Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1860-11-30
From the Daily
TO THE NEGLECTERS OF PUBLIC
WnRGHIp

What do YOU gain by that neglect You
cain tho consciousness of having your own
will and your own way. You also gain I'M
munitv from ethe minister tax" or nearly so,
o,d rom contributions to benevolent objects.
Won also gain an impossible separation in
,opr feelings and theirs from the supporters
of that worship, and render yourselves almost
inaccessible to that class Of influences that
ordinarily prccede and conduct to religious
life
Let us examine these gains:
lst The will. You have your will. 1t
is doubtless sweet to certain extent to think
that you are your own master. You do not
like to acknowledge that any set of men, or
sect, have either embodied or trammeled you,
or caused you TO swear by their creed, or that
you are responsible for their blunders or
their crimes. But you probably shrink from
the conclusion that you are as free from the
restraints Of an allegiance to God But Is
not this true? You neglect his ordinances
YOU arc unmoved by his preccpis; you disre-
gard his law. Then you are in sin, and "be-
ing the servant Of sin, are free from right
eougness." FREE FROM RrGHrEousNEss
Have no uprightnea according 10 the Dune
standard. Then, all wrong, wholly out of
the way, in the broad road, going down to
the chambers Of death Shall we conclude
that this your way is your folly; 1t is fear
fully expensive 1t must cost the soul! And
what shall man give in exchange Tor his
soul The adage, gold may be bot too
dear is TO the utmost extent realized IN this.
viii may cost too much. Enjoyment Of un-
restrained will is neither proper nor desira-
BILE; IL is only INDUCED with misgiyngs, and
where the Judgment desires another should
ID. Ntft4f "a in
dulecd in supremacy there is confusion, as
well as rebellion. And there is very apt to
be disorder throughout the house. Is the
gain of such freedom comparable 20 the great
loss attendant upon the fearful measure by
which it is gained
ID You gain immunity from the expen-
SEES of worship. But what would your prop
erty be worth if all followed your example !?
That would destroy every church, every mis-
sionary association, every religious institute.
1t is safe to do as you would have others
when their motives are right. But you would
not that others should adopt course that
would favor the introduction Of hoathenism
into your town. You would not eXpel every
minister. and close the doors Of every sauctu-
arv. because that would detcriorato every pos
session, and destroy every fond hope of every
good But how can you ask others 20 sustain
institutions which inuro TO your benefit, when
You do mott This would he receiving but
not giving in return, and might be suspected
of savorng of dishonesty. Is that the gain
you would makes Would you have your
ncghbors fence your farm completely around
that YOU might be benefited and build the
road through it to render it accessible, and
you not share in the expense Such is he
who would have others attend upon and sup
port public worship which he neglects.
3D. You gain by placing an almost impas-
sable barrier between you and attendants on
worship, and preclude those influences which
ordinarily precede and lead to a religious
life But men generally feel an indescrib-
able warming "to die the death Of the righ-
teous" You gain an inAccossibiity to the
friends Of public worship, and that places
YOU beyond the rational probability that you
will ever embrace righteousness Small
causes produce great effects. In choosing a
neutral position towards worship, you una
voidably fall into a position of hostility not
only to worship but to God. as You fail to
comply with his requisition "to give the
more earnest heed to the things which We
have heard, lest at any time We should LET
them Slip Such gain il far from being
Satisfactory 1t is a canker that corrodes all
true happiness II is a cloud that intercept'
all light from the sun Of righteousness, and
threatens the etcrnaily fatal bolt. Such
gain is too fearful 10 be coveted, and thos,
who regard their own good should be wary
Of the measure by which it is made
Yours, &c, DoER.