The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1856-11-20
a Minister. .Rebuked By a miui.,SsFE.

iare OF our community. We wish 1t could
be he ard by every citizen Of Portage coun.
iy. 1t was the sternest and most severe
rsbuke to political preachers, to which we
have ever listened. His text was: "For the
children Of this world are wiser in their gen.
Grafton than the children of light" He
illustrated the text BY reference to the re.
cent Presidential contest. He stated that
people Of the w0rld--the politicians especi-
alIy-during the canvass, had spared no ex.'
ertions 10 secure triumph. They had held
meetings, circulated documents and appoint
ed committees to look after the wavering and
doubtful. He then proceeded to say that
this political contest though an important
one, was merely temporal matter, and that
il sinks into insignifcance in comparison
with the salvation Of an immortal soul. He
rebuked ministers and church members for
their constant attention to things Of the
world to the neglect of spiritual and eternal
interests.
There was truth und power in every word.
There is high and holy Office to be filled
by the minister of the gospel. His mis-
sion is from Heaven and his credentials are
drafted by the pen Of inspiration. His duties
are in reference to the souls of men. The
sanctuary is his place OF labor. There, in
the pulpit, must he speak the words of life
to the high and low, the rich nRd the poor,
the learned and unlearned The storm of
political strife may rage without-politcians
may bargain and barter-men Of business
may strive otter wealth-the struggle for
place and power may go on around him, but
his eye should be fixed constantly and stead :.
lily on the Throne and the Redeemer. -
Who then, stands rebuked! During the
recent political battle we ask, in all kind.
ness, has not Mr. HART himself, turned
aside from tine work Of his Master, to
wrangle in the arena Of politics! Has be
not forgotten the souls Of men in Ohio, in
looking after the affairs of Kansas! Has
he not forgotten spiritual triumphs in his
labor for temporal ones, and does he not
stands convicted by his own words!
Last Sabbath morning, he preached from
his pulpit, purely political discourse. He
told the people what laws they must obey
and what laws they must not obsy-thut
it was the duty Of every man to refuse to
obey law which, in his judgment, was
wrong, (thus leaving every citizen to judge
the laws ofthe land by his own standard OF
right, and to regard or disregard them accord.
ing to his own pleasurc) having dis
obeyed bad laws, he should labor to repea
them that failing in this, he should remove
the law makers, and failing in this, be Skouh
reUolWlionize the Government Ii this is moi
politics in the pulpit, we are not able tC
Judge the meaning Of that term. If thi.
is not attempting to become political guild
for the people, then no such attempt wa.
ever, or ever can be made. In reference t.
the laws named by the minister in his ser
mon as obnoxious, we have only to say, that
they are in our judgment wrong, and should
be repealed or modified as soon as it can be
peaceably and constitutionally done; bu
their discussion in the pulpit will not ait
their repeal, nor can it accomplish anythin,
towards the salvation of men.
This article has been written with no
view to prejudice the public mind agains
the church or the ministry; far from it,
The Sentinel has been falsely charged with
such intent, on account of former remarks
in reference to the sams subject. Indeed
some have gone SO far as to charge false
hood upon us for venturing to speak plain
ly our convictions. In spirit of kindness
and having high respect for the persona
character and virtues of the pastor of the
Congregational church, we have written
this article, and now that the storm of po
litical excitement has swept over for peri
cd and the public mind is left free to form
its own conclusions, we believe the ma
jority OF our citizens will agree with us,
that there is time and place for all things
and that the jar aud strife of political and
partizan controversy should never disturb
the harmony of Christian worship in the
sanctuary Of God.