Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1843-06-28

charge that the system is not in itself reform
atory and regenerative-thai il has no rem
edy equal 10 the disease, or adapted TO II.
Il is a sufficient condemnation OF the sys-
tenn that with all the favor il has gained,
and all the success il boasts OF, it produces
no better results. The truth is, the respon.
sibility lies between the men and the sys-
TENS of their own making. Casting 1t Oh
upon the Lord and the Devil will never do.
The difficulty commences and is carried
along in violence done by man to the laws
of nature, of which he is component part.
These laws transgressed are not mere arbl-
trary words ef command, spoken from the
mouth or written in a book-Dut the rela-
tons existing between each individual be-
ing and all the surrounding universe. ALI
that is wanted, then, for mans regeneration
and salvation is, knowledge of these laws
or relations, and observance of Them. The
fact has already been alluded TO, that the
existing system of things makes war d2on
nature, pronouncing it, in its nob!est depart
ment, TO be corruption and depravity itself.
Another piece Of the theory as unnatural and
as unreasonable as this is, lis disregard OF
the relations existing in man. There ap-
pears to be quite as great ignorance Of the
relations existing in man, between the dh-
ferent parts of himself, as out of him, be-
tween him and other things. And the for
mer is not less disastrous than the latter.
The relations between body and mind, their
influence and bearings upon each other, es-
pecially the effect which the treatment OF The
former has upon the latter, have been over
looked, or al least disregarded. Spiritual
regeneration is looked for and professed, in
connection with the grossest physical de-
pravity and corruption. Another consistent
piece of the system is, the separation il
makes between religion and morality. The
tendency of This is, to make men too relig
ious 10 be humane or honest. The results
are everywhere apparent. Every enterprise
for the promotion of morality and humanity
has been met and opposed at the threshold,
by leading religionists, lest something be de-
tracted from the glory or the greatness Of
their Diana. Too much has been made Of
greatness, and too little ofgoodness. Thus
the idea of true greatness has been lost sight
of. Among the religious bodies which
claim TO have the standards and 10 be The
true teachers of morality and goodness, it is
less disreputable TO be considered wanting
in honesty and fidelity than to be considered
wanting in power to plan and execute for
the promotion Of party interests. Here fuel
is furnished for the fire Of ambition. There
is not more ambitious sci of men living
than the propagators and supporters Of pres
ent popular religions. Greatness is the
thing with them-not goodness. To be-
seen o. men-not TO redeem men from sin.
This is proved from all their acts. They
Cypress The hireling in their power, 10 get
money with which TO show themselves mu-
niicent. They defraud their neighbofs and
deYour widows houses for the same purpos-
es. They enslaye and brutaliZe at home,
to obtain the means for making a show Of
beneyolence abroad. They subjugate, rob
and exterminale tribes and nations, 10 ag-
grandize themselves and gather proselyles
TO their religion. All religionists think
! themselves to be the people, and that wis
dom is TO dwell and die with them. In
everything else there may be inquiry, exam
ination and improvement. But in religion,
which its -devolees make 10 be the most im-
portant IF all matters, innovation is sacrilege.
! Ignorance, tradition and superstition must
| be left TO bear sway undisturbed. The light
of investigation must be shut out. ltcauses
TOO much pain to eyes that have been so long
accustomed to darkness. Thus they make
their pseudo salt not only unfit for the land
or the dunghiil, but loathsome fetor in The
ncstrils OF the wise, and a miasma and
plague al the door Of the good. The church
and-slate systems of the world, as they have
hitherto been controlled and conducted, have
been utter hindrances 10 human progress
ion. Felters they are upon The feet, mill
stones about the necks, and Nightmares up
on the breasts of mankind. Their creedS
and constitutions have kept men looking
backward, when they ought TO have beer
, looking forward. Time and labor have
been wasted in Juggling along these works
, of the past TO periods aud places they wer'
= never designed nor fitted TO occupy. IL
: their veneration for the dead, men have for
: gotten and neglected their duties 10 the liv
ing. AT the same time they have ignorant
ly done the dead an unkiItness, BY keepin
up constant bowling over their slumber: