Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-01-15
Preaching Politics,

Not a few religious teachers are getting to be wiser
than their Master, and more afraid of displeasing Sa-
tan, and a few aspiring politicians, by preaching a.
gainst all SIN, than of pleasing God, by obeying His
commands, and condemning all He abhors. 1t has
been for the interest of few vile leaders of the old
parties to make politics so very corrupt that no chris
tan man, or minister especially, will dare to NEEDLE
with them. To talk about them, or even to give out a
notice on the Sabbath for a lecture during the week,
where a word may be said on this subject, is a desc
Grafton of that holy day. They may make political
prayers and ask God for wisdom in the choice of
righteous rulers; this is fit for the Sabbath and good
enough for$he Almighty to listen to; but ask men to
abandon their political sins and vote for good men, and
it becomes sacrilege at once. Thus some men who
are so afraid Of dirtying their hands with politics, can
vote for duelists and oppressors, attend hard cider con-
%ventons, open the house of God for the purpose of
singing political songs, perhaps make flaming speech
es in favor of the election of those men who live by
robbery and oppression; Or, like DR.. Taylor, advocate
the doctrine of choosing the least of two devils,-all
this is well enough. Such politics as these, ministers
may we'll be afraid to preach on the Sabbath and we
should consider it a Dissertation of any day to preach
them, and enough to corrupt any ones heart to advo-
cate such principles. But the moment an humble
minister of Jesus Christ attempts to condemn such pol
tics and lay down the political principles which have
been established by the Great Lawgiver of the uni
verse, and which constitutes the only basis upon which
all valid laws and correct politics are founded, such as
choosing Just men, not oppressors-loving our neigh
hor as ourself, in politics as well as in other matters
Of being honest at the ballot box, and serving God
there as well as elsewhere, he must be mathematical.
shut out of the pulpit and his influence DESTROYED
Such doctrines corrupt politicians cannot bear; they
love darkness rather than light, for they know that
when men act as chriStims in politics their eyes will be
opened to see the corruptions and wickedness of those
who have labored to keep them in darkness, and cher
ish the belief that God has nothing to do with politics.
Its for their interest to sound the note of alarm, for
their craft is in danger; political editors follow in their
wake, and many ministers of the gospel are made the
dupes and servile tools of these aspiring men.
What is the appropriate work of a minister? To
preach against a part of the sins of the people, or the
lOl AAAC tJClC lO pOllJlCul ouS W DG ISpCHICu Vi,
or are men unaccountable for their political acts? If
this be true, then there is a part of the time that men
ara not Under Gods dominion nor subject to his con-
troll Then there is one of the leading sins of the day,
which IS doing more than almost any other to curse
the church, corrupt the nation and dishonor God, that
we have no right to condemn, for no one is responsible
for it. If our political duties have nothing to do with
our religion, then they belong to Satan, and the chris
tan has no business to engage in them. But it gov
ernment is divine in its origin, and politics are insepa-
rably connected with it, then God becomes their au-
thor, and the minister of Christ who refuses to present
this subject and advocate the principles of political e.
economy which He has established in His word, is rec
reant to the trust reposed in him and breaches but a
part of Jehovah's truth.
We do not now refer to party politics, such as have
d~isgraeed our country for a long time past; not what
they notO are, but what they ought to be, the embodi-
ment Of the politics of the Bible. What is there in
the definition of the word that ought to Brighten one
out Of his wits, fit is mentioned on the Sabbath
Webster says, Kit is the science of government; that
part of ethics which consists in the regulation or gov
ernmen4 of a nation Or State, for the preservation of its
safety, peace, and prosperity"
Is not here, then a work for every minister to be en-
gagged in, and is he not doing his duty while laboring
20 preserve the safety, peace, and prosperity of his
country, as well as when engaged in the great work
Of soul-saving? Or has he no right to look after the
Interests of his family, his country and the world in
Which he lives? Whatever affects the welfare of man
thy prosperity and p~erpetuity of our civil and religious
buttons, ought to deeply interest him and as our
politics have a direct bearing on both of these, it be-
rpp 9 his imperative duty to see that mems politics
onize with their prayers and their religion. He
refuses TO do this suffers sin upon his neighbol