapons, and act upon the pri
Piles Of selfsacri6cing benevolence.
could il be unsafe for one-tbird. or
- -