Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1855-01-31
For he Raftsman' Journal.
PREACH FRS AND pn;TTyCS.

think he would swell to the size OF an enof-
nous bullock. He wants also to be great
Loco Foco, as some peopl- are called by the
profanc- He came down me the other
day, like a tornado from the Apprentices.
suppose he thought he would anihilate me at
once. We'll, | will send thee the dialogue
that passed between us, and thee shall Judge
whether he has succeeded. 1t was pretty bold
in the young ssspalpeen'' to attack an old
grey headed man in this way but don't mind
that, as it gives me an opportunity to speak
for the truth.
Dayid-Well, Zedekia thee has got to be a
great politician, and a writer, too, for the pa
pers. | think old folks should be thinking
about a better would than this, and leave these
political matters to US young men, we can at
tend to them.
Zedekia-David. have mind to speak to
thee as Job spake to his wife; ssThee speaks
as one of the foolish young men speak, and
knows not what thee says. Age and expert
ence give wisdom, and all the wisdom that can
be had is needed to save the political ship
from wreck.
Daria-But Zedekia, the world is wiser
than when you were boy, and we young men
know better how to mango these matters than
you old men do, You should leave this matter
to us.
Zef.-David, why is thee unwilling that
should be good citizen, ard do all the duties
of a citizen-sren my aohoIe duly.
Dau,d-But Zedellia, is it not wrong to mix
religion and politics
Zsd.-What does thee mean, David, by mir
ing religion and politics Iwant to know what
thee means by miring them7 Who has sep
arated them God has not
Darid-Why every body is talking about
mixing religion and politics, and the papers
are saying a great deal against preachers med
ling with politics, as if it was a great sin, and
think it is wrong for good men to have any
thiuU IN do with nOlitjcS
Zer.-Well David, if thee will listen like
boy of sense, will try and deliver the from
some very foolish and wild notions, for there
is much truth in the old proverb, that ''young
folks think old folks are fools, but old folks
know that yoang folks are fools" 1t is wrong
David, to have Il good government?
D arid-No, certainly not
Zel.-Well, is it not more probable that
good men will make 4 good government, than
that wicked men will do it!
DaUid--I suppose it is Men do not gather
grapes of thorns; but I don't like this mixing
religion and politics.
Zed-David. good man cannot separate
his religion from his daily conduct; if he does,
be acts irreligiously, and is an irreligious
man. Consequently he cannot separate his
religion from his politics.
Dacid-Weu, good men and preachers have
no right TO meddle with politics.
Zsd.-Cln you show me David, where God
their duty % their country and their fellow
men Has he given them q different moral
law from the common one, or have they not
the same duties to perform that other men
have and must they not account to God for
the performance, or performance OF those
duties just as others DO. That which makes
the difference between good man and bad
man, is, the performance or nan-performanee
Of his duties.
Daui3-If it is not wrong for ChriStiansaal
Minister to meddle with politics, why do
the members of Congress, AMI the papers and
the lawyers, ana every boly cry ont ag1jnst it
so much.
Ze1.-And David, why does the wolfcry out
against the watch dog simply because he
wont let him carry OF the lambs rs h plcises.
The devil, and wicked men want to have eve
ry thing their own way, they want the spoil,
aud ministers and good men are awfHlly in
their way some times Just Is the watch dog
is in the way Of the wolf. What does Christ
say about this. e'H ye were of the world, the
world would love its own, bat because We are
not of thu world. but [ have chosen YOU out
of the world, therefore the world hateth You"
D1riF-But Zrdekia, it is not every minis
ter that they rail against, it is only those that
are meddiing with other peoples business, and
preaching politics. They like we'll enough,
those who preach the gospel and let other
things alone.
q.
in me, would call thee by hard name, but !
viii just say. thee has not got thy eyes open
yet, thee is like little kitten, thee sees moth
ing ut all. The world are pleased with minis
ters, just as chillren are pleased with puppets,
because they can mike them play 10 their hanl
A minister may fire away against the sins Of
the man in the moon, or against the sins Of
the men before the food or he may come
down to the sins of the Pharisees, and Of Her
oi, and of Pelate, and Of Ju1,s. and Simon
Mangus, if he only wont preach as to lead
them TO draw an inference against themselves
and the people will be well enough satisfied;
but let him level his gun against their own
wrong doings, aud there is an awful screaming
DGgil-But how is it that some ministers
can get along smoothly enough. No person has
any harm to say of them, when they don't med
die with other peoples business, nor preach
politics.
Zs4.-I can tell you how they do it, David.
They load their arms with bian5s cartridges,
they do'st put 6aIis ist, tleir g9as, and conse-
quently they hurt no body. A preacher may
binster, and froth and foam as much as he
pleases, he may load his gun with powder up
to the muzz.e, and make ever 50 loud a report,
no body IS afraid Of il as long IS there is no
metal in the charge. Every body nay be
pleased with the s.sound and fury" But let
him once lold with ball and grape, and there
VIII be an awful hut.ering among the wounded
aud great complaint az iinst him.
DIrif-But Uncle, some men can put ball
and grape, as You say, into their gnns, and yet
get along smoothly, when they don't NEEDLE
with politics.
Zel.-That may be David, provided, they
point them at the man in the moon, as l said,
and hurt no body, or they may succeed pretty
well, as gu may suppose, if they viii take
care to level their pieces at some poor oppres-
Sed downtrodden, wronged man, that nobody
cares for, or who is SO far crushed, and friend
less and dSpirited that he wont resent it, or
one who IN " be such an outcast, and outlaw