Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1842-01-19

whether he will serve God, or disobey Him.
he cannot do either without the aid of ais
Maker. because God gives him this power
as be advances from step TO step, 10 years
Of discretion, or to The time when his ipyes-
tigating powers become So far maured. as
to be put in exercise. He also has mont
Tor placed within his breast, which tells him
TO choose The good, until il becomes silenc-
ed by the individuals negieciing TO obey
| his voice. s.sA
! will express an opinion in regard TO the
spirit brother ]. spoke Of, as being the spirit
that influenced men to repent. My belief
lis, that the HolJ Spirit or Comforter spoken
Of BY Christ, as being sent down after His
ascension, was the spirit of truth, 2 or in
other words, i, was the glorious news that
Chris, had risen from the dead, and ascend
ed on high, 10 prepare q place for all His
true followers. This, Peter believed, and
having repented of his denial of Christ, and
having as he believed posifire evidence that
these things were so, he welded the sword
of truth in powerful and dexterous man.
ner, and these truths presented in such an
energetic way, pricked the hearts of many
present, aud caused them to say, .men and
brethren, what shall We do7n Although
John was called the beloDed disciple, we dc
not learn that he was so instrumental ia
converting sinners, as was Peter. And a,
this day, when people in many places wan,
a revival, they will send for Mr.. Burchard,
Mr.. Knapp, Mr.. Kirk, or some other man
who they think can handle this sword with
dexterity. The religious. warfare is in
many respects like the physical. And
believe each man who designs 10 act as a
Christian warrior, would do well 10 study
the science phrenology, that he may know
better what points of the castle 10 attack.
One man will present the same truth as
another, and yet not be so successful. be-
cause he don't understand so we'll hoso 10
present il. They don't have force enough
TO send It home, or it don't hit the right
place. As understand the matter, some
men need converting good many times,
before they become true christians. For
instance. man is a rum-seller, slave
holder, warrior, &C., he may be converted
IN the abstract, and still, il his particular
sins are not pointed our. and be be willing
TO give them up, if we are TO Judge Of the
Tree by its fruit, he is not follower OF
Christ. | think you will not deny that
each man has all the power be needs to
cease selling rum, or enslavine his fellow
men, or going out 10 war, or defrauding his
fellow beings, or whatever sinful practice
he may have been guilty Of Well, if he
ceases all sinful practices because he sees
| them 10 be wrong, and does that whichuGod
requires, because he feels il TO be right, |
think he will be accepted as a christian
And can any one doubt that God has al.
ready given each human being of sane
mind, aud Of reasoning powers, all the pow.
er he needs TO do this? II il is not so. 1
don't understand free moral agencY--we are
mere au'omatons here on earth, and at las,
TO be destroyed, or preserved, as our rrime
Mover shall decide.
will say 40 more on this, Blu; touch up
on the Cd question. :" If so, why are mol
sinners invariably converted, when the
truth or Vord is clearly, and faithfully pre-.
sented 7" To this | will say, men are SO
constituted, that while one yields to the
truth, another continues obstinate. We are
Surrounded by various influences, which
have much to do in governing our conduct.
| may held out longer than you, before
consent to investigate the Requirements of
the gospel, and when have so far yielded
as 10 examine them, self interest, or the
fear of the frowns Of my neighbors, or some
other impeachment may stand in my way
which does not in yours, to keep me back
from obeying the dictates of conscience. II
may have The power TO piu a new life, bur
refuse TO do il, until my conscience becomes
SO hardened as to be impregnable TO the |
shafts Of truth. believe one great barrier /
10 the conversion of man is, that the funda-
mental principles Of the gospel are mysii- |
bed, Instead Of being made plain, or present.
ed in their native simplicity TO mankind. Il
iniiy believe iha, il men were taught tina,
they have the same power 10 become chris
t'ans. that they have TO choose their kind OF
manual labor, and il those who already pro-
Tess christianity would lire oss what ,hey /
profess, thousands would be converted.
where len now are. We are social and
initatire beings, and when we look at