Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-09-11

every voter who SuSt9mS the law. And alas. how few
and far between the pulps that dare rebuke this
SIM say to him who holds some tens of thousands in
bondage by his vote, "THOU ART THE MAN" on
whom must rest this aggravated condemnation
But why, says the obioctor should this subject be
made 50 prominent Does cur Lords commission re-
qure moro strenuous opposition, OR more severe re-
proof against this than against any other sin. No; but
this is the sin before whose gigantic power the church
and ministry shrink and cover most shameuy, recre
ant to their trust while, perhaps, they may seem to
maintain their ground against mtenpcmnce, profanity
RIGHTEOUSNESS and Slbbath dissertations though we
have sad occasion to lament the delinquency Of some
even in their warfare against these abomnations But
these cannot hide behind the Sabb9t and behind the
desk, as soyeholding can. mean not only the slave
holding Of the southern master, but also and especial
" the slayehodnr Of the northern voter and more es-
pecally that Of the members Of the northern churches,
whose conscienccs would scarcely allow them to vote
for the drnkari or the dcbauchco uho nevertheless
would 90 all lengths to secure the election of a slave
holding President And should the minister muster
his utmost courage to tell You the wickedness of yot-
ing for drun;ard gambler, dcbauehco, or sayehod-
er, how his voice aItors and fails to ortculate this
hateful word quite holror-srcken by the ghost of pol
itics, which seems to say, you killed my party, and
hencclollh I'll haunt you.
Do any inquire, Canno. the church prosper and con-
vert the world till she ASSUME and firmly maintain this
high anti slavery ground, forbildng her members to
participate in the wicked law Of slavery? Most uahcs-
itatngly and unequivocalIy answer, No. For tho
the darkness of the Pagan world may rapidly recede
before the advancing light which omanatos from
chrstcndon, if the church shall compromise with sin
by hiding her anti slavery light; or if her members
shall participate in laws which bmalzo and crush out
the very manhood Of some millions Of our home made
hcqtcn, meanwhile the darkness and decisions of cor
upt or false christianity may as rapidly progress as
direct consequence Of the abuse Of superior light even
in this land Of the puritqns and this the most enlight
encd spot on earth "Yet little while is the light
with YOU walk in the light while We have the light lest
darkness come upon you" During the last thirtyfye
years. the light Of the gospel has been showing us our
responsibility for the darkness of the pagan world and
some few, at least hope have been wiling to walk
in the light and to meet theirrosponsi6tcs. And for
the last twelve years, the ghths shown that
we are far more responsible for the darkness and hca-
thenism of our own land. But, alas how much fewer
have been willing to meet this more tremendous re-
sponsbility? Whit have our last ten ortwelve annual
fast days done to break the CALLING yoke of millions
to unbar the door of that moral dungeon into whose
dark rccesses the sun of righteousness can never shine
Shall we not be deeply humbled in view of the pres
ent position OF our nation in relation to the sin of op
preston
And should not our humility and grief be more in
tense in view of the position of the churches? It is
truly humiliatng and melancholy thought, that somC
hundreds Of thousands of slaves should be the property
ofthc members Of southern churches. But it is more
humating and melancholy, that majority of the
members ofnoEAern churches should sustain the bloody
system by their votes And yet the most humillatins
and melancholy consideration Of all, is, that northern
ministers dare not reprove the sin posayery voting
Surely we have occasion for penitence and prayc
if any people ever had. But alas! how shall We
"spread forth our hands to make many prayers? Wi
not the Lord hide his eyes from US, while our hlnds ar
full of blood2 Are you Christian? Have you sworl
allegiance to tie Amounted King of Dayids royal blood
Do you acknowledge the validity Of the commission o
your risen and ascending Lord, as cnjoiuinr you t.
promulgate his laws? Doyou believe lie will retumt
make good his claim topower supreme, Judge o
quick and dead; that then your puctcc as well a
preaching shall be passed upon by Im;-tl3t He vii
then acknowledge the poor, down-rodden slave as Hi
representative to whom your acts of kindness done,
not, will be accounted as done, or not to Him. furnish
ing the evidence on which lie viii acquit you or pro
nounce your final condemnation? Then let me exhor
you to show your faith by your works. and to let you
preaching and practice correspond; nor again vot
for STAKEHOLDER, if you would be prepared to stan
with the slave in Judgment
Or, on the other hand, could you persuade yoursel
that the masters right Of property in the slave is sane
toned by the Bblc could you then even hope to maxi
the Bible supescede the acoran, by preaching heredi
tary slavery as Bible doctrine, when that same alec
ran provides for the emancipation Of the christian say
as soon as he embraces it No, you cannot common
your slaveoldng christianity to the conscience, eve
of the despotc Turk; nor can the Bible carry th
enormous load even in chrstcndom. The sefeyidcl
truth, that all men are created equal laughs to scom
revelation which pretends to sanction the divine rigl
of kings or attempt to nulIy the hunn rights of tn
meanest slave. And he who breaches slavehodin
christianity, nulIifes his own commission and lays tn
foundation deep and broad of outright infdelity.
Are you a minister?-doubtloss you will repel tn
charge, and when required, in private conversation
define your position, you will admit the snfuness
slavery and acquit the Bible of the foul charge of SUI
tanng it; but how does the silence Of your pits tu
der in the ear of the prosIavory demagogue and vot
encouragement to pursue their course, fearless of yo
reproof
Finally. What are the prospects of the church
our county-of the world?
What though our ministers be supported in aiIl
ence? What though their commanding eloquence
listened to by numerous and well-dressed audience
What though the choir be assisted by the best
strumental accomplishments perform its melo,
in almost heavenly strains? Still, the slaves gro