Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1841-11-24

The golden role, tRe principles eIequHy,
the doctrine Of disinlerested benevelence.
"a. a test or standard in the churches
If.his law, principle. or.doetrine, Is not
to have practical application. asa church
tess,. in. the case OF the enslaved, in what
conceivable case il il 10 be applied Why
shoold any thing be made test Of church
membership Or TO what purpose do We
undertake to maintain any distinction be-
tween the church and the world?
10 And, il we reject this test, with
wha. consistency can we undertake 10
maintain any church. discipline at all .
Suppose a member Of church should
steal sheep and some OF his brethren
should Justify the act, and some should
apologize for il, and some keep silence,
lest "olher great interests" should be en-
dangered, OF the "peace of the church, /"
disturbed. Who would be willing TO re-
main in church fellowship with such pro.
fessors Of religions But why not. if the
siealers Of men, women, and babes, with
their defenders, apologies, and silent sup
porters. are to be retained in good stand
ing2 No one need be at loss to know
how the blessed Savior would answer the
question. Remember his own significant
qnery, How much better is man than
Sheep
ID And. II we reject this test, what
shah we do with the explicit directions OF
the New Testament on the subject OF
church discipline
But now have written unto you not
70 keep company, if any man that is called
q brother be fofnicator, or eevetous, or
m idolater, or railer. or drunkard, or
IN ex.orioner, with such an one, no, not
70 cal" -e Therefore, put away from
yourselves that wicked person" 81 Cor
" 1I-l3.
Is not the STAKEHOLDER, an extortioneF I
II he is not, who isl And are not those
Acovetousr who apologize for him. or who
seal their lips at his enormities, lest "other
great interests" should be hazarded?
n. Unless we act upon this test, how
shah we honor the direction ofthe Savior
70 Judge men by their fruits 2
Beware," said he, +" oi false prophets,
corrupt religious teachers.l who come to
you in Sleeps clothing, but inwardiythey
are raveaiDg wolves. Ye shall know
them by their fruits Do men gather
grapes ofthorns. or figs ofthistles2 Even
so every good tree bringeth forth good
.ruik but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil
Fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil
fuit. neither can corrup! tree bring forth
good frua.,'
Ii Shareholders andthe apoIogists, and
those who cannot be persuaded to bear
testimony against them, bear agood fruit,'
then-but not othewise-are Christians al
liberty 10 receive them, and con6de in
them, or sustain towsrds them those
church relations which proclaim to alb the
world that they receive and con6de in
them as good Christians.
%. Without adopting this test, in rhe
chnrches. how shall the churches them
selves ever be- refoFned2 Reformatorv
sssociatiohs they cannot be. Nor can
they Go otherwise than propagate pro-
slavery religion, if they propagate any at
alt This has already been shown. And
now remark further, thar without the ex.
hibhion ofthis test. as test, the churches
cannots on this subject. be refOrmed, them.
selves
And | notice this, because many who
object TO making the subject test cues.
ton In the churches, profess to be yerv
confident that the churches, so far as thew
need q reformation on this subject will be
speedily reformed. And they make this
anticipation a reason why no such test
should be introducedh
But what do they mean by a reform in
this matter2 Do they mean thai The
churches will take the right stand ON this
subject, BY and By, when the publie sent;.
Hsnt shall be in favor ofa2 And after
The battle shall have been fought and won.
not by the churches. but by voluntary as
sociations out of the churches-by polite.
ians, by statesmen. by men OF the world
10 they mean that the ministers who now
eavll and stand aloof and seal their Inns
Will De forward enough to claim a share
IN the glory. after the work shall have
been accomplished, or when the cause i
no longer unpopular and odiousa
Mach OF this sort has been witnessed in
une temperance cause, already. But can
this be called a reformation ID the minis
Ty and churches2 Is this the work 10
winch the Christian reformer is called
and with which he should rest satisfied I
certainly not, and for very GOOD reason
Inc reformation which God seeks must
include godly sorrow for sin beactv
repentance humiliation confession
ams1dment. opon. frank. ingenious, and
manly But such reformation can only
% promoted by an exhibition Of divine
Nulh-the whole counsel of God"-in
aespeee 20 the subject. And what is this
s sN Hit De not the same that was pro-
Claimed by Isaiah. and Malachi, and by
1 f Cnr'st himself, and by the apostle