Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1841-12-29
VERMONT TELEGRAPH. :
BRANDON. WEDNESDAY, DEC. %. 1874.
yHE PoPULAR cLEReY q REFoRM.

ue IiIlc Is coming Wueu WeH are 10 De
respected by their fellow men, fol their
prdctices-not for their professions. God
speed the hour. 1t is not distant. IF my
feeble efforts contribute in the least to has
ten il, | shall not have lived in vain. What
ever sacrifice it is necessary for me to make,
in my humble sphere, in this department Of
the great and glorious reformation that char
acterizes the present age whether it be
money, so far as have any, or reputation
with wicked and adulterous generation, or
! untiring labor = il is ready to be offered. l
am not coVetous of martyrdom. i have no
delight in clashing with opponents, other
wise than in sustaining and defending truth
! and holiness. From my childhood up, no
human being ever found me allowing my
self, in any debating club or discussion, 10
be engaged in support Of views or senti-
ments contrary TO my conscience and my
views Of truth and right. l have feelings
and propensities, in common with my fel.
low beings, which demand TO be grati6ed.
And these demands from within are some
times clamorous too much like some Of
the demands that come to me from without.
But can not persuade myself that these
claims are paramount or tahtamount to the
claims of my Maker, Lawgiver, Redeemer
| and Judge. The Great Teachers words to
his followers are,-"H any man will come
after me, let him deny himself, and take up
his cross, aud follow me. For whoseever
will save his life shall lose it: and whose
ever will:lose his life for my sake shall find
| IT." "Wo unto you when all men shall
speak well of you for so did their fathers
to the false prophets" "Blessed are ye
that hunger now for we shall be filed
Blessed are ye that weep now for ye shall
laugh. Blessed are We, when men shall
hate you, and when they shall separate you
from their company, and shall reproach you,
and cast out your name as evil, for the Son
Of mans sake. Rejoice We in that day and
leap for JOY: for behold your reward is great
in heaven" The command Of the Lord by
the mouth Of Moses is" Thou shalt in
any wise rebuke, thy neighbor and not suf-
fer sin upon him." My fervent prayer is,
thai these and innumerable- other like COM
mands and instructions, from the same
Source, may be sever before me" to the ex-
clusion of all motives conflicting herewith,
that may be crowded upon me by selfish
ness, or any other sinful propensity from
within or without. --~......
Thus much l have deemed, TO be proper
as preliminary and PREDATORY 10 few re-
marks which / feel constrained 10 make.
under the significant head which | have
chosen above. If any find me 10 have fall
en- into errors, either in fact or argument,
will thank them TO correct me through the
Telegraph. If what am about TO advance
be conect-and ! am confident it is-it pre-
sents considerations Of overwhelming i'm
portance, to clergy and people. The posi-.
ton take is this: i. f..
The mass of the POPULAR CLERGY have
at1cGys stood at The hreshhsld AGAINST
REFORM. Understand ME = / say the mass
of the popular clergy. The exceptions to
this may extend TO individuals among the.
popular clergy. and to all whose faithfulness
has rendered them unpopular The Old
Testament history. Of the church, as record
ed by the Lords prophets, abounds in testi-
mony sustaining my general position, as
laid down at the head of this paragraph
Instead Of clergy, the names,h here used are,
priests and prophets. Isaiah xviii: IL
"The priest and the prophet have erred
through strong drink, they are swallowed
up Of wine, they are out of the way thro'
strong drink; they err in vision, they STUN
bic in judgment" wi: 10, II, 12:-"H
Waterman are blind: they are all ignorant,
they are all dumb dogs, they can not bark
sleeping, lying down, loving 10 slumber.-
Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never
have enough, and they are shepherds that
can not understand: they all look 10 their
own way, every one for his gain, from bis
qua''e'. Come ye, say they, will fetch
VINE; and we will fill ourselves with s,rona
drInk; and tomorrow shall be as this day
and much more abundant jeremiah viii.
l-34:-sFor both prophet and priest are
| profane; yea, in my house have j found
their wickedness, saith the Lord Where
fore their ways shall be unto them as Slip
pery ways in the darkness. they shall be