The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-08-01
M | s C E L L A N Y.
For The Voice of Freedom.

PRINCIPLES OF PEACE--NO. le.
Can it be expected that the principles of
peace should be carried forward without the
agency administers of the gospel, as leaders
and prime actors in the work? Certainly
not. For while il is true, that this duty, in
common with other important religious du-
hes, is binding on every christian, it is still
,rue, that such is the position the gospel
ministry holds in the family of Christ, that
it is morally certain that reform of this
character will never 60 forward without its
prompt and efficient aid. Civil authority
can never lead and set forward such work.
For though the reform must, eventually, ex>
tend to the connection which war has with
civil poliy yet the change must have its
origin in moral principle. And as gov
ernments derive their just power either d.
rectly or indirectly from the consent of the
governed;' so the morals of the government
are but the reflected image Of the morals of
The people. Some of our best men for tall
ents, political knowledge, and weight of
character, have severally laid themselves out
TO produce essays on the practicability, ma
lure, and form, Of congress of nations, or
plan Of calling high tribunal for the adj
iustment Of International differences or
both. These productions are found worthy
the characters and labor of their authors =
have shown the entire practicability Of such
a plan and have long since gone TO press,
But with what results 2 To occupy the
capital of the publishers, and the shelf of
the bookseller And why is this2 The
enterprise overlooked the importance of the
trite adage; where there is a will there is
way The public mind has not the aoiM-
Nor shall political leaders ever excite this
will. Their highest aim is to act as organs
Of the people; mere popular sentiment per-
sonifed. Not so with the ministry. 1t de-
rives its character and commission from
quite another source. Elk 3, II: Il have
made thee Waterman unto the house of Is
rael therefore hear the word at mn mouth,
and warn them from me- Acts 20, 2s:-|
'Take heed to all the flock, over the which
the Holy Ghost hath made you overseer, to
feed the church of God, which he hath pur-
chased with his own blood.'
If i, be true, that in all lands aud in every
age, the priesthood, whether Pagan, Ma
homedan, or Papal has given distinct char
acter to the morals of their votaries, how
much more emphatically true is it, that
the gospel minister gives moral and religious
character 10 society, according as he walks
before the church Of the living God The
pillar and ground ofhe TRUTH And may
the writer of the foregoing numbers, lay
brother, who has long been constant 10 the
cause of peace, be admitted in this closing
number humbly to suggest, some duties
which the GOSPEL and the providence of God
have made imperious on all who are called
10 the sacred Office. In the course of our
remarks, we have seen the present system
of war, great system Of crime, and legal,
lied absurdity. We have seen its horrors
Guido and cast into the shade all the barbar-
ily Of pagan and papal persecution. We
have seen its blghting influence on all the
true interests of man. We have found no
necessity for it in the interests of society,