Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1842-12-23


] fine no fault in him. and how can take on
my conscience the guilt Of his execution! We
absclve YOU from it, they cry with united voice
the guilt, if such you think it, be ours ! His
blooi be on us and Oh our children The Gov.
errors conscience, urged to quictncss by his
fears, here finds relief, and he replies, Seeing
that you take the responsibility be it as you
will. And washing his hands before them, he
says, See We, am innocent Of the blood of this
Just person-ye have assumed it; and they
answered aloud We hare 7.
Here innocence, in the person OF Christ, was
made the victim of malice, aided by cowardice.
The tendency of the whole transaction was
greatly to injure the cause of which he was the
advocate. And the guilt of his enemies was
none the less, because the overruling power of
Him who can cause the wrath OF man to praise
Him, subverted their designs. The Jews were
taken at their word, and for eighteen centuries
have cen the victims of Jehovah's curse. Nor
was p late innocent in surrendering his respon-
slbiln.es to others willing to assume them. He
was bound to protect all injured man, whatever
might have been the consequences to himself
Many, in the present day, read with horror
this. bold assumption of guilt by the Jewish rul.
ers, and little think how nearly their own con-
duct resembles it. In the person of Christ's
ministers, innocence is often oppressed by the
rulers of the sanctuary, and Of the people, and
those whose duty it is to be Judges in such mat
tiers, after having pronounced them undeservng
Of rejection, not unfreqnently deliver them into
the hands Of their prosecutors, to be dealt with
according to the dictates of their malignity. 1t
is the prerogatIve of every church, in their COL
lectve capacity, to choose their spiritual teach
or, and also to decide when the interests of re-
lgon call for his removal. Each member has
10 these matters equal rights with all others, and
sustains equal responsibilities. few, there
fore, whatever may be their talent and their
standing in the church, cannot, without guilt,
usurp the perogatve OF the many. and thus cx-
crcise forced lordship over their brrthren.-
Whenever an attempt of this kind is made, for
the purpose of unseltling minister, the body of
the church are bound, by solemn compact in
to which they entered when they called h m to
the pastoral charge, to resist IT, And II the lew
will not acquiesce in the decision of the many,
they should be dealt with as vi latcrs of cove
nant vows, and troubers of Zion. Formerly this
was the case, but for years it has been other
wise, to the great detriment Of churches, and
the injury OF ministerial character and useful
ness. The troubles which now so often sever
pastors from their flocks, and rend congregations
asunder, are frequently the result of dissa'isac-
ton on the part Of one, or at most OF few indi-
viduals arising in a majority of instances, in
feelings as unhaowed as those which caused
the Jews to reject Christ. Envy will sometimes
prompt an officer or prominent member OF a
church to oppose his minister. He becomes of.
Tended, when he thinks his pastor has more con-
.fdence in the judgment of some other member
than OF himself, and he resolves upon his re.
moval in the hope of securing the labors OF
anoiher who will give the preference TO his
counsels. Pride is busy sin in such matters
Some one thinks man Of more popular talen,
than his minister, would give Responsibility to
The church by drawing literary men into the
congregation, and from no better motive seeks d
change Others are actuaed by p3cuniary con.
sIderatlons. They think that different man
would enlarge the society, and diminish the
burden O! supporting the Illustrations of the
gospel But perhaps hatred Of the truth, more
than anything eIse' leads to the rejection OF
ministers. All are not Israel that are OF Israel,
ana ungodly men IN the church hate the lash OF
truth no less than those without its pale. There
are usually, also, men OF influence in the con-
gregation, who take ofiense when touched with
Inc Keen edge OF Inc naked sword OF the spirit.
In such cases, members OF the church Will es
pouse eirqnarrel-ciarSe the munster with
inprudence, aud urge change with a view to
conciiiating such ungodly men, ana retaining Tor
the society The and OF Their influence ana proper
~, Mha'erer may DC lne reason son VI an ,hu'''u,
VA aeete lor me ,InU rI, y. ns '.;,nSf' he
sets aoqut ,h' opjec' ~ lui' eHPco'a'on VI sue,
MINUS ,lat can oe uupeu W any uesen'ns man
Inc 'hnuehce Is cour'eu a. suo" 'ne' ah'
pleased WIN oeins noueeu, ''Iy ieHu ,nc,r ser
vice % tne troupIes y, IyJ'' ra.se ieoof.s arc
put III c'rou'a'o''' a"o oa'n ''''u II, 'ae
IesPeo'''s 'no ,',n'S us WJ h;n "''u az Nv
sot,o"s' are ~e.oneu ~ nDpI " -. e'y."s y
o n SUN M.e Him. Tho .asy W
" ar' saS' " h. u. -. "sa'a"C
soumb, .f}o me-" lie confdo,ce 10 viol,,od - Ii
a.'e. 1 e GpnnuT s, ,'o,ated ~ II.
.er' t; anu Nv chpt.S are le.' un,l'eu 10 aes
Troy n.s illliuehce t'e mars VI 'ne intrigue
'ha' are oeins secretly Ptac.sea against MN
anu ue,,la ,: AL lNes.lsa.'9ai, N9uh'is
P.oseu 70 ms olsauVan.ase' anu lne souy OF 'h
churcn lee' uhwillns 10 cast nm OH lloweV
81, u, .ne nope Oh cohc'lIa.InS ms enemies, the
auI,'t that ne is not perfect ,nal ne mas at Tune
spoken unao'iseo,y' or acted i'npruuehliy' an
PROMISE lnat nc sl'ail 10 petlet II. ',ine 10 come
put SHOWING .la' ne Is acquainted win the
oasI"eSs' anu heVer "ga''' reSpec, tne'h until
.hall see eVioehoe OF peh'ence, MS oppressor