Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1843-07-05


For to save his character for trulh-telling il
is necessary for them to suppose that he il
ignorant of their assembling and needs only
TO be informed Of it to verify his promise
But the christian still maintains that his
God is faithful 10 fulfil all his promises
and that he is all-wise and omnipresent
What then does he make out his prayer tc
be? Nothing more than what Christ calls
"vain repetition" If Col is Gmniscient
omnipresent and perfectly faithful, il is in
science TO address him as christians pray
What honest man would not feel himself
insulted to be continually teazed, by one
who knew his character, TO fulfil his word
An alI-wise being can't but know what
is best to be done in every spot and 10 re-
gald 10 every circumstance in the universe,
| and unadulterated goodness would confer
a disposition to do what ought 10 be done,
and almighty power combined with such
wisdom and goodness would execute their
will. Such prayer as is almost uuiver-
sally offered does not recognize either of
these attributes in the character Of God.
They impeach his wisdom by telling him
| the circumstances and condition of them
selves and those around them, and fire.
quently Of the whole world just as if an
aIl,seeing God could not comprehend
things as perfectly as they, poor, frail,
short-si ghted mortaIs .>"" .....
They next call in question his goodness,
aud virtually make it less than their own,
:" in whom dwelleth no good thing" They
represent themselves and those around them
as being very vile and contemplate and
polluted and as not possessing single good
quality and then beg and pray and entreat
and supplicate God to change their sinful
ness TO holiness, their deformity to beauty,
their misery TO happiness, their uansgress-
ion Of his law TO perfect obedience 10 it, and
this for the purpose of contounding wicked
men and devils, and preventing Christ from
otCu III NdiDj duh O"b
character from reproacb, vindicating his
honor and manifesting his glory. God,
whose goodness is so great that language
is incompetent, TO express it, is made in
prayer to be churlish tyrant, who would
never relieve the least suffering or grant the
most Insignificant favor because it is fit and
right that he should do it, but does il olly to
show his superiority or to be rid Of being
trodbled by their prayers. True benevo-
lence gives without being asked when there
is need Of its exercise. And who can pre-
sumo 10 have the effrontery to instruct the
All-wise, and tell him when 10 give and
when TO withhold and not only this, bur
in which his bounty shall BE- bestowed =?
Do Christians indeed know that in their
prayers they make Their God TO be such
monster Of insensbiIity that he will not
grant them the least favor, Notwithstanding
"giving doth not impoverish him neither
Withholding make him rich" unless be is
ISdbSuSu duN lSdSCu anu SoJOlSu W w IL
YET this is the character of nine lenlhs of
The prayers that are offered by Christians
What candid mind can suppose for mo-
ment that the Author of nature requires and
is pleased with such-what shall call il,
for it is neither service nor worship = such
insolent blasphemy? II shocks me to Lear
Christians make such representations of the
character Of the Supreme Being. Do they
not suppose that the AII-wisc has wisdom
and discretion sufficient TO manage his own
affairs, and that he has goodness and power
sufficient to beslow hi, bountieS when where
and upon whom he pleases, independently
Of every other being in the universe ? If
they do believe this lei them as honest men
leave off their praying or relnquish their
professions. ..<.. - ~.: 49, r"
In one place in the Bible curses are i'm
precaled Upon certain people by the angel
of the Lord because they came not 10 the
help Of The Almighty against the mighty.
This agrees perfectly well with the prayers
Of Christians, for they say that the reason
why the Lords business is in so unprosper-
Gus condition, is that they are so negli-,
gent OF their duty, and SO ignorant and
hearIess and Inefficient. They pray that
they may be made more engaged in the
work and act more efficiently, and that 9th
ers may be brought to their assistance for
The purpose Of advancing the cause with
power aud glory! One would suppose it
would be easier and more consistent for the
Lord to do his own work than TO employ
such laithless servants. They would be
more consistent if they would attend to re-
li9ion with more earnestness after making