Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1842-09-21

ical calling is made trade. "Thc
priests thereof teach for hire, and
the prophets divine for money" Not
but that moral and religious teachers
should have as good and competent
a support as any other class of COM
niunity. But the mischief and cor
ruption of the present. system con-
sists in their being employed to do such
work as IS required By those soho pay
them, and to refrain from such ,oork as
IS forbidden. The things that are
popular with the employers must be
advocated, and the things that are
unpopular with them must be let
alone. The most popular, and prev
alent, and destructive thing among
men is se5fshaess. This the popular
religious guides and teachers will
denounce, "in the abstract" e just
as they will slavery, one Of its fruits.
But then they will so right off and
live down their own preaching by
their own practices, just as have the
authors and supporters of American
Independence, SO styled. These have
always talked largely about freedom
and human rights, but at the same
time have been the greatest practic-
al oppressors and tyrants living
The popular political and religious
systems of this country are in league,
and are alike full of mockery and
hypocrisy. They are a scourge 10
Humanity, an outrage upon Chris
tianity, and impiousness before God.
They go hand in hand, in support of
monopolies, aristocracies, caste, pref
udice, and violence. Partyism m
the state and sectarianism in the
church are one and the same thing.
They have a common origin and
community of interests. They orr
ginate and are built up in seL,fstncss,
the opposite of beneUolence, which is
the essence of the religion taught by
Jesus Christ. They join together to
put down the encroachments of truth,
beneyolence and holiness upon either.
The church becomes alarmed for
the safety of her foundations, al the
exposure of her enormous blood
outlines by an individual here and
there preaching after the primitive
manner, and cries for help. The
state hastens to her rescue with mil
itary violence. The advocates Of
benevolence besiege the state in be-
half of Humanity and Christianity,
to stop man-slaying-by-law. The
rninistersnf popular religion, whether
called on or not, fly to the defense of
the bloody code. Forgiveness has no
charms for them. Nothing will sat
isfy them but punishment-the inAic-
ton Of the highest possible penalty.
Christ taught lore and forgiucness.-
These teach directly the reverse.
The first and last thing He taught
was self sacrifice and suffering for the
good Of others, and he carried out
his benevolent principles by laying
down his own life for his enemies.
The first and last thing taught by
these modern religionists is self
preservation, and the destruction of
| their enemies for the good Of those
who destroy them. What two things
then can be more opposite in their
nature and character than Christian
/ ity and modern popular religion?
] The latter does not make men hui
name or honest. 1t collects its vo-
taries into selfish clans, conclaves
and clubs, which war upon each
other, until they are attacked by the
advocates of love and good will,
when they all join together in self
defense, To conuert man to popular
, modern religion. If IL NOT necessa,x,