Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1843-09-20
The Strait way to Heaven.

ing those be met in his walks, and in y
curing into their spiritual welfare. Pas.
sing through small village, he met
simple country fellow driving cart load
ed with corn. Do you believe in God
SIR !" said ne to the countrvman. Yes
sir" was The instant reply. "Do YOU
read your bible, pray to your Maker
and attend divine worship regularly ?"
And this string of questions was also an.
lswered in the Affirmative Go on yop,
way rejoicing, continued he, "lyou are in
he high way to heaven" Cudpole -four.
Eished his whip, and drove on much de-.
Lighted, no doubt with the agreeable intel.
Eligence. Another person came up BY
this time, and be also was inlerrogatt
with an unceremonious Do YOU believe
in God, sir Z" What have you to do,
sir, with what believe % replied the Der.
son accosted, with look of SURPRISE
You ale int he gall Of bitterness and bond
of inquiry cried the offended preacher.
look at that poor lad ahead, whistIing
land driving his cart-he is on the sraiob,
way TO heaven" 1t may be so, epIi,
ed the honest farmer, "but to nv certain
knowledge, if he S going there, he 5 60.
ing aoith a CARLOAD o stolen eorn.-Ens-
lish paper.
Decidedly the best illustration l have
seen, of my own view of some things ex
isling. 1t shows precisely, what all 'e-
igiom always has been, is, and always
/
will be, until it is superseded by practical
purity and goodness. A show sham
"a frce-a folIy-a delusion--a cheat
"a lie-a dementation-a confuson-a
curse. Possessing no redeeming feature
or quality. Producing no practical good.
Incapable Of being turned to any useful
account fort the benefit of mankind. What
| does it do! 1t frames iron bedsteads, and
cuts and stretches its victims upon it. 1t
says avow the 5elief,an practice the forms
prescribed, or expect we shall asperse your
character and blast your reputation if pos
sible. 1t asks what you "6cltere. y
It requires you to go through with the
performance of prescribed rites and cere-
monies. In its most improved state, Ii
demands and obtains support for d priest
hood to conduct its incan,alions and i'm
positions. This priesthood it clothes
with gorgeous apparel, infdtes with van
lily, invests with authority ard powerful
sets up 10 rule over the people with tyr
amy. It promotes caste. 1t teaches lis
| devotees TO speak dctatorially to Others.
| Il commands and threatens. And as o.
ten as it can get the power it executes
lis whole pathway has FIRST been reddeD-
ed with human blood, and then whjtened
with human bones. 1t is full OF wrath
and fornication. 1t stimulates Ius! and
cupidity. It excites and infames all the
worst passions. 1t has made the world
an aceldama and golgolha.
This is not saving that all The indivgdu
ais who have come under the uaue0ce
of religion have been subjected 10 its worst
tendencies. 1t is only saying what It's Ie'
gitimate tendencies are - what, Of itself,
it is-what it does do, when it performs
lis own work in its own way. 1t is true
that il rarely gets The entire mastery Of
The best specimens Of manhood. 1t may
warp their judgments, blind their eyes
and lead them widely astray. Bat the
best organizations can never be entIreiy
subjected to its control. The strongest
Developments ofhum anity will stand VI
against it. So that there has always been
honesty and goodness among all religion
lists. But it has not come other religion
| Il has come of their manhood and Their
true native excellence. No thanks to re-
lieion that there is particle of morally
or of mind left in the universe. 1t is
deadly foe to both. Reason and R'6@'
Doing are wha, it has always warred up
1 on with utter relentlessness.
DO you believe in God, Sill" "D
you read your bible, pray to your MaKe''
and attend divine worship regularly
To be able 10 answer these in the ottlfma,
tive is quite sufficient. Whoever VIA
give the required response can Obtain
I therefor as good passport for The strasO'
way to heaven as can be furnished Oy
hired priesthood. And whoever Will p'5
the priesthood sufficiently, confess 10 sun
beliefs as they will dictate, anc suo"'
the mummeIies they impose, may n0' y.
IL drive loads of stolen corn on luz.