Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1841-12-01


I :. rer.nitted. and even sxhorted, or re-
nuirrd funder rains and penalties, per-
hans. az Baxter and Bunyan were) TO re.
main IN connection with ihe church and
support il, though denied the essential
rights and privileges which church mem.
bershIp should conieri
Is il the spirit and essence. or is it the
mere outward form and ceremony, that
we are 10 regard, in this case2
Suppose our testimony in favor Of iun.
iamsnial truth should bar our access TO all
those posts or positions in the church 10
which we might be useful. Suppose our
pulpits should be closed 10 our best and
ablest ministers on account OF their active |
efforts in favor OF human rights2 Sup
pose. for the same cause, they should be
excluded from Missionary Boards. and
Theological professorships2 Suppose our
meeting houses and lecture rooms should
be holted against The advocacy Of Bible
truth on this subject, and even against
meetings for social prayer on behalf Of the
slave Suppose not a single member
of church could open his lips in prayer
for the Lords poor, without being reprov-
ed and siencedi Suppose not even a
notice could be given. in the house Of
worship, Of the time and place when and
where the friends Of the oppressed were to
assemble III ask whether church men,
bership, in any substantial and valuable
sense would not be denied to Us, in such
case2 Does our privilege of holding seats,
and paying our money, constitute church
membership? What is church member
ship without church fcllowship-the SYM
paihy and love ofthe brethren2 The OPP
portunily and the facilities for doing good,
and fighting the good fight Of faith. against
SIM In providing church privileges for
his people, Jesus Christ intended that they
should enjoy substantial realities. and
WELD effective implements in his service,
and not be amused, and cheated, and fetter-
ed. and put to sleep, with mere shadows
and names.
What evidence have we tina, Jewish
Christians in general were ever cast out
from the Jewish church, except 10 the in
formal manner Just described the per-
~seculions and privations, to which they
were subjected How was Paul rejected,
in the case cited in the objection, but by a
rejection OF his doctrine2
OByEcTIoN vi. 1t is said that if Chris.
tan aboliiionists will do their duty, in the
churches with which they are connected,
they will be sure 10 be cast out, unless the
church repents, so hat there can never b
any occasion for an anti-slavery minority
10 secede.
ANSWER. This objection is founded
partly, on the preceding one, and is, there
fore, answered in part already. The sup
posed facts and examples remain 10 b
proved, so far as primitive christianity. 4
concerned. Il i1said Lu,ber did not Sc
eede It'll accommodated. But Luther
example is not authority, for he was no
infaIkbIe. But how far short of a re
nunication Of the Catholic church wer
Lu,her's reproofs2 They either amount
ed TO secession, or they did not. II the.
did, then ihe argument falls. Ii they di
mt, then Luther remained in FELLOWSHIP
with the spiritual Babylon. Suppose tn
Pope had thought it good policy not to ez
communicate Luther. Would that hav
made il Luther's duty to remain in vi:
ible fellowship with "the mother OF al
ominations ?" Certainly not, for the pre-
phetic annunciation was, Come out {
her. my people, that We partake not be
sins, and that We receive not her plaques.
Il is easy to say tina: God will accept tn
protest against the sin, without the acom
ing out from among them" Bot th
Bible does not say so. 1t ssys the reverse
LIN the nature Of the case, it could say n
less. under dlspensation whose chuIc
polity identifies ecclesiastical connectio
with the profession Of religious FELLOWSHIP
Ia polity which provides for excommun
cation, and makes every church membt
responsible for church discipline, BY Il
command, addressed 10 Individual Chri
.ians, to . beware Of false prophetsr-I
!" withdraw, from every brother til
"walks disorderly"-to reject heretics-
and not to bid God speed" 10 those th
airing another gospel" les. he be "pa
iaker OF his evil deeds"
1t would please the devil very well, 4
doubt, to have Christians think it dul
to support corrup. churches, which effec
ually tie up their hands, and prevent the
from doino anv Onoff