Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1860-12-14
For the Free Press.
CHRISTIANITY, AND - THE
WORLD
lMessrs. Editors eftbs Free Press:

for Christianity in all possible relations. And
from that lofty height,-as it justly may for the
greater includes the less-it dispenses advice, re-
buke and direction, to christian men, and States
! Governments and Nations, with the authority Of
another successor of St. Peter.
1t was said of christianity by its Author that it
should be like leaven-a power ever aggressive,
invading and pervading, assmilating to its own
nature, and subjecting to its own law, wholly or
partially, in all directions. The announcement Of
its character was prophecy Of its results. Pre-
cisely such has been its effect in the world. In
its more central and efficient working, subduing
men to willing and grateful obedience; more
outwardly acting upon the intellect and in the
consciences of millions who do not know,or often
times are unwilling to acknowledge the origin Of
the influence that controls them.
Sometimes it moves silently and slowly, often
against fierce and noisy resistance, in the milst
of large masses Of more or less assimilabIe nate
rial gradually and for the most part indirectly,
putting an end TO unhallowed rites, barbarous
customs, unrighteous laws, and false opinions;
stimulating the intellect arousing the conscience,
and purifying all domestic rolatiOns-so t7aus-
forming a polished but corrupt heathendom into
christian States; or quietly adding barbarous
nations to a civilized Christendom.
Always, whether extending noisclcssly and
quietly, or in the face of whatever opposition, it
moves with mighty, may say almighty power.
1t not only subdues to itself anI for itself, what
10 L., L.. hut
touch is the doom of whatever is found incapable Of
such conformity. Forthwith, the Incompatible
thing teyi to wither away, like the barren Gg
tree ,an its destruction is only question Of time
This great and most hopeful fact is deEonstrablo
from history. Customs, institutions, occupations
which fail, before the ever more and more en-
ligttencd and sensitive conscience of christenl,m
to prove their right to be-howeycr great the
camor or The loss of shrine-makers and others for
whose profit it is to reserve them are blightcd,
cruInble away, and perish forever; or if their
suscitation is attempted they have but spasmod-
ic and momentary life. Herein is found the full
flmcnt Of the prophecy that this kingdom should
break in pieces and coJsGme al other kuig-
doms.
This, however, though tic more quiet and o.
dinary, is not the only method by which christian
ity advances. For how often Las it happened,
moreover, ana how often, alas is it yet to hap
pen, hen ancient injustice, obstinate dcspotism,
hoary hlsehood, or incurablc corruption has per
sistently refused obedience to this ever aggressive
kingdom that that other prophecy. Of Him
whose this kingdom Is, has been, or will be, full
filed: Thou shalt dash them in pieces as a pot
vessel.
But during its whole history-as was also
prophesied of it-whenevcr Christianity has
been felt to encroach upon favorte opinions, upon
authorised deusions or vices that divide handsome
profits or upon time-out -of-mind injustiees, it
whereabouts might, and may be known, by its
characteristic attendants. These are the naked
wolves Of infielity bowling in 'front.' en- either
flank the not less angry wolves in sheep clothing,
all shouting vociferously "thus far and no far
thcr;' and hanging to the skirts belinda motley
train of pious conservatives, whispering, in terror
at the consequences Of further progress I1t be far
rom tie, Lord -
Among all the historical enormties which have
ever had legal existence, for the amount ana quail
ity Of injustice and uarightcousncss which arc not
merely inscparable from it, but cossfau,,re Of it,
By far the direst is Slavery. For obvious reasons,
too, it is among the most ineradicabIe forms Of
injustice. Yet the subyersivo power of Christian
ity over this evil has steadily increased both in
extent AMI intensity, driving it from nation after
nation, the feeling of its ess.a;i1 lsfice peryad-
ing more and more widely and deeply the minds
of men, until it is at length wholly cast out from
the ooasepce not only of all christians but Of all
Chrisendom This the pious brake-,neu admit
True, there arc certain Scrbes and Doctors(DD. >
who dare to assert as Of DID, that through Bcclzc-
bub, the prince of the devils, has this devil been
cast cut. Certainly, then, never in any other in
stance, was Satan so thoroughly and so foolishly |
divided against himself
1t is Just at this stage of tho contest that The
Wor!d,' "IHs O5sCua,7 and the like Of them,
modestly demand of ofChrstianity net merely to halt
% pass not the Iberus but to retreat thousand
years. Prudent advice, too, and mi ght save present
trouble; TO which cars a1stopPcd might, perhaps,
hear the reply to Peter for a similar presumption.
Does Christianity, that most aggressive of all
powers, halt Pile up your compromises Of sand
bags and cotton bags Do you not perceive that
the tide rises ever higher and higher, and that
your rnomentary distractions only increase the
Of the consequent food The
result will be all the same for Christianity. The
hoce Of the means it shall use lies with those who
esst it-Shall it persuade, or shall it dash in
pieces?
This language is not intended as a
hreat; but simply TO present the most solemn
question of history in regard to all infatuated
njusticcs. As sure as tho laws of Nature are con-
tant and God is Interchangeable, there is left to
slavery but this choice. Has the North, then,
'een guilty CT unpardonable arrogance, self-rght-
usness, as we are accused, because we have
ntreated the South to do in regard to Slavery
Fhat we had ourselves done in words Of kind
less at frst,-often in carefully chosen words of
hristian and brotherly kindne's; and insisting on
indness-for was not an aboltionist then in al
1ost as much danger here, he is now in the
Iave States? What was the answer to this most
nselfsh and well-meant request that one
eople made to another The reply that Slavery :
hall not be diminished, but increased and made /
niversal that Slavery is holy, just and good; and
lat shall treat it such; if not, at our peril.
Men are congratulating themselves just now I
len of Prime pety, and others, that they hare not
esisted these pretensions, they have cried peace,
eace, their consciences are clean, they have
ulled hard at the skirts and cried forbear, I
ave they thus encouraged the South to heap
p powder in its bosom nth The intention ,
} produce the inevitable explosion? No, good Y
'uls (thOugh the guilt is thereby hardly dimin-
he'd for a man who can read history they are Of !
lie wise who think that French revolutions
nd others and worse happen by aeeident OF that L.
icy a conspiracy Of the devil against claw
Id order, their chemistry knows nothing of
,ontaneous combustion.
There comes 20 christian men of enlightened
I'd aroused consciences, who honestly believe
God, an imperative command, straitly charging
lem, and all of them-not merely the hangman- 4
IL