The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1856-12-18
Patriotism Of the Bible

InE following article from the Louisville
lOid SchocD Presbyterian paper reflects viv,
IDLY the principles Of a christian patriot:
The christian who does for his country
all that the Bible requires him to do will be
The very highest style OF patriot, His reli
gion requires him to love all men, even in
cluding his enemies, and to do good to all
men rs he has opportunity. He is com.
manded to love his country, but lie is not
permitted to hate other countries, and to
tear them down tba: he may build his own
up. lie should love his whole country. and
not simply She particular portion of it in
which he resides.
The patriotism of tho Bible is wholly Oh.
posed TO sectionaliSm or the feeling which
seeks to aggrandize one particular section of
the country at the expense of the other. 1t
was remarked of uations that their interests
never clash with each other, though there
may, at times, appear to be conflict. The
same remark may be made touching of in
terests or different sections Of one great
country like ours. There NAV. at times,
seem to be a conflict between the interests
OF the North ard the South. and the East
aud the West, but it is really not 80. Ii
one member of the body pulitic suffers, all
the members will, sooner or later, feel the
effects Of it. That interest of anv section
which is promoted by the injury of another
section Is only temporary one. The pros
perity promoted in such way will eventually
be seen to be not lasting prosperity, inst
as no man can be permanently prospcred by
the ruin of his neighbors. lie may appear,
for season, to prosper but, in the end, their
Injury will be reflected back upon himself.
II Is impossible, therefore, in the very ma.
ture of tue case, that christian patriotism
can be sectional. 1t seeks to promote the
Interests of the whole country. because by
so doing it bes; promotes the welfare of ev.
cry part OF It. l. seeks no advantage for its
section at tile expense of others. Mason and
lixon's line is not the boundary of its affec
tons. If 1t hreathes in the bosom of a man
south OF that line it makes him rejoice in
the prosperity Of those of his fellow. citizens
whose lots are cast north Of il as much rs
does the prosperity of his own section. iii,
Is found in u Northern bosom it is equally as
expansive. Ii embraces the South AS we'll A.
tho North in the arms ofits love. The cl,ris
tian patriot ought to ask himself the uues
iion how would regard the measure o
policy which now advocate were / in tho
place Of my fellow citizens in another sec
tiona What influence will my avorite
measures or men have upon the whole
country, and not simply upon the par, of il
in which reside" lie should expand his
mind and take enlarged views of the sub.
ject ... =, ..... i. -.
There is nothing narrow or contracted
about Christianity. Those professors of i,
who have contracted views or feelings have
them in spite of their religion, and not ir
virtue Of it. If the enlarged patriotism in.
culcated in the Bible could only become
thoroughly predominant once more in III,
hearts of Christian men at the North and
South if they could be brought to lay
aside all reference to their particular sections
and would all look at the greatest good Of
the whole country, the strife which is now
raging with sue violence would soon cease.
If the North would do to the South. and the
South do to the North, just whnt they
would each lave the other do to them, were
their circumstances reversed, all contention
would cease, and peace and harmony would
soon prevail again. This is precisely the
kind of patriotism which the Bible incul.
Gates. Without this, no country as large as
ours is can hold together and prosper. With
it, it may flourish and grow stronger to the
end Of time. ,r -