The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1843-09-07
For the Voice of Freedom.

Brother Holcomb:--I noticed in your
| paper-No. 28-an answer to few ques.
tons from you TO brother Angler, which
YOU declared "would much obIige you
and no doubt many others Now may
l for mere information ask few ques-
lions, since an answer has been made?
Might [ be INDUCED in asking you, OF
some one or even brother Angler, to make
those answers more plain, or to explain
what he would have understood from
those texts by him quoted? | conclude
that he wishes 10 prove christian and
divine sanction for the position he now
occupies, and is liable to occupy as min
lister of the Gospel, and Commanderin-
Chief of the Militia of the State of Yer
mont, at the same time. do not know
but brother A. ia right. if this is his view.
If it is true position, desire with all
my heart to see it so plain, as TO rid me
of much anxiety about the pursuits of
professed followers Of Christ. can con-
cede 10 the correctness of the remark, that
81 his license as gospel minister In one
hand, and credentials of Lieut.. Governor,
sc. in the other, are as proper compan-
ions as your profession of religion in one
hand, and vote in the other" to elect a
man to said station. But these offsets of
good or bad are no satisfactory proof;
neither are the many texts by him quoted,
so plain as 10 be a warranty OF his posi-
ton. True, the Bible affords said texts
but how TO deduce from them what he
attempts to prove, know not. Does he,
by quoting Sam. vii. Is, intend to insinu-
ate that the religious ana civil rule in
those days, that governed Samuel, his
guide? For instance, | Sam. vii o.
"And Samuel took sucking lamb and
offered it for burnt Offering, wholly unto
the Lord" Is this his example as min
ister of the Gospel? And as chief exec
utive, would he enforce the following
law? remembering that our Saturday was
their Sabbalh-Ex. XXI: Is: "Whoso-
ever doeth any work on the Sabbath-day,
he shall surely be put to death" Also,
Mum. XIV. So, &C. a man for picking up
sticks on the Sabbath was stoned 10 death.
If not take these precedents as his exam
pie, why 60 10 the Covenant Paul says.
"If it had been faullless, no place would
have been found for the second. Heb.
viii. 6, 7. suppose brother AS hope
is, to be justified by grace. Gal. " & 4:
"Stand fast therefore in the liberty where
with Christ hath made US free, and be
not entangled again with the yoke Of
bondage. Christ is become of no effect
10 you; whosoever Of you are justified
by the law, we are fallen from grace"
Why go TO the law that killeih? | hope
not to quiet conscience, nor blind others.
The sacrlfcial law tho't was no more
done away by Christ than the national
Jewish law. Luke xvi 16: 1.-THE law
and the prophets were until John: since
then the kingdom of heaven is preached"
Brother A. says, 81 never supposed that
either the Great Head of the Church, or
my brethren, required me TO surrender
any Of my rights as a man, by being re-
cognized as a Minister of the Gospel." -
Does he mean that conformity to the
world, aud loving and practicing accord
ing 10 the tradition of man should not be
surrendered? Ifso where is their light ?
Where is their sayory influence! by
their fruits We shall know them.' There
were those in our Savior's day who loved
the uppermost seals at feasts, and TO be
called of men Rabbi But, did our Lord
say, do as they do2 He did say, " Ye
know that the Princes of the Gentles
exercise dominion over them, and they
that are great, exercise authority over
them; but it shall mol be so with you."
"But whose will be great among you, let
them be your minister; and whose will
be chief among you, let him be your
servant"
I do not suppose that brother A. was
called upon to surrender any true rights
as a (christian) man, or his protesting to
follow the Prince of Peace. No: bat
called upon to, as he received Christ Je-
sus so walk in him. and thereby embrace
his rights as a (new) man, and say now,
| have right to "be subject to the pow
ers that be-" and suffer any penalty of a
wicked human government, sooner than
disobey my Lord;' even if an incorcera-
ton into prison or lions den is threatened:
or rather than bow down 10 the Image,
pass through the fiery furnace: and if
beaten with rods as were Peter and John,
and "commlnded to speak no more in
the name of Jesus of Nazareth a right
to say whether j; is right 10 obey God
rather than man judge ye" Yes, right
to stand forth in full liberty of the Gospel,
and be the Lords free man. But no right
TO help make, approve or execute law
that administers death, nor ever had
This is an assumed right--come from an
usurper, the Devil, who was murderer.
Much is said, and has been said, about
rights. Paul thought he had a right to
do many things contrary to the name Of
Jesus OF Nazareth. Peter thought, no
LnIht b, hal :, rinhi Ia rrn iha nau, I'd 20