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

49, |, with all the pathos of a dying ma
as well as by inspiration says, he tina
rulesh over men must be just ruling in tn
( fear of God If words can be addcd t,
make a command more explicit, they ar,
some have not learned. Again, Goo
has given us some reasons whv, and he
Qehoshaphal) said 10 the Judges take heed
what We do, for we Judge not for man, bui
for the Lord who is with you in judgment,
wherefore now let the fear ofthe Lord be
upon you, take heed and do it for there is
no iniqaity with the Lord our God, nor
respect of persons or taking Of gifts
Paul to the Romans, 18th chapter says,
the powers that be are ordained Of God,
Gods ministers attending continually on
this very thing and from this he draws
his argument to obedience. In the SD
Psalm, God is represented as standing in
the congregation of the mighty, and judg,
ing among the Gods | now ask, are
these injunctions binding on us now, or
have they been repealed? Here are du-
ties important as the favor Of heaven end
the life of our nation enjoined on every
man who goes 10 the ballot box. Are
these principles inculcated from the pulpit
or the press? Do the people learn them
at our mass meetings? Is there a solemn
conviction Of duty, of responsibility to
God? rather, is there not a spirit of un-
due Zeal without knowledge, of party
elimination and recrimination? LAYING
aside the solemn command and authority
of heaven, and then Mr. Editor, | ask, if
these solemn realities, as weighty as heav-
en- and hell, a sense of the omnipresence
Of God, Of acting for him and accountable
TO him, would not tend to diSarm resent
men', quell party spirit and inspire har-
mony of sentiment and union Of action p
| ask sir, what would clothe the magis-
tra'e with dignity, beget confidence and
support in him, and strike terror 10 the
wicked more than that he was Gods vice
gerent, that God was with him. What i'm
parlia'lIy and 6rmness would mark his
designs? | would that the motto God is
here was inscribed on the ballot box,
over the bench, and on the hall Of legis-
Iation. And what would this be, but the
truth Beside this, let me take up what
| for a moment have laid by, the COM
mand of the lawgiver who himself is
Judge also, and it demands unconditional
obedience. Another consideration urges
to the proper use Of these means which is,
that they are followed with a secret inAu.
ence of Gods spirit on the heart, which
render them effectual, when used not as
means only, but as acts Of obedience, 10 so
doing also we throw the responsibility of
results upon God himself and is just what
he requires. What was it strengthened
The heart OF Gideon and dismaycd the
hearts of the Midianites, but such an in
h~uence, while the shout Of terror and Of
victory was, the sword of the Lord and
of Gideon Gods operations are still
manifest, though not by miracle. Again
are we not liable to err by looking at sec
ond causes, and drawing results, to the
neglect of the first cause? National sins,
are sins against God, he %aflic.s US lhro'
second causes, they are but his inslru-
ments, and remedy can never be had but
by removing the first cause by repentance
and reformation. So long as our nation
al crimes remain %unrepented of, and our
national representation as it now is, and |
may say, unless it is changed for one that
God will appreciate, just so long evil will
pursue US. National sins will incur ma
tional judgments. All ~pretensions to hu-
initiation fasting and prayer is vain, while
the seat Of judgment, the Legislative hall,
and our executive council, is disgraced
with wicked intriguing men, so far as the
nation is concerned. Look at the black
catalogue enumerated by Mr. Adams
The exhibition of one Of our national sins,
to wit, slavery, is enough to sink a world.
Not only its bare existence within our
, borders with all its helIish concomitants,
and appendages shrouding in darkness
and misery three millions of our black
population, all present and future prospect,