Litchfield enquirer., 1852-03-25


 to Dc relied oA as honestf Wnl men who knnw them. and Aho have Ina,ke6 uhs dsmniag prOOls of their political ds- prRvity with uncOncealed diagust for years, now array themselves under their headnhip, and honor their behesss saGhO utlerances of virtue ? Christian Chasi. " herself Spurns at -sneh a sacrifice Ot knowledge and Eeason. to blind and fanalical faith. But after all, tbis tncon- sislent and snieijal course which many of our whig Friends arc pursuing. Is not so very surpris ing, when We hear in mind the fact, that they are urgta into it by those whose sacred profession issupReO"d 1o enlitle their words of advice and in9 struction to the highest respect. h Connecticut we have ever been taught 10 regard the office of tile Christian minis. try as one of the highest dignity and sa- crednesS--and when viewed in the light of it's trIe design, such is its real charac. ter. But that design is one which can in no way 0ppropriGtels involve him who has been ordained to fulfil it, in the fierce conflicts of party politics. We believe the great work of the Christian minister is to "preGck the Gospel" and we are willing that in his exhibitions of trath and duty, he should go the whole round of the revelation of that Gospel. But when he forsakes this work and enters as combatant the political arena-when in addition to preaching the great Chris> ; tian duty of temperance as taught by inspiration, he lends himself to the ssl-
 fish designs of corrupt politicians. under the pre.ence of de,ising means connec> ted with human legislation. by which to 1orce men into the paths of christian vir. tue. he must not be surprised if he finds himself an object of suspicion to many. He is out of his appropriate sphere. He is soiling the vestments of his office in the mire. He is seeking tO subst aute human ins,rumeRtah,y for divine. in ad- yanc,ng tEe kingdom of righteousness and un,h in the world. He is not fol- lowing the example of lhe Great Teacher and his Apostles. in thci, efforts to re- deem maR from the degradation and ruin of vice. ~
 Tha. such. unfortunately. is the pres- ent position of several clergymen in this State. cannot be denied. They are vis> ting our towns, with the avowsd purpose of influencing our approaching tlecticn. And in their efforts to accomplish thIs purpose. they a'e not contented with an exhibition of those great jules of 'ight- eousness which should govern men in all the relations of life, and which 1t is cer- tainly both competent and proper for them at proper times and pieces [" ex-
 hihi,, but they plainly asai in some '"- stances dicsMo,ialy indicate 10 their auditors, the precise potifieaI action which they should take-teIling tue ua tor whom fksy should vote to fiIl the ef- fees of our l,vns and State. These un-
 professional and ilk judged ef;l,s a'e not without their effect Many excellent
 ci,izcns. that these ecclesias.ico- political
 missionaries must be right. and. under their insti ucticns, catering into just such coalitions as above described. Perhaps
 it is net lGO bate for them to retrieve
 their error. We hope ,b+x will al least dispassinnaicly review the lolc ..i jrct and decide to pursue that tou,sr which all the great and pei, maHsnt interests "f our State and Nation ai'ltar [" d' m"rd. ! FARMER.