The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-02-29

From the Christian Citizen.
THE NEIGHBOURS
Or sho1t Lag Sermon to People about
Home..-Luke X. 20.
CONCLUDED.
Go your ways reverend gentlemen, 60
your ways-when ] am well, will send
for such physicians as you to cure ne
Ye both were neighbors to this poor man;
near neighbors. Ye were his teachers
and spiritual guides; We circumcised his
boys, and offered his sacrifices and obla-
lons. And when he put them into your
hands, his own trembIed at the flea of
your sauctity. And he feigned We were
somewhat identified with God, and had
daily access to the Holy of Holes; where
his blessed and mercifuI spirit overshad-
owed you. And those white robes We
gathered around you, as We passed him by,
he fancied the angels had clad you with.
on some ballowsd morning as ye waited
by the altar. And now ye have gone and
left him bleeding in the sand without
dropping him single word or look of
pity Had he been wounded, dying
beast his fellow brute would have stop
ped and moaned over him; and licked
his gaping wounds, and, with the eloquent
murmurings of instructive sympathy, as
suaged the pangs that wiring him. But
We, wearing the livery of Heaven, teach
lug mercy by profession, have gone and
left him left the bruised. broken image
of God reeking aud writing in the dust.
Quicken your pace good Deacon: the
priest is already in Jericho, and he canno;
commence his ministra,ion without your
service. Hasten, good Levite; heed not
these unpleasant objects of vulgar pity by
the way attend strictly to the order of
your course. The minister has already
selected text from the book of Job -
hasten. or you will lose rich sermon
from these gracious words: | delivered
the poor that cried, and the iather!ess and
him that had none to help him. The
blessing of him that was ready to perish
came upon me: and | caused the wild
owls heart to sing for joy.-Go! | will
stay and watch the fate of your gasping
neighbor here. Perhaps some truant
dog, that has never been ordained 10 any
particular order of mercy, may come
along, and do 10 him what his compeers
did TO the blotched Lazarus. Or some
Ieisurely journeying wolf, that has found
a hearty dinner elsewhere, may happen
this way, and, in a capricious mood of
charity, lick off from his temples the
black and crusted gore.
But bark again there is rustliDg be-
hind that thicket. Listen ! it approach.
es. Heaven giant it may not be ano ther
neighbor from Jerusalem See a bur-
Iy form energies in the glade. Here he
comes, whistlng to his mule, that keeps
time with her tapping ears. Melhinks 1
see the sunlight of good humored philan-
thropy playing on his bronzed counter
ance, as he joys along with his ample
pouch sIung loose y at his side. He is a
Samaritan; | know him by his dress,
and dialect. and whistle; for Jew never
whistles. But the Jews have no dealings
with the Samaritans Never mind, see
if this broad-laced Samaritan does not
have some dealing with that half murder
ed Jew, One step more, and he will see
him. There now he leaps from the
snoring mule. Hear his first eAcIama.
ton: "Great Father Joseph what's lhlsl
who's here why, here's a murdered
man Heavens peace be on thee-ah !
he still breathes. Look up, neighbor -
softly, nowhere, lean thy head against
my bosom, till | make thee pillow of
my turban. Courage brother; keep up
thy heart. There, let me prop up this
broken limb with this sof! moss; and then
| will bring some water rom yonder
spring TO wet thy lips, and wash the cIot.
ted blood from thy gashed temples
Peace be with thee, till return.
There,-easy, friend try not 10 speak
till l have moistened thy parched and
swollen lips; for | can read the language
in thy fearful eyes better than thy verbal
speech, for | am Samaritan. But heed
it not thy priest and Levite, who taught
thee to hate me, and turn me from thy
door, need never know that a vile Sa-
marian succored thee by the way. Or if
they do, they will wink at it, and give
thee absolution. Gently now! | see
thy tears have mingled with the blood up.
on thy cheek, and commixing there with
the hot dust, have formed upon thy face a
briny crust, which is burning into thy
flesh. Perhaps | have something in my
pouch here that will take it off, Yes;
here's a cruet of gentle olive my wife,
peace with herl put it up with my lunch