The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1856-09-06
The Words OF a True Christian.

to the Journal Of Commerce, from the Rev
DR.. Cox, Of New York, will be read will
deep interest and respect. DIR. Cox is al
eminent Presbyterian clergyman, settled foi
many years In New York:
THE NATION EIGHTY YEARS OLD THIS DAY.
In these stimulating and critical times, i.
seems difficult, for an honest and sober cler-
gyman, either to keep his place, or some
times to know what and where his place is.
Loving as | do my country, "wth all its
faults, yet not loving its faults, desire to
do any proper thing for its welfare, that
can 90 IN consistency with my official duties,
as a minister Of a kingdom nat Of M6 uorh
Our national crisis is alarming; and de-
nonstrates some results and perils, which
We have predicted, from processes at work
to produce them, Of which We know the
operations; and the consequences of which,
when they occur to the common damage.
are ignored by the authors of the means that
induced them. They do mis- hief, and then
say--what pity! told you so
Ministers of Christ ought to preach-not
politics, but the gospel. This is their theme,
and their stOre-house of themes, for the
education of the people, and their ofspring
nth them, for heaven. This is neyer to be
superseded, OF neglected, or performed with
slack hand. Time for eternity should they
redeem.
think also that minister Of Christ ought
not to be partizan, certainly not section
slist. He ought to be superior to both. He
cannot properly be a mere servile or an ap-
pendix TO some human person and his for
tunes, as a candidate for office, presidential.
or any other. There is a happy medium
he has duties to his country, especially in
the United States of America He ought to
pray in private, and especially in public, for
his country and this with solemn and COLI
fding Intercession for its temporal and spi-
ritual welfare. Our country is worth prav-
ing Tor; and when prayer is genuine | can
say with the late DR.. j. NJ. Mason, then the
Star Of the American pulpit, 81 have more
confidence IN sincere prayer than in any
other power: more IN one praying pauper
than III forty bghtiDg generals" | only add,
that minister should show such a portrait,
such a patriarch in his public PRAYER, that
the people should see no partizan, no fanatic.
no shOrt-sighted zealot, IN his manner of
performing 1t. fear that our fierce pulpit
deciamers pray more often at men, at par
ties, than to God, at all wish they would
examine themselves on this question, indi-
vldually; how often, and how much do you
pray IN y0ur cI0set for our country! our
rulers, our states and territories? Or il il
C0rdm DymiAO, all reserved for public dis
play, and popular effect, and pu PIT magni6-
cence: Ali this-and 1.0ne private For
such ministers it might be a serious lncon-
venience, if they and Judas can tind no er-
cvtc.0 salvation?
That NJ senator or other member Of con-
gress ought to be injured for words spoken
IN debate, is certainly true, No more true,
however, than tEis-thst no man ought to
be personal or exaspcrating in what he speaks
or writes. | abhor the ate outrag, that as
sailed senator with blows, as neither lust.
nor courageous, nor chivalrous, nor gentle
manly, nor according to the oath of office,
which every Official takes to support the su-
premacy of the laws. They were those o!
= patriot, statesman, scholar, son of
the Sol! that covers the bones of his ances-
.--, - y r,b;las~rL:- a.a-,4 - A. -r--;.s
worthy Of the eulosist Of Washington. o
81 sic OaRes
Ought minister Of the gospel to vote ?
Ordinarily, should say, certainly: he ought
to vote, If he ought to pray for the coun-
try, ought he not also to act for the country:
This has ever been my principle and nay
practice; and | have maintained it, proba Z
bly, with little or no offence sBut partisan, I
IN eleciioneering busybody, minister ought
lot to be if others ought; vt like not al !
II! the very wrath-proyoking style Of the /.
speech that occasioned it-and .of which /
emarked TO 4 friend, before the assault. | .
lm hurt, and ashamed of members of con
,ress, in upper or lower house, that will de-
;rade themselves, and their high station, by
ndulgin. in language so studiOusly abusive, |
md so abominably vulgar, and go outrage.
ously severe. Were | a psrtizan probably
should be constrained TO say only one, and
rot both of these, as now sincerely, and with
grief write it
For whom shall | yote, B, or r,
or F., shall probably know, if live
Ill November, and am in health and fit for
action, by the favor of God. But OF one
hing am not afraid to write or speak in
public, or pray in pa pit or in closet, and
hat isl will never vote, or act, or speak
or anything, directly or indirectly, that
ends to sectionalize the country, or make
.ivii war, or dissolve the Union Never
30! Tendencies, as history mOurnfully
hows, become actuaities often; and that,
etore common forecast anticipates or be-
eves it. Whcr- passion rules, reason va
fishes. I'm the agonizing spaGms of infu
lated man" as Jefferson phrases it, how
ften are we precipitated in the spirit of real
wrath, to spring mine, to conilagrate a
ity, TO "deluge all Holland" or to enact
ONE other potent mischief, for which no re-
,entance can ever begin to be An atOnemcnt.
| believe that could the furies who cooly
II warmly speak of burning the constitution
nd dissolving the Union, accomplish, in
heir hot haste, all that they desire and in.
end, as is their boast, they would find, too
ate for themselves and all others, that they
lad only enacted universal mischief; that
hey had cured no evil; they had Onl y made
,ad infinitely worse; and that their success
rere only the worst kind Of defeat, for all
artes 1t would damage the north, the
outh, the east, the west, all in one confu-
ion of ruin 1t would bless not the slave
aore than his master; and all the best hopes
f civilization, philanthropy and Christian
reedom would perish, with that stellar arch
hat makes our counlry's wondrous tiama-
nent God grant that SO wasting desola-
ion may never occur!
In a word are we Christian people?
alton of Christians, at least nominally such
D the mainG Why not try to treat each
ther in a way corresponding with that high
rofession? Forbearance, patience, WIS
ON. consderate prudence, yes and pray |
p to God for our COUNTRY and all its inte- I
ests, amplitied and perpetuated by his own
royidence, as our Great Jehovah Stator, ,
he Omnipotert Lord Patron, the all suth. {
lent custodian of the United States OF
america. -.
Our country is fourscore years of age this
ayI Blessed be God that it has so marvel
usly outlived, and fa'sitied the monthly
the wsh-iramed prediction
f its enemies that it now commences the
,st score of its first century Of nationality
nd independence that in its inaugurated
ge, its venerable octagnerian maturity, its
hildren and its grand children, and its un-
orn hundreds Of millions of posterity may
egin gratefully to rejoice before the God of
ur fathers, determined that, by his assist
'g mercy, we will grow wiser and better,
.ronger and nobler; and that the disinte-