Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1854-10-09
Moral versus Legal suasion.

life, sufferings and crucifxiop of Christ,
is without doubt the grandest arrangement
OF charity and philanthropy, the world
has ever witnessed. Viewing it as an
economy of human justice and equity, 1T
stands unparalleled, in the perfect har-
mony of its parts, and its self consistency.
1t rises, at the very first introduction, far
above any system OF finite production, and
is stamped, by its intrinsic beauty and per-
lection, as Of infinite creation. What hui
man understanding, by its native vigor,
could comprehend the grand system of re-
demptional economy? What finite reason
could embrace in its scope the stupendous
plan Of mans salvation, and by its provi-
sions, reach from the beginning to the
end Of time9 The very perfection Of this
great saving system, precludes the idea Of
human genius entering into its compost
ton. 1t is proclaimed, by its superiority,
divine. 1t stands off in the tenderness of
love and the sternness Of justice, the ideal
of reconciled mercy and justice. and
claims the unbounded admiration Of the
mind, becarse it perfects the plan for the
salvation of the soul.
A great element Of its beauty and at
traction--its great lever-power--is moral
suosion. It assumes man to be mora!
agent-independent to choose or reject
this sublime system and its saving doctrine.
II comes not to him clothed in the stern
ness Of statutory enactm ents, to force the
mind-that offshoot Of divinity ltself--to
adopt and embrace lis provisions. II asks
not that brute force may be employed to
compel man 10 give . mechanical sssest
while the faculties of the soul reject it,
But he is approached as an. intelligent be-
ing, who possesses reasoninx faculties to
discriminate betw cen right and wrong
Righteousness and it, rewards, and sin and
its punishments, are placed before him.
He is free to choose between tbem--as-
suming, at the same time, the responsible
ity of his action. He 10 free moral
agent.
Temperance is one Of the christian graces.
1t is inseparably connected with the chris
tian character. It is prominent ard in
dispensable feature Of christian experience,
aud can no more be enforced By statutory
law. than religion itself. 1t 10 reforms
ton, to be genuine, flowing Immediately
from the great reservoir Of the moral senti-
ment-the heart. 1t il the result Of grace.
You may. by legal enactments, and Prohi-
bltion, check for while the indulgence Of
mans thirst or appetite; but it is only
staying the rushing torrent, to give strength
and fury TO its onward course. Unless unre-
strained, it will break through EVERY bar
rier-oyerleap every impeachment. lfyou
desire 10 check the stream. you must dry
up the fountain. II you seek to reform =
mans life and habits. begin with his heart.
Address him as free moral agent; and
not as brute. Nothing but divine grace
can effect change in the moral sentiment
can encraft one Of the christian graces
on his heart, and transform his habits
What minister Of the gospel would desire
to see, in religion, moral suasion superseded
by legal sausons Who in this enhghten-
ed and christian age, would wish to see
the stake and the fagot brought to operate
in behalf Of the religion Of the Bible p
How would such a system Of compnlsion
compare with that by which the doctrines
Of the christian religion are now propaga-
ted? What would become Of mans moral
agency Where would the efficiency Of the
church lie, save in the burning torch, and
torturiug rack Man is not brute. He
has soul-he has superior mental endow-
ments to enable him TO decide between
accepting and rejecting the christian re-
lieioa. This i, privilege pertaining to
himself and not affecting tho rights or
immuni ties Of others. tvs one Of the
privileges growing out Of his free moral
agency. II is an incident Of his creation
a constituent, cf his assimilation TO the i'm
age of his God-an element of Heaven
moral economy. Shall man. then assume
to "play little providence" and improve
upon the moral polity Of God? Shall be
seek to contravene the designs Of the In
finite, and set himself up as better moral
teacher than Jesus Of Nazareth Shall
INV Lord Coke" undertake the mission
Of my Lord Jesus Christi Shall the
Bible and its gracious doctrines be dis
carded, and the world look for ito lessons
Of morality, to the "Blue Lava" Of New
England The thought is presumptuous
lis blasphcmous-and at the very first
blush. indicates the length TO which man
may go-even with the light OF the Bible
before him.
II men desire to reform the moral con-
dition Of the country, let them preach aud
practice the graces Of the spirit. Let the
virtues Of religion-meekness. patience,
temperance and charity-be exhibited in
IL. Jo;lv ,volLs and then they NAV hone