Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1871-08-05
Relieious.
HEART CONVICTION.

- ~ IIsti ItSpDISlDt lOI HIS Dtlltl>s WE'RE
they not created in him and for him? / do
not think n man is responsible for his beliefs
hut think man is responsible for his con-
duct. You can get at it just us you please.
The heart it is that believes unto righteous
ness. You are responsible for being good,
and true, and manly. and believing, and low
ing, and noble in every way. You are re-
sponsble for results. Every man is respons-
ible for being honest with himself. A man
Is responsible to this eXtent-that he must
keep his mind clear. If when / look ut Il
color it is blue to me, am not responsible
for seeing that color blue. though another
may see it green. But if the color, being blue
to me. look ut it and say that it is green,
am responsible for violation of honesty.
Men are responsible for using truly, and I'M
der the best conditions, every faculty they
have: and when am true to my organiZa-
ton, when am true to that which is within
me. | am not responsible for the product of
that which my mind sees. Conduct and
character are results. Believing is merely
preliminary stage 1t is means to an end.
And experience shows that men do by differ
ent beliefs come to the same general results.
That is to say are there not men in the other
churches who are rs good Christians Us
though they We're Congrcgationalists? There
are. | am bcholden to many Christians of
past generations in the Roman church for
their learning and piety and nobility. ! see
in the Episcopal church saints with bishops
caps upon their heads. And are there not
just as good men in the Methodist Episcopal
church us there are in the old Episcopal
church? Certainly. And have there not been
Christians of the right stamp from the DAYS
of John Calvin to the present time in the old
Presbyterian church? Unquestionaby. Are
there not true and good men in every denom-
nation where Christianity has been develop
Ell? tYes. Every man who is really God
fearing and man-loving, has that for which
alone belief has any value. The object Of
believing is to produce goodness.
Now, if from every diverse point, if from
convictions which vary in each man, one can
reach forth with his heart, though it be small
ut the bottom, and big mt the sides, and fiat
ut the ends. and believe into righteousness.
that is enough. The thing is righteousness,
that is the fruit according to the declaration
of the Master. When John sent to Christ
being discouraged in his prison life, saying,
Art thou he that should come, or do we
look for another?" in that same hour Christ
performed many wonderful works; and he
said to the disciples who had come from
John, " Go"-what? tell John that this is
my doctrine? tell John that am the Mes
siah? tell John that have fulfilled all the
prophets? tell John that am co-eqna with
the Father? Nota word of it-"Go and show
John again those things which yc do hear and
see; the blind receive their sight and the
lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the
deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the
poor have the Gospel preached to Them 1t
is as If he had said, eco tell him that the
fruit is the thing, and that is enough" A
man who lives in Il spirit of love to God, and
of unfeigned charity toward his fellow men,
is, under God, a Christian; and that Is right
believing, or valuable believing which makes
right-living.
But does not this undervaue TRUTH Oh
no. If you ask me what is the likelihood of
certain beliefs generating holy lives: if Won