The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1860-03-07
Our Republic and Christianity.

The proud position to which our
Republic has attained, must be attri-
buted to the influence of Christianity
in the midst. From the first com
fnencement as nation until the pre-
sent time, Christianity has exerted her
influence for good, and claimed the re-
spect of the American people. In
fact, the first seeds sown upon this
continent, and which have since sprung
up in all their glory of blooming sweets,
were planted here by the lovers of
God; the exiles from religious oppres-
sion. The religious feelings borne
hither in their hearts were anti-des-
potic, and acknowledged but one king !;
and He the Supreme Ruler of the
Universe. 1t has been the prayers of
saints, and the reliance of religious
deciples upon God, which has carried
our country safely on through storms
and tempests of political adversely =
In the first Congress of the nation, the
throne OF grace was invoked for assist
ance in the execution of the response
BILE trusts, placed by our patriotic fore
fathers in the safe keeping of their
representatives Voices were raised
In sincere prayer in the first councils
OF the colonies, and members humbly
acknowledged respect to religion, upon
their Bonded knees. And, although
there may not be, at the pres ent time,
as much earnest prayer by our Con-
gressmen as heretofore, yet there is
respect and generation shown to this
high and exalted principle. Chris
tianity has grown by degrees, and now
in power, now as the acknowledged
secret of our prosperity, she commands
observance of the mighty principles in
accordance with her character. The
time was when contemptuous sneers
and revilings were thrown upon the
professor of religion, but now the little
band of Christians has amounted to
mighty army, it has become popular.
Christianity has been discovered to be
the foundation of our liberty, and its
disciples, the sinew and the mainstays
Of the nation. The Bible is referred
to by all, as the Magma Charter of our
freedom, and the corner stone in the
temple of Liberty. To the numerous
hosts of rayer-loving people in our
land, must we look, as the preservers
of our Republic? Year after year
they are striving for the ennoblement
of their fellow countrymen, and the
strengthening of government which
allows them religious liberty Nor do
their honored labors end here but
from our shores ere annually sent forth
the heralds of religion, to rear the
flaming cross upon the benighted isl
ands of the sea and to proclaim liberty
both civil and religious throughout the
lands. Christianity has been the bull
wark that has environed the Republic,
and raised US up as the great light, to
which the subjects of despotism, and
the benighted devotees of superstition,
turn with longing eyes. God intends
good to come out of us; his smiles
have rested upon us, and in orr Re-
public is recognized the grand centre,
around which in time, the religious
system of the world shall reyolve.-
From one extreme of our Union 10 the
other, the temples of the Most High
are raising their lofty heads; from the
valleys, and the mountain tops, ascend
the hymns of devotion and earnest
alterations of praise. Every year re-
ligion gathers to itself, hundreds and
thousands. 1t is increasing in num-
bers, ard extending its domain. The
settler in the far West, is erecting his
humble altar; and in time the gorge
Gus house of prayer shall stand upon
the spot, and eager multitndes shall
crowd there, to enroll themselves as
disciples of Christianity.
Great men have lert their name and
fame to this holy cause; the highest
and humblest of our countrymen, bear
proud testimonials to its worth. And
While this lasts, will our country con-
tinue to increase in greatness, and
reach the summit Of exhaltation, which
it can attain but by Christianity alone.
(rJn.,neafoo. nOnS1f3y Times