The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-12-01
For the National Era.
THE FORAY UPON DR.. CHEEVER.

Rev. DR.. Cheever has the honor of being
more spoken against than any other man in the
Christian ministry since the time of the Non
Conformists. There must be an extraordinary
nothing Of brain, not to have been quite ami
hilated before this. The grit and grace in this
man must be in equal and large proportions,
or he would certainly have succumbed long
ago. There have been three distinct and for
midable attempts to put him down in New
York, within few years. The first under
taking in this way was by the Pro Slavery
Hpnkers Of his own church, reused by his bold
denunciations of the fugitive slave bill, and of
the cowardce of the Tract Society, when many
other divines we're saving the Union by preach
ing submission. First, they stalked outs of
meeting under sermens that did not suit.
Next, they cahaled and caucussed while,
privately. Then they very respectfully limited
resignation to their pastor, and suggested
presidency or theological prefessorship, as
more suited to the gentleman's genius and
ability than feeding sheep with the Gospel in
the wilderness of New York. But finding the
Doctor would not bulge, and that large ma
jority in the church had no idea of dispensing
with their gifted pastor, they had to ask dis
pensaiioa thamaelyes to go to other churches.
The second attempt to put down this notable
divine was by other churches and ministers, in
the form of an er parte council, that undertook
to give letters of dismission and recommends
ton to disafected members of the Doctors
church, refusing, at the same time, to go back
of the letter that convened the council, and to
examine the causes of grievance, or to inquire
why ina church could not itself give the GUS
tomary letters of dsmission and venonEepda
ton. Ecclesiastical thunder, through the NOR
tars of Metropolitan and New England Doctors
of Divinity, was hurled at the pastor-happily,
without light or lightning-till he was almost
lost in smoke, and the world thought to see
himself and his church exploded But the
smoke passed, and 10 the invincible Doctor
was found serene and exultant as ever, and his
position frmer, with united church.
The third potable attempt to break the
flaming sword waving against Slavery at the
Church of the Puritans, and welded with such
viger by the right arm of DIR. Cheever, is now
being made by politicians and editors, headed
by the New York Times and the Washington
Constitution. The former takes occasion of a
letter from DR.. Cheever to Rev. Mr.. Spurgeon
Of London, in respect to the private mission Of
Christian lady in England in behalf of the
Church of the Puritsns, to stir up all the An
glophbia of Americans against DR.. Cheever,
and to intimate that it is quite time the men
dicant Church ofthe Ruritans were suppressed
and its acrimonious and intolerant pastor " ST.
fenced.
The Constitution takes occasion also of the
sermon preached by DIR. Cheever in his pulpit
on the 9th Nov, just after the Brown invasion,
to accuse the preacher OF the deliberate incul-
cation of the foulest treason" The aim of both
evidently is, to drive DR.. Cheever from the city
and the pulpit On Union Square; and there are
not wanting many of his own profession who
would help such an ejectment.
Meanwhile the sledge hammer of the resolute
Doctor falls yith redoubled strokes upon "the
sum of all villianies," and we keay of him in all
parts of the country lectaring before lyceums
and popular assemblies, and carrying with him
tie hearts of the people. He spoke at Worces-
ter to large assembly, On Monday eyeging,
Nov. Ia, at Mechanics Hail. upon John Brown.
From a communication of his in the Worcester
Spy, in respect to that address, we clip the fol-
lowing paragraphs:
:" 1t was my object to present the two great
sGsnc;es at our command against Slavery,
namely, our own Constitution, and tie Word of
God, faithfully interpreted and applied. said
that if man had been faithful with these agen-
sies, especially if the church and ministry had
taken Gods Word, snd ariyep its arguments
and denunciations against the sin of slavehold-
ing, as they ought to have done, there would
have been no need of John Browns martial
heroism, nor would he have been found at Har-
per's Ferry with mere carnal weapons, but,
more likely, would have been heard of still
farther South, sRd in greater danger, carrying
Gods messages against shareholders aud their
-. xcl1 cd ~ L.
hearts and consciences.
aft his church and ministry will not use the
moral means God has put in their power, will
not oppose the sin of Slavery with the denun-
ciatinns end penalties pronounced against it in
his Word, man viii pat those means into the
shape of bullets, and will fight it out; and God
will let them. lftbey whose duty it is to take
the sword of the spirit, and fight against this
sin, will not do It, then they themselves, and
their own Liberties, viii perish by the sword.
This was Gods dealing with the people Of old.