The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-05-09

pIOfGIlCHb anu WCIlOtC VI WY
refused to admit. What gross and deadly
skepticisml And yet how extended and
powerful was their influence! In the
higher circles, they bore decisive sway.
The highest places were open 10 their
ambition. They might aspire TO the
chair of the High Priest. But The Phar-
isees were orthodox; full of zeal, stead
fast, enterprising, active in their devotion
to the true church. They spared no pains
to extend its limits. They comprised
land and sea to make prcselyte.' They
expressed deep and lively interest IN ev'
cry thing, which in any way affected the
welfare of their country. Hence, they
enjoyed in high degree popular favor
stood nigh in the general estimatlon.-
They were looked upon as patriots and
saints. Now in the estimation of our be-
levers, both The Sadducees and the Phar.
isees We're radically defective. Both the
one and the other rejected the Messiah.
The hope of Israel-the desire of nations
they spurned, even while dwelling with
affected rapture on the predictions which
looked TO His incarnation. Buy then the
general influence of the Pharsees must
be preferred to that of the Sadducees.-
Their measures were better adapted to
promote the general welfare They were
less hostile to freedom-more ready to
vindcate the rights of the people. And
one Of the two, either the PharIsees or
Sadducees, must prevail. For what could
a third party do! A handful Of names,
which one might almost count up on ones
fngerl They might argue and strng-
gIe-defne, prove and expain-lhey
might demonstrate, warn and entreat; but
what could they efect2 In the face and
eyes of powerful parties-u opposition 10
an overwhelming and determined MAORI
tyl Was it not their duty, then, to join
with the party whose measures and move
ments were least injurious to Christianity p?
If by Withholding their countenance and
aid from the Pharisees, the Sadducees'
should triumph, ought they not TO hold
themselves responsible for 50 disastrous
resuIt2* Would they not indirectly sup
port the pretensions Of the Saddncees 3
And could they think of taking such an
dltluuS! Ou.tlN nOL liz" thcu Coulu
they confess the Savior2
And for supporting the claims of the
Savior, were they not at the right posi-.
ton Not in view of Peter, James and
John. They had openly and zealousy
devoted themselves to the Christian cause.
Every where they were oulspoken and
decided in maintaining, that Jesus was the
Messiah. They made on no occasion
any secret of their allegiance 10 Him.
And those, who could not in this matter
conform 10 their standard -who could not
go with them in their measures, they were
but too forward to Genounce. They even
affected to doubt, whether the man, who
made a secret of his faith, could be
Christian That Peter, james and John
were well meaning men, they were not
prepared 10 deny. Doubtless they were
honest. But the warmth of their feelings
hurried them on too rapidly. Their
views were too contracted. Their &C.
quainance with mankind was too limited.
They did not rightly understand where
lay the golden medium. They had not
studied the limitations Of human obliga.
lions. All their various interests and re-
lations, they did not take into the account.
They were 100 much epgrossed with a
single subject. They were swallowed up
in one idea. Hence their plans and opera
tons often brought them into collision
with those, whom they were trying to
convince aud persuade. They excited
the prejudces and aroused the passions of
their felow.ciizens. They exposed them
selves 10 reproach and opposition And
the i'll effects OF their misguided zeal
reached their Master. Their loud profess
sons of regard embarrassed His move
mens-retarded the progress of His
cause. They had thus by their weIl-in.
tended but i'll. directed efforts put back the
success of His mission al least fifty years.
Thus instead of doing good, they had in
flicted injury. AS for themselves, our be.
levers maintained, that their faith in the
Messiahship of Jesus was as sincere as
any body's-as that Of Peter, James and
John. But why should they lose sell
possession, and rush, uncalled, into diff
Guilty and danger and thus njure the
cause they ought to cherish and protect
Surely, there was way of doing things.
They ought not to fall below the very
serpents in wisdom. Why should they
not instead of attacking the prejudices and
infaming the passions Of their fellow
men, just watch for opportunities and
take them with guile! And any word
they might get chance prudcnlly to say
for the Nazarene would be listened to-
AS they held on to their old connections,
kept the cord of caste unbroken, preserved
their responsibility, they might on fit oc-
caslons, when none were present to take
offence, advocate the claims of the Savior.
In this way, they persuaded themselves,
they should effect far more in the Chris