Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-09-06

the church, and that it is as bad to fellowship the
sin of slavery as the sin of drunkenness, or the sin
of horse stealing At once an excitement is pro-
duced, the spirit of conflict is reused, the minister
and leading members are in consultation, and mea-
sures are devised, not to purge out this wicked
ness from the church; but to silence, or exclude
from the church, those men, who wish to have
this evil put away from among them. Are such
churches the salt Of The earth? the light of The
world. Is there not sad evidence that the salt has
lost its SAVIOR, and is fit only for the dunghill?
Again let us look at the position of the church
as respects dueIing Dueling is murder, and in
most cases, murder Of the most aggravating kind.
The duest is then murderer. His works are
works of darkness and, he shows by them that
he is child of that wicked one, who was muir
derer from the beginning. Christ came to destroy
the kingdom of satan, and established the church
as proper organ to carry on his work, and by all
proper means destroy the works of the devil. The
church should then be arrayed against dueling, and
do what she can to destroy that wicked work.
Aud did her light shine as it ought to do, she
would do more to destroy it, than all the enact
ments of Congress. The Northern church is more
than sufficient to balSano the two great palitcal
parties and would she aobIy say, will never lend
my influence to support bloody man, duelist,
or man that lives by oppression, for the Presi-
dency, her power would be felt her light would SO
shine before Others, that they would see her good
works. follow her example, condemn sIavehodng
and duelng, and teach political leaders a lesson
which they would not soon forget. A public and
solemn protest would be recorded against dueng,
public sentiment would be corrected, and those
who wish to obtain public offices would soon learn
ihatoppresson and murder would not recomme nd
them to the church of God, Then our land would
no longer be defIed with garments soiled in blood
shed to CRAFTY feelings, which God abhors, and
the corrupting influence of wicked rulers might be
restrained. Why should not the whole church
take this high and honorable ground, obey hel
Lord, vindIcate hel wn character set good eX
ample, bear her testimony against sins of the deep
est dye, and try to preserve the whole land from
the corrupting influence of wicked rulers, who
live by oppression, and are ready to shed blood
Would not this be proper way for her to let he
light shine before men, and to oppose the works
of the devil And if it be her duty so to do, is no
each member of the church bound to do 50 also
How can their light shine, if they cast the com
mands of Christ behind their back join with thu
wicked, and honor murderers and oppressors?-
Alas! must we not again acknowledge, that the
vineyard which should have brought forth grapes
hath brought forth wild grapes? And must we no
fear, that God will say of it, 81 will lay it waste
shall not be pruned nor digged; but there shall
come up briars snd thorns. will also command
the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. If any
man have ears to Scar, let him hear what the spir
it saith unto the churches.
KIAH BAYLEY