Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-04-25
CORRESPONDENTS,


For the Freeman
Csc Manasse made Judah and the inhabitants Of Js-
rusalem to err, and do than the heashen whom
the Lore had destroyed before the children Of Israeli
2 CHRoN. 1919.
g A most prodgious change from the height of
pety, in his fathers reign, into the sink of mi
qulty in this" Victornus Streglius, Professor of
Theology at Heidelberg, left this remark in his
lectures on this place, near a hundred and forty
years ago Cor soon after the establishment of the
reformation in GermsDy.) Now we have the word
of God abundantly in all wisdom, and pious prime
es patronze both those who preach and those who
learn the gospel. But this plenty of the>word we
now enjoy, Il tremble to speak it, but must speak
it, because it will come to pass,) shall be taken a.
way; and that sad mourning time will come, when
the public assemblies of the church shall be scat
tered, and few precious souls shall meet win
fear in corner, to communicate among them
selves the fragments of the heavenly doctrine, and
to give God thanks for these remainders;-whch.
we have seen fulfilled in that, and in France, and
in other places" Mr.. Scott says: This apparent
prophecy seems to have been merely presage
grounded on the vicssitudes of things, especially
in respect of religion and the tendency of prosper
ity to induce carnal security"
Now nobody believes, or fears, that such will
ever be the case in this country. Yet, like causes
will produce like effects And the effects may he
produced,much sooner than they were in Germany,
Once, Man9sseh could in few years destroy the
religious influence on the nation, corrupt the
, whole land, and establish doIatry Why may not.
wicked rulers do tho same here? If the people
will have unprincipled and ungodIy men to rule
the nation, what is there to prevent those rulers
from doing as Manasseh did? Are we any better
than the Jews were in the days of good Hezekahs
Surely not; and no christian can tell but his vote
given for wicked ruler will be the mean OF cor
rnpting the whole mass, and of producing as fear
tu changes in all religious institutions as were
produced by Manasseh in Judea. Great effects
may be produced by little causes. One sinner may
destroy much good, Those who elect wicked
men, are generally ready to follow their wicked
example. disregard for moral principle must
be general before people will, knowingly, select
for their rulers immoral men, who have no fear Of
God before their eyes. And when even the rel
gious part of a community will do this for party
purposes, or any other purpose, they encourage
the wicked and give decisive evidence thar their
moral, and religious principles may easily be
moulded by the example and influence Of their
chosen rulers. Witness the people in the days Of
Jeroboam and Manasseh. And hence we see the
infinite danger of voting for wicked men to rule a
I nation. The vote you give may place Manas-
sch in power, and encourage him to use all his in
luence to destroy all the institutions of religion
and make the whole nation worse than heather.
: Can real christian do this' Will any man ven
ture to do it who Snos in heart pared to follow
! the example of the man he delights to honor'
r