Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1842-04-06
"THE PRESENT WANTS OF SOCIETY,

are to love their enemies, and to overcome
evil with good, all but the most blind and
perverse will admit that it is the doctrine
taught by Christ and his early followers, in
their precepts aud their examples. But,
thew say, it is doctrine not adapted to the
present wants Of society. Why is it not
adapted to the present wants OF society?
Because, it is said, there is so much sin and
violence in the world. But is there more
sin and violence now than there was when
the doctrine was first preached Is it in
fact true that, with all the preaching and
all the pretensions Of modern religionists,
the advancement is 6dck1odrdS?! None
will be so reckless and impious as to say
that Christ preached doctrine not adapted
to the wants of those to whom he addressed
it. And if the sinGulhess and violence Of
the world did not prevent its adaptation to
the wants of his followers then, the sinful
ness and violence of the world does not
prevent its adaptation 10 the wants OF his
followers now, unless the world be more
sinful and violent now than it was them
And it does not # ii be. deny that Christ
anywhere makes any such conditions. He
nowhere tells his followers 10 obey him if
it be Convenient - if the sinfulness of the
world will alIo1o and TO dSobey him if it
be announcement to obey on account OF the
sinfulness of the world. His language is,
off any man will come after me, let him
DENY himself, and take up his cross and
follow me. For whosoever will save his
life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose
his life for my sake shall find it," The
law requiring Us TO love our enemies-to do
good to them that hate US 10 resist not
evil - to overcome evil with good is as
perpetualy obligatory as the law forbidding
theft, adultery, and murder. For US to un-
dertake TO say which OF the laws are adapt
ed to the present wants Of society and
which motor when any of them are adapt
ed to the wants Of society and when not,
is to set ourselves up judges of Gods law
and make ourselves practical in6dels. Our
opponents profess TO be looking forward to
a state of society, in the millennium, to
which Chrisl's laws will be adapted. And
how are they looking for that state TO be arriv-
ed at? What are the means which God has
ordained for this very purpose? What bat
the " foolishness Of preachlng?" If vio-
lence is to be done away, what will accom-
plish the work but the application Of Christ;s
law, not to resist evil, to the hearts and
consciences and conduct of men showing
them that as i: was applicable to his fol-
lowers to whom he preached it personally,
surrounded as they were with opposition
and violence, so it is applicable to all who
will be his followers now, and ever will be
applicable to all others who ever will be
his followers at any future time? How do
we preach on other subjects? Take the
drinking of intoxicating liquors. Do we
say that because there is so much drinking
in the world the doctrine Of total abstinence
is not adapted to the present wants of soci
ETY. Move reverse the matter precisely
We say that preaching total abstinence is
the very thing adapted to the present wants
of society in this thing - that the fact that
drinking is prevalent is the very reason why
total abstinence should be preached. Very
we'll Only be consistent. The fact that
adultery is in the world, is the reason WHY
chastity should be preached. The fact that
slavery is in the world, is the reason why
emancipation should be preached. And the
fact that violence is in the world, is the
reason why non-resistance of evil should be
preached. Violence can no more be done
away from the earth with violence than
drinking with drinking -adultery with adul-
tery--or slavery with slavery. Non-Resist
ance Of Evil is the only remedy adapted to
the removal of violence from among men,
just as Total Abstinence is the only remedy
adapted to the removal of Drinking Intoxi-
eating Liquors - Chastity the remedy for
Adultery-Aboition the remedy for Slavery
and Holiness the remedy for Sin.
The ac0rking people coming to the rescue of
the world from sin. The popular religious leaders
will soon find themselves followers, at the rate
things are now going Brother Hebard is
plain honest, common-sense farmer. The single
lesson he has learnt in the school of Christ recited
by him below in his tongue, is worth more
than all the schools could have taught him in ten
years. The eloquence of honesty and the power
of Christianity are in it. Let the popular clergy
and doctors of divinity read it, blush, and go and
| learn from the same source learn of Him whose
invitation is take my yoke upon you, and learn
OF me; for am meek and lowly in heart and We
shall find rest unto your souls"