Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1842-06-22
VERMONT TELEGRAPH.
THE Law OF LOVE.
satur,day. June 1s,,1s4a..

80 A@As3AA 49, = A141OAe1A4 IL 50
saturday. su.ne 1s,l1s4a.
ri THE Law OF LOVE.
A Discourse deliDered at The opening of
the Sirty- Second Annirersdry of the
SALISBURY Baptist association - BY
JOSEPH w. SAWYER, of SALISBURY.
James, ii: g. !" II We fulfil the royal law accord
ing to the scripture, thou shalt love thy neighbor
| as thyself, We do WE'LL" t <a6s II s. sZsZ
rs ~ lcoETINUED.l hae Hsa4.
IL. What is meant by loDing our neigh
Dor?
We have seen that the term ss'neig hbor,"
is one of general import. It extends TO all,
Of whatever nation, complexion, condition,
sect or party, and especially to all in dis
tress. Nor is love TO our neighborn con-
fined by sectarian prejudice to those attach
ed TO particular sect of opinions,-but it
embraces every name. And the scriptures,
by the love of man which they SO highly
recommend, mean not barren principle,
but disposition of mind bringing forth the
proper fruit. By the love Of man? Says
brutal ignorance and affected philosophy,
who are men Illuminating that if the be-
nevolent principles just laid down are not
. TO be disputed, yet the application of them
must be narrowed land that as tothe Yari.
GUS tribes which bear the human form, il is
10 be doubted whether they have this claim
to being considered neighbors, because it is
doubled whether they have any title to
humanity. The theory is that the grada-
lions Of animated nature are gentle, and
almost imperceptibie; and, not content that
the ape, or baboon should Gil up the chasm
which EXISTS between the quaeruped and
man, an intermediate link must be invented,
and thus colored skin, or some peculiar
visage, are placed against their title TO hui
manity, and thus millions by the dreams Of
theory have been struck out of the family
of God = the covenant Of grace,-iand that
fraternity which the scriptures have. extend
{ ed to the whole race of Adam. But the
scriptures have not left US to determine the
title of any tribe to the full honors of hu-
mainly by accidental circumstances. To
man has been given law, "Thou shalt
love the Lord thy God with all4thy hearty
and to be capable of loving God, is The in
fallible criterion of our peculiar nature. And
SO extensively has this principle been ap-
piled in the good providence Of God, by
missionary societies and efforts, the circula-
ton Of the scriptures, and the preaching Of
the gospel, that the petty philosophy ID
Question is more refuted by facts than BY
reasoning. They have determined whether
. the races, cast out and spurned by this the
DRY, are our brethren, and as such entitled
! to our fraternal warnings. They have de
termined who are men, by determining wht
: are capable of that universal and exclusiy,
, law to man--the love of God. The Negr,
2 through all his shades-the Hottentot thro
lall his varieties-our American lnuians, a
: well as the natives of New Holland, have
J. all in orr day been inspired with the Low
y God thro' the gospel, SO that we are agail
2 brought to see shat in Christ Jesus there
J nelther Jew nor Greek, barbarian, Scyihiar
j bond nor free, but Christ is all in all.
J, Thus through the glorious results Of th
word Of God has the sphere Of beneVolenc
S not only been enlarged, but it has extende
4 the vision of hood -winked and cahle-towe
! philosophy. What, then, IS the estlma'
we are TO put on those who are "made
d one blood" who are .''the offspring of God
- who bear his image, and who constitu
:, :, The great neighborhood? Estimate the
i; value By their Creators love to them II
their Redeemer's sufferings for them -
3 their own capacity Of religion and morals
or of intellectual advancement-of pleasure
IL Of pain and sufferings. Estimate them
i, their relation to life, and death 70 com
and you will then feel that 10 honor 9
. work Of God as displayed in the creation
= man, is to respect him under these yie'
II and relations, and consequently you will
anxious for his welfare. and You will be
it's 10 contemplate him not only with bene'
ds lence. but even with awe and fear, les
" being so capable should be wreiehed iores
loe hear much said at the present DAY aoe
s innocen. prejudice and about 'he mp
~a prie,y Of shocking the prejudices OF mi
,so kind. And yet wha. is q prejudice ! .
rsh would you describe III Is mol prelod
BE I feeling for which We can give no sa