The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-12-10

Sermon
Preached Thanksgiving Day IN Boiodoin Street
Church,

A Sermon
Preached Thanksgiving Day in Bo'odoin Street
Church,
ny REV pa WATERBURY.
"And the people asked Him, saying: What shall
zoe do then i"-Lukc, Ill. 10.
Under the cogent appeals of the Baptist the peo-
pie were greatly moved, and were disposed to in
quirc TO the path Of duty. The preacher prompt
ly points out their obligations according to the
character and circumstances OF the inquirer. His
reply had respect TO some moral duty which they
were known to have neglected, some form Of
vice to which they had been especially addicted.
The text, you will perceive, 10 very general, al
lowing under ii vast range OF topics; but snail
not weary you with multiplication OF particulars
nor absurdly undertake to embrace all the duties
which each individual, according to his character
and circumstances, is bound to iulhL
Our duties grow out of cur relation to God and
to our fellow men. They original or inciden-
tai They respect our position in life, and mod
fled by external and evervarying circumstances.
Some Of the more important of them are very apt
to be stated and reiterated the Sabbath. The
sinner is then warned, and invited by all that is
terrible or attractive in the word of God. Then,
too, the Christian 10 fed with the bread Of life and
urged forward to higher attachments in goodness.
Not unfrequently, also, is the pulpit on the Sab
bath made the medium OF explaining and eniorc-
ing the conjuga, parental, and filial duties Such
being the case, it would seem if on the present
occasion might be justified in bringing intoview,
for special consider alton, our civil duties
Our relation as citizens to the Government under
which it is our privilege to live imposes certain OBJ
legations which are recognised and enforced even
by the authority Of God himself.
Government seems to be necessary condition OF
social existence The celestial state itself ID not
Al. Dk,t.
recognised even in Heaven. Primeval man also
was, by his Creator, put under government and
laws, and penalties were soleinniy promulgated IN
Paradise. How much more indispensable Is gov
eminent in our fallen state 1t marks according to
its perfection the progress Of civilization In saw
age life where humanity has sunk to low state Of
degradation, we still find something that seems
like the shadow OF a government Authority -
seen ON the one hand and submission on the other
But the science of government becomes more com
pick and more perfect as man energies from barbar-
ism and advances in the scale OF refinement and
civilization His progress, IN TINS respect, multi
cordingIy he must have the duties and obligations
which pertain to this widening sphere matter OF
we'll defined legislation. lie must know what to
expect from Others and what others have right
10 ex pect from him. This complexities the science
of government just in proportion to the increasing
relations which exist in a vast and business thrW-
ing community. Glance at the ponderous tones,
embed wing the laws which grow out OF our NUM-
cipaI state and commercial relations, and you will
perceive how vast well as intricate is the ma
chinery Of government in highly civilized con-
ditiOn.
ia to reach 30 far as possible the point Of govern
mental perfeCton-to ensure at least an cqultapie
adjustment of the claims which mutually subsist
between man and man, and also between the SUD-
ect and the sovereign. use the word sovereign
IA the representative not OF regal merely, but oi
popular rule. II must be admitted, however, that
such perfection is scarcely possible even where chris
tianity has done most to enlighten and purify the
In no community, probably, on the face OF the
earth has the science of government been aPpileu
with better adaptation to the wants OF men than ia
our own OF comparatively recent origin, inns
nation had the advantage of adopting into its Const
tuition whatever to be good, and of REJECT
ing what maniiestly evil and injurious, IN the
governments OF the old world. So that, without
indulging in any undue national vanity, we may
suppose that the framework of our Constitution ID
nearer to perfection than that OF any other pre-
viously established. At any rate, 1t seems to be
just such as agrees with the genius 81 our Peo
pie Ii is in fact, but the embodiment oil Their
own will--the symbol of their own sovereignty. II
was adopted by them, not forced upon them, and
is susceptible of any alterations or amendments by
the majority which time and circumstances may
demand.
We do not, of course, claim for our Government
absolute perfection. IL was framed, we know, orr
ginally in spirit Of compromise, allowing OF GER
lain evils which could not be excluded and defect
i've in points where, perhaps, if sectional Jealousy
had not prevented, higher tone OF justice might
have been maintained But such as 1t ID, and some
what imperfect, admit it may be, 1t is never
theless one of the best Legislative and judicial plat
forms under which nation could wish to have lis
existence. Thankful should we be, this day, that
wise and good men--patriots OF the purest stamp
now dead and Rone-originated TINS system, unoer
which their defendants have hourished and pros
pered until now. We owe them an immense debt
of gratitude; and we owe a still higher gratitude
TO him who inspired them with the requisite wls'
~ tartnl IA
interests which had to be taken into view, and the
extent Of country over which the Federal jurisdic
ton toexert Its sway, is surprising that II
has worked well, and experienced SO little fric-
uon To me il is marvellous, that, ia the unex-
ampled expansion of our power and progress as a
nation, IL has, with sort OF prophetic wisdom,
adapted itself TO every new phase in our history,
and excrted control as efficient over the most re-
mote rs over the central and older sections.
But il not my design to eulogizc the Constr
tuition, nor to apologize Tor any defects which II
may ontan, nor TO defend IL from rude attacks by
men of opposite temperaments and principles.
This is not my province. Ii has its defenders In
the halls of legislation and it's supporters in the
wise and good over the whole length and breadth
OF the land. But, Christian, find that my re-
ligion has something ~ say on the subject OF gov
eminent and duties to cnjoin IN relation to "the
powers that be-" am mainly concerned as to the
nature of these duties; what they are; how e1ten-
sive or how limited; whether they conflict with any
other duties? / wish TO ascertain whether, In obey
ing the laws of the land shall be recreapt 10 the
higher obligations to my God.
These are questions which, ut the present day,
and amid an apparent conflict Of opinions, good
men are seriously bordering, There is a chri stan
ntiment in this nation-very extensive and per
yading--that wants TO be satisfied on these points
which cannot rest in the vague idea merely that II
owes allie glance TO the Government, but must be
informed as 10 what extent that allegiance is due
and where, or under what circumstances, If under
any, ii may be withheld.
am persuaded that if this point were made a
subject Of more frequent consideration and candid
discussion, minds would be relieved which now are
in doubt and fanatcal views would be less preva-
lent on the subject of civil rights and obligations
In the New Testamepta great deal Ia said on
this subject. Generally, we must admit, that ia
tenor lie wholly the side OF implicit obedience to
the existing government. The government there
spoken Of Il rs true, differed widely from our own
and by some it may be aaid-indeed IT has often
been said-tbat il were unrcasopablc and unfair tt
argue thai like implicit obedience Is due from u'
20 the Government under which re live. IL is main
tanned, that AS the apostles had in view only tho
propagation Of new religion, II would but have
einbaf raised tbeic object by opposing the existing
government; opposition which would be ~
every case unsvailing and 10 Themselves personally
destructive.
Plausible as this view may seem, yet 1t does no