The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1850-04-19
THE PULPIT ON DISUNION.


The following eloquent and patriotic
sen lmenls were delivered before the Arch
Street Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia
recently by the Rev. Charles WadswOrlh
in his inaugural sermon:
"Paul's principle as Sc, forth IN the text
applies as we'll 10 the Civil, as 10 the Social
and the Eclesiaslic. A Christian minister
amid The parti:anship of commuaity''
politics, is to "know nothing save Christ
Jesus and him cruciied." His duties as a
preacher are superlnduced duties. As
Gods ambassador he comes to man divest
ed altogether Of fictitious differences. To
the sovereign and the slave-to the mighty
man and the menial-to the creature fawn.
ing on the foot cloth Of throne and the
freeman standing proudly before kings in
The glory OF immortal manhood--to all alike
he comes, bearing The same flaming cre'
denraIs of Gods anger and Gods love;
standing in his high place of embassy, he
is no, to look that The Holy Ghost will
descend from Heaven to give point TO a
lesson OF craftsmanship, or power 10 an
axiom of political economy. He is to look
on man as a splri, whose nationality is bul
decaying garment. spirit winged fot
soaring 10 that high world. where men oI
all kingdoms and peoples are one in Christ
He is to forge, all minor interests. He is
TO forget all human distinctions. He IS 10
"let the dead bury their dead" He is Ia
"know nothing save Christ Jesus and him
cruciiied."
Meantime we would not he mlsunder-
stood here. Far be it Gom us 10 bow be
fore that most foul. ye, favorite inlidel ella.
NOR, whereby Christian minister, by the
imposition of Ecclesiastical hands. is held
thereafter dives,ed of all rights as a man
and citizen; even under the shadow Of
the Cross, he will not-he may not-he
cannot forget his country. Paul, amid the
surprising glories of commonwealth like
ours, would have cried with even more
than his Roman eAultalion, &" am an
american CITIZEN" Our beloved land, 4,
with its boundaries the broadest-lts gov>
ernmernment the freest-its institutions the
noblest the world ever saw. is Gods great
gift 10 every man who breathes its blest
air, and exul,s in It's sunshine. And woe
be TO that man, whether Civilian or Ec.
clesias,ic, who dare lay down at FOOLS
bidding his great birth right, or prove re-
creant TO one of its ennobling prerogatves
who dare leave American liberty, as an
unprized thing, to be marred by the hand
OF unskilful Legislation, or wrecked amid
the conflicts Of self-seeking ambillon-who
dares fail in one title OF all he can do TO
give stead!as, strength TO American name
and American nationality. Gods pity on
the creeping thing that can listen unmov-
ed TO the whisper Of Dsunioh that rises
even now upon the earl Perish the hear!
that throbs not IN asonizing desire that this
glorious sisterhood be never broken! Pal
sled be the right arm that feels not its
sinews tg ghten like steel TO speed our soar
ing eagle IN its flight to the sun! Stricken
be the bosom that bares not itself in full
strength TO roll back this desolaling surge
that would sweep all these glad and good
full and glorious things away as wrecks
upon the pillows! Not know my country!
not honor my counlry!-not struggle for
my country! Why then I would be crca-
,ure wl'hou, soul. unworthy my ministry
unworthy my manhood.
Nay, nay-such political wisdom, will
know-I must know-because absolutely
in it, am 10 know Christ cruciied. For,
my audience, dear as TO American Chris
,ian must be his counry-dear, because OF
the prayer Of its conservation, and the
blood of its Daptism-dear, because OF its
great breadth and mighty power. and slo-
rous fame-lhe home Of the free-lhe
hope Of the oppressed-,he beacon 10 The
nations-the cradle of that infant liberty.
which yet. when its limits shall have
waxed strong, will leap from its swaddling
bands in great manhood, and go forth in a
giants path, 10 shake down the despo,isms
Of world In rushing Omnipotence! Yet
10 h,s loving heart is it dearest Of all. as
the great instrument under God 10 bear on
TO its consummation his adorable Gospel.
He sees Christ in American natIonali,y!-l
Christ, the God OF all Providence. presid>
ing and preserving It-as the great spring
in the mechanism Of iriumphing Evan.
gel. And to him it seems that 10 sever this
BLESSED Union. were 10 loose the silver
cord OF mans hope. and TO break the great,
wheel at the cistern. And every Christian
minister will stand bv the Union-and
pray for the Union-and struggle for the
Unon-and preach Christ and him cruci-
fed as the cement Of the Union. till his
right arm is wilhered, and his tongue
dumb in death!