Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1841-09-07
Report.

f
Report.
In eIecuiing the trust assigned to them, the Com
mi''ee find IT necessary to advert briefly TO the position
OF civil rulers in regard to moral evil. And they as
sumo rs maxims, in Christian communities, That all
crrI governments are oydained Of God is his Providence
-are 'nshfuied for The puJhe good-and that ercry oiria
ruler and ercry human government IS forbidden TO sane
ton any thing contrary 10 The kRoicn uiH Of God.
The first of these maxims is settled by passages like
ms There is no power but Of God tho powers tina,
be are ordained Of God. Whosoever therefore resist
eth the power, resisteih the ordinance of God-for ru-
lers are not a terror to good works, bu, to the evil for
he is tho minister Of God 10 thee for good. Blu, if
thou do that which is evil, lie afraid for he beareth
no, the sword in vain for he is the minister of God, a
revenger to execute wrath upon him that doe,h evil
The next maxim is equally, and perhaps more obvious,
That all civil governments are or ought to be, insttu,-
ed for the public good. This is universally admitted,
and the principle is acted upon by all who are entitled
to The right Of suffrage. So far as God exerts any a.
gency III the ordination of civil governments, it is man
hest from his PROJECTIONS that he consults the ultimate
welfare Of communities and Kingdoms. Rulers are de.
elaTed TO be Gods Minister'S" and the ruler is the
minister Of God 10 thee for good" But the last maxim
Is the one on which we rely chiefly, and the validity Of
This, no man can or dare call in question; Every human
gorsrnnent IS forbtddcn 10 sanction any thing contrary
"'8t sNOtCH ttIl ~ pod. luS must De received as a
frs, truth in morals and civil poliiy, and is as obvious
as the simplest postulate in Geometry. God is love-
II he careth for the fowls of the air, and the lilies Of
the field, much more viii he extend the wing of his
providence over man, created in his own likeness. His
government is universal. And the end he has in per
miung and oTdaining subordinate rulers, can be
nothing less than that civil government, whatever be
It's form, should 50 far correspond with his own admin
''irailon as 10 promote the general and the true inter-
esis OF tie social compact. 1t is not the duty Of civil
rulers 10 prohibit all that God prohibits, or enforce by
pains and penalties the laws recorded n'his universal
s,a,ate- book, the Bible. Blu. it is impious in civil pow
ets TO legislate and sanction and encourage what the
revealed law and known will Of God forbids. This
tends to subveri the divine government by opposing
human law 10 the law Of God. The lower authority
al war with the higher, as If a single State should
enact statutes al variance with the constitution and
ordinances of the whole body polite. For such in
consistency and treason there Is no pretext. Suppose
aLegislsturc should sanction by law, and as a means
OF revenue, authorize certain persons in every town
and hamlet 10 proiane the Sabbath. Suppose they
should, within certain limits, farm on, licenses for a.
cutlery, divorce a, the will or caprice Of the parties, sui
eide, destruction Of illegiumaic children, duelling, muir
der, or any other known sin against God and man
Such licenses, OF laws would siaule every rejecting
mind, as a code OF %deprariiy and blood; a full demon.
strat.on that civil Towers 50 doing had abJured the au-
ihou,y Of God, and the validity OF has statute book
But why no, enact such laws as have Just been spcci-
ted' No, simply because these enacimenis would
outrage the community, but because they are contrary to
the known will oiGod. This IS a plain, positive, substan-
TIA! argument. Evidently, then, II civil powers think
II neither wisdom nor duty to prohibit what God con-
demns, they must be silent, for TO sanction kuo5A rucs
by authority Of law, and evil which the higher code
the Bible-forbids, Is mons,rous impiety and rebellion
sgsins, the King Of kings, But aside from tins open
opposition TO the law Of God, it's madness in the civil
rulers 10 sanction, for gain, or any other end, things
which God prohibits. For the divine government has
regard 10 The highest good Of communities aud nations
amt al the prevention Of every evil which can dis
turb % psosltaie the euds for which all human govern,
I.n,a are Instituted. II civil rulers therefore, author
.Ie and ptossa roral evil By their high and dignifec
sanction. ,hey undermine the very fabric they NJ,
swan 10 protect fOTs 30 long a. the law olGod aim'
TO prevent al. eY;l and promote universal good, the pat
Dhage AMI sanction OF crime or us inevitable means
ty he oiyl powers, directly confront the divine lav
tEd .nosen The pillars Of every political, social and Cvi
COMPACT The legal sanction, therefore, 10 every gov
sshnsa,, Of that which God lorblds, Is plainly aJe0 d
q, an act Of felony against itself Bot ia ChrsrsI
Communities. eivil governments svowecly do not 10
snd Lus 10 be a, variance with the law q God, bat q
Ala, 90 lr a. lhey l~egislaie al a., at The same oblecl
ut p!e,snt.oa OF crime, and the promotion Of the pub
As welfare. THIS is he end and o3ec, Of gus, goT
sfnmsul IN every form. and with ,his view al avil az
noriy IA Distributed through tie VsnOOs grades al
dependencies Of Office. The power il delegated TO ia
10 mat he rights Of tie many may he pF0.eciec-ths
ssSE,hos may Re enlightened and cline prsvsoist
l - saly evils 70 ~ issret. Tie cad CT a. gus CIV