Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1857-08-11
TRUTH AND LIDnRrY.-It is historical fact

TRUTH AND LIBERTY.-It is historical fact
that great truths never spring at on ce into
popular favor. They are the product of a slow
growth, and the pathway to the success is
strewn with the bones of heroes and the
graves of martyrs. They suffer and toll and
die for the truth which men are so slow to
perceive; but their death spreads new energy
and life through the ranks oil their followers
their names are ohanted as the apostles of
liberty and the martyrs of the truth. Whose
names are held in veneration and love, and
whispered from continent to continent, as a
watchword Of strength, if not those who have
suffered and died for truths When the
Romans longed to regain their lost liberties,
they turned not to the maxims of those in
high places, said TO be the favored of the gods,
but to the name and maxims OF Cato, who
died for the principles they cherished.
There have been, in the history Of every
great truth, periods of decline, when it seem
ed to have lost its hold upon the hearts of
men. But from this very decay it has sprung
up into renewed life and vigor. In the mid
dies ages Christianity seemed lost and buried
beneath the pagan rites and gittering forms,
which seemed to have crushed from it the
life and the soul. But these very rites--this
glitter of unmeaning forms, attracted the at-
wise would never have received it, and thus
the seed of truer religion was sown, and
thus from the decay of the first germs sprung
up wider growth, till Luthers time, when
it received higher life. 1t was at first pre-
sented in crude forms, and trammeled with
narrow. bitter, and uncharitable sectaran
warfare. Yet these were all necessary, and
from these sectarian contentious sprung up
better things, and he must now be slow to
discern the signs Of the times, who fails to
perceive that higher idea is now taking
possession of the minds of men, and that we
now look less to creeds than to GctionS--that
we now look rather for an exemplihcation of
Christianity in man life, than in the faith
he processes.
Thus, forever truth lives on, and will live,
springing into newness of life, from the very
circumstance OF its periodical decay. Can
you crush truths Can you extinguish liber-
tys Never You may bury it up beneath
your feet, and press it down with thrones,
and sceptres, and despotisms--you may trace
the lines Of its epitaph, and vainly imagine
that it shall rise no more yet from this very
decay, this very burial, it will rise up in re-
newed strength, bringing confusion and shame
upon its enemies. Thus forever, and every
where, decay and death are but the condition
OF wider aud more universal lite. Hear it,
ye poor and lonely hear il, ye proud and
oppressive hear it, ye mean and selfish and
hear 1T. oh, hear it, ye who toll on and suffer
for the truth; hear the dewdrops of wisdom
that fell from the lips Of the divine Jesus, as
be stood beneath the very shadow of the cross
upon which he died-"Verily, verify, say
unto you, except corn Of wheat fall into the
ground and die, it abidelh alone; but if it
live, it bringeth forth much fruit."-Reu. B.
II. Chaplin, d. d. s.Tra r-