Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1840-02-12
VERMONT TELEGRAPH.
NON .REsIsTAN nee.
BRANDON. WEDNESDAY, FEB. 70, l84O.

Before proceed to the proof showing
'the sentiments and practices Of primitive
christians on tais subject it may be well to
notice one important particular in friend
Curtis argument drawn from the "erample
of good men.n He cites the case OF the
Savior paying tribute money. How this in
the least goes 10 prove that governments Of
violence are the ordinances Of God, is as
hard for me 10 understand as some other
parts Of his reasoning. This same Savior
Of men and Prince Of Peace paid an inf
niiely greater tribute than paltry piece of
money when be gave his own precious life
into the hands Of the magistrates and exec
tutors Of 'humGn governments" But how
does this prove that his murderers We're
Gods pStaissers executing his ordinances?
Did the Savior pay the tribute of his life to
government Of violence because that gop-
sTnment icGs an ordinance Of God? Who
will pretend it7 And how can it be any
more pretended that he paid the tribute OF
money for such a reason2 And yet my
opponent appears to think that by paying
the tribute Of money he approved the gov
ernmens which exacted it! If so he inf.
nitely more approved it by paying the trib
ute Of his life. Let us now have sure
test Of the soundness Of the argument
Suppose that instead Of exacting his life or
his money the "powers that be"-the
ministers of God "-had required the
Prince Of Peace 10 bear arms-to use the
sword in destruction of human life, under
any possible circumstances, for the support
Of government. Think you he would have
yielded obedience7 Nobody believes he
would have done any such thing. Where
then is the business of constituting his Other
acts into an approval of violent government
or even into a recognition of them as oil
Divine origin, when il is allowed that he
could not by any means have been driver
or induced TO do The thing indispensable t.
the support Of government? The fact adj
mitied that be would not have aided in an,
violent measures for the support of govern
ment, is full and complete confutation o
the idea that single act of his life NAV b
construed intOs an approval Of violent gov
eminent, or a recognition of it as of Diyin
origin. Nothing can be palmer than ,ha
where there is peremptory refusal to bea
arms in support of human government,
.shere Is no allegiance TO government. Fo
'eveFy human government rests on arme
sRrrce.
Let US now turn 10 the sentiments an
practices OF the primitive christians in rels
sion 10 this matter. The quotations ar
made By Thomas Clarkson-the meniio
% whose name will be taken as suficier
guarantee Cor their eprecincss:
Justin the Martyr, one of The earlie'
writers Of the second century, saws. 9Th
devil Is the author Of all warh A sever
sentence, and made even a: a time N.he
wars were considered the most honora,.l
profession. and leading to glory.
Tatian. and Clemens Of Alexandria
men al high standing. speak decided,
against the lawfulness of war.
Tertullian strongly condemned ih
practice Of bearing arms. as If related i
Christians. saying. ia his "dissertation o,
the worship Of IDOLS" though the sol
diers came TO John, and received a cer
cain form 70 be observed; aud The ceniu