St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1898-07-06
The Ok Sermon.
The Famous Discourse Of Rev. David rIerriII o,
Peacham.

oi"hSn VI tnc WoHldu SnTiStian lem |
perance Union are endeavoring to raise
500 to place on the Vermont tablet in
the Willard Hall of the Temple at Chica-
go the name of Rev. David Merrill of
Peacham. Mr.. Merrll's most famous
sermon is the one which is given below,
100000 printed copies being circulated
by the Temperance Recorder, paper
which was published at the time. This
is believed to he the most widely circu-
lated sermon ever preached in this or
any other country and was preached
when he was a pastor in Peacham, VT.
Anyone wishing to contribute to this
fund can send their money to Mrs. Clara
Bailey, Peacham, VT.
Ifan OK gore man or a woman, that they die;
then the OK shall be surely stoned;
but the owner of the OK shall be quit. But
| II the OK were wont to push with his horns
in times past, and 1t hath been testified to
his owner, and he hath not kept him in,
but that he hath killed man or woman,
the OK shall be stoned. and his owner also
shall be put to death Exodus xxi %. 20.
The principle of this law is all that we
are concerned with, at present. And it
is very plain one-and a very broad
one-brought out here in specific case,
but extending to ten thousand Others.
1t is this: Every man is responsible to
God for the evils which result from his
sel6shness, or his indifference to the well
fare of others.
III an OK gore a man or woman, that
they die, then the OK shall be surely
stoned, but the owner of the OK shall be
quit" The design in stoning the OK.
was to produce an effect upon men-to
show them how highly the lawgiver
valued human life. The very beast that
destroyed it shall be cast forth as an
abomination.
God says to Noah: "Your blood OF
your lives will require: at the hand OF
every beast will require it, and at the
hand of man." A stigma shall be liked
upon man or beast that shall destroy
him who is made after the simllitude OF
God. But why is the owner in this case
quit or guiltless? Simply because the
death is not in any way the result OF his
carelcssness, or his selhshness. From
any thing within his knowledge, he had
no reason to expect such result. But
if the OK hath been wont to push with his
horns, and he knew it, he shall be respon-
sble Tor the consequences, whatever they
may be; for he had every reason to ex-
pect that mischief would be done, and
took no measures to prevent 1T. And II
. the OK kill a man or woman, the owner
! hath done the murder-he shall be put to
, death. Why? The death was the result
t of his selfshness, or of his indifference to
the lives OF others. And accordingto the
law of God, his life shall go for it. The
, principle of this law is a principle OF
common sense.
, You see fellow creature struggling IN
the water. You know that he can never
deliver himself Aud you know that a
very little assistance, such as you can
render, will rescue him from watery
grave. You look on and pass by. True
YOU did not thrust him in; but he dies
by your neglect. His blood will be upon
. your head. At the bar OF God, and al
s the bar of conscience, you are his murder
err. Why? You did not kill him. Neither
n did the owner of the OK lift hand. Bu'
y he'shall surely be put to death. You hat
!. no malice; neither had he. You did no
l. intend his death. At the very worst
n YOU did not care. This is just his crime
t. he did not care. He turned loose wild
n fierv, ill-tempered, ungovernable animal
!, knowing him to be such; and what mis-
r chief that animal might do, or what sui
!: iering he might cause, he did not care
!. But God held him responsible.
a Take another case upon the same prin
| - LoS mad Vol
: hate to kill him, for he has or had SOM
y good qualities. You hate to tie him up
h for it is too much trouble; and you nate
worst OF all, to believe that he is mad
1t has been testified to you that man.
: have died ofhis bite, already raving mad
and that many more, in different stage
of the disease, are coming To the sam
miserable death. But still you vii
:. neither shoot nor shut up the cause OF thi
t. Indebtedness. You effect to doubt whethe
any one of them had the real hydro
~ phobia. or whether the bite will produc
ct the same effects again, aid so you leav
a; him loose among your neighbors AM
q vour neighbors' children. Is it not
ID dictate OF common sense that you ough
Id to be responsible for the result! And 20
&c &c are. All that perish by means OF thu
ne animal, are virtually slain by your hano
is They owe their death to your careless
OF ness, or your se6shness and it is in van
-. for YOU to say,-I had no malice, di
or not set the dog on-they might nav
kept out OF the way; and It he was mac
it was none of my concern-let every on
look out for himself. Would not this c
adding insult to injury? and instead
- proving your innocence, prove you
wretch, past feeling! -.
But what has all this to do with tn
object ofthis address? Much, every way
u We wish to act upon established prime
pies. We have endeavored to estaplis
one principle, viz, that every man
responsible for evils which result frol
his own sel6shness, or indifference to CT
lives of men. In other words,-to maR
a men responsible for results, 1t is nc
necessary to prove that he has mail IL;
or that he intended the results. In
hiehwayman has no malice against hi
he robs and murders; nor does ne desll
his death, but his money; and II ne ca
,. get the money, he does not care. Anu
robs and murders because he loves MN
self. and does not care for others-actin
in a different way, but on the same SCI
ish principles with the owner OF the o.
and of the mad dog; and on the vel
same principle is held responsible. !,
:. In the trial of the owner OF the OK, II
only questions to be asked, were the
two. Was the OK wont to push VII
his horn in time past? Did the own
...la,, Lo lat him 1oOSeY III 1O1