Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1842-02-09

Il
i OF immersion, but of rigid communion.
'Fhe latter idea did not appear to weigh
I less with him than the former. He was
unwearied in his efforts to lead them to be-
lleye and feel that such as did not practice
immersion were guilty set of people who
were blind 10 sense of duty. in such a
manner as TO be without excuse. And
therefore it would be sinto eat with them
yea, with any man or woman who did.
His labor was 10 make those before him
think that any immersed believers who,
should partake with these neglecters of
Gods commands were truly wicked them
selves, in not man!festing a suitable alb
horrence oflhe crime. AS sat that day
with the gospel before my mind, consd-
cred the unity ofths church, the great law
of love running through it,. aud how it
binds the great brotherhood of the Lord
always to be eultivating kindness and af-
lection for each other, and thus witnessed
n profe ssed discipleof our Savior indus
ttriously, pe:severingI y engaged in scat
tering something as bad as dragons' teeth,
anddoing what he we'll could to causelhose
but just born into the kingdom of love, to
feel sour and censorious towards all who
should not practice as themselves. Isay,
when witnessed all this. could not but
think how the blessed Redpemer, then
looking on, must regard such work OF
mischief; and what sad account the in
diridual might have to render at the day
| of judgment, for an important part of that
afternoons LABOR. Surely, said 10 my:
self, this is not likely TO unite the flock Of
1.-The Lord, or increase the love existing In
the household of faith. thought of the
effect of the poison thus sown upon the
tender and loving mind of the young dis
:iple before me. Was not this like in
fusing the venom of asps into their gentle
bosoms? and would not this seed grow
land produce an abundant harvest ofworm-
wood within them2 Yes, and we every
where see the effect Of such evil training
| in the unfrieudly carriage of Baplists and
others. toward each other. AS respects
these converts, they would be, spoiled by
the course thus taken; and they in their
turn would be prepared to instli the sane
party leaven into the minds of those who
should come after them and oft times IN
that way most likely-the man himself was
spoiled; though he mightbe as inse"sI,
BILE Of how it happened as would be these
who now sat before him and were harken-
ing to his zunbrotherIy instruction. ~..
y This is the place to inquire how and
D when this idea Of strict Communion occur
: red. 1t was in the days of Gill, Roger
Fl Williams, and others. Aud was that a
loving, forgiving, condesenditig age! For
/. from that it was when pefsuasions, bigo-
. try, intolerance, and exclusion were the
7
? order of the day.. Forbearence toward
n such as differ from one in opinion was no.
It much thong ht Of. Here is something all.
! important TO be reflected upon; and
e think we should act but rational part tc
# be little suspicious of a thing that has g
e stiff aud un5rolherly paw as the stric
h communion, when we consider the dal
is and circumstances in which it had II;
Of birth. Puritars, who had themselves beef
;; inloIerantly treated, were so affected witt
J. the discord of tine age that they cout
0. hang and drown and Danish BaplIs1s
y Burgers and anti. Burgers could anathe
Of matize, and utterly refuse fellowship, or
Il account of small difference of opinion
M And if such things could be done by these
re no wonder that these msn should feel it'll
sr be duty to exclude, in case Of difference
,e opinion as respects baptism; ard no wor
TO der this relic OF an1imolerant ageshouIdb
be perDe,aated, when we consider the aImo:
n, boundless Influence OF education and trair
" ing upon the human mind But we ar
ks beginning to live 10 an ICE of light. A
ho things are in a heaviEg, moving stat
AT The spirit Of reform is in the wori'
C. And it is evident that nothing will he 81
al. fered long to remain, which cannot be'
ne the closest scrutiny of right reason an
zee the word of God The practise am ie
ey tifving against, was begotten ia an age
4 5:ntolaranca. and an aga j