Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1844-01-26

Of the proud. ambitious, and selfish Hen
ry, more than lhe simple and primitive
TORN OF chrlSiiaHIIy winch they 10 eslab
Ished differed from The system estau-
Ished by him. 10 tho English Church
many oi The worst features Of Popery
were retained. The authority OF the
Pope was destroyed It Is true, but it was
only that the authority of the king ia
matters OF religion might be established
The mummerIes Of he pOplsh service
were abolished, but they gave place to a
ritual scarcely less ldolatrous. The
Tremendous power Of the priests over
the conscience was destroyed, but on The
runs oI their power arose a titled Her.
archy, no less exscliDg u their demand
snd quite Os lofty IN IheIr pref, 'ons.
Those who had imbIbed the pure prlnc
pies Of christianity as taught by Wick
litfe, or who had heard OF the continental
RelOrmers, and ado PED their doctrines.
mourned over the state oi the Church,
and 10 their own meetings amongst each
other sought TO follow The teachings oil
the word of God rather than The com
maDdmenls OF mOn These persons,
known in history as the Purllans, had
always been subject 10 persecution for
their non conformity to the ritual as by
law established Bu: under Charles lst
and the Prlmats Laud, this persecution
rose to height unparalleled before un
der sovereign proessedIy Protestant
Bot lbe hour Of deIverance came, and
the same Parliament which broke the
temporal power OF The king, was made
the instrument Of more gofous deIIv'
erance. The year which IS now about
10 close completes the second century
since tho assembling by the command
Of the "Long Parliament" body OF
men TO whom The work Of reforming
The English Church was committed -
This assembly was known IS tho Nv est.
mlnster Asse mby Y of Dlylnes," though
1t included a number OF laymen among
whom we may mention the name Of
MauhetO Hale, the pride, the glory Of
the British bench. The results of the
earnest labors Of this Assembly oi
learned, grave and godIy dvIoes and
others" are 10 our posse ssion: the con
sist Of the Confession Of Fam, the Lar.
ger and Shorter Catechsms, a Dlrecto -
ry Tor Public Worship, and Plan ol
Government and Discipline. These
were at once adopted by the Church oil
Scotland, and though not enforced by
public authority throughout Eng and,
they we're received By the pous a en-
bOdying the system Of The Scriptures
and as such they are held by The variou,
branches OF the Presbyterian Church IN
this and other countries. Time forbid;
US 10 speak Of these formuarles, or oI
the lilusIrlous body Of men who compo-
sed them, moro particularly. The rev
oiulon which they produced was no less
glorious than the deIlveranCe oil the ma,
lion from the temporal authority OF the
king. The great principles Of religious
freedom which they promu gated, found
an appropriate home on The shores
o the New World; and 10 men who i'm =
blbed their notions OF freedom from
th0r teaching, are we indebted, under
God, for The rich boon oi freedom which
we now enjoy. This God brings tc
naught tho wisdom OF the wise, and
makes even the oppressive acIs ol wick
ed men advance The great interest ol
truth and prety.
In the personal acts OF LOUIS we find
less to blame than in those OF Charles
bat the throne on which he sat was
stained with blood, The cries OF the
AIblgenses were not unheard as they
rose from their invaded homes; the
blood of the murdered lluguenols wat
not yel expaied. The king, the clergy
and The mobiles had conCurred in these
outrages; together they murdered mos
treacherously and barbarOusy a people
of pure life aud simple manners Tor lheiI
religious faith; together they pursued
systematic course Of oppression anc
misruIs, puuglng the nation lnro debt
and The desplsed "lbird eslale" inIC
hopeless poverty together they were
swept away in Storm Of popular wrath
proportioned TO the enormity Of theH
oppression, and with circumstances o
terror TO which the night oISt Barlhol
omew alone furnishes parallel,
As it mas been 10 lbe past, so will i
be 10 the future. The ages and mer
that are gone have all performed Their
part in the accomplishment Of the Di.
vine purpose with regard 10 our world
As that purpose approaches lIs fulfil
ment, ii brings with it 10 nations snd
individuals weighIer responsibility
Especially does II become you, ny
young friends, who by course Of liter.
ary study are preparing yourselves tC
take a prominent station, and 10 act al
efficient part IN this great drama; TO stu
dy earnestly the "slgns oI the Iimes,
! 4 L 4. q.