The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1858-12-09

=" 0s~e' W uHc "cit-UeiuS VI 81
cfety. The Gospel has tendency to
overcome the contracted selfshness of
of the human heart. It leads us to take
enlarged views Of the relations which we
sustain to our fellow men. and of the OBJ
legations which arise out Of these rela-
tons. Consequently, where the princi-
pies of the Gospel generally prevail,
they viii prompt men to live not merely
for the promotion of their own indivdu-
81 interests, but for the good of society
at large.
THAT people, whose God is the Lord
will be happy, because they wN possess
the best system of legislation. There are
teachings contained in the Inspired Vol
ume, or great fundamental principles
there laid down, from which rules may
be deduced applicable to men in every
relation and condition of life. Take, for
example, the charge given by Moses to
the judges of Israel. q charged your
judges at that time, saying. Hear tue
causes between your brethren, and Judge
righteously between every man and his
brother, and the stranger that is with
him. Ye shall not respect persons in
judgment: but we shall hear the small as
well as the great we shall not be afraid
of the face of man for the judgment is
Gods" In. regard to the selection OF
rulers, we have the following excellent
counsel. Moreover thou shalt provide
out of all the people, able men, such as
fear God, men Of truth, hating covetous-
ness; and place such over them" With
the fundamental principles of justice con-
tained III the Bible, as the basis of their
Jurisprudence, and with such regulations
for their application between man aud his
fellow-man, il may be easily seen that the
prosperity and happiness Of any people
will be secured.
Among such a people, there will also
prevail salutary influence healthy
public sentiment to sustain and enforce such
legislation. The best laws are of but lit
tie advantage in community, unless
there is correct public opinion to sup
port them. Such public opinion there
will always be where the teachings and
principles of the Gospel generally pre-
vail. Let every soul be subject to the
higher powers for there is no power but
of God" " Wherefore We must needs be
subject, not only for wrath''-not only
through fear of punishment" but also
for conscience sake" Civil govern
ment is not merely of human origin. 1t
is Divine institution, intended to pro-
mote the welfare of men as individuals,
communities, and nations. The Civil
Ruler is, in an important sense, the SER
want of God and as such, as well as
from other considerations, is to be honor
ed and supported in the exercise of all
the legitimate functions of his office.
Christianity promotes true rational lib
erty. There is indeed, akind of liberty,
winch is very popular with a certain
lAGENTS in eueru Cuu and pYi..ci.al 7..-..-....
class OF men In some parts OF the coun-
try, under such names as socialism"
/" free love-" and so on, which the Cos
pei does most explicitly condemn. 1t is
a liberty, OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, rather, which
would gladly break away from the re-
straints which human laws, AMI the
most solemn sanctions of Gods Word,
have thrown around the dearest relations
of life. These systems are put forth as
new-as improvements upon the existing
order of things. But they are not new
at all. They existed in all their essen
tial features. and were fully developed
in Sodom of old, and in the other cities
of the plain, the cry of whose wicked
ness was SO great, that the Lord rained
upon them fire and birthstone from heav-
en- to blot them from the face of the
earth.
But the Gospel does promote civil
freedom. Its direct aim is to confer up
on man the true inward spiritual liberty,
which is of infinite and eternal impor-
lance. And yet at the same time it
tends to secure his outward civil liberty.
1t lays the foundation of that liberty deep
in the relations which man sustains to
his fellow man. and to his God, as the
common Creator and Sovereign of all.
God hath made OF one blood all nations
of men, to dwell on all the face of the
EARTH Whatsoever yewould that men
should do to you, do We even SO to them.
Let these principles be legitimately car
ried out, and they will evidently promote a
regard for the rights of man. They will
sooner or later by, their peaceful trans
forming influence--and not by produ-
cling civil discord and anarchy--estab-
lish universal liberty among the nations
of the earth.
THE religion Of tie Bible forJids vice Of
all kinds and so far as men come under
its influence, tends to remove vice entire
ly from society. This fact is SO obvious,
that need not cite particular passages
from the Inspired Oracle. 1t condemns
the outward act not only, but even the
inward thought of wrong doing. 1t
would purify the heart, the great foun-
tain of moral action and then the streams
will be healthful and refreshing. If the
religion If .Jesus generally nreyaiied In