The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-08-06
Sullaay Rra1illg.
RELIGION AND POLITICS.

There seems never TO have been time
in the history Of our country, when ques-
tons OF religious and political science were
80 mingled together as the present.
When We open paper, it is often hard
TO tell, at the first glance. whether it is n
political or religious journal. In all parts
of our land, but especially in the Northern
portions. the pl .ttorm and the stump give
excited utterance to theological dogmas,
while the pulpit thunderS forth political
harangues. To what all this will grow,
we have not the prophetic ken by which
we may foretell. But in the midst of all
the commotion and confusion, VIC can see
one lamentabIe reversal OF the order of
truth. Christians. supposing that they
are carrying their rrli sion into the sphere
OF their carthl Y interests, are in fact bring
ing their politics and worldly matters, in.
to the serene and elevated sphere OF their
religion. This is course rs unnatural
and irrational, as It is disastrous TO the
best interests OF humanity.
Religion is a pure, hcavcn-born maid,
of noble mien and serene countcuance.
She stands upon a lofty elevation OF truth,
and goodness, and love; and thence she
surveys with tender interest the scene O!
turmoil and strife, of sin and woe, which
human affairs present to her plying gaze
From her height, whence she beholds at
one glance, the whole of the confused aud
troubled sea, she ;nlerposes with gentle
ness and love; she reaches forth her hand
TO soothc and calm, to restrain and guide
She brings order out of confusion turns
wrath and strife to peace and love, and
sheds benign and heavenly influence
over the raging and tossing sea of human
passions. In her closest mmgling with
the world and its conflicts, She till main.
talns her own elevation, and keeps her
garments all unspotted from the contact.
She is IN the world, YET no, OF it, She
lives and moves aud works a mighty work
i'll the very midst Of the worlds cenno.
ton. Yet is she above the world, with all
her aspirations toward heaven and eterni
ty. Such is the position of religion, and
such her relations TO politics and all Other
earthly things. But of late we have seer
her descend into the heated arena, lose
herself in tie surging and tossing crowd
and when next she emerges, or rather
when her position is again occupied, ii,
no longer by herself, but a drunken drab
wild with excitement, raves and retcL e:
and beches forth words of strife and scorn
b!oodshed and bitterness, adding fuel to
the flames 80 haired and envy, aud mock
ing heaven with daring and b'asphemy -
eSsaying even TO WELD the thundrrs oil
Jehovah. When such scene meets our
troubled vision we cry, surely religion has
been trodden in the streets, truth and
righteousness lie bleeding in the dust
Alas, alas I! has she perishe6 forever!--
Shall we never more behold her beauty
and feel her sweet attractions 2 Yes, she
shall come forth. Religion is Of heaven
Iy birth; she is immortal as tile days OF
Jehovah. God her author, lives and reigns,
and this is our comfort in these DAYS of
darkness, that the Lord rcigneih. Tho
earth may therefore rejoice, and the null
titudes of the isles be glad thereof
Presbyteriaps Hemh.