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

SONiN 10 lOL SlUIlSS at lu0
blasphemer All this on one occasion
and another our believers could hardly
fail OF hearing. And all this was as much
against their faith as His character and
prospects. They knew full well, that
such accusations were false and malg-
nant. They were we'll able to prove
them 80. What then2 Did they open
their lips in indicating His claims aud
defending His character How could
they help exclaiming, Nay brethren, you
affirm what you do not understand. Your
words are rash The charge of AFRO.
gance and blasphemv belongs not to the
Man of Nazareth. Beware. You may
involve yourselves in the guilt you i'm
pute to Him so eagerly. Such words,
well explained and confirmed did these
Chief Rulers utter2 Could any thing
be better suited to their creed, position and
relationsP And yet, not a syllable in de.
Tense oftbeir Savior! They did not cons
fess him +
He is charged with ambition in their
presence. He is intent, His accusers say,
on regal honors. The throne of Caesar,
he is mad enough to aim at such an OBJ
ject! And with His gifts and activity
and popular address, what mischief NAV
He not effect? What tumuts may He
not excite? The jealousy of Caesar he
may at length arouse, and provoke the
Romans to take away our place and ma
ton All this, these Rulers knew 10 be
utterly uDfounded, sheer fabrication, the
offspring of spite and ignorance Now
surely, they will come forward to illus
trate and protect his reputation. hear
them say, ambition! Far enough from
that Had such fame been kinded in
His bosom, what place, however elevated,
might He not have reached2 With a
genius so transcendent, with powers SO
commanding, with talents far above the
very highest order, had He been ambi.
tious should we now have seen Him with
oul place to lay His head.-assisted by
the charity of poor women :! Nay. friends.
His is not worldly kingdom. His king
ship does not depend on sumptuous fare.
gaudy trappings and obsequious minis
ters. His is a royal heart. He is a King
by nature, anointed in high Heaven
His, therefore, must be kingly bearing
His, kingly claims and honors, whether
men shout His praise or load Him with
reproach. But can it be 7 Am | so
mistaken ? No such defense did these
His protested disciples set up in behalf of
their accused Savior. They held their
tongues. Not word did they utter ex4
pressive of their confidence in His integ@
rily and wisdom 'They did not confess
Him.
Others they saw make an open profess
sion of their faith in the Savior. In the
face of contempt. reproach. persecution.
one and another in their presence avowed
themselves His disciples and gave them.
selves up 10 His service. And this, when
their position and relations demanded less
strength of characteristics courage and
resolution than might fairly be expected
in Chief Rulers Surely they cannot
resist the appeal which is now urged
home upon every thing manly and gen.
erous in their bosoms. What they ex-
claim, shall we still practice concealment
when thus powerfully summoned to show
ourselves2 Are not these, who thus rail-
ly around the standard of the Messiah,
our own brethren Do not we, as well
as they. regard Him as the Son OF God2
Are not our highest expectations as we'll
as theirs fulfilled in His character and
mssion2 Are not our obligations of
gratitude and service as sacred and as
strong as theirs2 With cur powers and
resources, and at the stations which we
occupy, may we not contribute as direct
ly and as Iargel y to the objects of His
mssion2 Must we not die of shame ii
we refuse moment longer to take our
place by the side of our weaker, yet more
decided brethren? But no. Not word
of this. To be sure they we're believers
But then, whoever might do so, they did
not confess Him.
Time rolled on. They remained as
much believers in the Savior as ever-as
much as any of His disciples. But they
maintained their old relations kept their
places in the various circles, to which
they belonged. The relations of the Saw
ior to those, for whose benefit He labor
ed every day modified. Every day HIS
character was more clear v and distinctly
Every day His claims as
he Christ of God upon the confidence,
love and service of all around Him, be-
came more pressing and imperous The
tongue Of reproach was continually grow
ing louder and the hand of opposition
more violent. At length He was dragged
as maIefactor before a mock tribunal.
where He was threatened with bloody
death. Here in the midst of furious.
clamorous mob, He was abandoned by all
His disciples, and beneath the peltings of
a most pitless storm left alone But
even now, when thus summoned, these
Chief Rulers refused to come TO the res
cue. Thev held their neace. Their