Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-10-14
"The American Clergy and the Times

''The American Clergy and the Times"
The above is the subject of stirring address, filed
with noble sentiments, well expressed delivered before
the Alumni of Oberlin Institute at their late anniver-
sary, by the Rev. John Todd of Ohio.
The subject is one ofmmense importance, and should
also receive attention fal christians and ministers at
least. What do the times on which we have fallen
demand of ministers What must the American
clergy be and what must they do in order to meet the
exigences of the times? These are questions we
have often thought of answering in our own way, but
we will let Mr., Todd speak.
After speaking Of fervent piety, untiring vigilance
and devotion to truth as pre-eminently Important he
thus "discourseh.,'
4. The Christian minister is, by virtue of his call
ing warrior for life. 10 throw down and rellr-
qulsh the contest is treason against heaven He
EARNED himself in panopy complete
OF heavenly temper furnishes with arms
Bright as his own, and trains, by every rule
OF holy discipline, to glorious war,
The sacramental hos: of Gods elect"
The faithful minister Is not private, but leader
in heavens legons, Commissioned to wage eternal war
against the powers Of darkness. This war is aggres-
sve as well as defensive. Not satisfied with territory
already gained, the Christian soldier is to push his
quests until the Kingdoms OF this world become the
Kingdoms OF our Lord No truce is to be entered up
on, nor terms of peace offered except unconditional
submission to God. 1t becomes the Christian war
nor to beware OF willy GlbeunItes, who by DESCRIPTION
would obtain league To shield them from the doom
of common foes. Sin Is SIN aud, whether, it appear
in open hostility lie concealed in "Organlc ambush,
has IT IA
aud every faithful soldier will faithfully and trar rssly
execute orders. All weapons whether shield spear,
or firearms and sword, must be grounded, and every
hostile attitude abandoned. The Christian Minister
must be progressively aggressive until all enemies
sdbdued before the Prince Of Peace.
s. nnG Courage cannot be dispensed with in a
Christian minister. 1t is rot the daring necessary to
maintain pllpabe absurdlty against the enlightened
reason OF world bat the courage needed to rebuke
SIN wherever found; in high places as well as ow,--
among rich as well aS pcorln rulers as well as sub
lectS, that bOdness winch els not before fashion,
able and strongly fortified systems OF nlquuy, nor
flWdo for popular favor SHARED support. Heavens
courageous ambassador pnsues his work
"Fearless Of men and devils unlbashed
By sin enthroned, or mockery of a prince,
Unawed by armed legions unsubdued
By offered brides, burning with love to souls,
Upquenchable and mindful still Of his
Great charge and vast responsibility;
High in the temple of the living God,
lie stands amidst the people, and declares
Aloud the TRUTH the whole revealed truth,
Ready to seal it with his blood,
In these times he needs courage to search for and
speak the truth unawed by creeds or conferences, or
ban OF doctors dvnes. He must be prepared to
! roll sh nd
the confidence Of christian brethren. Common daring
may attack error, when feebly defended and only by
the vicious but to make an assault upon when entren
ched behind the customs OF the multitude and shlel-
ded by the wise and virtuous, requires courage of a
high order
z. Ia the execution of his ministry the ambassador
OF Christ must be uncompromisIng. The offer Of par
don is through them made to all, and "whosoever will
may come and take of the woters of lie y."--
Since the condition of recoucllaon is the abandon
ment OF every sin, the minister of Christ is under the
highest conceivable obligations to cry aloud and spare
not any SIN No adopted creed no ecclesiastical or
civil relation 10 Difference to established customs or
laws can release from this obligation Suppose the
sin OF lntempeance is contemplated. 1t is fashionable
every one AlchanUic beveIage--eVen the dea-
con and the pdrson the temporal interest Of many
are dependent upon the custom the laws encourage
the matter; the superabundan bounties of heaven can
be consumed in no other way and 1t is probable that
the man who opposes it will, with his family for whom
IT Is his duty TO provide, be driven away outcass
from society, What them Shall his lips be sealed,
and his mouth dumb, when Gods word has clearly all
nounced that drunkards have no inheritance in the
kingdom Of God? Who that feels the importance of
his high trust would dare to answer in the affirmative
Who that with the word of God for his guide exam
ines tor himself the which led to the existing
Mexican war, can Tor moment Justify the shed Ding
OF blood in such an infamous and damnabe strife p
Where is the minister of the Gospel so ignorant of
the spirit of his Master as to dream that He possesses
an attribute which can side with our nation in such a
contest? True our President aud his cabinet our ma
tlonaI legislature and some of our State legislatures
and thousands Of our fellow citizens susan this most
unlusdabe aggression upon our neighhors rights. But
what avas all this? Must the ambassador of the
King OF Kings bow and crnge before this monstrous
nqulty because it happens to be favored by the high
and the many? Strange principle of human conduct
this Could Daniel have known it, he might have
escaped the terrors of the lions den. The maryred
saints might have been saved to the race and the
holy Mother church have blessed the world with har-
mony and peace Instead of permitting the sensbllity
OF Conservatives to be tortured by heresies and dVs.
ions, and contentlons,his quoting and peaceful pnci-
pie would have stereotyped and sealed immutaby the
religious sentiments Of the world centuries ago, and
rendered them immutabe against all the attacks of
Luther and Zwngle, and Knox, and Wesley, and