The Trinity journal., 1856-12-20

HE PATRIOTISM OF THE BIBLE.-The Lou
isville Presbyterian Herald has the follow
ing excellent remarks applicable to the pres
ent time:
The Christian who does for his country
all that the Bible requires him to do, will be
the very highest style of patriot His relig-
ion require him to love all men, even inclu-
ding his enemies, and to do good to all men
as he has opportunity. He is commanded
to love his country, but he is not permitted
to hate other countries, and to tear them
down that he may build his own up. He
should love his whole country, and not sim
ply the particular portion of it in which he
resides. The patriotism Of the Bible is
wholly opposed to sectionaiSm or the feeling
which seek to aggrandze one particular sec
ton OF the country at the expense of the
other. 1t was remarked of nations that
their interests never clash with each other,
though there may at times appear to be a
conflict. The same remark may be made
touching the interests Of different sections Of
one great country like ours. There may, at
times, seem to De conflict between the in
terests Of the North and the South, and the
East and the West but it is really not So
If one member of the body polite suffers, all
the members of the body will sooner or later
feel the effects of it. That interest of any sec
tion whichis promoted by the injury of anoth-
or 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 prOspered 10y
the ruin of his neighbors. He may appear,
for season, to prosper, but in the end their
injury will be reflected back upon himself
1t is impossible, therefore, in the very
nature Of the case, that Christian patriotism
can be sectional. 1t seeks to promote the
interests Of the whole country, because by
SO doing it best promotes the welfare ofcyery
part Of it. 1t seeks no advantage for its
section at the expense of others. Mason
and Dixon's line is not the boundary Of its
affections. If it brcatbes in the bosom of a
man. South Of that line, it makes him rejoice
in the prosperity of his fellow citizens whose
lots are cast North of it, as much as does the
prosperity of his own section. If it is found
in a Northern bosom it is equally as eXpan-
sive. 1t embraces the South as well as the
North in the arms of its love The Chris
tan patriot ought to ask himself the ques-
ton how would | regard the measure or
policy which | now advocate were | in the
place of my fellow citizen in another section ?
What influence will my fayorite measures Or
men have upon the whole country and not
simply upon the part of it in which reside 2
He should expand his mind and take enlarg-
ed views Of the subject There is nothing
narrow or contracted about Christianity
Those professors of it who have contracted
views or feelings have them in spite Of their
religion, and not in virtue Of it, If the
enlarged patriotism nculcated in the Bible,
could only become thoroughly predominant
once more in the heart of Christian men at
the North and at the 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 such violence
would soon cease. If the North would do
to the South, and the South do to the
North just what they would each have the
other to do to them, were their circumstan-
ces reversed, all contention would soon cease,
and peace and harmony would soon prevail
again. This is precisely the kind Of patriot
ism which the Bible inculcates. Without
this 10 country as large as ours is can long
hold together and prosper. With it it may
flourish and grow stronger to the end of
time.