Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1856-11-28
Political PREACHING

political engine. That is not its
province. II is to reprove sin, incul-
cate morals, and enjoin Christian du-
ties--not merely the duties of Chris
tiaas. in the house Of God, but in the
every day business of life. 1t is not
its place to deal in distractions, but in
specifcation-not to rcprove the sins
of those who are dead, or who are
out Of hearing, but of those who
live, and who are present. Nathan
preached to David. David felt very
comfortable while Nathan dealt in
parallels, but when he said Thou art
the man," and told him that the sin
was political sin-a bad arrange
ment Of the men Of the army. for the
accomplishment of wicked purpose,
David repented. Nathan might have
preached till doom's-day in abstract
generalities, and David would have
sinned on. The sanhedrim got very
mad at Peter, and the apostles. not
so much because they preached Jesus
and the Resurrection, as, because
they were personal. Had they char
ged the death of Christ upon the Ro-
mans. it would have been bearable,
but they complained bitterly because
they intended "to bring this man S
blood upon us"--you NEEDLE in poll
tics. The Cruciiction OF Christ was
an act Of the State-a political mat
ter, what right had preachers to med :.
die in politics Peters answer was
noble and Christian-like. whether
il be right to obey God or man Judge
ye-God hath raised up Jesus. whom
&c slew." He was personal. He
preached to those sinners. of the sins
they were guilty OF, not of the sins Of
the Egyptians Paul was equally Of
fensive. He preached of righteous
ness and temperance to Felix, till the
old sinner trembled. They were po-
lilical sins. He preached against ly-
hog and murder and adultery and all
such political sins, but he did it before
the sinners who were guilty. Mr..
Barger is right in refusing to preach
against the sin Of slavery in Illinois,
unless il was introduced, or likely to
be introduced there. He may, and
doubtless does preach against the sin
Of drunkenness in all its connections
personal, lsocial and political. That
is living and terrible sin, Of living
sinners in lllinoise. and Christian
minister. who would not preach
against it, is poor excuse, though
some OF its relations are political,
Drunkenness is powerful political
engine in Illinois. but wo. to the cow
ardly priest who fears to bring against
IL the anathamas oil the Gospel. be.
cause demagogues say it is a political
question. Thus did not Christ oil
his apostles. Were Mr.. Barger in
Kansas or Kentucky he should preach
against slavery. and. should all preach.
ers do so, II would DO eradicated in q
very short time. Yet Mr.. Bager does
not say that he will not teach his flock
that in their political acts they are not
to forget their Christian character
as citizens they are responsible for the
laws that exist, and rs Christians they
should seek to enact such laws as will
be promotive Of the moral welfare o.
society. Demagogues are wonder
fully afraid OF political preachers. simp'
ly because they are afraid Of the poll
tics Of the bible, or because their poll.
tics are opposed to the bible. We
hope the time will never come, when
churches will become places Of politi'
cal harangues, and ministers tho ex'
Founders Of political creeds, aud We
equally hope that the time will never
come when ministers will be deferred
from preaching against sins. because
politicians see it to claim them rs sa
cred to politics. Such sin Is slavery
but free state is not the place e
preach IL. except in regard to the yc
ny remote degree in which the cii
zens Of free States are responsible fol
its existence. Hence Mr.. Barger wa
right in refusing TO preach against sla
very in Illinois. lie had been attack
cd through the papers Tor not preach
ing on the subject Of slavery. III
makes the following reply;
PAYsos, Sept 2. 1856.
"Now, TO the task Of yindlcstion
which L. certainly light ono. Tn,
grave charge resting upon ms, as wei
~ others OF the same class, Is that W,
are "silent upon the subject Of Amer
lean slavery" | acknowledge th,
fact. but cannot, with my friend, &C
knowledge any guilt. Ny reasons fo
such silence are M follows
LIST. There are no Shareholders il
my congregations. AS n Methods
minister lind this requisttion in oul
discipline. (page 55,) with which
am bound TO comply. always sui
your subject to your audience" and Al
slavery does not exist In my bounds.
have nothing TO 10 with Ii. II / fol
that American slavery 10 sin. ant
think that God has called upon mo e
expose that sin, | would not remain !,
Illinois. where that sin docs not and i
not likely TO exist, but would ra,hel