Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-05-17

of the cup of their iniquity. And at this day. sir,
there is soul destroying error, deadly deIusion
strlkIng-nay that has already struck its roots
deep into the minds of the American church,
which unless speedily eradcated will itself dry
up every fountain of piety and make all our reli-
gion but as sounding brass and a tinkng cymbat.
Christians (professedly such) have imbibed the
idea, practically at least that religion should have
no connection with their political acts; that they
are not responsible, as moral beings for what they
do at the polls. In another's language, they seem
to believe that once year they are not moral,
accountable agents, all responsibility being with
drawn from them; and that great circle is drawn
| around the ballot-box, within which circle men
are absolved from all moral, religious obligation,
answerable neither to God nor the DEVIL
They seem to believe that, when they start for
the balot-box, they leave at home their religious
professions and character, lay off their gospel ar
mour, the bible uniform, and put on a political
coat of mail, which has the power, like papal
indulgence, of neutralizng all sin of its wearer,
especially transforming political acts however
otherwise sinful into deeds of holiness. And on
this hypothesis it is, Sir that fancy you must
have acted when you stopped so very low as to
accept the presidency of the wing Clay Club
Charity constants me to believe that you did not
expect to preside that Club while clad in the
gospel armor which | have so particularly descrih~
ed above No sir, you meant to preside in your
political acrapper, You have presided in no other
uniform You was not appointed with the exbec-
taton that you would preside in any other. You
could not retain you seat in any other. Why, sir,
your political ,crapper is your only protection in
your Office president of the wing Clay Club
Try it, sir. Keep your gospel armour all on, pot
your political coat on, so as to every thing
Draw the wide cap over the helmet OH your head,
and thus attired, go take your seat in the presi-
= dental chair of the wing Clay Club! Bye and
bye, sir, when this double attire begins to draw
forth the perspiraton, intuition the political wrap
per just enough to let the FURNISHED breast plate
Of rig hte0uSueSS throw its dazzling lustre in among
the patriotic throng, over whom you are presiding,
and, my stars! what an outbreak! Treason
Traitor! Traitor! Treason' would resound
through your hall, with an uproar and confusion,
" equalIed only by that made when men of certain
sort of old crled out for the space of two hours,
- Great is Diana of the EpheSiansn No sir, there
= is not Clay Club in New England but repudI-
ates the idea OF carrying religion into politics.
Il Nor is there an intelligent christian in the land
who, from the Bible, can justify himself in belong
e ing to Clay Club Nor is there one, who can
" quiet his conscience in such political club men,
u bership, only on the principle that religion has
Al nothing to do with politics. But have yet to
learn, sir, that the Bible, any where within its
cred pages, authorises the christian to lay off his
81 gospel armor, and to clothe himself in the habi'i-
" ments of Satan for any purpose on any occasion
have yet to learn, that the christian can unbukle
e. his armor at ALL or that he has the right to wear
a political acrappers, any other wrappers, that will
"a prevent him from letting his light shine
close this letter, sir, with the remark, that who
ever will go to the laaO and testimony, will fine
= that mans responsibility was imposed on him by
~ his Maker, and that the creature cannot unburden
" himself of this responsibility at his option. The
" true Christian will not desire it. And this respon-
=" sibility attaches to man as much when he goes
= to deposit his vote in the ballot-boX, when he
kneels night or morning, at MONDAY, to lay bis
~ gift the altar of prayer God is there to accept
s the offering in the one case, as in the Others and
l. whoever brings to either ofthese depository affairs
. the halt, or the lame sacrifce-God records it, it il
E not forgotten, and in the day-the great day of
counts, when the of all hearts shall be made
y. manifest, happy shall he be, who shall then find
that he has not sacrificed to .Moloch either at the
altar of prayer or at the altar of the ballot-box
In my next sir shall consider briefly the re-