The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-05-21

impulse and direction from succession of ru-
lers of various tempers, views and caprlces,
whose maxims are perpetually changing but
the maxms of the church never change. They
are uniformly acted upon from generation to
generation, from age to age; and however diff
fereat the rulers, their object is always the same.
Their great end is to obtain dominion over the
minds of men, knowing full well that this is
by far the most stable foundation of power,
and that it carries with it every other acquisi-
tion.
This influence, when acquired by proper
means, and confined within proper limits, is no
doubt in tho highest degree salutary The pre-.
cepts of the christian faith are indispensable
auxiliaries to the civil laws and the doctrine of
I;,ltnre rewards and punishments powerful re-
straint on those deeper and more secret crimes
which, though by far the most fatal to the
happiness of mankind, can neither be estimated
or punished by the law. While the preach
ers of the Gospel confine themselves to their
appropriate duties, as shepherds of their folds
Ito visiting the sick, relieving the INDECENT,
administering consolation to the wounded
spirit, inculcating the duties Of religion and
morality and impressing upon the minds OF
their flock, respectful deferenOe for human
laws and institutions-tlley are comfort and
blessing to mankind; they may then justly call
themselves the ambassadors of God, for they
represent his attributes of benefcence.
But when, on the contrary, they step out of
their consecratcd sphere. and depart from the
example of the author of their religion, in stu
diously abstaining from politics. and attempt to
substitute the laws of Moses, Interpreted b;
themselves. in place ofthose of their country,
they Invariably become little better than fire.
brands of dssension. They cease to be the
preachers of peace, and degenerate into instrq:
ments of contention. They mingle political and
ecclesiastical aspcrties politics and polemics
are huddled together, aggravating the bitter
ness of party feeling by the infusion of religious
bigotry and sectarian zeal; and the invariablc
consequences are civil disscnsion, revolution,
and bloodshed. Of all the deleterious poisons
administered to human intrmity, the mixture of
religion and politics, of clerical and temporal
ambition, is the most fatal to the repose and
happiness of mankind. The preachers Of the
Gospel should keep themselves sacred from the
polluti, of such an amalgamation.
Their influence and usefulness, in great
llICuSuIc uepell DSluS hio'S PoiS
aud pious and disinterested than their fellow:
creatures; and it is impossible they should be so
without withdrawing themselves, at least from
the two great universal temptations of mankind,
ambition and avarioe. They cannot serve God
and Mammon; they cannot become more sane.
titled than the rest of the world, except by abb
stracting themselves from its seductions The
gown and the band are not armor strong
enough to protect them from those potent enc.
miss, when they come in conflict; and there is
no safety but in fleeing from the contest,
But every sincere, disinterested advocate of
piety and true religion, must regret to see that
of late this abstinence from worldly affairs,
and especially politics, if it ever existed, has
been gradually dying away, to he replaced by
a busy, mcddng, and arrogant interference
with the civil power, in all its peculiar and ap.
propriate functions. The church, in reality,
seems making rapid approaches towards gov.
ern.ug the State, and there are distinct auguries
that the conspiracy will at length succeed
Members of the Senate and House of Repre-.
sentatves of the United States have declared,
in their places, that dogma Of fanatcism-an
assumption that has no foundation in the law,
the Constitution, or the Scriptures - is superior
in authority, and constitutes more imperative
obligation TO obedience, than either laws or con.
stitutions; and these men represent the doc.
trines of some of the most imposing conven-
tons of the most numerous denominations of
Christians in the United States. 1t is in this
way that all reverence and respect for civil laws
and civil institutions are attempted to be sacri-
feed to an isolated text, or a naked dogma, as.
sumed without proof and sustained without ar.
gument. The authority Of the church is thus
at once placed above that of the State.
1t cannot but strike all reAeoting minds, that
this substitution of the authority of the Bible,
ia place of human laws, is in its practical ope-
ration the most dangerous enemy ever let slip
against those principles and laws which have
been adopted by the people of the United
States, rs the barriers OF their freedom. When
texts of Scripture stand i'll p lace of law, there
is no rule for the government of mankind, and
no security to their rights, We all know that
scarcely any two sects agree in the interpreta.
ton of the Scriptures, and no two in their cx
plantations of many texts. Each interprets for
itself, and each believes itself iutalIible. Nay,
this diversity of opinion extends not only to
sects, but individuals, and many who nominal.
ly belong to church, dissent from some of its
tenets or ordinances There neither is, nor can
there be. anything like unanimity i'll the inter-
prctations Of Scripture, nor consequently any