Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1842-06-01

-. Claims and Authority OF Human
Governments--What they are.
when any Institution requires our appro-
.,,;oo nay, demands Of US reverence or its
,u,holi,y, and concession Of its claims, il
,heu becomes a legitimate subject Of inves-
6cation. How reverend soever with honor,
ar boary with age il may have become, these
,,u never be urged as valid reasons against
an inspection of its character and assump-
lions. Without acting as The dupes of Gre
duIity, and blind zeal on the one hand, CT
as the deyotees of deslrucliveness on the
o,her.. lei US come 10 candid examination
Of the subject before US. Let US regard
God and his government as true; and let
Us bring everything hi.her, as TO test.--
God is 10 be regarded as The sum and cir
conference, the source, measure and test Of
all ruth. In the light Of His love, let as
study the law traced upon the souls tablet,
10 order that we may ascertain our true
4 relations and duties.
l. Definition Of Human Government.
Ills human ,OiH, imposed on human be-.
iugs, with the penalty Of death.
II. The Relations of Human Beings.
Khat are they?
Mankind dwell upon the earth in the re-
IaliOn Of common brotherhood. Through
out The Bible Gods chosen illustration OF
human relations is the family relation
Equals 10 des,inies and rights, and each for
hiaself, being directly responsible 10 God,
there is no room left for the rightlul exercise
Of authority upon one another. God has
put his law into each Of their hearts. He
requires them TO love himself supremely
and their brethren as themselves, in order
hat there may not be any strife, rule or ex
actions among them. He sent them int
Ucielyship to love and minister to one an
aher as brethren, and not 10 be ninisteret
INTO as superiors. His will is To be thei
ulY law. Hence, they have no individual
fght TO make their own will rule Of action
fr themselves - FAR less 10 impose them as
law upon each other. To illustrate this
suppose there were but one human being or
earth. Would his relation and duty TO God
differ from what they are al present? Ger
lainly moi. Now suppose an equal fellow
placed by his side. What are his relations
There is no, only God, whom he must re
gard as supreme, but there is also his equa
brolher whom he is bound 10 love as him
stlf He has an additional connection ant
duty, but no additional right. Again: Sup
pose million OF just such beings shout,
spring up around him; still there would b
only multiplication of relations and duties
but no right TO legisla,e. Each would b
bound 10 love God with al; his heart; an
his neighbor he should lore as himself, ne
rule aim. We believe il is admitted on a
hands, that children Of tire same famii!
have no right TO dictate each others col
duct, nor punish each other for disregardin
such dicralion, however full may he Il
parents right to do so. But children hav
as much right to punish their equals, as me
have to punish theirs. What impudence
well as absurdity, to pretend that men hal
Alright 70 punish each other, because O.
in love TO man, has so ordered il, that il
impossible for him 10 do wrong without ;
admonilion Of bis course, because He b
made it impossible for man to go down
hell without fighting his way, against II
love, experienced in groans, and pains al
'Ortures. All the punishments which c.
iuaicls upon his creatures in this world, "a
the voice Of His love, bidding man d
away, whose ihorns tear his peace. 4
that may be suffered in the world 10 CON
Wis not in the power Of God to prevel
tie is always gfieved by the least sufferi
Of any-ef-his creatures. IL is remarkat
how exactly mems ideas of the Deity
character, correspond with their own cha
ac,ers. The minds Of (he advocates
human government, are full Of revenge al
murder, and hence they clOthe God in ih'
'uaginalons with storms Of fire = stor'
Vih bolts impatient TO leap
From the broo.ling tempest, armed with wra
Commissioned to alright us and destroy"
Every part OF creation is adapted TO la
and could not sobsist moment without
Every herb, tree and aower, every bro'
h'ei and ocean, "ihe beasts that roam OF
aeplaiu," suns and Stars, are all under
'nnuence Of law: law over which ID
nave no control. Indeed were il posi-
'~ them IL control il in the least, i wo'
% no longer law. The very nature
@w precludes the possibility Of alierati
o. ahE.d 4 --..h.oa L.