Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1842-08-03

of Constantine. when the first marriag,
connection vas formel between the ehurcl
and the State. The body became radi
eally diseased, as early as that. And al
that has been done TO restore it since. ha.
been to pare off some Of the rougher ex
crescences growing out upon It in the
shape of Popery. The chu.ch has YET TO
be reformed and brought back 10 New
Testament ground. / rejoice to see the
operation commenced. The signs of the
times are auspicious. and tell as thai the
year Of the Lords redeemed is drawing
nigh. Such simultaneous movements as
are now witnvssed-this wonderful wax
ing up of the minds Of men, declares plain
lythat the divine Savior is about to bring
his people from lying under the rubbish
where they have been buried during long
ages Of night, and cause them to shine
forth in the genuine robes Of his church.
Specific reforms are excellent, as the
Anti-masonic, the Temperance, the Anti
slavery and Moral Reform. But what
are all these compared to the full reform
Of Christianity, and the bringing the
.chufchTight out in the face OF men in all
her original simplicity and beanty2 Our
testimony must be borne against those
great departures from Christianity, which
have made harlot of the. tnominaI)
church for almost a period. We must
testify for the gospel as it reads, and call
tprofessihg) Christians back TO apostolic
faith and practice. But let as remember
this will be hard work. The whole of
The protesting church, almost, is against
1t. And the reform that is required, goes
toihe overturning of the present order of
things. Things must be made new in or
der to be made right Every thing must
be ";urned upside down." for all things
are now wrong side up. Let reformers
count well the cost. You know, nv
brother, that a reigning order of things is
not so easily put out Of the way, let tha.
Ielgning order be ever so contrary to right.
The church is 10 be placed back upon the
ancient foundation. But wo 10 them thai
flrst step into the breach They will
need the spirit Of martyrs-for the mar
ty:s' late they will surely realize. Ihave
no doubt but those who faithfully and
Derseveringly testify against the presen.
corruptions Of Christianity, will be called,
many Of them, 10 sealtheir testimony with
Their blood. The testimony will 90 so
point black against what now passes IN the
church for genuine currency, that proba-
bly, the great bulk Of protesting Christians
wlllthink they do God service by crushing
them % death. They will be considered
not only as wild fanatics, but as enemies 10
all order, as those who would overturn
and destroy all that is valuable among
men have long been Of opinion, thai
when al last a strong and systematic effort
should be made for thorough and genuine
reform. storm would beat upon the heads
OF those engaged In making il, which for
strength and fury will equal, il not exceed,
any thing We, Witnessed since the introduce
ton Of Christianity. So the Scriptures Of
the Old and New Testaments clearly in
innate. Butthe Savior will smile upon
the toiling 'reiormcr, will give the spirit
Fest in himself amids: abuse and bitter
persecution. AUSTIN JOHNSON.
Rupert, VI. 1912.