Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-01-31

to enjoy this rich boon, to put forth their manu-
to partake of the smallest crumb of knowledge to
feed their starving minds We make great pro-
fessiOns of love Cor the heather in other lands but
we regard it as sacrege for any one to open his
month, especially on the Sabbath, for the heather
in our own land who, according to southern testi-
mony, are in worse condition than the heather
of any nation on the globe. We pray long and
often for good rulers, and then vote for the worst
of human tyrants. We all profess to be friends of
the slave, and at The same time can impose bur-
dens upon him that would disgrace a hottentot.
We are willing to say to the most detected suffer
er. " be ye warmed and be We fed" when it costs
nothing but talk, for that is cheap stuff, and we
have all enough of it; but how few have hui
manity and soul enough to do as well say
How pleasant it is for most men to talk but how
seldom do their lips and lives harmonize, and how
unwilling they are to bind themselves in everast-
ing fellowship to those who are the doors of hea-
vens will. Alas that actions should so olten'be
lie the language of our lips and betray the rotten
ness of our hearts. There has been talk enough
to have converted the world and made it para
our hearts and hUes have not been right;-we have
talked more than we have done-we have profess
ed more than we have felt. TO hear some men
talk one might well suppose that the poorest son
of Adam was precious in their eyes, and the most
despsed might expect to find home in their be-
som.
! Not few ministers and good men are loud in
their declarations that civil government is d.
vine institution, and civil rulers are to be obeyed
and honored as the ministers of God. Their voice
is reflection of the sovereignty of Jehovah, and
the sceptre they WELD IS to be just symbol of the
throne of the eternal He who denies this doc
trne, we are taught to look upon as an incendiary
and fanatic. But when the preaching Of this
truth comes in contact with their party interests,
and if carried out would endanger the prospects
Of their fayOrite though wicked candidates. then it
is that we told from high authority that minis
tiers must beware how they engage in politics or
approach the ballot box (uness they vote for their
candidates) for the elective franchise is a danger
GUS weapon for a Christian to WELD. Thus that
which they profess to believe is divine institution
becomes too filthy for holy hands to touch; and he
who does it must be regarded as an oucast-as
disturber of the church-a polluter of our holy re-
ligion and a desecrator Of the Sabbath This bu
siness must be left for the unprincpled We have
had hypocrisy enough Of this kind, within few
months past to destroy the religion of any people
Why is there such host Of prolessed Christians
and yet SO little done to convert the world and al
eviate human sufferng' The reason is it enJ
in protessions-the practice and power of Christi
anlty is wanting. single doer, who understands
the errand he was sent on, is worth more than
thousand oilers, with an abundance of lip service
and lond professions, for he is Gods man and ex
erts power that will be felt and cannot be resist
ed. But where are our teachers and teaderS?-
Do not the groans of outraged humanity and the
false professions Of the multitude call them to the
conflict. They cannot come, for they are bus,
in engthening the cords and Strengthening The
stakes of their scots and parties. They are engag
ed in preaching faith and repentance, and are gu
of breath in the work of saving souls. Their in
duence would be injured and their friends woul
forsake them if they should advocate these unpop
uar subjects we must therefore be contented, Il
present, with their professions How long shall
these things boz When will men learn that prac
) lice is the foundation of all moral character am
that if the foundation be defective, the fabric, tho
beautiful, is nearly worthless.