Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1840-01-29

the truth of the doctrine, hardly dare TO 4
call myself non-resistant But | ac- c
knowledge THAI ought 10 be one. l
think every man oughtto be one; ! am 7
snre that Jesus was one; and that every n
true earisliap is one. Ia
Il win not do to rest the defence of
non.resistance upon the ground, that by
acting upon that principle we shall al
ways preserve our property, our persons,
or even our lives. The preservation of
any orall Of these is not the main pur-
pose oithe Gospel; for it is moi The grand
concern of the soul Nay. Jesus said, in
The hypelbolic language Of the East, If
any man come TO me, and hate not his
father, and mother. and wife and child
rem, nnd brethren and sisters. yea, and his
own life also, he cannot be my disciple
He that loyeth father or mother more
than me. is not worthy OF me- and he
that lovelh son or daughter more than
the, is not worthy Of me. And he that
taketh not his cross, and followeth after
me IS not worthy of me. He that findeth
bis life shalt lose it: and be that loseth
his life Cor my sake shall fiud it, Fear
not them that Kill the body, and after that
have no more that they can do What
are we TO understand by coming to Christ
other than embracing his principl pies q
What are we to understand by loving
Christ, other than loving his principles
What, by taking his cross. other than en-
during loss, persecution and death rather
than violate his principles Not the
qualifications OF flesh and sense, but the
development Of his moral nature; not
: the perishable riches of time, but the in.
corruptible treasures of eternity not the
life Of The body, but the life OF the soul,
are earnestly desired and onged for by
the christian. Until the larger part of
every community have embraced the
principles of Christ, those who do en-
bruce, and adhere steadfastly to them, may
sometimes be called to suffer loss, perse-
cuslon and death. But # true, they will
like his first disciples, count it JOY to en-
aule oil things in his cause.
Without doubt they will, (some who
read this are ready to say,)if called to
suffer IN his cause. If required to deny
their tpittsin him, or go to prison or the
stake. they will. they ought to rejoice,
rather to be shut out forever from the
light Of the sun, or TO endure the horrors
Of an Inquisition, or to be burned. But
what hastfidelity 10 Christ to do with our
treatment of personal enemy, thief a
midnight robber, or ruffiln on the high
way2 Much, very much. Much in re-
apecl 10 the wrong doer and much in re-
specE TO ourselves. The cause Of Christ
is the redemption Of men from inquity-
not of mankind in the mass, but of indi-
vidual man. He that converte,h one
sinner from the error Of his way doeth
much in the. cause of Christ. He shat
save soul from death And the value
Of one immortal soul is beyond computa.
ton.
Behold the midnight glory worlds on worlds
Amazing pomp! Reddnble this amaze
Ten thousand add; and twice ten thousand more;
Then weigh the whole. One soul outweighs then
ALL.
Such is the christians estimate. Ant
when he finds soul in the bonds of mi
quity--the creature of lust, of avarice, o
malice or revenge, all his compassion il
aroused to do what he may, and suffe
what be may, to redeem that soul No
can he be diverted from his gracious pur
pose, by any selfish considerations H
may have been robbed Of his property
he may have been injured in his person
he may besin peril of his life at the sin
ner's hand; bat the true christians .solici
iude for his brothers lost soul will trans
cend all thoughts of himself Jesus ha
commendedto our imitation the exampl
ofthat Samaritan who, that he might Civ
comfort and aid to Jew that he foun,
half dead by the roadside, exposed him
self to the dangersof. place notoriousl,
infested BY robbers. so much dreaded tina
the Pfiesi and the Levite dared no. tarr
there moment How much more ough
we to admire and initiate the man, who
that he may redeem soul dead in sip, i
ready 70 suffer any loss, and to expos
himself 10 any peril.
What2 some will ask, (for this is tn
extreme case which the opposers of non
resistance always putt can it be my dut
as man or a christian. If should be al
lacked upon the highway by some abau
doned, worthless wretch, to permit myse
to Be killed, rather than take the life {
the assaiIant2 Can in this way serv
the cause.of my master2 Most certainl
you may. How think you Jesus wouI
havesFealed a robber, il one had attacke
hint Would he have smilten him?-
Yes. Bun itwould have been with III
breath of his monih.' with an earnest loo
Of unfeigned compassion, and calf
word City spoken. that would have PEN
,rated 10 the bottoms Of his soul, broke
his hard heart, opened the unseaed foun
ain 81 love within him, and brought hi