M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1855-09-06

NNNHS'FS "lb O4lCholNC olHlouI, ucGu
in former time, which was furnished
by tie God Of this worId, wlerewith
to enable appstale Christians to destroy
each other and devastated the spiritual
Kingdom OF Christ-aud ior the adoP
tiotrol which Romanists OF other days
have been justly reprobatel,
But the question now presses itsell
on tie attention Of the American pub.
Ilie; Is this The true spirit Of Protests
dliil,m, or is Il aoi2 Are those meas
ares, the paidraL production OF TIA,
.Spiilt, OF are they foreign gratis, uu,
fhaidrsI and dangerous 10 its lie aud
lselulnesy9 Nye main.ain lie latter
View, and believe il.nIe duty ot esets
Protestant minister TO use becoSDng
efforts to redeem Protestant Chrish,G.
lly, iron the false position in &aSh
unlliinaIng mep would place hers
Il has been said that all the b,-
estant ministers OF the country are
members of'the secret political organ,
lzatIon, called Know Nothings. Thi,
We deny, Tor we know many who 4
they are not, and we know them to M
men OF trntii, twho speak the truth In
the hearty aud woald.not make a false
impression 10 deceive, and we believe
the number OF such to be,isr greater in
the SIales, than those who have be-
come nIembeFS of suca an order. But
that some have entered this political
organization is not questioned, Vet we
maintain that they did so more from
The persuasion oil Interested pattizahs,
than from the mature convictions of
their judgment, and no doubt ere many
mouths nave elapsed, the great mass OF
such ministers will reconsider their
ground, and Withdraw their endorse.
ment OF all ptoscripIive policy, or
measures OF any kind. But OF those
who choose to give the hlgn sanction
OF their sacred Office to political pro-
scrlpuon, we must say, that such a
minority cannot be the Legitimate reps
resentatlon oil their brethren, or Their
churches; aud | apptehend they make
no such prelenSions; and II they do f;
we deny that traction OF the Protest.
ant ministry or churches, have the
right or The power by any act OF theirs
to Tx the charge OF aproscrlptiye spir-
It on the whole collective body O,
Professionalism. l
10 such, however | would respect
luIly address wotd1of .emonslfadtv
IN humility, actualed no! so much from
sy mpsthy with but Tor the suffering Tor
elgner, although that would not be an
unworthy motive, as by Jealousy for
The character Of that 81 stem OF religion
which calms TO lie the most tolerant on
eartn.
Can any evangelical minister point
10 the section In his commission re-
ceived from the Great Teacher, which
authorizes him to become an active
member OF secular or ecclesiastical
having Tor lis object the
depression OF any IehgIon, however
false, by the use Of political measures,
coerslye or proscnpIhe in their nature
lis there section in the great com.
mission that enlOlnS this course OF COLI
.duct even when the government and
laws OF a country JuSulies the adoption
OF such measures? We know oil none.
But when the spirit Of the Constitu.
tlon and laws OF the land forbid such
conduct, where is the divine commis>
sion 10 ministers OF the Gospel that en-
joins such violation OF them, and lor
such purpose? The commission is,
go, teach all nations, baptlzing them
in the name OF the Father, aud OF the
Son, and OF the Holy Ghost, teaching
them 10 observe all things whatsoey yer
lhaye commanded you" And prom
uent amongst those sacted orders we
lind the following directions "Swear
not at all, " "reslst not evil, but whose
ever shall smlte thee on thy right cheek,
turn TO him the other also," Glove
} Our enemies, bless them that curse
ou," Judge not that ye be not judgs
ed" Aud Christ thus speaks OF ms
great mission to earth, and the mission
OF his followers. "The Son of Mau
is not come 10 destroy mems lives but
to save them, ""behold | send ou iortu
as lambs amongst wolves" "whatso.
ever ye would mat men should do to
ou, do ye even so to them.'
Now the question arises how did
the early teachers OF Christianity un.
derstand those precepls, did they seek
the political ascendeney in any land, so
as to weld the arms oil civil or polni-
cal power Tor the advancement oil the
truth, or did tney use physical force,
as one OF their arguments in convert
Ing those who opposed them. Hear
tuem, as their voice comes over the
expanse OF eignIeen hundred centuries,
clear and heavenly as when first lifted
on iul buient and diSordered world,
yet refreshing and soothing to the chaied
and angry spirit OF humanity. "Tho'
| speak with the tongue OF men and
OF angels, and have not charity, | am
become as sounding brass, or a tlnk.
ling cymbal." "See that none render