Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1843-01-04

lUge, w ebStcI, OCuuuChVis VA ms
certainly. is learned display Of learned
witnesses; but, IN the balances of Christi
.anity, all Of them together, do not weigh
so much as the single exclamation of the
dying Savior" Father, forgive them
for they Know not what they donor so
much as This simple declaration, He
that will lose his life, for my sake, shall
find it,
The passage Of scripture on which Mr.
Cheeyer builds his merciless theory, and
without which, 1t is apparent, be deems
his argument incomplete, is the declara-
ZION made to Noah -" Whose sheddelh
mans blood, by man shall his blood be
shed; for in the image of God made. he
man." This is the favorite proof-tcSt of
the advocates OF legal man ki!IiQg-the
foundation OF every existing system Of
blood in Christendom. III
There are two considerations which de-
serve attention here. F..
First. Il argues the consciousness Of
desperate cause. when its supporters, find
ing themselves unable to cope with the
whole body of scripture, are seen 2ertna-
ciously 10 adhere to a particular passage;
especially 10 enc that is isolated, obscure,
and conlessedly Of doubtful Interpretation.
Ia this manner. there is scarcely any the
DRY, however wild aud ridiculous, that
may not be proved to be true. 1t is this
pervtrse use Of scr pture that has filled
the world with abominahle herosies, kind
led the fires OF marlyrdom, and cause.-The
earth to be drunk with the blood Of the
slain; yea, that has made infielitv 10
laugh at The Bible, as book stocked with
absurd and monslrous doctrines, and given
rise TO The saying, tina. any thing can be
proved from IFS pages. Thousands are
killed By the letter, where one is made
alive by the spirit. The literal interpre-
tation OF the declaration Of Jesus 10 his
disciples, -" Take, eat; tbiS IS ny to99n
/ fully establishes the Romish doctrine of
!, characterization; any yet more unuat-
uTal and INDUSTRIOUS doctrine has never
obtained among mankind. Mr.. Cheever
confesses, at the commencement Of his
work, that 1.-The argument from scripture
in favor of capital punishment is some
what limited,' though he erroneoGsIy
adds, that it is "plain and powerful -
This death dealing ordinance, he says,
lis not dependant OIL the Mosaic institu-
tons, derives from them no part of its au-
thorlty, permanence, or sacredness, bul
would be Just as perfect, clear and author.
itative, if they were all swept from exs.
] tence." He can find, therefore, in all The
5 Old Testament, only one solitary passage
f 10 sustain his theory; and that passage, be
: well knows, is one in regard 10 the pre-
f else meaning of which, the most acu:e
i minds are widely divIded-for some find
. in it warrant for civil government; 9th
= ers derive from il the right Of self-redress
i others regard it as authorizing capita
d punishment; others aver that it is only
), solemn admonition against resorting TO vi
i olence-a prediction similar in its nature
D and designsto that Of the Savior" AL
a they that take the sword, shall perish b,
\ the sword" This is 10 be reduced 10 al
d extremely narrow compass for ifno more
e proof can be gathered from the Old Tes
r lament, it is scarcely 10 be supposed tina
It the New is more prolific on the score o
r evidence The following is Mr.. C's in
z Va LHC PiCNNPN
!, "As it is not 10 be supposed, for mo
e ment. that God meant any and every indi
s vidual. in the event of murder, shoult
II consider himself authorized 10 kill the
3 IN urdeie err; since this would be to produce
G anarchy instead OF order and security il
: society ;-as we cannot suppose that Co
: intended to commit this power at ranlon
;, into the hands OF Individuals; we must re
d gard it as referring to the formal exercis
l. Of justice in the civil government"
: And so, this declaration, Whose shed
9 deth mans blood, by man shall bis bloc
be she'd" means that kings, emperor:
y presidents, judges, sheriffs, constables, pa
- liamenls, congresses, assemblies, armie
s aud navies, and all other accompaniment
&c Of "civil government" are all divinel
7. appointed, and in perfect harmony vii
=, the kingdom OF Christ ave are,
fact" says Mr.. Cheever, compelled
. this conclusion, there being no altern;
tive" And frigh,ful alternative it is !!
IN Secondly. II Christ be the WAY, ii
y Truth, and the Life-the perfection of b.
IS illness, the standard of obedience, and ii
CT pattern of all true believers, = then, "a
lat questions of duty are to be settled in Il
"a light of his example. Most pertinent
~ therefore. did one Of his disciples ask
y ITO whom shall we go2 Thou hast t
e words of eternal life" Hence, it is If
~ avail, in support of any theory that re
60, claims to be binding in practice, to rel
fo back either to the Sinai covenant, wh
=. gendereG to bondage,o or to stu EARL
-, ne period Of the pupilage of mankind =
* Noah or to Adam. So. then, be the $50
= or meaning of r,he Noahic Precef
VI what it may, sis not necessarily bindi
"a" upon me, anIess 1t be ezemplyied or Il
y filled IN Christ. As a christian, ca
70 not what was enjoined upon Adam. No