Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-01-03
Moral Princinlc.

Moral Princip lc.
Every lover of the Redeemer has been panied
to witness the low state of Zion: and has been led
to inquire What has produced this moral dearth!
WHY has the pail ofdeath enshrouded in its dark
folds all the churches in our land? Why is the
enemy left to triumph, and Gods professed chill
dren mostly asleep, if not dead? To- careful OBJ
server the reason cannot But be obvious. A large
number OF the ministers and churches have lowered
the standard set up by Jesus Christ, and have pre-
sented spurious, counterfeit gospel, based upon
different foundation and embracing principles
the very opposite of those upon which the
Saviour established his church, against which the
gates of hell shall not prevail. Moral principle,
humanity, truth and justice, the true standard
of action with him; no matter how few might be
ready TO embrace these principles, or however
much it might cost to vindicate them. Gods com-
mands must be obeycd, though the aCorld oppose
The wants of pershng millions must be supplied,
though it might require him to die upon the cross
The theology of the present day is the reverse of
this. Popular favor, worldly policy, and time
serving spirit, are the first lessons to be learned;
while sound moral principle and humanity, to a
great extent, are only to be known in the history
of the past. As proof of this, we will present an
extract from Rev. DR.. Taylor, of Yale College,
one of the most popular divines in New England,
in answer to a letter written to him by E. futile,
proposing the question, "Can Christian, consist
emily with the Word of God, vote for "A duellst or
an oppressor of the poor, for the Chief Magstracy
of this nation" Hear his answer. "Suppose
there is no reasonable donh thai on" "r'"o do' lis
One of which is less devil than the oher-wIl
be actually elected, let the Christian vote as he
NAV, and that his vote, therefore, will be utterly
lost, if he does not vote for one of them think
that an enlightened Christian would vote for The
least devil Of the t,co."
This is practical infdelty,-or at least an entire
disregard for Gods commands, requiring US to
choose lust men-not oppressorsto vote for those
who will execute Justice and mercy and not for
"the least of two devils" Moral principle is here
sacrificed to the god of srpediency. The exam
pie of Jesus Christ and all holy men, is disregard
ed, God is dishonored, aud truth and humanity lie
bleeding at every pore. 1t is actions based on rea
:, soning of this kind that has, to most alarming
extent, driven the Savior from our churches, anc
the spirit of God from our land. Yet this is thu
course that has been pursued by many, even IL
our own State. They have attempted to justii.
. themselves on the ground of separating their pc
litcal actions from their religious duties. In do
= ing this they have deceived themselves by attempt
. ing to cheat Cod for he never has done man
- mighty works where ministers and churches wer
habitually INDUCING in known sins. And al
-, there no political sins? If in breaking one
" Gods commands we are guilty Of the whole VII
% are we not as guilty in violating the comman'
u. God has given in relation to the election of ruler
as to dsobey any of His commands? The ma
who can be politically dishonest, cannot be truste
any where. In 1910, thousands of ministers an
" protested Christians went contrary to their belt
'0 Judgment and the convictions ofduty, trampled {
w. the authority of God, and by doing, brought
bligbtinc curse upon the church which has ne
and we believe will not be removed until mini
tiers and churches repent of their political sins, al
embody in their creed, and carry out in their q
~ tons more sound moral principle-mors human
nee and truth
h. A vast NUMBER, WltnlH le" Hlon'"' f"'' Nv
tried the same game over again, of attempting
.od cheat the Almighty, under far more aggravatI
=, circumstances. The result is that the church
:, never in more cold, dcath-like state since
reformation under Luther, than at the pres'
Ivy time. A church without humanity is like DO
without a soul PROGRESSED Christians, govern
~. by exrediency rather than by moral principle
-. as formal end souess as a cast iron religion
j., the other hand, that body Of Christians who lc
ws upon any suffering brother or sister as arePrese
alton of the Savior, who ask not what is popul
-, Of but what is 'right-what does God require
who are not governed by numbers but by P'
ciple and duty in all their actions, social, pollt
and religious, will exerta most powerful infuen
God will smile on their efforts and lead them
O'' the sun-lit slope that mountain whose SUNNI
been -,