New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-12-28


whom il addresses in the place OF God that IT,
therefore as related oits subject, can do no wrong
and that whatever il requires must be su0nAt-
ted to and be done. II would be to say that Just
resistance to the State is impossible that cause
of disobedience can never arise; and that II the
State should legalize murder, theft and the burn
ing of dwellings, these would be right. Beside
The state in It's intrinsic constitution IS unit and
inc0mpetent 10 decide a question OF moral rectl-
tnde. except as miracle should tit it for the Office
II il made up Of all men, born within i with
every interest OF every character; the majority
OF them neither enlightened by the Truth nor re-
generate by the Spirit associated for present ad-
vantage and defense. There dwelis i'll the State
no inspiration OF God Itisnot qualified to speak
for Him. 1t may measure eXpedlencles ltmay
forecast the cOurseg CT its probable advancement
But it cannot decide on question OF Equity Tor
the individual Man. There never has been
State since Time began, upon whose decision IN
regard to his duty, Man who felt himself bound
to Gods Law and in peril Of destruction il ne
did not obey it, would be willing to rest for the
guidance OF his course. One would decide IN one
way, another in an opposite Russia Affirming
submission TO Despotism as the only Jaw for hu-
man action, and America decreeing the equality OF
individuals as approaching more nearly the Divine
requirement; the England OF one age enforcing
worship to Mary, and the England OF the next
age denouncing her devotees. So always, and all
the world over Unless the Law OF God for man
is as shifting as the winds, as the waves as the
Clouds as mutable as the fluctuations OF history
and of government-yea, more unless, without
al absolute pernanence It Is creature oil CIR
cumstances, determined by the temporary inter
of the State-that State is not it's lit Inter
prefer 10 him whom it addresses. he that rests
on such decision is following the blind
But if the State is not the party to interpret
this L aw, can the Church take its place Far
more Justly, without doubt For the Church is in
theory, at least, select and regenerate. 1t is
composed OF those who have been gathered from
the State, by their submission to Christ within
whom dwells something of the Spirit OF God up
on whose minds shine truths and hopes unfelt by
others; and who have thus gained in capacity for
deciding upon duty The Church, too, is not so
liable as the State TO be biased its decision by
mere present interests. Being gathered within
that and separate from it, and having to doswith
spiritual realities it will be ikeler to decide with
Justice and wisdom. But still the Church we
know that here is sphere beyond it. 1t cannot
decide for any Man what God in his Law requires
OF HIM. The infinite trains of error and OF mis-
chief that have followed its attempt, open broad
~ before US whenever we look back. We know
how the Church thus appealed to has grown AFRO
giant; how it has held itself above the Soul above
the State, the very vicegerent OF Jehovah on the
earth how it has blasted with anathemes, and
crushed with its fury, the pous and the steadtast
that have risen up against It; and how, departing
ITOu llS leBlLuDdLS SpllGIt IL lbs Idil6u luLO ali
most diverse errors how the Church OF one age
has decreed and enioined what the Church of
another age. has rejected with Scorn; how the
Church in one land has conformed itself to laws
which the Church in another land has resisted as
infamoUs.-We know, in word, az Protestant
Christians, that though the Church in any State
as the company of the enlightened and regenerate
within it, is more worthy than the State, in toe
aggregate OF It's population to decide what Is
Right for the individual Man, even 1t ID not COM
petent. 1t is not such in it's constitution it Is not
such in its perpetually transmitted Divine Author
ity that it speak to any man IN the name OF
the God who made and who will Judge him. God
never meant that it should be so. If He had He
would have said So with inialbe clearness. In
the course of His Providence, along the history OF
the Past, He has built up q barrier against this
doctrine in the fearful accumulation OF It's results,
which it would seem to be impossible for any TO
overpass. There is not of US, within these
walls today, aware OF his relations 10 God and to
Eternity, and knowing that mis- destiny was poised
upon his decision. who would give up his convic-
ton to the authority of Church There is that
in the Soul which instinctively revoIts at it.
But if neither the State nor the Church is au.
thorized TO interpret Gods Law Tor His subject,
where His Word has not in terms decided it,
how sAallit be known Who shall decide in
regard to what it is There can be but one an
swer The Man himself, to whom that L aw is
addressed and adapted upon whom is laid the re-
sponsbity of the decision, and whose personal
destiny is depending upon it, HI must decide.
He must decide, in the use Of the constitutional
power which God has given him for this purpose
the power which we denomiate the Conscience.
Not by an act of VIII, merely, determining what
he ral do at any hazard not in the impulse of
Desire merely, and personal inclination not in
the use simply, OF the practical Understanding,
as logically Analysing the oscillations of acts and
tie results that will flow from them; assuredy
not in the mere impulse Of the Sensibility, emo
lively feeling for present suffering but in the
exercise OF the Conscience; the Sense OF Right
the Power within US which bears witness to the
Truth, which mirrors upon its clearness the princi
pies and the claims of the Rectitude which God
loves, and to which God appeals, with both his
Laws as obligatory and his Salvation as needful
In the calm and intelligent use of this spiritual
Power, the Man must decide on the requirements
of Gods Rule.
The existence Of such Power within himself
no man can doubt; except as he is moved by in
terest or constrained by theory or has buried
his faculty under years of misuse. 1t might be
shown, if there were need to be necessary con
diton OF personal accountableness as well as a
noble Illustration of Gods wisdom. It's reality is
recognized in consciousness, daily. When we
feel the sensation of Penitence for Sin, we know
that 1t is not Regret for Loss tits radically and
totally different from that 1t is different constl.
tutionaly, from an intellectual apprehension of
inexpediency and mistake; or even from con-
yction of hazard and exposure. 1t is more cen
trail than these in the heart; more poignant more
permanent. 1t wrings the soul with deeper
power. WY does it this Simply because the
Conscience is IN it. 1t shows that we have & con.
ylctlon OF Right power of experimenting that in
its simple and permanent unity, which is radically
diverse from the power of calculating results and
advantages; 1t shows that there is that imbedded
in the soul, as central in as its own existence,
to which the Right makes its appeal and which
cannot do otherwise than respond TO it's claim
W see the same fact illustrated in the deep and
joyful gadness that fills the heart, the
peace serene,
T. As light in the sum- hronedr
IN the mind, when we are conscious ofdong right
when the Conscience, that is, is satisfied and ap.