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

he is requested to 60 into the hearts of his
children, or to come down into particular !
place, as though he could come and. GO at |
the dietation of men, making his attributes
subseryient TO the whims and dogmas of the !
self-willed and pur- blind multitude. God is
solemnIy asked to cause the Sword to be !
beat into plowShares, TO prevent the nations
from Learning Iheart OF war, while they say
il is night 10 fightgin particular cases, or even
40 pray for success in bgtchering men on
the battle field virtually making God Grim
inaI If he grants their prayer in the FIRST case,
as they would not have lac means TO per-
form their supposed obligations ia the LATER.
lit is said to be the disposition that men
pray God 10 remove by his own particular
power, then God is-made responsible for the
whole system Of violence, or ,heir prayers
are but hypocrilical presumption, as they are
not al all answered, neither in themselves
nor Others; for the disposition is ever the
source Of action, as the fountain is Of the
streams. -. >.
The idolary Of the present practice of vo-
cal praying is contained in the forms, cere-
monies, localities and words, all Of which
are adapted to the animal sfeclngs~and the
passions of men. Some societies practise
| kneeling = others standing during prayer.
| while Others sill or prostrate tbemselves-as
though particular form, that is unuatoraT
and disgusting, is. pleasing to lac Eternal
i Mind. All :hose forms that are not~the
| growth of real life, are idOlatry aud heath
enisnl. .*.*:..-.:. "-."~.:
( Cercmonies that are now used to address
a God, as sbo' beswas in some local place,
rolling up the ewes as though he was above,
or calling aloud as though he was deaf, or
bad gone journey, are all marked with the
,delusive signature Of idolatry, and tend to
plunge ulaa into aTstate Of suffering aud g-
norance, instead Of raising him up TO the
Image oc God. -. -. - r." ~:
Localities, or places of worship, the ask
ing God 10 meet and bless at stated times,
in particular places, as in churches made
with hands, &C., and the particular dedica
ton of meeting houses by prayer, and for
prayer aud worship Is as certainly idolatry,
{lhough in "a more refined state Of society,
as The worship Of Juggernaut, or the Pagan
ism Of Rome. ~~.: ~. ....- r.: :. Ill.,.
" Asking blessing, or praying over food, as
now practised, is in most cases ridicu
, lous performance, 10 say nothing of the
mockery that precedes gIuttony i'll the prac
tce of those belly -worshinpers. The food
that never was designed in the nature and
fitness Of things for man TO subsst on. now
must be pray ed over the longest. Minister:
and people ask God to bless the flesh Of tht
hog TO their health, which Would require
change Of the physical law; and then II
looking over the table, they find nearly ever,
part of it loaded with articles of diet whicl
are ceriain-to produce disease and suffering
to be blessed Of God. As easily Nigh
God make misery happiness, or hell int
: heaven, as to make community ofperson,
= healthy, whose practice 10 diatetics ceres
pouCS with tbe iluijdtdt CuAlO'itS vi Tue tiulSS
), Lust is sancti6ed by the popular religion
= of the times, aud then it is INDUCED IN
;, Lieentiousness, with lis corrupting effect:
and blasting miidews, springs up legitimate
) " from the false stale aad wrong structul,
Of society. have never yet heard a fo.ma
i blessing asked over dish of simple food
: Though il is probably rarely done: nc, ,hi
: wouldnoi do, for it is already bIes<ed-sher
: could be no hypocrisy expended in such
: case. Praying for The sick is a practice Q
long standing; bat / have yet been unac
" quainted with the instance when a forVa
J blessing was asked over medicine, or adyer
. tised rostrnms of any Kind The sick ar
: the afflicted, the widow and the orphan ca
} receive The favors Of long prayers to God i
, their behalf =. 20 be heard Of men whit
:! not a fnger is raised 10 relieve the sufferer
> from their fallen condition; but like II
= Priest and LeVi,e when doiag comes, the
u are looking the other way. B.W Dyer
| IL 7 i,