Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1841-11-10
rHE ARGUMENT.

md support Of slaveholding should be re-
osrded as attest question in the churches,
a. above stated, anG that the affirmative
side of the preceding queries. as already
explained, should be maintained, from Inc
following considerations
1. Unless ia our public and social re-
ligious worship, we recognize this test we
lose sight OF that wherein "AccEPTABLE
WORSHIP" essentially consists, and give
currency to the fatal error that those are
true worshippers Of the God OF the OPP
pressed. who oppressive poor, or neglect
10 omen their mouths for the dumb. lSee
Christian Investigator. No IL
q Without this test it is impossible that
the aCHURcHEs" should ever become
aREFoRmAroRY ASSOCIATIONS" welded
for the overthrow Of sin, particularly the
sin of oppression And this would be
giving ND the work Of the worlds reforma-
ton into the hands Of the world, and say
ing that the church and ministry OF Jesus
Christ are not the appropriate instrument
ality to be Employed And who believes
that the world will ever be truly reformed
If such sentiment should always prevails
Or who can fail to see that the church
and ministry would be disgraced, and the
salt lose its SAVIOR, and be trodden under
foot Of men, while such views should be
permitted to predominant [See Christian
Inv, No. /, as above.l
8. Until the churches come up to the
standard Of this test, the world can not be
reformed, because the morals of no COM
munity can permanently rise higher than
that OF its current religion. And no reli-
gious community that tolerates fragrant
crimes can maintain . high moral stand
ard.
Unless this test should prevail in the
churches and be made prominent IN " OUR
REVEALS OF RELIGION" then such re-
ligious revivals would not carry along
with them REFORMATION OF MORALS,
nor secure the liberties of men. And
such reformation as the world wants
and must have, would need to be sough
after by some other means than by TIT
conversion Of men from sin to holiness
Such conversion might extend all over tn
world without putting an end 70 oppres
sion; and Christian converts would neet
something besides the gospel to persuad
them to abandon kidnapping and the slave
trade! The absurdity and impiety of tn
supposition are abundantly manifest. Use
Chr. Inv, No. q
A. If this subject is not TO be made
test question in the churches, then the dI
tinciiye principles ofan evangelical CHRI
TIAN THEOLOGY are no longer to be r
garded as presenting test questions IN II
ligion. For the anti-abolitionist practi
ally denies and virtually derides thes
doctrines. To be consistent, we mu
open the doors of our churches to a
others who reject and loathe these doc
trines, (but who in other respects "mal
fair snowy if we permanently retail
ecclesiastical connections with the oppose
Of .modsrn. abolition" AFRO intrllige
Christians, who "contend earnestly f
the faith once delivered to the saints
prepared to adopt the alternative Isl
Chr. Inv. No g..
have alluded first to these topics, b
cause they are probably fresh in the min
ofsone ofmy readers. In what may al
further, there may be much of virtual /
petition. Instead of making progress
the presentation of essentially new arg
ments, there is room for little more thi
the illustration of the subject, by placir
it in new aspects. For the point to
proved appears to me to be SO nearly Sc
eviden. that il is difficult to find any thir
more evident, to be used as an argumeI
and hence, a repetition ottruisms becom
inevitable, if any thing is TO be said to Il
point in hand.
5. The questions must practically !
ceive either an affirmative or neg
tive answer. But to give them negatl
answer, would be 10 say that there is I
thing in the practice and vindication
slaveholding. however tenaciously p
sisted ia, and in the midst of whate,
light or moral influence might be broue
to bear upon the subject) that should l.
US to discredit the religious professio
and Christian character of the delinquen
- 1t would be saying, that If the majority
ministers, churches, and church membt
in America should take, and continue
mainlain, in practice and theory.
ground that slaveholding is not sinful
would nevertheless be the duty Of Chi
tan aboIitionists to continue IN fellowsl
with them, in perpeiuty, and whether u
repented al th cir sin and Ienounced tn
error or not.
This. know, is only to repeat
statement Of the ues.t lion under discussl
but It does seem TO me that the very sta
ment itself carries wLh it all the argum
thu: il needed
3. It follows, that 10 Jake the negat
side OF the question wouhi be 10 give
IN effect. the doctrine that saw, .holding
essentially and manifestIv sin ful IAN !
deniable and pa'pable invasion of s,sli-ev
ent and inalienable rights. Or else