Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1856-11-29
2Pcter l, 5, add to your faith Virtue"

Peter l, b, add to your faith Virtue"
The speaker commenced with an analysis OF the
word"Nirtue, 'as best indicating its meaning here
1t is from the Latin oi-a man. Virtue is man
liress The history of the WORD is parallel with
the history of the moral Development of man.
The military tendencies of the Romans made ciytus
signify strength. But when the sword of the
Spirit famed from the East conquering heights
which the Caesars never reached, UirtuS ph ysical
manhood became virtue or moral manhood: not
now Hercules, but Christ, is the Ideal Man.
The positions Of Luther and Erasmus towards
the Reformation were cUntrasted as representa-
tiyes of two classes-thoso with faith only and
thoRe with faith and virtue added Erasmus saw
the gigantic evil, saw how it was to be reformed
saw that he ought to help reform it, But intimi-
dated by opposition, he surrendered his faith: at
first sympathsing with Luther, he afterwards
censured hlm and at last purged himself to the
Catholics Of the charge of Professionalism, which
he had at first endorsed. His tone is unmistakc-
able: Let Others" he said, "a feet martyrdom
for myself am unworthy the honor" The result
was, he offended both sides, To-day he is dear to
no heart critics only say, "IIe wrote fine Latin d"
Reformation. He added to his faith virtue and 50
did his own work and that Of Erasmus also he
said to all opposition "Here | stand | cannot
otherwise. Cod help me Amen.'
Ever does this Reformation 90 on Ever do
devils, thick as those which the rough image of
Luther supposed might be the tiles on the
houses at Wolms, press about the roofs Of the
world. And bad as it may seem these signs
of strength that being the best age which sees
most evils. If the age land thereby he meant the
minority who constituted the brain and
heart of every age) were less exalted it would find
less wrong, because it would care less about it and
be more oontentcd with low aims.
So long then this ideal, which is the crown OF
man over inferior creation, exists Claiming beauty
in things which it nowhere finds, the race Of Re
hoo II I
things new" must endure. Wherever there is a
fossil creed questioned by some child-likc soul
which cannot observation-disclosures is Howard
insane about defective prisons Wilberforce out
raging all solid merchants by annoying investiga-
ti0nS into the condition of slaves in the West
lndies Granville Sharp worrying English courts
and lawyers by pressing the questions Of English
Law and Slavery until Lord Mansfield had re-
uctantly to decide that the air Of England wastoo
pure for any slave to breath there this fire. ever
secthlng at the core Of the world shoots forth its
volcanic tongue, under which solid things become
fluid. And it is that which rises up in our land
day. with demand for the destruction of wrong
reYer to be qnenchod until our alton comes from
the furnace refined and pure.
The demand of the Time then was not mere
faith. There was always more light than men
would walk by. In this unceasing Reformation
zach OF us Is either an Erasmus Luther
Men angry to be thought helpers of injustice.
ro a9 ,;a f Sl,..o WY "ou,u ou
especially in the pulpit are indignant if we say
.'l"v taoS WIN tIe assassin Oh sumner
','o 40 lH1t tn?y use tHo cnn'
ptn;i.o pninoo5 e "ne Pol''cs III ,ne P"'%t 10
~ % M ro"" teeuoi' Vi speecn Whi'sI 'Ie o"uth
nercLo 'N 0''''"
p.tp:.,.
put % rain Is not the queust these would nave
Us pelleye. 10 men near OF IAtal pestlIence nezt
ooor' anu remain passive! f"ith, II real IS the
aggressive prih'ip,e OF the World leaving nothing
eWi "here IL FOUND 1t. The tendency OF Faith IS
20 draw around II BODY OF virtue. we see tins
IN every day aiIalrs. Men do not discover the
power OF the lghtnlnS-rod to protect them and
leave II In the school books to be taught as abstract
scence-they hit 1t by their chimnoys. They do
not discover the forces of Steam and the Telegraph
and go ON in the old methods Of locomoton and
sending news. And why in the higher Ii le do we
allow the Decalogue of the Golden Rule the superb
discoveries of the Spirit to remain unapplied to