American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1857-07-17
PATRIOTISM OF TIE BIBLE.

PATRIOTISM OF TIE BIBLE.
The following article from the Lou
isville (Old SchooD Presbyterian paper
reflects vividly the principles of true
christian patriot = h
The christian who does for his coun-
try all that the Bible requires him to
do will be the very highest style of a
patriot. His religion requires him to
love all men, even including his enc
mics, and to do good to all men as he
has opportunity. He is commanded to
love his country, but he is not permit.
ted to hate other countries, & to tear
them down that he may build his own
up. He should love his whole country
and not simply the particular portion
OF it in which he resides.
The patriotism of the Bible is who'll
ly opposed to sectionalism, or the feel
ing which seeks to aggrandze one par
tlcular section 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 conflict.
The same remark may be made touch.
ing the interests of different sections
OF one great country like ouro. There
may, at times, seem to be conflict
between 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 men,
bers will, sooner or later, feel the eff
fects of it. That interest of any Sec
ton which is promoted by the injury
of another section is only temporary
one. The prosperity promoted in such
way will eventually be seen to be not
lasting prosperity, just as no man
can be permanently prospered by tho
ruin OF his neighbors. He may appear,
Tor a 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
the interests of the whole country, be-
cause by so doing it best promotes the
welfare of every part of it. 1t seeks
no advantage for its section at the ex-
pense of others. Mason and Dixon's s
line is not the boundary of its affec-
tions. If it brcathes in the bosom Of
man South Of that line, it makes him
reJolco in the prosperity of those 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 christian patriot ought to ask him
self the question, " how would [ regard
the measure of policy which L now ad-
yocate, were / in the place of my fell
low citizens in another section ? What
influence will my favorite measures or
men have upon the whole country, and
not simply upon the part of it in which
L resrdeF He should expand his mind
and take enlarged viows Of the subject.
There is nothing narrow or contract
cd about Christianity. Those profes-
sors of it who have contracted views or
feelings have them in spite of their re,
llglon, and not in virtue of it. If the
enlarged patriotism inculcatod in the
Bible could only become thoroughly
predominant once more in the hearts
Iof Christian men at the North & Soutb
If they could be brought to lay aside
all reference to their particular sec.
tions, and would look at the greatest
good of the whole country, the strife
which is now raging with so much VIC.
lencc 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 do to them, were
their circumstances reversed, all con-
tention would cease, and peace and
harmony would soon prevail again.
This is precisely the kind Of patriotism
which the Bible incucates. Without
this, no country as largo as ours can
hold together and prosper. With it,
it may flourish and grow stronger to
the end of time.
II ho (Ninn;n,s, fS al