Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1843-06-21
REWARDS AND PuN1sHMENrs.

1 dcuico tudt tueIe are elmer rewards q
punishments in the divine government
and, we suppose, he thinks il wrong tina
there should be any such things among
men. Mr.. Murray is possessed Of a verl
singular mind. Being educated a Cal
vinist.-taught to believe that punishment
is rerenge, and having now become salts
fed that the Divine Being never takes re-
venge, he rejects entirely the idea tha
there is any punishment in the divine gov
eminent. Strange conclusion We are
happy to agree with Friend Murray, il
rejecting the idea of Gods being angry
or revengeful. or taking revenge but doe,
he not know that the original word render.
ed punishment 10 Matt. 25 46 was proper
ly applicable TO the pruning of fruit trees,
and properly signifies correction or chas.
tisedent2 Does he not believe that the
world is a system Of causes and effects, OF
antecedents and consequents, and that rigbl
action produces happiness, and wrong-do-
ing, misery2 Surely he cannot be so alb.
surd as to deny this. He must see that
men and the outward world have received
definite constitutions, and are subjec, to
certain fixed, invariable, inherent laws, and
that this constitution is in favor Of virtue
and opposed to wickedness. Here then,
are rewards and punishments administer.
ed by the laws of cause and effect. God
puts no new causes into operation in or
der 10 punish for sin, but he has so made
the world that virtue and goodness pro.
duce happiness. while vice or sin produ.
ces misery and death. In this way he
renders unto every man according to his
deeds. behold the righteous shall be
recompensed in the earth; much more
the wicked and the sinner" Prov. Ii:
3t.
II Mr. Murray should say that he be-
lieves in this view Of the nature OF the d.
vine government, but does not call this ad-
minisiering stewards and punishment"
We say to him it matters but little to US
what he calls this system OF operations, if
he admits the facts, because names do not
change, or alter hinss | would howev-
er, commend to his special attention some
remarks Of Bishop Butler on the nature
of the Divine Government. have re-
Gently published them. but shall make 10
apology for publishing them again, as
they ought 10 be stereotyped in the under
standing and feelings Of every individ.
ual. Butler says,
can Author of Nature being supposed, il is not
perience, that we are thus under his government:
under his government in the same sense as we
are under the government of civil magistrates.
Because the annexlng pleasure to some actions,
and pain to Others in our power to do or forbear,
and giving notice of this appointment beforehand
10 those whom it concerns, is the proper formal
notion Of government. Whether the pleasure or
pain which thus follows upon our behavior, be
owing to the Author Of Natures acting upon US
every moment which we feel it, or to his having
at once contrived and executed his own part in
the plan Of the world, makes no alteration as to
the matter before Us. For, if civil magistrates
could make the sanctions of their laws take place,
without interposiDg at all after they had passed
them, without trial and the formalites of an ex-
ecution; If they were able to make their laws
execute themselves, or every offender 10 execute
them upon himself, we should be Just in the
aame sense under their government then as we
are now but Ia a much higher degree and more
perfect manner. Vain is the ridicule with which
upon finding lesser pains considered as instances
of divine punishment There is no possibility of
answering or evading the general thing here in.
tended, without denying all final causes. For,
final causes being admitted, the pleasures and pains
now mentioned must be admitted too, as instances
OF them. And il they are, if God annexes de-
light to some actions and uneasiness to others,
with an apparent design to induce US 10 act so
and so, then be not only dispenses happiness and
mi hnlka al Ian uUa rfla
If, for example, the pain which we feel upon do
ing what tends to the destruction Of our bodies,
suppose upon our too near approach to the IRE,
or upon>wounding ourselves, be appointed by the
Author Of Nature to prevent our doing what thus
tends to our destruction this is altogether as
much an instance Of his Furnishing our actions,
and consequently of our being under his govern
ment, as declaring, by voice from heaven, that
if we acted 90 he would inflict such pain upon US,
and inhicting it whether it be greater or less"
wish you to mark, that Buffers opin.
ion was, that s'annexing pleasure to some
actions and pain to others 10 our power
to do or forbear, and giving notice of
this appointment beforehand 10 those
10 whom il concerns, IS the proper
formal notion Of gOperamsnt."-of course,
Of administering rewards aud punishments
Pain or misery. attendant upon any action
or cource OF conduct is the voice Of God
speaking to Us, telling Us ef an infringe
ment Of his laws, and warning Us to de-
sist Pleasure and pain are two monitors
placed as sentinels 10 guide US 10 the path
of virtue. All actions useful to the indi.
yidual and promotive of the welfare
peace and happiness Of society are
right, and those that produce contrary
effects are wrong The consequences al
iendant upon the transgression. Of either
the physical, organic, or moral laws o
the Creator. are the proper and just pun
ishment Of the offender; and obedience L
each ofthese laws. is attended with its appro
priate reward Of good to him who yield
| IT, Unicersaiist Wutehman.
/ REMARKs.