Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-11-12
A Confession.

lady who at class.meeting confessed she was
a vile and wicked sinner, and that she de-
served to be ~eternally damned, did so with a
great deal of self complacency, was indeed
quite proud Of her humility but she became
exceedingly angry with the neighbor who
confirmed all she had said, and declared she
was as bad as she represented herself to be.
BIS The truths uttered by the abolitionists
about churches and CT urch members are as
ungraciously received as was the declaration
of the old lady's neighbor; though it is well
known they have not represented either or
CARNATIONS or individuals in a worse light
than their own confessions have placed them.
Take for instance, the following declaration
Of the Ohio Observer;
Our churches may conceal the fact from
their own eyes, and perhaps, be angry with
those who in faithfulness TO their souls, tell
them of it; but it is a solemn truth that they
have not at the present time vital piety
enough TO carry forward any work of out
ward reform, (such, for example, as the OBJ
servance of the Sabbath, the removal of in
temperance, the abolition Of slavery,) in the
right spirit and in the right way. That
which they need infinitely more than all
things else is the renovation Of the inward
principle Of faith and love in their own bo-
sons"
How true this is; and yet had an .qnti-
SldcerJ observer ventured to say so much, he
would at once have been denounced as an in
fdel, and a fresh importation of French ia"
cobinism been made to illustrate The deplora.
BILE result of such God-defying doctrines; but
a Presbyterian observer may utter such sem
,imen,s, and they give but little, if any Of
fence, for they mean far less when spoken by
sectarians than by reformers.
We are glad 10 have such evangelical au-
thority 10 back up our in relation
to the church, at least 10 that branch of it for
which the Observer speaks; and we affirm
that its declarations are as true of other de-
nominations generally, as of the Presbyterian.
The churches, although they profess to be
the salt of the earth, Gods chosen instru-
ments for the regeneration of the world, are
so corrupt they have not " vital piety enough"
even 10 save the drunkard from the gutter, or
strike the letters from the slave, or to labor in
4 right way to advance the cause of tempe
rance or anti-slavery. And while such is
their sunken condition, how absurd to look
TO them for aid in these reforms.
We are not disposed to deny that it is the
mission of the Church Of Christ 10 carry for
ward all neral reforms, but on the contrary
we assert it, and fear not successful contra
1...--. LIZ L. A. ol,.oI ,,k,ob lo,a MT
possess Z. vital piety enough to do it, any va
lid claim to be regarded as a branch of the
Church of Christ! We think not, and there
fore affirm that such churches are impostures,
and ought to be cast out Of society. But
when we see a church that is engaged heart
and hand in these "works of GutUard re-
FORM" as the Observer calls them, but which,
by the way, have to be proceeded by inwdrd
cleansing, we have no warfare to make upon
it, but shall bid it God speed in its glorious
mission, and rejoice to see it go forth con-
quering and to conquer. Strange ideas must
those have of Christ's Church, who think It's
vital pie,y is at so low an ebb, that it cannot
ascend even so high in the scale of good
works as Temperance and A~n.i-Slavery soci.
cites do.
And then the idea of Christ's Church get
ting angry with those who speak the truth
The DEVILS Church would be more likely &c
do that, especially if it was trying to deceive
the people and pass itself off as an ally Of
Heaven. 1t is true the .4msrican Church does
get angry when reformers tell her of heI
faults, and point out her blemishes; and it is
also true she tries TO conceal from the eyes o.
her own members the fact that she lacks vita
piety-just as the Observer intimates is true
of their branch of the Church-and endeavors
to supply its place by an abundance of long
prayers, d~octrinal sermons, and other approx.
ed modern substitutes for true religion; bu
this rather initiates against her claim 10 b,
accounted as the Church of Christ, than con
firms it. And when we have seen
"Thc church w~rangling upon points 0
faith,
Forget the bondman, suffering unto death,
we have felt that what the Editor of the Oh
server said in reference to the Presbyterian
Church was true Of other denominations
that what they "need infinitely more than al
things else, is the renovation of the inwar'
principle of faith and love in their own BIO
sons" This is a truth that cannot be to
forcibly impressed upon the public mind
The people do not need doctrinal disgust
lions, metaphysical investigations, or hair
splitting casuistry. Faith and Love is wha
they need-faith in the doctrines of Christ
and love for His little ones,
Rlor IN BosFoE.-0nT Thursday nightlast
a temperance meeting of John b. Cough, a
Faneuil Hall, was interrupted by rowdles
and Mr.. Cough roughly handled. The moi
was only quis,ed by turning of the gas
fnteAigenesr,