New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-05-18
PUBLIC MEETINGS.
THE DUTY OF THE CHURCH.
. SERMON BY GEORGE Il. cHHHvER. ID. %.

the ear of the nation By the blessings N Gods grace
he meant to it. There was no duty greater than
this of the Church towards the nation in reference To
Slavery. This duty could not be reformed by dead
resolutions, which were but = convenient; anodyne A
sscacous American abroad had used his diploma
instead of a passport and il being grand looking
document il was received. Resolutions were as false
a pretense this. Nothing but Divine truth and its
application by the force of divine truth by the
ministry oil God could do the duty of the Church to-
ward the nation IL this respect. For this the ministry
was ordained and Ia be supported aud for this the
Sabbath instituted TO stem this torrent of reigning
rampant HiQuty. The duty of the Church was tO
keep the avariciOus motives which were avowed
nv some of the opponents of slavery, God would not
permit that, forgetting principle, we should wait for
the svarice of men who saw their fields wasted and
the grass growing IN their streets 10 persuade them to
emancipation. The spirit by the word convnces not
by appeals 10 mems seishness bat their con sciences
The word of God applied TO the conscience was his
chosen way Of producing repentance. There might be
cases which where guilt had grown into the national
business, religion and law, the uproar of It's downfall
would be tremendous. Who would speak against it
Not the politicians; they had nothing to do with con.
science; Gods word alone spoke TO that. No nation
had any conscience except the c0nsCi Of the
people made ii. The popular conscience could be
reached only through the pulpit and the Sabbath.
Slavery could have grown TO its present gigantic
power if the pulpit had spoken against il and acted
against it. Ii could not have stood uo in any State
against communication from the Church.
But now in the silence of the pulpit,
il was mpiOusy enhroned in the temple Of national
Justice. From il we had no refuge but the Word of
Gcd. And lot now few words would answer, but
all the collected tunders of the Bible must be brought
to bear. 1t was said that political preaching gave Of
Tense to the people and repeled pewhoders THIS was
nothing but modern and plausible rendering OF Simon
Magus bargaining with Peter. 1t was taking it for
granted that the Obect of preaching not to preach
Gods word but to rent the pews. God had never
meant to have His Word harnessed dray horse to
Il G.. - al h.a Nktrah
was the pillar to uphold the truth-not the truth
currency to pay for the Church. II ministers were
unsettled by the severity with which they preached
the truth it was gapgrene OF simon Ma.uses. The
object of preaching not to pay the expenses of the
pillows and music for the Sabbaths nap. II the
Church kept silence in regard To Slavery they sustained
it. If it in Africa they could preach about 1t
with impunity; and they were not to be silent
because the naton had need of IT, The eff
ect of supplying the truth in any thing extended
10 all others. The result of this silence terrible
that of the Cap of Silence with which the Ne
apolitan tyrant sthed tine groans of his victims. 1t
the business of the church especially 10 for
the poor, and 10 raise them up Where were they!
Was there a nation under heaven that had one-tenth
pant of the number that our nation had Never in
any ege or place there such opportunity for the
chuches to meet their high and glorious responsible
ties. But they had taken the part of the oppres:or
They had shut out the slave from their considerations
end not only the slave. but the free man, if guilty of
u skin more dusky than their own. They had said
Put il away it is abolitionism; avoid il as the pes
lence They might, week after week, and year after
year. have Insisted emancipation. But they had
not done it, And now, after this delay and dereiction
was il not the more their duty TO proclaim from the
pulpit the thunders of Gods word against this
iriquity. The ministers were clothed with
His authority for such work aud the sepulchure Of
the dead Hebrew nation then were denunciatlOns
which broke upon rs NJ II they were launched az
the prophets OF this age. They forbade silence, they
compelled an cutlery. 1t was amazing that the minis
tiers If God's Word could keep back. This daubing
Of men sins was less terrible than in the days
of Jeremiah Where should men look Tor light if not
tn The church aud the minister! That sudden blaze
Of trcmuous and living light winch flashed up once
wear the dome OF II. Peters, was counterpart
of the light of the church which should flash forth,
flooding the world with celestial illumination at such
n tyranny as this. The effect OF this nanon OF the
evil for fear of change. The ministry were ordained
TO declare Gods Word, and they could not do their
duty unless they spoke against all unuShteous law
and the sniulness Of obedience ~ IT, Every yeartha
such wrong was not righted, it became more diff
cult and more tremendous. The nations Interests
were built upon a volcano. the suhocaion OF
iu,tice il was charged with God wrath
and could scatter an empire as easily warehouse
n matter how many benevolent societies held stock
in tho matter il Baxter, or even Paul himself
had country seat there-al must go. There was no
barrier against eternal justice. No dams could pro-
trct against it. Corporations counting on private
sluceways for their protection must fall with the rest
Ard God time was coming. We need not dream OF
being engaged in Gods missionary work that was TO
save the needy. When nation took the babes OF
four millions of people and stole them from their
parents il could not play the hypocrite with God 1t
was create confusion of pety and delusion than the
world had seen to uphold Slavery IN America
and denOunce II in Africa. Never was 80 MAD ond
morstrous a mistake made among mankind The
massos were fast coming to the conclusion that no
law was TO be obeyed which was not right. Wrong
law and wrong precedent would hang themselves,
give them rope enough. There was an mex
plicable law of confusion, which would, sooner or
f.t.r IN dsltrn
porters. The Sabbath was not made tor man mere
enjoyment. Was it instituted to please or TO sanctify
Whist Gods rule for preaching IL was To please
God-not man. If people spoke as they ought they
would say to their ministers: " We have chosen you
to warn US of the dangers which beset our country
and ourselves. Speak out what the ora Ol Go1
teaches with regard 10 il" The Sabbath was no dis
honest debtor with preferred creditors 1t wa. our
stronghold our fertilization from which national sins
were to be bombarded. II was our advantags' our
fertilization, aud we are bound to make every ell
bra-ure fash with Gods fire upon nation IN arms
against God There were those whose religion seemed
TO consist in self-cCmfort Let those who demonstrated
against preaching upon Slavery think upon the Judg
n.ent day. and the command Remember them that
ale in bonds ss bound with them
In conclusion. DR.. Cheeyer rrnrwrd MS appear III
behalf of the c0lored school in Washington, ana col
lection taken up in aid OF H. Since ms Iast ser
mon he had seen the letter OF the mayor OF te CdPa
of our country in which he demanded the suppression
e this purely benevolent institution a. an uiu' shu
dangerous interference with the rghts of the c9muu
"nitv." Did ever the skies witness greater BRAS
hi. never could have been written before the decision
Of the Supreme Court-it was pendant to that; DE-
Tyrg had pledged 81 900 toward 5000 iof me en-, en-,
d.ymept Of this school. The very raising oil thIs
annpt and the Eject which would produce through
out The country, would be the strongest protection
which the 81 hocl could receive.
CENTRAL AMERICAN EDUCATION SoCIEil
syRaoy or prop. HUSTISGroN.
Las, evening the Rev. EZRA \. HrNtiNGr'N' ~ H.,
Professor IN Auburn Theological Seminary preached