The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-04-09

Rev. Dr.. Cheever's Fourth and Last Sermon On
the bred Scott Decision.
RESISTANCE TO TYRANTs IS OBEDIENCE TO GOD
Haledictisns Against Unjust Judges in General,
and Chief Justice fancy and Associates
in Particular.
SHALL WE HAVE CIVIL WAR :?
kO lAo. 40.

nx In his church in Uuion square his fourth and
hst sermon against what he deaominates the " mi
quitous" decision Of the Supreme Court Of the Uni
Ted States in the Dred Soots case, The regular FIRE.
quenters Of that church must be highly gratifed at
the conclusion Of this course Of sermons if for no
other reason than that they may henceforward hope
70 be able TO obtain ingress to and seats in their
pews, a matter of rather difficult attain nent on
the evenings in which Chief Justice fancy and
his associates came in for the lamentations of
the reverend gentleman. His audiences have
been going on increasing in numbers from the
opening to the close of the course and really If
the sermons had not thus been discontinued, il
would have been necessary for the preacher to have
moved over the way to Irving place, and secured
-the Academy of Music the theatre of his elo-
quenoe. That necessity, however, has been obvated
by the preacher administering the final blow-the
coup de grace to the unfortunate judges who pro.
voked his resentment. Henceforth, we are to have
no more of the maledictions and Nominations
against unjust judges, except, perhaps, by way of
parenthesis or side kicks in future discourses on
morality, theology or religion in the Church Of the
Puritans.
The text from which DR.. Cheever preached last
Sunday evening was one which he had been chal
kDged to take up and handle. 1t was that famous
text from Pauls Episte to the Romans, which has
been in all ages, within the Christian era, resorted
to TO enforce obedience to authority -" The powers
that be are ordained of God" He accepted the
challenge ard handled the matter with great skill,
as is shown in the following report of his sermon -
DEFINITIONS OF GOVERNMENT.
The great truth here taught is this, that human
government is OF oivine origin and sanction. From
the context also learn the object for which IL is
ordained-the ground and duty of obedience--the
duty OF disobedence, and when, and on what
ground-tbe rule for the government, as for indi-
yiduals-the responsibility Of the government to
the people and to God, as well Of tue people to
the goveI nment and TO God-and the restrictions
and obligations upon its different branches. We
shall consider every one of these points in success
sion and we shall then apply the whole tr ain OF in
stHuction TO our own form Of government, with the
manner of Gods institution of it Tor US, and our re-
sponsbilltes to God for it's right administration.
Tie great first truth is this, that human govern
ment h Of Divine origin and sanction.
The very obligation TO form such government Is
from God; the constitution OF tle human mind is
created with such preiguration of government,
and necessity OF taking IL on and il does inevitably
take 1t on and grows With H., aud is developed un
der II the soul its eshy dress and gro VS.
with that and is developed under taat The Do yers
that be are therefore as truly ordained Of God as
the faculties OF the human mind are ordained OF
Goo. But unjust pSwe,s are no more ordained of
Injustice and oppression no more ordained OF
God than the passion Of Drunkenness avarice or
murder Is ordained, or the faculty OF standing on
ones head instead OF walking. Second-Govern-
men being thus ordained of God It's necessary over.
ruling authorities, whatever would they be east in,
of King. Emperor, President, Governor. monarchy
republic, clothed with his authority, for the
same purpose for which he has appointe the orii.
nance; and that purpose Is the good of mankind.
Government Is and their authorities are ordained of
God as his Instruments of Justice for his objects Of
love- because this world is world Of probation un.
der his government and without these instrumental
authorities under him there could be no appli cation
Of the remedial powers OF his word, grace aud pro
violence TO bring men to repentance. The powers
that be are Gods providential screws, pressures,
Gods enclosures, fixtures, and penfolds for keeping
his creatures within reach and under the power OF
moral agencies They are themselves agencies TO hold
the subjects Of his moral government for the purpose
Of redemption, under the c0Dvergency OF divine
truth and grace The institution Of government is
Of infinite mercy, and Its purpose that OF restraint
from evil and the Discipline OF good. Good not evil,
holiness not sin, justice not Djus fee, are the only
things IL sanctions and susains. Sd. Here we find
the ground and duty OF obedience. The object for
which government Il ordained is the virtue and hap.
piness Of mankind. This benevolent object ia the
reason given Of God for sanctioning il and for re-
quidng obedience TO IL as his ordinance. ole lathe
minister OF God 10 thee for good" The power Is Of
God, therefore resist IL not. He IL the ministry of
God for thy good, therefore obey him. Plainly the
obligation TO obey a human government Is derived,
first not from the will Of man but OF God; and sec
ond from the justice, benevolence and usefulness Of
the institution. The duty OF obedience Is duty to-
wards God, duty Of religion. "By me kings reign
and princes decree justice BY me princes rule, and
mobiles, even all the judges Of the earth.
nance OF Cod We must needs be subject, there.
FORE for conscience sake towards God OF regard
10 him, and for the purpose Of executing his WILL
1t Is not hing Of your own choice Or consent mere
", but the support and obedience Of government,
and Of the magistrases, Is a thing to which Cob
himself binds you.
purY OF DrsoBrprKScK.
But here again the duty Of dsobedience, II the
4 hat o IN Tn nd al Ia mall.
manifest and the grounds OF such dsobedience are
the same: namely, the will Of God, and conscience
towards him. In the great rule Of subsection to the
higher powers there Ia always this reserve which IL
the foundation and reason Of the rule, cons cence
towards God; wherever this Is violated obedsnce
must stop. So Peter, on the same subject, says
-"Submit yourselves TO every ordinance, Tor the
Lords sake; whether IL be to the king supreme,
or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by
him for the punishment Of evil doers aud for the
praise Of them that do we'll. For 10 is the will of
God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the
your liberty for q cloak Of righteousness, but the
servants OF God" The object Of human govern
ment IL to prevent and punish wickedness, aud TO
e en-. evil and protect The a
rating with his own word, to prepare men Tor
Gods service. Hence, in commanding obedience
70 the powers tiat be, ss righteous ODE.
things that are good, refusing at the same
time the evil, and keeping conscience without
offence towards God. Thus in the parallel passage
In Ecclesiastes, / council thee TO keep the kings
commandment, and that In regard TO the oa5 Of
Cod" and then II Is added "Stsnd not In any evil
thing The authority of the king Is from God, for
terror 10 evil doors and praise TO those who do
wei; and II the king command an evil action, the
king himself is against Cod and is to be dsobeyed
ont Of conscience towards God. But some say no. he
Is 70 be obeyed At al hazards for whoscever ressteth
the power resstcth the ordinance Of God, and the mo-
mcnt thing IL Law II must be executed, no matter
what law OF God or conscience goes against II, or
else there IL an end TO all government No, my
hiends; an end 10 wicked governments, but an e.
tnhaiehment OF good. TIE qualification Of wuright
i0w By evfre and absolsss refusal 10 OBEY t. 10
80 Mode a tyws rttgiows obedisaes 70 the powers
that BE-, - ordained OF God FOR Righteousness and
not SIN, for good and not evil; such powers, and 20
ordained Of God, that they might be obevsd ont OF
conscience towards him. for a. Baxter once aid, he
esves no power against himself, none against hi