The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1850-02-15
THE DEMOCRACY OF CHRISTI
%&t ANIEY.

/ The following paragraphs are in
smallsvolume with this title, by Britisl
author, and recently published in ihi
country:
"The Christian religion, Says Noyalls
in words which frequent quotations, have
rendered familiar TO us, ais The root d
all Democracy-the highest fat in tht
rights Of man." We believe that The Ut
terance ofth.s high flown "German mys
ticism," as some worthy people call il, is
a piece Of as sound and sober truth as
ever was spoken. The Christian reiig.
fon from the most general point Of view
from which we can regard it-'as a greet
moral and spiritual TACT in the history oil
the world-consecrates and sanctifies
those principles from which Democracy
most naturally springs, in which it mos
securely rests, by which human rights
are most effectually vindica,ed, and
which the tyrants and oppressors Of
mankind most heartily detest. M
"Thus, Christianity consecratcs the
principle o. appealing directly TO the
common people, on the very highest and
deepest questions of human interest.-
The gospel treats the popular intellect
with respect and friendliness. There is
nothing esoteric in its doctrine or spirit.
sWhat ye hear in the ear, that preach ye
on the house tops'-is the mandate of
its benifceni founder. 1t recognizes no
aristocracy Of caste or class, Of birth or
office--no aristocracy Of intellect even;
il honors all men, by addressing itself to
faculties and feelings which all men pos
sess. That 'the poor have the gospel
preached unto them, is adduced by Je-
sus as one of The most distinctive signs
Of his divine mission; and il is this, more
than any thing else, which constitutes
the Gospela great fact--the greatest of
facts--in the philosophy of the rights Of
man. This preaching Of the Gospel TO
the poor, assumes tina. the poor have fac
.ulnes for the appreciation Of the pro.
foundest of moral truths; that there is
nothing too good TO be given to them;
that the enlighteniug Of their understand
ings, the awakening of their feelings,
guiding Of their aspirations to spiritual
beauty, truth and good, is work worthy
ofihe highest order of intelligence. The
Christian religion is the lofiiest wisdo n
descending without any parade Of con-
descension, to commune with the deep
est ignorance--liiting up its voice, not
in the schools Of learning and science.
but in the highway ofhuman intercourse /:
in the very streets and market'places.
y
"The Gospel is, ther, an appeal 10 the
many millions, the common people; as-
sumes a capacity in the common people
receptive of The deepest and weightiest
of moral truths. 1t is more than this. II
is an appeal to the many against the
few--to the PEOPLE AGAINST THEIR
RULERS. Such taken historically, is the
most obvious external aspect Of the pub
lie preaching of Jesus. 1t was stirring
up OF the Hebrew commonalty into pro-
test and spiritual revolt against the Vi
cious ecclesiastical Government. TWAS
an endeavor 10 create in Palestine an en-
lightenef public opinion, pure and ear
nest public morality, adverse 10 The infu-
ence of the constituted authorities, and
TO the permanence of the existing nei..1 n,d.11
of things. That il "%as iudateiy more
then !s'ss--ihat this poii,ico- moral iea-
ture Q! Inc teachings Of Jesus was by no
means the whole, nor even the chiefpart
Of their sgnifcance--we have ol course
no intention TO deny. Sill, it was this: |:
to say that Christianity does, present this
aspect among others, is simply to state
an historical fact. Jesus Of Nazareth
taught the Jewish people, with the ut
most freedom and plainness, a morality
subyersIve TO the influence Of their ru-
lcrs; taught them 10 distrust those as
blind and to scorn them as 'hypocrites.'
Here then, we have another great politi-
cal truth resting on the highest author
ity, and exemplfed in tho most ilIustr-
GUS Of precedents. The Gospel conse-
crates the principles OF moral force agita-
tion. 1t recognises the right Of insur-
rection--lhe insurrection, that is, Of the
heart and und srstanding, against hypo-
crisy and falsehood 1.-the hypocrisy and
falsehood sit in the very seat of Moses,
and are environed with the PRESTIGE OF
and Legitimacy. 1t keeps no
terms, except that Of truth, with conse-
Grated lurpitude, and legimate old estab-
ished iniquity. Itbrings human author
iy, the most fevered time honored insti-
uiions, the most securely hedged round
,y tradition, and the use aud want of
lges, to the test of eternal aud divine
noraliiies, proclaimins that every tree
lot Of Gods planting shall be rooted up.
I speaks the plainest truths about pub
ic men IN the plainest way.
The first preaching Of the Gospel |
Rove constituted authorities mad with
age; scared guilty tretrarch, and made
Roman Governor tremble, and its
pritten Dape. (James Chan \ depoup.