Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1841-09-08


nenaltv of law. Bat mere exhibition of
The necuniary or temporal disadvantages
of shining will not be substituted for
faithful exhibition of its inherent turpitude
and blameworthiness. The true Christian
reformer will not depend wholly nor
chiefly upon considerations drawn only
from the interest and multiplication tables
from the bottom line of columns or fig
ures-or aggregates of dollars and cents
Upon the conclusions of the mere stu
dent in political economy-the calculator
Of commercial losses and gains.
AS exempli6cations of the inevitable
tendencies OF sin, and illustrations OF the
penelty Of violated law. such considera-
lions may indeed be welded with great
power. But standing alone, they are sell
dom the instruments OF any prominent
reform.
8. Without Compromise.
Il follows that the claims of true moral
reformation will always be urged by its
consistent advocates, without compromise.
This must follow, of course, from the un-
compromising claims and unchanging
nature of moral law. The Christian re-
former, therefore, while he maintains that
goodness is profitable unto all things,
having the promise of the life that now is,
as well as Of that which is to come-will
never consent 10 suspend the claims ofthe
reformation he demands, upon the issue of
arilhmetical calculations of the profit and
loss Of the transaction! Maintaining, as
he does, that godliness with contenIment
is great gain, he will steadily confront
those "perverse disputings of men of cor
rupt minds" who. supposing that gain
is goodness" and that virtue is founded
upon utility. resolve all moral questions
into mere estimate Of consequences, and
thus labor to unhinge all laws, human
and divine. He will never suffer himself
to calculate the value Of other great in
terests," when the claims of Gods law are
at stake, nor will be fail to reprove the
wickedness and expose the folly of those
who do so. He will insist on the imme-
date and unconditional abandonment of
the sin.
A. Titaperatioe! Deaunciatory! Pro-
seriptiUe r.
Maintaining this unbending position,
admitting no unholy compromise, and
boldly reproving all unfaithfulness to
principle, the true Christian reformer can
not fail to be regarded by those who still
need to be reformed, as vituperative, un-
charitable, denunciatory and proscriptivel"
Ofthis fault, prophets and apostles, nay
the Great Prince of Reforme-s himself,
and all his faithful disciples in later ages,
have been accused and it is |" enough for
the disciple that he be as his MASTER
All that is demanded by those who
urge this objection against Christian re-
formers is-that they will consent to re-
gard them as unfortunate or mistaken
men, and not sinners-that great self-evi-
dent principles of fundamental morality
shall no longer be treated as such, but as
mere matters ofopinion-of expediency-
of doubtful and difficult solulion-ques-
tons concerning which the best of men
may be innocently disagreed They
only ask that politeness and courtesy TO
man shall suppress the declaration of the
high and holy demands of Gods law!
Modest demand Most amiable and in
teresting mildness and charityl All that
il lacks is humanity and modesty towards
Godl A regard for the first principles
OF common honesty and moral principle
An admission that these should not be
sacrificed, in order that they themselves
may be permitted to remain undistu bed,
In their sinsi
The most effective efforts against pre-
vailing sins, in our own day, have been
those that have been most confidently
censured as "denunciatory and proscrip-
tive" Whenever we see men deserving
their professed principles, lowering down
the standard Of duty, and uniting in their
protested reformalory efforts with those
whom every body knows to be recreant
to the cause they had espoused, and choos-
ing these as their associates, in preference
to those who have remained faithful-the
first thing we expect TO hear from them is
the boast that they occupy a broader
platform, and throng broader way. and
are by no means exclusive and proscrip.
tive What marvel if among these
should be found those who imagine them
selves elevated to . position so exalted,
and to freedom so unrestrained, that they
nre no longer bound by the revealed will
OF God, and have no longer any need to
regard the sanctions or the restraints of
penal law What benefit can the cause
of moral reformation derive from the la
bors of such menl What standard or
model have they left. upon which 10 shape
their reformi
5. observation-disclosures
In truly Christian reformation, as al
ready observed, the proclamation of the |
DIVINE Will, with a corresponding prac-
ice, must constitute the chief measures |
For these. NOTHING car 4. r,.da -: