The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1843-12-21

Joseph Surge have been successful, SO
has Granville Sharpe.
But let me call your attention to far
higher object. You are now in the
presence of The model.man; who was
every way and in the ighest degree what
a man ought 10 be-in whom wisdom,
goodness, power, reached the utmost lin
It's of possibility. From his cradle up
ward, he was on all occasions equal TO
Himself; occupied with His mission to
the human family. When He entered on
His work, all eyes were fixed upon Him.
All arms were open to embrace Him. -
ALI hearts were animated with the high
est hopes, that great results wonld follow
in His footsteps. But when His integri-
ty brought Him into collision with earth
lings at the summit of human society,
their malignily nailed Him to the Cross.
In that hour, what hopes were blasted -
What expectations fell withered TO the
ground While His enemies exclaimed,
" Let Him come down from the Cross :"
His heart-slricken friends responded,
{" We thought it had been He, who should
have redeemed Israel" Yes, brethren,
in spite of appearances, hold fast still to
that inspiring thought. TO the redemp-
ton of Israel, His powers have all along,
from first to last been devoted. Head,
heart, hands-with that work, He has
been occupied. Applauded or reproached
- followed or deserted worshipped or
bIasphemed,-amidst the activities of life
and the suferings of death, with that
work, He has been occupied. And he
HAS DONE 1T loo. On the Cross, it was
finished. The effort which His last
breath enabled Him to make overwhelm-
ed the powers of darkness. Henceforth,
His brow is clothed with triumph. From
the day of Pcntecost 10 the present hour,
every achievement of Truth and Holiness
increases His reward and augments His
Joy. His Success shall be celebrated by
lhe heavenly spheres in everlasting songs
As to the influence, we may exert on
o,hers-on all within the sphere of our
activity, it must both in kind and degree
correspond with our character. In what
ever work we may engage, it is OUR
SELVES that we exert. Whatever goes
through our mint must bear our "image
and superscription." If we are weak, an
image of weakness; if strong, of strength
must appear. Separate effective useful.
ness from sound character Tha: thing
cannot be done. Man cannot do it and
God will not. Our influence and our I'M
provement must always keep pace with
each other. Increase the one and you
extend the other. For ifunder God what
ever we effect depends upon the exertion
Of OURSELVES, then in proportion as we
are something-as we have life and pow
err, will the effects be decisive All this is
made forever certain by the immutable
righteousness Of Heaven:
know these words are often contra
dicted. A voice is often heard from the
high places of society am as much the
friend of Truth and Freedom-as much
opposed to treachery and oppression as
any man can be. But then; [ am occu.
plying high exering pow
erlul influence. cannot, THEREFORE,
avow myself cannot stand erect-cannot
make bare my arm cannot for instance
speak boldly and act decisively for the
redemption of my enslaved countrymen.
l cannot oppose what in my conscience l
regard as false and hurlful without haz-
arding my usefulness. From such
break neck operation, therefore, / stand
carefully aloof. An influence which can
neither impel nor resist-which can Meth
er draw others with you nor drive them
from you-which leaves you at the mer-
cy of imbecIity, spite and folly-the sport
of every accicent-that you call power
full A thing TO be tenderly cherished
and carefully preserved So have seen
on the steeple's top creature, which was
raised above every other object in the
neghborhood. How it gliuered in the
sunbeams, attracting many curious eye
How rapid and decisive often were its
movements TO every inquirer, how
clearly it announced Iwhat was its of.
flee TO unfold Surely, it is the king of
all the winds; for they always move in
the direction, 10 which it points its sove-
reign finger The weathercock is an Of
fetal of high sanding, which to preserve
its influence carefully adjusts itself TO the
general sentiment. Let the wind blow
high or ow-roGgh or smooth, it knows
how to keep its place and maintain its USE
fitness.
But look at the men, who al any time
and in any place have done most to i'm
prove the character and elevate the condi-
lion of mankind Were they of the
weathercock species-moving always in
the direction ofthe wind2 Moses, Isaiah,
Paul; Luther, Milton, Sharpe, with their
compeers around them, and the Man of
Sorrows above them; were they forever
haunted with The question, How they
should SO advance or retreat-so aVow
themselves and SO conceal themselves-so
humor passion, prejudice and fol y as to