Eastern times., 1855-10-04

march to the battle field to repel an invading
foe: but these occasions are few and far be-
tween, and we take it for granted that our sis
| ter state is not SO deficient in good men among
her laity, 70 represent all shades Of political
opinion, asfo make any such draft upon her
clergy a necessity at this time. There is no
such repugnauce among laymen, generally, to
office-holding as 10 make it necessity tor
clergymen to lay aside preaching the un-
searchable riches of Christ to sinners, who are
going to perdition in such great numbers, and
take the stump in favor of any political prnci-
pies, no matter how important they may be-
The question whether any political measure
will carry falls infinitely, in its importance
below that other question, whether men will
dwell in heaven or hell forever. One immor-
tai soul is worth more than all the world be-
sides, and TO save it from death is greater
work tlMn to revolutionize the whole congress
or state legislature
We know that it is pleaded that the tempo
raj and eternal interests of men are so blended
and bound up together that the one deeply af-
tects the other, and that by promoting the one
we advance the other also. This is true, but
it is just as true of all man S other temporal
interests as it is of politics. If it be good
reason for the clergy's embarking on the
stormy sea of politics, it is Just as good for
their leaving their chosen work and engaging
in any and every other scheme which will pro-
mote the temporal welfare of men. There are
thousands of good things (which a clergyman
may not do. The great Head of the Church,
in assigning to his people their respective
work, has gone on the principle of the division
of labor The minister of the Gospel has his
duties laid off and defined at length, in his
commission, and no layman has any right to
intrude himself into any of the functions of the
sacred office. The laty have their duties de-
fined also; and the minister may not quit his
station of influence and come down into their
province, any more than they may 90 up into
his Every man is usefal and to be respected
in his proper place, but when he gets out of
it, he is not only shorn of his usefulness, but
he soon loses the respect of the community
He who stumps it all the week in favor of his
own claims to a particular civil office will not
be likely to be listened to with great respect
by his opponents on the Sabbath, when he
arises TO plead the claim of Christ to their
hearts affections. The politician and the
preacher will be so completely identified in
their associations, that they will not, even if
they could do so, separate them. How much
towards the salvation of world in ruins would
Paul have accomplished, ify instead of deter
mining to know nothing, save Christ and him
crucified, at Rome, he had taken the stump
against Nero, and proved, TO a perfect demon
stration, that he was the greatest tyrant that
ever sat upon throne, and that his reign was
a grand obstacle in the way of the success of
the gospel through his vast empirel He
might have proved this with perfect ease, and
sci The whole empire in blaze he might
possibly have brought about great and valu-
able revolution but that not his work.
Christ had commissioned him not to put down
Nero but to set up his own kingdom in the
hearts Of men. He has given the same com
mission TO every. .other true minister of the
gospel. Their work is high and holy one !;
let them not neglect it to DO one that is inf
nitely inferior 10 it.