The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1847-11-20

the waters had moved sIuggishly on--at the
appearance of Christ, they dashed over their
barriers, and seeking a new level, flowed
onward, making channel for themselves.
The first step of the emancipated mind was
to break away from the very religious cere-
monies it had been taught 10 venerate, and
which had the sanction of Moses, and Sam
ueI, and David, and all the prophets-to
turn the back on Jewish synagogues and
temples and rltual-and, pushing aside
the High Priest at the altar, scattering the
| ashes of bulocks and goats 10 the winds
step boldly beyond the very Holy OF Holes,
| and prostratlng itself in the presence OF God
alone pour ont It's complaints and sorrows
on his infinite bosom. After this, there
| could be nothing that man dare not do To
stamp him with such dignity a, the outset
10 tell the ignorant beggar that he was great
er than priests and sacrilices-was TO set in
motion Il principle that, unarrested, would
subvert everything but truth. From that
time on, through all the changers of reli-
eious and political life, man has been striv-
ing TO make this principle practical, Baf-
fled at every step. cheated IN every effort,
often discouraged and sometimes lespairing,
he has s!lll made advancement till now he
assumes the character OF dictator, rather
than petitioner, and claims, rather than asks,
his rights.
At first he thought only Of religious lib
ery-4are speak out only as God command
Ell him, But the right to be his own
master in one thing, soon emboldened
him to claim it in others. Still, no
hea venly voice gave him permission to as
se,t his civil rights before rulers: nay. ne
was commanded TO submit TO wrong and
injustice there, 10 bow TO the oppressor, and
die without rcmonStranCe at his feet. The
consequence was, the moment Christianity
acquired temporal power, the liberty OF
conscience began TO disappear The Chris
tan could resist the Pagan ruler in his rei>
gious duties, but it was the most natural
hing in the world. that while he submitted
TO the dictation of King in temporal mat
lels, he should also yield him, if Christian,
obedience in spiritual matters Thus, the
Church, in time, became corrupt and hearts
less as the Jewish, ard the people as blind
and saviSh as ever. Cheated out OF the
good they thought secure, they moumed on
for centuries. | might if had time, carry
the mind over that gloomy interval called
the dark ages, and show, even there, this
principle now ard then struggling to the
surface and evincing its life. Over that
gloomy sea some system or man-scme
poet or writer-arose, like Pharos, tele-
graphing the feeble light from one disorder
ed century to another The very chaos to
which things were reduced-the mixture OF
democratic, theocra,ic and monarchial IN
slulions togelher-shows the irregular YET
sill desperate efforts of this principle to EN-.
body itself Feudaism grew out OF il: nay,
it was itself the embodiment of the doctrine
of freedom in certain class: declaring that
few, at least, had personal rights, besides
the monarch, and would defend them, The
great increase of heresies in the Church,
during the thirteenth century, was another
exhibition OF the questioning splri-the
right of man to think for himself. !
might show how this darkness and confusion
were the results of the mind struggling TO
break away from old forms and old checks,
till the cry for reformation because so loud
and thrilling that ii burst on the Continent OF
Europe like revolution. But this is not
necessary; the very fact of the reformation OF
Luther, proves the strength and progress OF
this principle of freedom, even III its imam
cy. Luther did not make the times, but the
times made him lie was demanded, call
ted for in such accents that he was COM
PEELED TO appear. But whence this demand!
why this terrible waking up OF the mmd!
1t was the secret claim, finally uttered aloud;
the universal whisper emboldened into
shout It's true, the idea Of constitu tonal
liberty had scorcely yet dawned on the
minds of men; religious liberty was the
chief object they sought: but they asked with
a frmer tone, and clearer conception OF
the rights than ever before. The caution
and prudence which marked the course o;
kings and rulers, also show the progress 1t
had made: and the world walked up farther
ahead than where it lay down to sleep.
From that time on, lis slumbers have been
shorter and less profound than before.