Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1843-04-12
April 10, ls4S.


He is not however necessarily So LIS
.haracter is immutable, because he acts 10
,qreenen; with principles, Interchangeable
nd eternal in their nature. He does moi
a., from caprice; neither isanything right
!, wrong because he arbitrarily wills il.
His course is one Of underwriting right
,ad il is right because dictated by those
,riucipes Of Truth, which are co-elernal
with himself To suppose that right and
wrong exist by force Of the arbitrary viii
ofGod. is to say that right may become
wong and rice re, sa. if God will it. 70
ny that God is nsesssarily what be IS, is
10 deny any virtue in him whatever. II
su universal maxim, that mankind are
eot praseworthy, for those natural ami
,blenesses which belong TO .their cbarac-
ers; but for those virtues only which
themselves have formed. If Gods good,
ness is indcpendcn, Of himself, and with
out design on his part, then he deserves
nc respect from man; anu cannot right
!alIy require man TO initiate his goodness
But how can God be said 10 act righteous
h, iflhere be no antccedent princip'es Of
ruth, either inherent or exherent OF his
being, iusview Of which he acts. The no,
liuess, purity and goodness OF God result
from his always choosing the right for is
own Ike. Indeed the very terms holt
uess. purity, goodness, aud choice Imply
ureferencetO principles, BY virtue Of which
actions are right orwrong, and in view oil
which we pronounce upon them. as being
either the one or the other. Many peo-
pie are startled at hearing il said that God
is a subject OF Moral Government, or Of
moral obligation (; but this Is the result OF
ehering The minds progress, by ignor-
aace, superstition and intellectual Sio!hful-
MSS. God is, and ever must be subject
Of moral obligation, from his attributes aud
rsIations. This fact is the condition OF his
unchangeableness. Because he is a!l-in-
klIigsn! and alhpowerfui, he is under OBJ
IigaIions Of in6uile goodness, so TO exer.
else that power and knowledge os TO Sc
cure The highest good Of all the creatures
Of bis hand. Having the wisdom and en-.
sgy 10 form beings, capable Of travelling
onward and upward 10 knowledge anc
virtue, benrvolence imposes upon hin
their exercise. IL is because God is guild
ed BY the changeless principles of Truth
ia bis own nllure, that he is himsel
chaageIvss. Because love is IN unaltera
Ne law o. his nature, God loves all, an,
sves ever-his enemies, as deeply. ten
Derby and chang esssIy, as his friends. =
For this he makes his sun to rise on lh
evil aud on the good. and sends his raj
upon he jus, and the unjust" And be
cause man is bound or rather feed BY tn
same laws, he must ever love, and do goo
10 all. or be in unres, ind unhappiness.-
For this, God never commanded Moses
slaughter bis enemies-to enslave th
stranger, 10 stone to death the Sobtat
ereakef the disobedient child--to Say Il
murdsscf-to institute the Sabbath aud
pat to death the trespasser thereon
c1use q u the male children OF Israel TO
circumcised 10 institute burnt ofterln;
an sacri6ces-ihe new-moon aud soen
hasl-days--nor did he command Samu
10 hew Agag to pieces-neither did
give TO Moses the law requiring "eye
eye, tooth for tooth, loot FIR fool &c N
% Noah the command "whoso :heddt
mars blood. by man shall his blood
shed''-aud David was not man al
Gods own heart, with all his corruptn'
nor was Solomon his son, truly "
nan. in his uncurbei RIGHTEOUSNESS,
WY should these be deemed blasphenc
propositonsl Can that be basphen
which tie truest reason and the high
Trtue approve Should il be urged !
on mankind a, this day, lAat God requi
oilhem as duty to murder unofeni
arangers-to seize upon their women
proslltutes-io stone TO death disobed
shlldren--to practise circumcision-to
ser up the blood Of brutes. and to burn Il
earcasses for sweet SAVIOR unto the l.
il would be pronounced the offspring
aoIidily or outright. lunacy. viii
9 one cast ar impuIaliOn urOn God, wi
i fhev .vond seorn IN hear Themselves.