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

Rev. Dr.. Chetver's Fourth and Last Sermon on
the bred Scott Decision.
RESISTANCE TO TYRANTs IS OBEDIENCE TO GOD.
Asledictiens Against Unjust Judges in General,
and Chief Justice fancy and Associates
in Particular.
SHALL WE HAVE CIVIL WAR :?
&c., &C., 10.

ng In his church in Uuon square his fourth and
hst sermon against what he denominates the " mi
quitous" decision of the Supreme Court of the Uni
Ted States in the Died S cots case, The regular fire.
quenters Of that church must be highly gratifed at
the conclusion Of this 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, 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, it
would have been necessary for the preacher to have
moved over the way to Irving place, and secured
-khe Academy of Music as the theatre of his elo.
quenoe. That necessity however, has been obviated
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 maledctions and Nominations
against unjust judges. except, perhaps, by way of
parenthesis or side kicks in future dscourses 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-
knged to take up and handle. 1t was that famous
text from Paul's Epistle 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 Cod" He accepted the
challenge ard handled the matter with great skill,
as is shown in the following report of his sermon -
DEFINITION OF GOVERNMENT.
The great truth here taught is this, that human
the context also learn the object for which il is
0rdained-the ground and duty of obedience--the
duty of disobedience, and when, and on what
Rround-ibe rule for the government, as for ndi-
yiduals-the responsibility of the government to
the people and to God, as well Of tue people to
The Cover nment and to God-and the restrictions
and obligations upon its different branches. We
sion and we shall Then apply the whole r ain OF in
stIuc,ion TO our own form vi government, with the
manner of Gods institution OF it Tor u.s. and re-
sponsibh.ies TO God for it's right administration.
Tie great first truth is this, that human govern
ment Is of Divine origin and sanction.
The very obligation 70 form such government Is
from God; the constitution OF the human mind is
created with such preHguration of government,
and necessity Of taking it on, and it does inevitably
take II on, and grows WITH II, aud is developed un.
der II the soul assumes its feshly dress and grows
with that, and is developed under t1at. The % yers
that be are therefore as truly ordained OF God as
the faculties Of the human mind ordained of
God. But unjust powers are no more ordained of
God than unjust passions. The powers OF and for
injustice and oppression are no more ordained Of
God thsn the passion Of Drunkenness or avarice or
murder Ia ordained, or the faculty OF standing on
ones head instead OF walking. Second-Govern-
nent being thus ordained of God It's necessary over
ruling authorities, whatever would they be cast in,
of King, Emperor, President, Governor, monarchy
republic, clothed with his authority, for the
same purpose for which he has appointei the orii-
nance; and that purpose Is the good of mankind.
Governments aud their authorities are ordained of
God his instruments Of justice, for his objects Of
love; because this world Is world Of probation
der his government and without these instrumental
authOrittee unlar him there eOud N anni satinu
of the remedial powers OF his word, grace aud pro
whence 20 bring men to repentance. The powers
that be are Gods providental screws, pressures,
God enclosures, fixtures, AMI penfods, for keeping
his creatures within reach and under tho power OF
moral agencies. They themselves agencies TO hold
the subjects Of his moral government for the purpose
Of redemption, under the convergency OF divine
truth and grace. The institution OF government ~
of infinite mercy, and its purpose that OF restraint
from evil and the Discipline OF good. Good not evil
holiness not sin, justice not ipus ice, are the only
things IL sanctions and sustains. 3D. Here we find
the ground and duty Of obedience. The object for
which government Is ordained Is the virtue and hap
piness Of mankind. This benevolent object is the
reason given Of God for sauctioning IL and for re-
quicng obedience TO II as his ordinance. ole isthe
minister of God 10 thee for good" The power Is of
God therefore resist IL not. He IL the ministry of
Ged FOR thy good therefore obey him. Plainly the
Obligation to obey human IN SU m Is derived
ond, from the justice, benevoence and usefulness Of
the institution. The duty Of obedience Is duty to-
wards God, duty Of religion. "By me kings reign
MOBILES even ali the judges OF the earsh.
whatsoever fesisteth the power resisteth the ordi
nance OF God. Ye must needs be subject, there.
TO him, and for the purpose Of executing his will.
1t Il not thing or your own choice or consent mere
ly, but the support and obedience Of government,
and Of the magistrates, Is thing to which Cod
himself binds you.
purY or pIsoBrprEScR.
But here again the duty Of disobedience, II the
powers that be are turned against God, il equally
manifest and the grounds OF such disobedience are
towards him. In the great rule Of subsection TO the
higher powers there Is always this reserve, which Is
the foundation and reason OF the rule, conscience
towards God; wherever this Is violated obedisnce
must stop So Peter, on the same subject, says;
-"Submit Yourselves TO every ordinance, Tor the
Lords sake whether II be 10 the king "a supreme,
or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by
him for the punishment OF evil doors, and for the
praise OF them that do we'll For 20 Is the will OF
God that with well doing ye may put 10 silence the
ignorance of foolish men. As fee, and not using
your liberty for cloak Of malciousness but as the
servants OF Cod The object Of human govern
encourage and reward goodness TO restrain and
reform the evil and project the good-thus coope-
rating with his own word, TO prepare men FOR
Gods service. Hence, In commanding obedience
20 the powers t,at be, II r. righteous ODE
dience that Ia insisted on-an obedience In
things that are good, refusing at the same
time the evil, and keeping conscience without
offence towards Cod Thus in the parallel passage
In Ecclesastes, &C. council thee 70 keep the kings
commandment, and that in regard TO the oa n Of
Godr and then II Is added, stand not In any evil
thing The authority Of the king is from God, for
terror 10 evil doors and praise TO those who do
we'll and If the king command an evil action, the
king himself is against God, and Ia TO be disobeyed
out Of conscience towards God But some say no, he
Ia 10 be obeyed at al hazards for whosoever ressteh
the power resisteth the ordinance q God and the mo-
mcnt thing n Law II must be executed, no mater
what law OF God or conscience goes against II, or
else there Il an end 70 all government No, my
hiends; an end 30 wicked governments, but an e.
tahAshment Of good. TIE modification Of suright
ecss iosc by swfsrs and absoiwfe refusal 10 obey a. 70
80 mode a we rthe;ows obedience 70 the powers
that be, ~ ordained OF God for Righteousness and
not sin, for good and not evil such powers and 30
ordained Of God, that they might be obeysd out OF
efves no power agAinst himself none against hi