Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1843-04-19
"Hn THROWS AWAY THE BIBLE.

Do those who say this Of me know what
they mean when they say it2 Do they
STOP to consider the import Of their language!
Is there definite idea in their own minds
that they wish to convey? Or do they say
il because they feel called uponby the cause
they support 10 say something, and find il
easier TO cast odium shan to produce argu-
ment - 10 rail, than TO reason = TO excite
feeling, than TO convince the understand
ing7 What do they mean7 What do they
want2
Now any odium that truth will cast upon
me, / would not shrink from. But this is
enough in all conscience for any one frail
mortal who aims faithfully to oppose popu-
lar errors in such times as these. To man
7 irest disposition TO magnify that odium,
beirays depravilY not inherent in man, but
originating in ignorance, and cultivated,
augmented, transmitted and perpetuated by
It's own ways and means - its own institu-
lions and instigated practices, which are
deiusively Rugged and held to as the way
Of salvation!
II those who accuse me Of throwing away
the Bible mean that cast it from my hands
or expel il from my house, they are mis-
taken. We keep about half dozen copies
Of il in the hou,e, one in the Telegraph
Office, and commonly carry one in my
pocket. And we have not cut or designedly
torn out any part Of them, as has been
gravely reported TO some extent!
Again,--If they mean TO say that reject
the Bible as book Of records, subject to
proper criticisms, they are also mistaken in
this. believe il to contain much historical
ruth. AS TO its real value in this respect,
have not yet enjoyed The means for estab
fishing an opinion fully. Shall be thankful
for aid in this department from any quarter.
Or if they mean to say discard any Of
the sound morality and true philosophy
taught in any part Of it-lke, "thou shalt
not kip" thou shalt not commit adultery
-" thou shalt not steal"-" thou shalt not
covet"--" whatsoever We. would that men
should do to you, do we even so TO them"-
"recompense to no man evil for evil"-
"overcome evil with good they are still
mistaken.
But if they only mean TO say hold that
the Bible was written and compiled by fall
lible men, and that from beginning TO end
/, gives abundant evidence of such origin
welcome the charge and the odium. &C
further, and say that the use which has been
made Of it has been filing the world with
violence, ignorance and idolatry. say
without fear Of contradiction, that the claim:
which modern theology sets up for IT. coulC
never possibly have entered the heads o
even its wisest and best writers. As many
as are at all acquainted with the facts AM
circumstances connected with the origin o
the manuscripts and the compilation Of then
into this volume, know beyond doubt tha
the writers could never have expected then
TO be brought together in such form an
used for such purpose. Those who lea
the people to think otherwise deal dishcn
es'ly with them, or are themselves in ute
ignorance Of the truth in the case and shout
therefore learn before they teach : shoul
6rst enlishten themselves il they would nc
carry darkness to others.
Ia giving free, unrestrained and homes
otierance to these views-in subjectins th
Bible TO criticism and examination-in pre-
nouncing upon its accurscies and its ina'
curacies, Its truths and its errors-what a,
] doing that has moi been done by the de-
O,ses ofIhe Bible who have gone before m
sad ihai Is 90. dom. BY those Of them VIII
are At work Contemporary With mel What al
abe Baptsts doing, with David Bernar
leading &eenducliug the enterprize1 The
are making q critical examination Of th