The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1843-10-05

Chief Justice, and Daniel prss'de"t: l
am sorry nv brother should have given
them titles which the Bible has not given. "
| reply in return, | am sorry father Cot
TING is not satisfied with titles which the
Bible does give. at pleased Darius TO
set over the kingdom hundred and
twenty princes, which should be over the
whole kingdom; and over these three
presidents, of whom Daniel was first, that
the princes might give account unto them,
and the king should have no damage
Then this Daniel was preferred above the
presidents and princes, because an excel
lent spirit was in him; and the king tho t
to set him over the whole realm. Liam.
u. l-3.
Was Daniel a president? But father
Cotling goes on aud says, "The prophets
of the Lord held no Office ftom the PEG,
pie. They held no public assocatlonal
responsibility" reply, if the Bible Is
correct, Daniel held an office both under
Beshazzar and Darius, and probably IN
der Cyrus the Persian. See Daniel v.
20: vi, %, together with what is already
quoted. No person, think, will under
take to deny that these were clc5I offices.
1t is no less strange that father Coulng
should make such assertions as the above,
if he has read the history Of Samuel. II
he was not civil magistrate wish to
know who ever was? See Sam XII. 3.
l think gave Samuel his appropriate
title, just the one oy which he would be
called in this country if he held the slme
Office here The Bible calls him SER
cuu judge" "AnI Samuel Judged Is
raeI all The days Of his life. And he went
from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and
GIgal, and Mizpelh, and judged Israel 10
all those places" -l Sam. I'll 1916.
wish 10 say that ! have taken my
Concordance and have tried to be a care
tul Bible stndent, according to the wish
of father Couing, and have come to This
conclusion, that Samuel was not only the
"chieC Justice" in the Jewish nation, bot
hat he was really the chief erecutlce. o.
him rested the responsibility of appointing
"sde Judges" and the people had no OF!
er way of redress Of grievances than by
remoAs!rance aud petition. "And It came
to pass, when Samuel was old, that be-
made his sons judges over Israel. Now
the name Of his first A&ln was joel and
the name of his second, Abiab: they were
Judges in Beer sbeba... Asia his sons walk
ed not in his ways, bat turn.d aside after
Iucre, and took brides, and perverted
Judgment Then all the elders Of Israel
gathered themselves together, and came
10 Samuel unto Rlmah, a~d said unto
him, Behold thou art old, AMI thy sons
walk not in slhy ways: noW make US
king TO Judge US like all the natons"-
| San. viii. Is.
Father Getting and brother Peck make
another assertion, which to me is alto.
geher gratuilous, viz that Zlccheus and
Cornelius were both appointed TO their
Office before their conversion, or when in
an impenenL state. But the B bic makes
no sue j stats9si. and the circumstonrial
evidence is %39aSt them. "Ihere was
certain marty Cesarea. called Cornell
US, cenuriou@ol The blnd called the Ilal
ian band. a devout man, and one that
f'ared God with all his house. which gave
much aims 10 the people, aud prayed 10
God always. '--AcIS X, /, 2.
What better evidence could we ask,
that Cornelius had long been a man of
beneyolence and prayer? Nor were his
prayers ard aims pharisaicaI, they had
"come up as memorial before God -
Verse 4. Nor is the uccoun! Of Z lccheus
any more favorable 10 the assertion of
these brethren. Brother Ever;s "proves
himself out of proof en- this point. lie
quotes Luke xix 8: " Behold Lord The halfI
ofmy goods give to the poor,anG if have
taken anything from any man by false
accusation, restore him four fold" He
then adds, "this looks like being trans
formed from the world" grant it looks
well for Zlccheus, and shows him a man
Of piejy Bat then, this is description
Of his character before Christ passed that
way, and during tie rery time he held his
o6jcs Hence brother Ererls' own ad- /
mission proves that a man may be trans
formed from the world On IA Bible sen&c,)
yet hold civil Office.
| can not follow these brethren thro' all
their letters. They alt go to say that
ministers must not hold a civil office, aud .
the last two includes Iaymen as well as
ministers. [ think they are the more
consistent, as the Bible makes no disinc-
ton between ministers and Ioymen on
this point.
l wish to say few things by way of
general reply to them all,
l. The Bible recognizes human gov,
ernment as Of Divine origin. "For he
is the minister of God TO thee for good.
But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid;
for he bearelh not the sword in vain: for
he is the minister of God, a revenger to
execute wrath upon him that doeh evil.
Wherefore ye mast needs be subject, not
only for wrath, but also for conscience
snl,n Enr Cnr Ia 10 cnl1sn MN va trihnln