Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-03-19
MONTPELIER, W.T., THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 1916

6. How shall the Gospel be so administered,
as to secure the abolition Of Slavery on Christ
ian principles and by Christian influences!
DECLARATION.
BY humble inquiry aud prayeruI consultation,
our minds are led to the following conclusions,
on several points connected with this subject,
viz
L. That we have been nation about seventy
years, and in that time the number of slaves has
risen from seven hundred thousand to three mil
lions, and the slave States from seven to fifteen;
and the slave interest has grown SO arrogant and
powerful as openly to control the govern
mcnt, and the great religious organizations Of
the country
3 That the Gospel is the chief remedy for
the moral evils which exist among mankind,
such as incompetence, inlpurity, coyetousness
injustice, fraud, oppression, cruelty, war, sa-
very, &c; and that when it is free, and proper
ly administered, it will surely remove them all
just in proportion as its influences is felt among
men.
3, That it docs not appear from experience,
that the Gospel removes these evils, except as it
is applied to them, by the direct efforts of min
listers and other Christians, by discountcnancing
them, and totally abstainng from all partcpa-
ton in them, and faithfully intoxicating the oppo-
site virtues
4. That i'll Cases, (such, for instance, as ,oas
the common use and sale of Intoxicating liz
uors,) where the ministers and churches have
largely participated in the guilt of prevailing
evils, it becomes their duty not only to withdraw
from such participancy, but to bear an open and
clear testimony against such evil; and thence
arises stronger reason why they should use all
possible efforts, and even make greater sacrili-
ces to Danish such evil from the community,
because their own past connvance has been
growth.
5. That during the seventy years VIC have
been nation, the Gospel has been nominalIy
free, aud the means of its application have been
abundant in the number of ministers and church
cs, the facilities OF intercourse, the use of the
press, &c; and yet that the evil of slavery has
increased more than lourlod and its power OF
mischief and the difficulties of its removal in a
much greater ratio; and large numbers of min
listers and churches in this republic have freely
participated in it; and that the blame and re-
Iproach of al! this is shared by every one who
has not borne faithful testimony against it, or
who has omitted any thing in his power to pre-
vail on his brethren to do their duty
6. That the greatness of the evil is learluly
aggravated by the reproach that has fallen upon
the gospel itsef-frst, that with all its adyanta.
ges in this country, it has not abolished slavery
and secondly, that it is openly claimed that
the Gospel is favorable to the system itself
7. That the cruel sufferngs Of three millions
of our ieIlow-countrymen, very many of then
our felow-minsters and church-membcrs, de-
prved of every one of their rights, forbidden tc
read the Bible and to keep the commandments
Of God, and subject to every possible outrage OF
their consciences and feelings, ought to arouse
every American Christian to a sense of his re-
sponsi5iliy for the continuance Of slavery, and
awaken an unaterabIe determination now to dc
all that is lawfully in our power to put an enc
to the whole system without further allowance
or compromise
s. That eve are verify guilty concerning
our ensIayed brother, in that we saw or ough
to have known the anguish of his soul, when he
besought us and we would not hear" and for
the part that each one of us has had in allow
ing, or aiding, or conserving to the continuance
of slavery, we ought individually to exercise
deep and intelligent repentance before God anC
to seek his torgvness and that of our injured
brethren.
8. That no sight could be more pleasing tC
God, more honorable to the Christian religion
more cheering to the slave more hopeful for tn
universal extension of Chrsts kingdom OF
earth, than to see the ministers and church-mem
bers Of this land openly bowling down before thu
altar of Gods mercy, in humble and heart,
confession of the sin of slavery, and earnest ant
united supplication for Gods forgiveness, an'
for his gracious help to remove the abominaton
from the whole country
TO- That our Savior, when he began his
work on earth declared that he had then begun
to accomplish those great social changes, in the
delverance of the oppressed, the instruction o
the ignorant, and the relief of the wretched
which had been foretold by the prophet Isaiah
and which every friend of Christ is bound tc
sympathize with and promote on earth, to the
extent of his power and opportunity.
Il. That it is both unbecoming and unwse
! for ministers and church-members to fall behind
unbcIieyers or any others, in zeal and Literally
for the advancement of any object of beneyoIence
or the mitigation Of any form ofmisery among
men.
70 That both the word and spirit of Chris
require us to make the case of our ensweC
brethren our own case, and to bear its rcproach
and share its burdens, and prosecute its objects
in all circumstances, remembering them that arc
in bonds as bound with them.
Is. That the cause of Emancipation is the
,,n., az Chr;gt aud tborof,,ro a, orv (rinnI n