The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1856-11-15
PATRIOTISM OF THE BIBLE.

The following article from the Louisville Told
SCHOOL, Presby paper reflects SO wildly
the principles we have advocated du ring the
past canvass that we arc induced to insert 10
entire:
"Thc Christian who does for his country all
that the Bible requires him to do will be the
very highest style of patriot. His religion re-
qiircs him to love ull men, even including his
enemies, and to do good to NIL men us he has
opportunity. He is commanded to love his
country, bu, he is not permitted to hate other
countries and to tear them down that he NAV
build his own up lie should love Els Who'll
country, and not simply the particular portion
of it in which he resides.
"rhc patriotism OF the Bible is who 'ly op-
posed to scctionalisli, or the feeling which
seeks to aggrandize one particular sect on
country ut the expense Of the other. 1t wa
remarked of nations that their interests ncve
clash with each other, though there may q
times appear TO be y conflict. The ame re
mark may be made touching the intere SITS o
different sections Of one great country like ours
There may, at times seem TO be conflict bet
tween the interests 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. Th,t interest of
any section which is promoted by the injury of
another section is only a temporary one. The
prosperity promoted in such way will cvcntu-
ally be seen to be not II lasting prosperity, just
~ no man can be permanently prospcrcd by
the ruin Of His ncighbors. IL may appear for
season to prosper, but in the end their inju-
ry will be reflected back upon himself.
at is impossible, therefore, in the very ma
tnrc of the ease 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 Of every part Of it,
II seeks no advantage for its section at the cx-
prnsc of others. MnSon and DXons line is
not the boundary Of il affections. II it breaths
in the bosom OF Il man south of that line, it
makes him rejoice in the prosperity Of those of
his fellow. citizens who~" lots are east north of
lit, rs much ms does The prosperity Of his own
section. If it is lounu in IA northern bosom, it
is equally rs expansive. 1t embraces the south
as well as the north in the arms Of rs love
The Christian patriot ought 10 ask himself the
question, How would regard the measure
or policy which now advocate were | ia the
place Of my fclow.citzrn in another section.
What influence will my iayorte measures o.
men heye upon the whole country. and not
simply upon the part Of il III which | reSidrw
He Should expand bis mind, and take enlarged
views tie subject There is nothing narrow
or contracted abont Christianity Those pro
lessons Of it who have contracted views or feel
ngs have them IN spite Of their religion and
not in virtue of IT, II the enlarged patriotism
incncatel IN the Bihl. could only become thor
oughly predominant once more in the heart of
Christian men at the North and ut the South
if they could be brought to lay aside all ref
errnce TO their particular ctons, aud would
all look al TIE grentcst good % the whole
country-thc strif, which is now raging with
such violence woald soon cease. II the North
would TO to the South, and the South 10 to the
Aorth, just what they would each have the
other to do To them were their circumstances
reversed, all contention would soon cease and
peace and harmony would soon prevail again
This is precisely the Kind Of patriotism which
the Bible incucates Without this no coun-
try rs large rs ours is can hold together and
prosper, With it, it may flourish and grow
stronger to the end Of time"