Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1842-07-06

go along with il, as unconsciously and as
innocently as have. II is said for the
benefit Of others. There may be others
who have been in the same condition. IF
there are, they and have right to mu-
tual sympathy and reciprocaIaid. There
is nothing like our dealing faithfully with
ourselves. faithfully with each other, and
faithfully towards the Father Of our spir-
its. The principal exceptions to the I'M
consciousness and innocence spoken Of in
reference to my own erroneous impress
sions received through education, rest.up-
on fearfulness. | indulge in more or less
self-reproach, for having allowed myself
to indulge degree and kind of fear alto
gether unworthy Of a being possessing a
mind and soul. | have suffered the
presence and opinions Of men to surround
me, and overshadow me, to the interrup.
ton OF that sweet and holy intercourse
which it was my privilege TO hold with
the Searcher of Hearts | have feared
because | have been taught to fear-to Jet
nv mind run out freely after all truth.
The system of public moral and religious
training under which the present genera
ton has grown up, has been calculated to
produce these results. We have been
taught that examination Of distinguishing
dogmas was sacrilege-that freedom of
thought in regard TO them was in6delity
and that federation Of difference of opin.
ion touching them was damnab!e heresy.
Thanks 10 the Father Of Lights for the
emancipation which | feel my own soul
to be experiencing-and for the conse-
quent love. and peace, and joy that is I'M
utterable and full of glory. 1.-THE fear Of
man bringeth snare" The love of man
and the love of God will alone enable us
70 break that snare. Whose put,elh his
trust IN the LORD shall be SAFE !" Trust
in the Lord and do good.n
lfany rise up and say the experience |
have been describing is probably allogeth-
er peculiar to myself-if they can in truth
say that they have never been clogged
with any OF the restraints | have now
spoken of-iflin fact they have never re-
ceised anything upon trust, but have at
all times been able to render good and
satisfactory reason for all their faith and
all their practice-let such laugh me 10
scorn, ifthey will, and say that they have
no sympathy for me, and that am entitl-
ed 10 none. Let them say, if they can
make themselves believe it, and il they
think they can make others believe it,that
they have given such examination to every
thing they have received as to prevent the
possibility Of an error or mistake--that
they know they have in no instance re-
ceived " for doctrines the commandments
of men"-that they have carefully exam
ined for themselves, and have taken every
step, in what they have believed and what
they have done, in the light of reason and
Of revelation-and tha: therefore they can
not feel bound to call in question anything
hey have embraced
On the other hand, if there be those
who have never taken the trouble 10 ex.
mime for themselves-ift they have been
wiling TO trust their selfish and erring fell
ow mortals to form opinions for them
md if they are still willing to risk their
'wn usefulness and happiness in course
marked out for them by others, without
nlly coniprehending and understanding
Why and wherefore-Ican not laugh at
r ridlcule them canno! tauEt them or
feat them with contempt / will pity
hem and pray them to unshackTe them !,
elves and set their souls at liberty. Ibe.
eech and implore them henceforth to dare ,
think for themselves. and to require !
lemselyes SO to do. urge them, as
lev would be useful here, and as they
'ouid be happy here and hereafter, to go /
once 70 the scriptures of truth and the $
olume OF nature, and there, 10 athe true G
y
light which ligh,eth every man that coms b
b into the world" to read for themselves i
'eir duty to themselves. to their fellows. I'd
I'd to the Great Source of all being and a
| biessedness.