Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-03-14
THE FIR E r M A N.


For the Freeman.
MEssRs. EDIToRs:-Perhaps the following ex-
tract from D'Aubigne's History of the Reforma
ton may be read with profit. Page 1914.
Luberc began to visit from house to house.
Strengthening and confirming the disciples in the
faith. But not resting satisfied with these ordna-
ry labors, he longed to see the papal edifce over
thrown, and France coming forward to embrace
the gospel. His ungovern0ble zeal was such as to
remind one of Hottinger at Zurich. and Carlstadt
at Wertemburg. He wrote proclamation against
the anti Christ of Rome, in which he announced
that the Lord was about to consume that wicked
one with the spirit of his mouth and proceeded
boldly to place his play card at the door of the
thedral Soon all was in confusion in the neigh
borhood of the ancient edifce. The faithful were
amazed, the priests enraged. What Shall a
base Woolcomber be allowed to assal the pope
The Francisians were furious They insisted
that at least, on this occasion, terrible example
should be made. Luberc was thrown into prison
was condemned to be whpt and branded on the
forehead as Il hereto. Luberc was for three sue
cessive days led through the streets, his hands
ecutloners the blows that he had drawn upon him
self by his opposition to the bishop of Rome. A
great crowd followed the martyrs progress, which
was marked by his blood some pursued the here
tic with yeIIs; others, by their silence, gave no
doubtful signs ofsympathy with him and one wo-
man encouraged the martyr by her looks and
words. She ,Uas his mother" At later period,
Luberc in his zeal broke in pieces the images at
Metz, reused again the fury of the papists, who
seized and burnt him in most cruel manner but
he triumphed in death. Nevertheless" says the
historian, Lutherism spread through all the dis
trct of Metz" The cautious bishop of Meaux,
who seemed to run well for season, quaed in
the hour of trial, and went back to the bosom OF
Rome. The daring, perhaps rash Luberc, when
tried, went to the stake and died like martyr
Which will Jesus Christ approve at the great day
! Will those cold, calculating christians who con-
denim his zeal, be likely to obtain brighter crown
than he? | doubt it.
1t may not be improper to look at some points
in which every candid man must see strong re-
semblance between Torrey at Baltimore, and Lu
berc at Meaux, in France. They were both young
bold and ardent. They both knew the laws and
deliberately violated them; and those who con-
denim the one must condemn the other And mol
only must they condemn Luberc, but the whole
body of the reformers Are protestant ministers
prepared to do this, and so Justify all the blood,
prosecutions of the Romanists? Here are weight,
points involved, and those who decide them SHOULD
take care that they do not condemn the whole null
titude of martyrs, who have overcome by the BLOOD
of the Lamb, and are now, from under the altar il
heaven, crying for vengeance upon the earth.
should much rather be found among those blessed
spirits, than condemning their conduct. They al
enhroned the law of God, and trampled the wick
ed laws of man under their feet. Do you say hey
had no reason 10 complain, then, if they were i'm
prisoned, scourged, stretched upon the rack, ston
ed and burnt? Indeed, have men no reason t
complain tyrants, oppression, of iniquity estab
t lished by IaW-of power abused, of rights tram
pied on, ofdevils enthroned, and of all the laws
!; God trampled on? Are these the sentiments o
l professionals or of papiss, of Republicans or o
Turks? Surely we have fallen on evil times,
such be the fact, and it is high time we SHOULD g
back to Rome as soon as possible Shame on tn
sons of the puritdns who breach such sentiments
and thus condemn their fathers. Shame on suc
t Americans who justify tyranny in all its forms
and condemn those men who purchased our politi
cal freedom with their blood. All such men shou
at once emigrate to Russia and vegetate under thu
warm beams ofdespotsm AN OLD MAN.