Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1852-05-29


not by any means to DO decided either way by
any authority so as to make the course a man
may take in regard to it, test of his Anti
Slavery Orthodoxy-my own opinion is that
though secession has done good and fastened
the triumph Of Freedom both in the State and
truth is too mighty to depend for success upon
the breaking up or remodeling Of these outward
organizations. 1t has often made its way glori-
ously against greater obstacles than the Parties
OF Churches Of this land present.
In tho Convention, G. C. Burleigh made some
assertions in regard to the great Reiormers in
the carly Jewish and Christian Churches singu-
larly incorrect and really as adre,se to his posi-
tons as any advocate of the Church could de-
sire. lie alluded to Elijah, Isaiah, and the
other prophets; to Christ and the Apostles; to
Luther, Wesley and other Reformers as "Come-
outers." l do not remember his tooris but cam
not be mistaken in his idea, as he was emphatic
in his assertions. Now the truth is, Elijah
tried secession on a small scale in time when
the people were far gone in Opostasy. lie went
away and hid himself in a Cave and thus
shook of the very dust of 1dolatry from his
garments. But God robukcs him. "What
docst thou here Elijah, ,"--and he is sent back
to labor for the reformation of the people,
Neither Elijah nor his 1000 faithful compccrs
ever withdrew from the Jewish Church. And
in the times of Hczckiah, and Joshua and Ezra,
and tho Maccabces, in periods Of great corrup-
ton. great rcfomations were effected without
secession, Neither Isaiah, jeremiah nor any of
succeeding Prophets seeded. Christ himself
never left tho Jewish Church though a model
Rcformer, and the whole nation was far gone in
error and corruption. On the very eve of his
betrayal he joined with his disciples is cclcbrat-
ing the Passover a Jewish ordinance And
though his Apostles after his ascension orgoni-
zcd a now one it was not on occount of the
intocrablo corruption of the Jewish Church,
but because tho time had fully come for new
dispensation to supcrccdc with its clearer light
and purcr ritual that Of Moses, and the prophets
Had not ono titho of the prevalent corruption at
the time of Christ's advent existcd-nay, more
had tho Jewish Church been a pure ono, the
Christian Church would have taken its place in
accordance with the predictions of prophecy
And as TO Luther il is notorious that he never
left the Roman Church until he was thrust out
Till that time he remain
cd in its communion laboring for its Rcformn-
ton, and the same may be said of his associates
Wesley it is well known never left
the Church OF ENgland, and his preaching and
example had an immenco influence which is felt
to this day within that Church, in reforming its
abuses. None of these men were "Comc.
cutters as c. C. Durlcigh asserted with such
confidence, and their example shows, not that
it is not cxpcdicnt in some cases to sccode, but
that it is not a step necessary in all cases to be
taken to reform existing abuses in the commu-
nion of a Church.
must close here, but may say something
further in my next on the policy best to be pur-
sued iE the Anti Slavery cause. l have no
doubt my views differ from those of many
(pcrhaps most) Of your readers, but / 60 for
free discussion, and comparison of views, and
think the more of it, conducted in a proper
spirit, the better. Every thingis to be gained by
q thorough sitting of the principles and modas
operandi Of all reforms.
Yours, q =.