Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1840-09-16

ing, when they set themselves to punish v
their enemies and how absurd IN their Il
inference of the right to do thus, from the r.
fact that God Furnishes his enemies, as a
though child might claim the right 10 ia
chastise his brother, because his father did V
the sane. p
9th. We protest against Judaizng $
Christianity by Introducing the penal code +
of the Mosaic Dispensation into the more b
perfect and benign statute-book OF the S
CHRISTIAN Dispensation. The sacri6cial $
laws of the Jews have been fulfilled, and I
the "sceptre has departed from Judah, Il
and now Christ alone is Lawgiver, Judge /,
and Avenger in Israel. He began his
reign by repeating the retaliatory laws of
Moses. and giving totally different instruc-
tons in regard to the treatment of enemies
and sinners from what had previously been
given.
10Th We protest against uniting
/" Church and State by placing temporal
power in the hands of Christians, and
thus setting the Church in battle array |
against the world, armed with the same
carnal weapons, and trusting to the same
instfumentalities for accomplishing their
purposes of benevolence that the world
J employs in pursuing its selfish and ambi
tions schemes We do not believe that
we can fight sin out ofthe world by sword
: and spear, nor vote it out by numbers
We abhor that species of MatersGlism
+ whice makes the progress o. truth to de-
pend on majorities, and which supposes
: that righteousness can be promoted in the
2 earth by arming Christians with weapons
!, of offence and defence. Having long de-
} MED the divine right of kings to rule
S men, as all other republicans have done;
i we cannot perceive that Christians have
Il any more of divine right" to rule, than
IT the "kings of the earth" have, who claim
! it.; and as for such right existing in the
e necessity of the case" we are sure that
d there is no such thing as an absolute
n necessity" for any man to govern men
y but the necessity, if it exists, is wholly a
CT reLGt5re one, occasioned by rebellion
i against God, and the must needs be- in
G the case is as real as wars and ofenc
le es' are necessary to precede AMI pre-
n. pare the wav for the millennium and tn,
or same 'wo' will BE pronounced against tn,
~ princes of this worId who destroy thef
list feIow-beings, uncommIssloned, as agains
in those who cause the offences and wars
is which will precede Christ's coming.
w 18th. We protest against considering
the relations Of dependence and superior1
"a ty among men, as giving one man author
by ity to control another against his will =
r. since all are equal in that respect; bein!
pts Of enc family. and our relations to eac
n other entirely mutual. Hence one ma
RS, has as much right to control another, a
ice the other has to control him; each bein
~ solely responsible to God so that no on
not has a right to dictate to another, and us
as compulson to secure obedience, as tn
RS, would destroy his free agency, and pei
Use haps (as all men may cry force him t
md commit sin or destroy him, while the fau
to was all on the side of the aggressor. Go
hit, has not left men to the action of such
1ed principle as this, which, if carried on
'rs, would lead to universal anarchy and ri
ard IN, Dy setting every mans hand again
lie, his brother But He claims the rig
ex- himself alone to dictate to men, and
it; be the executioner of deserved wrath
ing No man has right to destroy anoth,
we for SHINING against God, unless Omni
cannot know how and when it would
ing best to do it. Moreover, since utility
yht, the ground of ALL expediencv, and &c
of alone can discern when it would be usef
of to make men his ministers ofwrath,' or ca
he justify them in furnishing rebels again
the him. for man to claim the right to do
by or the wisdom TO discern the expedienc
i've of doing it without this infalIibe guit
all ance. is presumption and arrogance
a the extreme. Such presumption and
his rogance, by bringing mems minds and il
and terests into collision, has been the fruitf
I'd (; source oil all the strifes and wars vii
hts which the earth has been filled
Tor l2ih We protest against all legal
IN; peas for redress of wrongs, from whate
ler err source they may come as we belle,
lily it is better to take wrong and .suff;
ore ourselves to be defrauded,' meekly owe
yer coming the injurer by patience and 70
ing bearance. This we consider Chrast;0
aid erpediency! Moreover, may it not
ed considered eorong to trust in an arm
ces flesh, in material force; or to make u;
ess of it. in destroying or restraining Il
Let wicked. and In promoting righteousness
sS- while there is more excellent way o.
The best way is always the right wa
ans and the right way is always e9pedienk-
gh We are bound to adopt the most efectu
ter course to prevent sin and promote RICH
} eousness; therefore feshly instrumental
pi- tiles are neither lawful nor expedie
do means for Christians TO use in owe
ans coming and restraining evil doors WI
nal seek to defraud, or in any way to iniu
les, them. If they were, brute force, major
hen ties eQniDments s.andino arnies Src e,