Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1842-07-20
T III e A ID We MT,

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Charles Fitch, an earnest advocate of
Miller's theory concerning Christ's second
coming, has Just finished course of lee
lures On that subject, at the Free Church
IN this village. He is said to have shown
considerable ability, and argued ingen-
iously and plsusibly in favor of the doc
ltrlne. His own faith seems to be perfect
assurance. He speaks as confidently of
fthe Certain destruction of the world next
year, as OF the suns rising tomorrow. |
did not attend his lectures. Whether his
notions are right or wrong, am content
to wait for '43 to decide. Why spend
time to settle the question: Even if set
tied with absolute certainly, what good
should we get, which is not now within
our reach2 Our duty is The same, be
there one year or a hundred to do it in,
ana end the world in 1913, or ten thou
sand ages hence. He who is living as
he ought, need give himself no trouble to
fix the date of the closing scene, for come
when il may, it will find him ready. He
who is not prepared to meet it at any mo-
ment, has enough to do. without losing
time IN attempts to fix its date, Every
one knows that be it as it may with 9TH
ers, it will come soon to himself at the
latest and may come even sooner than
next year And what matters it whether
it comes to him alone, or to all at once,
since If he goes first, all will soon follow
him? s& a~. -~ g.. 49,.
One would think too, while the earth
| is so full of violence and wickedness and
| oppression.-tha even the frmestr believ-
ers in the theory in question, would feel
the propriety of laboring more earnestly
and anxiously to Danish these evils, than
unravel obscure prophecies, never meant
perhaps to be clearly read, save in their
1fulhllment; to call men to repentance and
reformation, by arguments Of which all
can feel the force, whether able or not, to
! understand the elaborate reasonings of
! learned commentators.
| like the sound common sense which
pervades the subjoined remarks of brother
Rogers, of the Herald of Freedom, touch
ing this subjeet:-VOics Of Freedom.
"Now I have no sort of expectation
that any bodily eye will see Christ here
again, next year or any year.-but if L
were expecting Him, or looking for any
awful and trying event, | know no better
preparation to make for it, of public
Sort, than to push the abolition Of slavery.
/ | should feel that this nation was horribly
unready to welcome Christ from the clouds,
with 100000 of His children bound
hand and foot in brute slavery within its
i borders. Anti-Slavery and Temperance
and Peace, it seems to me, are among the
wisest means of fitting up the land for
Christ's reception. If He were to be ex-
pscted here. [ say nothing of the Miller
agitation here, Of course, except to notice
it as causing division from anti-sIavery
labor. 1t is nothing in favor Of this agit.
alton, or any other, that it dininishes in
terest in such cause as anti-slaVery.-
Anti-slavery is a present, palpabie duty
! l"Chrisl's coming" is afuture event, al
most. What we have to do with it, this
! year, do not see. One of the disciples
asked Christ question when He Uat
here-touching one of these same curious
matters of futuritV-which He answered
by saying .what is that to thee - follow
thou mel So say. Ply anti-slavery
abolitionists. Watch and pray at it, fol
We know not what hour the Son of Mar
cometh. Be thus ready. And when He
: does come, it will be doubtless like THE
ia the night for suddenness and unexpect
edness. 1t can hardly be calculated, like
an eclipse of the moon, nor will it be,
should apprehend, such sign in the sky
, that you might look at it through tn,
telescope, or with the bodily eye. I hav,
no inclination TO NEEDLE with the subject
or with any mans faith only | deprecat'
/, its absorbing the humanity of abolitionists
: Mankind are prone TO rush out TO gaze
after these outaoard events and to lool
: anywhere for truth and duty, rather thai
5 into their own hearts and lives. Anti
i slavery summons US TO reformation G
# character and to active philanthropy
!, Therefore | like it above all that is abroa
in. the earth. Il calls US to active duty
today" ..-.: ...