The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1843-10-05
COM NJ U MIC TITO N S.
For the Voice Of Freedom.

Nl ILuIlOT - ina III Sulne vi tu6 IDS
copies Of your paper, and especially lht
last, number of articles commenting up
on my position as minister, and also {
candidate for Lieut.. Governor. | have
been somewhat inclined to let them al
pass unnoliced, lest | should appear tc
community a slickler for my own election
But as you seem to wish reply, and as
the sui ct is of some importance to cou..
muni!y TO know, not whether I shall be
candidate for Office, but whether any min.
lister - nay, any christian shall hold 4
civil office by Divine sanction, have con
cluded to offer d short reply. In doing
this | can not afford the time, nor would
you wish TO give space for formal reply
TO each.
The first article of father Getting,
have misIaid, ard hence shall be under
the necessity Of replying from memory.
| think he admits the following sentiment,
viz that person loses no right by be-
coming a minister, and hence he has the
same right 10 hold civil ofi:e as any
other person. In saying this he has ad,
miled all | contend for. Lei it be under,
stood that a minister has the same right
10 hold an Office as any other man, and
then the question is one Of erpedjencN
Just the same as whether a d6Ct0r or {aw-
ger shall hold a civil Office. Here then
we have no controversy. But after al.
hitting this, he goes on TO prore, both
from the precep!s and examples of Christ,
that the minister is virtually forbidden by
scripture to hold an Office. have only
to say, in reply, that he must get out o.:
his own difficulty. II his scripture quot,
atoms prove what he thinks they do, then
the minister has no right 10 do that which
is forbidden him; and if his right is ad-
mitled then father Cotling's passages do
not prove what he seems to suppose
Besides, the example of Christ r, f.rred
to, respects not his ministers alone, but
all his FOLLOWERS. If the one must not
take part in government, neither must the
other. If one may, both may do so 100.
Father Coltug attributes much, if not
all the evils to which the church has been
subject, to the elevation of ministers to
office. have yet 10 learn that any greater
evils have resulted from their election
than from the election of Iaymen. The
truth is, Wher governments have attempt
ed to make christians by law, or have
required profession of religion in order
10 eligibility, that moment the foundation
of persecution is laid. Such was the case
with Constantine, and host that followed
him. But let me ask, Mr.. Editor, who
have done the most for civil liberty and
religious federation in this countrv2 Who
laid the foundation of religious liberty in
Rhode Island; nay in all This great coun-
'ry2 reply, Roger Williams, a minis
Ter. Who was one of the leaders in Mas
sachusetts in Obtaining religious tolera.
ton? I reply John Leland a minister.
And who, let me ask again, was foremost
in Vermont in Obtaining a repeal of that
odious law that obliged al men to pay to
the support Of some minister. answer
again, minister, And you Sir, and
father Cotting, and myself too have reas-
on to thank God for these minister efforts
IN civil and religious freedom,
But the strongest thing concerning
father Co!Ling is his last article. He says,