Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1858-07-30


| De tuity of our Republican institutions and civ
il and religious liberty, the undersigned res
Pectfuily ask a copy of the same for publleA
'-0e- John McEIroy,
R. Burr,
T. E. Hills,
: d. T. AeCullongl
NJ. D. Covell.
James NJ Cherry,
S. A. Cherry,
Il y. livery.
Delaware, o., July 18th 1855.
Messrs. K. Burr, D. F Mccullough, J. Nc
Elroy, f. Ave ry, r. E. Hills, NJ. D. Coveh, DI
j. M Cherry and others.
Brethren
received your complimentary not
requesting, for publication, copy OF my ser
mon preached ON the 4th of July.
Relying on your judgment, more than m;
l herewith submit to you copy.
With sentiments of ingtr regard
! truly yours
4 U. IL. NEWTON.
Wisdom is better than sVsap0ns ef s0ar."
| Eccl. y, IS.
| have thought, my friendsj that as thi
Anniversary of our American Intte pendencs
has occurred on the Sabbath, it would no
be out of place, nor uninteresting to indulg
in some reflections upon the combined in
| terests of our country, and holy religion, an,
upon those means BY which cur flee iGstf
tutiuns can best be preserved and perfected
The best interests of our country are in
seperably connected with religion. Hence
to my mind there is peculiar fitness IN THE
Annigersary of our Independence occurring
now and then on the Sabbath.
| This nhinad IF oitr rnt.p4 ~
and religion, is seen particularly in the fact
that cur present Republican Government is
the product of religion.
The same book that teaches the religion
| of Jesus, inspires in those who study thai
book, desire for political and religious free
dom. And it cannot be denied that the lib
erty which we now possess, is a necessary
consequence of receiving, richly, OF the tree
principles taught in the word of God.
Let US take glance at the history of the
Church and the world, for few centuries
back, and this, it seems to me. will be evi-
dent. The world had been for years pass
ing through what Is now styled the ozark
Ages .
During this period the great Reformation
commenced; which was fast disspating that
moral darkness which brooded over the earth
in consequences of the Roman Catholic
Church, having concealed the word of God
so THAT very few indeed had any access ut
all to the trde light. When Ltther anxieus
for his own salvation. had resorted to the
eloister that he might there in the prescribed
way find rest for his soul, came in contact
with a Bible, which was fastened by a clrafn :
he from that Bible began to light up his own
soul, and that light was destined to shine
forth and illume the whole world
So rapidly did this light spread through
the influence of Lutlrer, and SO great did-the
R reformation become that the See ST Rome
became alarmed at the movement, and COM
bined with the Kings of the nations, against
the people.
Henry VIII, who had been jealous for re-
lisioas liberty, arrogated TO himself the very
same spiritual supremacy that he with the
aid of the people, and in the name of Chris
tan liberty, had wrested from the Pope of
Eome. And he used his power in compelling
conformity TO the obnoxious faith and wor-
ship of Rune. conducted by Ecclesiastics
who received their appointments from him.
self and held them at his pleasure.
The reign.ot Mary was in the same direc-
tionl, viz relapse to Roman wor ship
Queen Elizabeth reinstased ihe Reformation
but reserved to herself the spiritual suprema-
cy. The people resisted all these Ecclesti-
cal usurpasions of the Tudors; and they,
TO retaliate, attempted to s1fbvert the constI-
tutional authority of Parliament.
In this perplexity Elizabeth, advised by
sagacious statesmen and supported by tenn
poriZing churchmen, resorted to the fau-
orits erpedieHt Of politicians, viz: compro-
mise.
Compromixe is Still very favorite expe-
dent in adjusting conflicting political inter-
ests5 and does very well where IT is not
extended to the subYersion of the natural
rights; or the moral duties of subjects or
citizens. But how many lamentable in
STAGES have we in our political history of
Compromise; whefe both the natural rights
and moral duties OF citizens have been SUBJ
verted: Even where compromise is proper
within itself, it derives all its strength from
The full and fair consent of all the parties
whom it binds.
In this compromise Elizabeth would Haf-
monize the uacompromising Church OF Rome
and the equally uDcompromising Latitudina-
rian Professionalism, by forming a new system
midway between the two. The new sys-
tenn was established by law, and conformity
thereto was enforced by severe penalties
This new system, notwithstanding its con-
formity 10 the divine precepts, in many res
poets, was in its civil aspects a mere politi-
cal institution; and was oppressive and odi-
Gus to jealous people, who regarded all
political authority as sacrilegious usurpation.
The friends also OF civil liberty condemned it
as turning tine batteries which had been won
from the Roman See, in the name of liberty,
against the very fortress of liberty itself.
The church of England was built on this
compromise. But it was seen by those who
longed for freedom from the tyranny of Rome,
that the whole tendency of the compromise
would be 10 relapse into Romanism; hence
there was demand for new conservative
power to prevent such dreaded result. In
this condition of things thai new power ap-
peared in the form of body of obscure re-
hgous persons, men of moDastieal devoutness,
etretaining the habits of domestic and social
life; simple but not unlearned, they were
neither SO rich that they forgot God, nor were
they so poor as to debase their own souls
They were content with mechanical and agi
ricalturat pursuits, yet fully conscious of the
liberty with which Christ had made them Tree;
and they were, therefore, bolG enough to cor
front ecclesiastical. and even royal authority
in the cGpitel.
For their independence in religious things
they were prosecuted, but this only increased
their strength.
They believed themselves to be the chosen
emissaries of God for the advancement Of
religious freedu1n; hence they were willing
to become outcasts among men- They an-