Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-06-20
VOL. XI.-NO. 43.

BIZ Reu. DIR. Mott.

Never do naughty egotism, captious ami
madversion, and acrimonious rebuke appear
so unsghtly as in the minister charged from
the meek and lowly Jesus with an embassy
Of peace. And yet, alas! unsightly as these
appear, we are sometimes compelled, with
regret and sorrow, TO behold them
A particular profession or pursuit does
not alter the nature of human passions, but
only gives to them different direction
The wrath Of Paul was as deadly as that OF
Herod. The one assassinated out OF con-
plaisance to giddy girl, the other persecu-
led for conscience sake. The circumstan-
ces. however, made no difference to the
wretched victims whom his malignant zeal
pursued to death.
Under she coyer Of religion, men perhaps
more frequently indulge the bitterness Of
passion without compunction than in any
other situation. The wretch who wanton-
", aud without some "s0lUo to his con-
science" attacks private character, feels
seIfcondemmed But the sour, acrimonious,
grace hardened bigot embarks all his pride,
gratifies all his revenge, and empties his cor
roded bosom of its gall, and having done SO,
smooths over his distorted features Of coun-
tenance on which sits the smile of Judas,
and says, and half believes, that he has done
God service.
The proud, ambitious, arrogant clergy
man takes his stand in the church with the
same views that the proud, arrogant, and
ambitious statesman takes his in the world.
Is self ACKNOWLEDGEMENT the motive of the
latter! so it is Of the former. And this is to
be sought in pursuits and studies which
ought, above all others, TO sweeten the tenn
per and humble the pride of man. But
these studies and pursuits, where grace is
interposed do not alter human nature. The
arch casuist soon, indeed, acquires zeal
|, for religion, but il is cruel he learns to
contend for the faith, but he contends with
/ acrimony; and even the cross, the sacred
|, symbol Of his Savior's sufferings, is borne
) about him as an ostentatlous emblem OF his
own humility. His own creed is the stand
ard Of doctrines, his own church is the ex-
elusive asylum Of faith. He fancies that he
} possesses, soius IN solo, all the orthodoxy,
all the eruditon, all the taste Of the king
! dom; and staggering, like Jupiter on the
! top Of Olympus, he seats himself as sole UNI
pre i'm all matters Of faith and Of science
; If any one dares to pass the boundary he has
= fixed, OF to adopt mode of expression he
:. has moi authorized, he brands him with the
a appellation of hereto, and instantly hurls at
: his devoted head thuDderbolt.
v If an individual stands in his way, and par
e tcularly ifthat individual possesses an inf1u-
d ence which he envies, or fills place which
r he covets, he marks him as his victim. The
= sacrifice, however, must be orthodoxically
e performed, and attended with all the exter-
9 nal forms OF sauctity. To prepare the way
r. .ns;nuatione fhro,uu
IS out against the hated object /; his sentiments
: ave misstated, his language isperverted, and
}! his performances are dissected and combined
l. anew, and held up in opposition to sound
IS doctrine, in order TO awaken jealousies, to
is weaken the confidence and steal away the
g affections Of his Christian friend.
n In the mean time, and the more effectual-
~ " to conceal the ultimate design, the sacred
y names of friendship, Of sincerity, of candor.
N are flung around the devoted individual, like
ir the garlands with which the pagans covered
ID she victim they had selected for the altar
Profession swes on profession a sense o.
lie duty, a love of truth, and even thy glory
is God of mercy, is declared by the insatiate
I'd execu,ioner 10 govern him, while he feels al
Of the moment, the malice of hell ranking ir
IN his BOSOM and dips his pen in the venom oi
he the damned. The assault, indeed, is con
y Quoted under the banner of Jesus Christ
IN But it is immaterial whether it be the ban
ly ner of Jesus or Mohommed A proud
er naughty, prosecuting spirit, would transform
It, the mild accents Of heavenly grace to exc
v crstioDs, and steep as soon the Evangelist.
III as the Alcoran in blood. To the victim
Us who is sacrificed to pride or arrogance, i
a matters not whether the ceremony be per
IN formed on the scaffold or at the altar.
n,
AFFLIcTioN.-Th sweet perfume O
:" many plants remains within them till the
are bruised. The alabaster box Of preciou
10 ointment did not fill the house with its pleas
ant SAVIOR till it was broken. So it is no
Lb"a prosperity, but adversely which brings GU
- The loneliness of the Christian character
~ ~ How much of the Savior's glory would hav
nc been lost to the world but for his Affections
- How shrunk and diminished would have ap
W. neared that nrince of anostles paul had n