Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1843-01-04
For the Teiegrap h.
Braintree. Dec. %, IS

Bfdlntree, Dec. ~, 1917.
Brother Murray IL wish to communicate
few thoughts thro' the Telegraph, which |
you say is free for friends or foes 10 express
their own convictions oftruth, on their own
responsibility. Truth has nothing 10 fear
from investigation, but solcits il; while error
wraps itself up in It's own cloak of hypoeri- |
sy and says, disturb me moi, Wicked and
corrupt men, like Felix, tremble before the
energy of truth; their dark deeds are ex-
posed 10 view, while the rotenness of the
heart is manifest by the light OF life. Men
are willing that you should preach against
sin, if you 1OiH not define and tell arhdt
sin u.s. Sin in gross, and sinners 10 gross,
(if you will not meddIe with the church,
can be got along with quite well. The
moment you define and say slavery is asin,
you make the professed christian and iniidel
equally guilty, and then they must be out
upon you 10 save the church, which is i'm
mersed in this sin of sins. So also with
ANY other popular sin. Yousmust not name
it, if it is in the church. The regular prac-
lice of
| II is said, must moi be meddled with, for on
this hangs the Christianity of The world.
NOW let US reason together" All prayer
is either true or false. True prayer is the
living action of the soul in harmony with
the Divine Mind. The mind truly directed
and properly enlightened, always receives
the accomplishment of its petitions in due
time. But the first thing for man to know
is himself; and then he may know God
No one ever did, or can know God, until
he knows himself. No person can ever
blest idea formed in his own mind. A
violent, licenlious, lustful person, can
4 never in that state know the true God. God
is Mind, and man is made in his mental
image; therefore, those who see God, must
look thro' the attributes Of their own minds,
TO see the corresponding attributes in God.
No person can possibly discover an attribute
in any other being, unless they possess it
themselves as constituent part of his
own mind. And for one TO have knowl-
edge Of God, the attributes in his own
mind must be directed in harmony with, or
Influenced by, the same motives that govern
the Mind Of Minds. "God is spirit, For
mind, and seeketh such TO worship him as
worship him in spirit and in truth" Words
! are TO physical beings, not 10 spiritual = to
Imam, not to God. Man presents a petition
) to his fellow in words, that it may be com.
municated 10 bis mind by sensation. All
5 those who use words as essential 10 com
municalon with God, Merdli7e Deity, and
make themselves idoldters, being worship.
pers Of :he creature more than the Creator
Again, all prayer, whether spiritual OIL
vocal, that calls upon God 10 perform thai
!. which is atrariance with bis will, is vrlu
S ally denial of his unchangeableness. Tc
ask God 10 do that which would violate the
! attributes of his own mind, or TO act in con
tradistincrion TO any established principle ii
. his government, would be TO invite him very
politely 10 become devil. To ask God Il
= convert sinners, or to do away with llcen
e tiousness, or slavery, is TO inform him very
/ kindly that he has not yet done bis duty
: for if God can do away with sin in harmony
:, with his attributes. and will not, he mus
: delight in sin, which would be a fiagrarl
- Impeachment Of his character. Sin is al
ID act in opposition TO Gods laws, which Go
p. can moi prevent, without deprHing the ind
al vidual Of his freedom. God has set suffer
~ ing over against sin. as a conscience 10 III
transoressor, and praYercan not prevent
i any more than il can the burning Of Ere, c
N the radiation of light. To ask God 10 d
s. that which he has made our duty TO PEI
We form, is demanding qualification OF b
a. government, and himself to be our siav'
81 If we would have sin cut of the world, W
, must in the first place remove ourselVe
:, tfrom it, that we may be medium for d
b. communication OF truth, through whom u
,l. light may shine TO those who are IN carl
| ness.
Nv Common observation teaches Us, that Ii
er great body Of public vocal prayer. as no
n, conducted under the influence Of poaul'
= Icustom and The exqectationsof the many.
!, but naochery, hypocrisy & idolatry, stalne
,ur deeply with inJideIly and atheism. 1t
for mockery to ask God for'that which il is n
tn expected be will bestow-or which we hal
IA no faith in receiving; which constitutes Il
20 most Of the pulpit exhibitions. of Pharise
- :, ism of the present day. God is grave
,air asked 20 do miracle, and then 10 the ne
srv preaching breath,it is affirmed that the d
an. of miracles is past. Ifsuch prayers are n