The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-06-23


or the Sacrament commemorate events that
never occurred. As to the other part of the
suPposition, it implies either very great ig-
norance in the objector, or very great fraud,
and the presumption Of ignorance in those
who are expected to believe it. For so far
from having been an instrument to enslave
men, it is one of the clearest records of his
tory that freedom, personal, mental and civ
iT, have in all ages been enjoyed in proper.
ton as the Bible has been. freely circulated
and honestly received. The freest nations
now are those who have freest enjoyment
of the Bible.
2. The next thing to which would call
your attention, is to the Bible as power in
history, potential influence, moulding and
making history what it has been. The re-
cords Of history before the Christian Era are
so few and so imperfect, that we cannot
easily discern what influences are at work.
The historians of that age did not attempt to
write the history of people or an age, but
some isolated events of history. Yet most
of the history which is left to us, clusters
around that little land of Palestine. We
know that it had much influence on the his
tory of Egypt, of Assyria, Babylon and Per-
sia. But the Old Testament Church was
designed to be the conservator and nurse of
religion, not its promulgator. We must
come to the era of the Crucifxion of Christ,
to trace its influence on history. We find
that the whole history of the world has been
shaped by it. The history of kings and ma
tions, the greatest and the least, are but
subordinate acts of the great drama embrac-
ed in the history of the Church. We see,
indeed, the acts of q. petty ambition here
and there an ambition that overleaps all
bounds, but all clustering around central
power, the christian religion, which modfes
their plans, controls and guides the enter
prises of rulers. Now they seek to crush il
out, but it is mightier than they are. Now
they seek its alliance, under pretence Of de-
Tending it; but in reality 10 gain support
from it. 1t has overthrown kings, divided,
united empires. The Bible has been at
one time slowed away, lost, forgotten, and
priestcraft has usurped its placei but again
it has been brought to light and exhibited a
power which showed that the spirit of the
Almighty God was ,oith it, and in it. And
at this day it is putting forth more power
than ever before. 1t is at this day turning
the world upside down, and we can see tina,
it has power to overcome every opposing
force.
1t mas also moulded the opinions of men
and given form to society. When it was
first published, it was opposed by stupendu-
GUS systems of idolatry, which had called
art and learning, and talent, to promote
their influence. 1t was opposed by the
wealth, the historic reccolIections, the pride
and pomp and power Of the whole earth
and it was time when the learning ot
Greece and the power of Rome were at their
highest point. 1t made their idols totter
and fall. For ages it resisted all the pow
er Of the empire. Its all conquerng lie.
gions found here power silent and witkou,
weapons, yet too mighty for them. 1t over
came and placed Christian on the throne
of the Caesars. 1t awakened the human
mind to thought and science, literature and
art have followed in its train. 1t has eleva-
ted woman from the rank of slave, to be
the equal, and companion of man. It has
made life, person, and property more secure,
multiplied the comforts of life thousand
fold in every christian land, and has given
man all the freedom there is on earth. Ev.
cry human philosophy has sought the eleva-
ton of the few to the neglect of the many
Over the door of the Grecian Academy il
was written "let no man unskilled in Geom.
etry come in hither." Over the door ot
Christ's house it is written "whoever will
let him come and take of the waters of life
freely" Every system of government moi
founded on the principles of the word Of
God has elevated the few, at the expense Of
the many. Greece and Rome, with all thei
boasted freedom, had three or four slaves to
one free man. Egypt and Babylon, Syria
and Persia were irresponsible despotisms at
home, and derived their wealth from the
plumber of surrounding nations. The Bible,
only, has made this and other christian ma
| tions to differ from them. 1t has taught
men that they all have the same lation to
God, the common Father; that they all may
be reunited to Him on the same terms.--
Thus, it has shown men that they are all
brethren; taught them what they never sus.
pected before, and never were taught by any
other means; that they all have equal rights
and given to the lowly courage to maintain
them. 1t has done more than all other eau.
ses combined to improve the condition oi
the poor and raise them from the dust, for il
teaches that to be man is greater thing
than to be king. Under its influence the
first and only systems of popular education
have been adopted Thus, by the use OF
mans ihstrumentalities, it has gone forward
remodelling society, and exerting its power
TO elevate the race. We find it the only
power that has ever changed society for the
better. There is evidence in ancient hIsto.
ry, that the tendency OF all things was down.
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