Smyrna times., 1854-12-27
WHOLE NO., 1877.
Preaching / Ui4tle,:.


blank cartridges as he pcases, with never 80
loud and stunning report,-may even shot the
guns, provided always he fires al some pine
board with a painted Indian on it. But let
shottcd guns play ight into some strong clta-
del Of sin. some gigantic wickcdness fortified
in the high places ofpower-let some tiue Indi-
an be hit, and it is marvellous how soon there
is a revival Of religion in Congress, and how
painfully devout our party Journals suddenly
become"
Witty said, and with a truth acu justice
that give to irony its keenest ppilt. 10 read
the speeches of some Of our putl:c Fncn, or ihc
editorials of certain oiour part!zan n wspepers,
ore would almost he leo to thira that The du-
ties and responsibilities of the ministry We're
but inpnrcctly understood by the nccu }anis OF
our pulpits, and that the very men Of all others
to instruct them therein, and political gamblers,
dnmagogues, spoilsmen, and office seekers gen.
orally Strange, that their deslnterested adj
vice is not more generally needed by the par
ties FOR whom it is designed! These teachers
of the ministry have profound reverence for
the gospel, and are greatly exercised in behalf
OF its purity and integrity. Especially are they
apprrhensive that it will in some way be cor
ruptcd by the application Of its principles to
the every day business of the world around
them. They dislike anything from the pulpit
that looks like rebuke Of the sins (which they
are inclined to-" though very tolerant of any
amount of abstractonsm upon the subject Of
sin in general that the preacher chooses to in
dulge in. They never object to eloquent in
vectves against the Old-time Phariseeism; but
"A word rcbuking those who, today, "devour
widows, hopes, and for pretence make long
prayers" will be Shure to call down upon the
offending preacher the most emphatic oburga-
tions, and he may deem himself a fortunate man
# he does not hear omnous hints OF reduction
of salary, or his disnssOn from the parish.
This assumption of demagoguism TO control
the utterance of the pulpit, will, of course, be
met by calm placiical reputation, from every
one who Is worthy TO occupy a pulpit, or has
any true Apprehension of what is involved in a
! faithful preaching of the gospel. If the prin-
ciples of the Christian religion have no appli.
cation to the business of men-to their every
day conduct, we'll as 10 their DeIIeIs ana
emotions, then they have no special value for
this world however excellent they may be for
the merit: but if they are to govern all our &C
tiriticS, and enter into the everyday transac-
tons of life, their faithful application to what
} ever interests or concerns men, becomes the
} preachers imperative duty, failing in which,
he fails to preach the gospel.
: There is no domain of human interest, or of
; human activity. that these principles do not
reach. They are TO be applied to the designs
and dolngs of parties and of governments, hs
well as to the purpose and conduct of the indi-
vidual men. If the rummseller pursues a traf-
} hc fraught with deadicst evil to his fellow
fhp m Of the 0nSnol ka~r
back God stestimony against so terrible a wrong
=" Wo unto him that putteth the bottle to his
J neighbOrs lips! :" If the civil power sanctions
the wrong, he may not suppress the denuncia-
ton OF Heaven against those "whO decree un-
a. righteous decr.es" If politicians league to-
,. gether to sustain it, that fact docs not lessen
t his obligation to speak out in condemnation of
8 L, and in faithful rebuke of all who are impl-
Gated IN It's perpetratlon.
;. Yet if he does this, he is accused of" preach
ing politics." Very well-such accusation
:, is certificate of his faithfulness as a minister
> ofthe gospel The man who does not not "preach
politics" in country like ours, where all the
y machinery of civil government and all the res
possibility of enactlng and executing laws are
W devolved upon the people, should never enter
:; pulpit, nor dclude himself with the idea that
he Is qualified to lead and instruct his fellow
- mentor either the intelligence that appre-
s. hends duty, or the faithuness that dikchar-
m gCS it in the setene confidence that God will
N take care OF the consequences, is in his case,
&c wanting. But perhapse some one will ask
e; what do you mean by the phrase, "preach-
ing politics }" Exactly what those ministers
IS of the gospel mean by 1t, who are accused OF
r. doing so-ri:: the faithful application o.
EN- Bible principles TO all political activities.
IT. Ii a man in his business transactions with hls
IN fellow, where only comparatively trihing IN
on terests involved affecting none but the par
ties immediately concerned, is bound TO obey
OH the moral law, his obligation TO do SO can GER
mt tainly be less, in matters that involve the
II public interests and have most important bear
XII ing upon the public morality. Law educate'
NY the people into Just that kind of morality which
Fry II represents II 1t sanctions q wicked traffic
ers that debases and memOrallzes men, it educate'
'ed whole communities into false moraliiies: iii
ro- condemns the wrong and sustainsn the right
EN- thus becoming terror to evil-doers and praise
to them that do vel" it is "a minister OF Got
pay for good" How absurd, then, the idea tina
the the pulpit has nothing to de with the moral
a of politics or that the minister of the gospe
I'd S departs from the line OF duty when he claim
10 that Gods jurisdiction extends over the ballC
Ou box, and that votes are acts, and as such are
It's be tested by the unchanging principles OF mo
lere ality! To tempt brother to ruin, or to plune
him into an abyss of intamy, through the ope
?, alton OF law, 10 no less crime against God al
Un- humanity, than to do the same without Il
nus sanction of the State, upon ones individual
mn, spOnsibilty. The principles which should GO
ooS' cru all our actions, public or private, prop
o. subjects for pulpit discusson--as are the NOR
Wh qualifications OF rulers, and the moral charact
0me; ~ laws The fact that the R;ble Is moi sle
e. unon tbose ton;cs hnt contains .neci6c instn
per tons in reference 10 them. il demonstration
soldte that they come within the province
the pulpit seer ~. Q 10 as
mines We are glad that We can add that hundre
char if not thousands, of clergymen in this st
nsty have practically committed themselves TO