Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1860-02-16
THANKSGIVING SERMON BYREY
.~~JOHN CHAN BERS,

" ~
folio wing ,-rNvi,h regard to The yFugitivs
Slave Lew, it JIG not MY purpose to say
whether that is 4 right law or u wrong law
Blu, it is the lay Of the aud. y y VI
While il Is the law, you and I, aud all citi-
zssis ofthe Npsvy ere bound by it. | defy
mortal msn To- contradict this" Notwiih-
standing the defatory tone of this last SEN
ltence, we undertake 10 conttoyert the posi-,
ton Mr.. Chambers lakes Id the above. quota.
ton. Let US look at soms OF the require
menls Of the Fugitive Slave Law. And Erst.
IL a fugitive slave comes 10 my door faint
and weary, It requ res me to torn him away,
for II I give him a cup OF water, or a crusS
Of bread am aiding hlh IN his flight. He
msy tell me that he himself Is q NANNY
brother; ond that he pants 10 breathe the air
of liberty; but TO al this / am required to
turn a deaf ear, and drive him from my door.
Second. Il requires me II called upon, to aid
in arresting the flight Of the fugitive slave.
Now cannAny one who lives In fear of Offend
ing God, meet these two demands, We an
swcr, bumauity and the Bible answer-so.
II is true, there are those, who have met the
Grains Of this law, and boast that they did so
with conscientious composure; but this con
be no proof to others of the rectitude Of
their prlpcipes, and ,ough, to be 90 pledge
to themselvesW their innocence in adher-
ing to them.FPd said. az We lily thought
with myself, that l ought to do many things
contrary to the name Of Jesus Of Nazareth; -
and In another place he gives Us the reason
why he thought so, II did 1t ignorantly In
unbelief."
But as to the question Of our being obi
gated TO obey every law, good or bad, we are
willing to abide the decision Of the Bible.
1t is recorded in the Sd chapter Of Daniel
that Nebochudnezzar the king Of Choldea
erected a golden statue, in the plains OF
Durd, IN the province Of Babylon Having
) appointed q day for the dedication Of thi
t statue, lie assembled the principal officer. o
his kingdom, ard published BY a herald, tina
E all should adore this hinge, at the sound Of
music, on penalty Of being cast into o barn
. ing fiery furnace. Three Jews, who we r,
unwilling to eohceee the right of an earthly
g monarchtocoEtfol their consciences, refuse
g submissfoh tortts decree.
BY turbfng to Daniel the 9th chapter, W
find, that Darius, the Mede, who succeede
Belshuazar, as king Of Baby Ion. also issue
a decree, 10 which he commanded that non
ir should ask q petition Of any god or ma
for thirty days, save OF the king himsel
Daniel q Jew, d'sregarded the decree, un
continued to pray 10 the God of HEAVIER
'e Now recording to the logic of some moder
%diyines, and Of not a few modern politician
@ these Hebrew worthless were guilty of pc
jury; but If they were, the God they servt
acted strangely inconsistent, for he deli
10 cred Shndrach, Meshach, and Abclner
from the burning fiery furnace; and DAM
C. from the den OF the lions. NJ. Chalnbs
;, quotes a passage Of scripture, which prov,
the opposite ofthat he intends; it Mark;
C; II v: Render 10 Cesar the things lh
tie arc CHsar's, and to God the things that d
OF Gods.
to This ssassag poists ont the extent al
limitation of mans obedience to civil 70
eminent. 10
Render 10 Cesar the hingi thai ere, Cesar
in First. The civil governmen nj under which
Sc man lives, and by which he 8 protecte
demands his honour and reverence. Sscon
hs The laws which are made for the supprG
sion of evil doors, and the maintenance
good order, which are calculated to promu
cir the benefit of the whole, and the cpmfort
It, the individual, should be re!igiou,ly obeye
ev Third, The government that ch,rges itse
-, with the support and defense of the who
should have ito Unavoidable expenses, ho'
ey ever great, repaid by the people, in who
behalf they are incurred.
Sc Render TO God the things that are God
Va But remember, II Caesar should intrude in
the things Of God, coin a new C eed,
u" breach a new Gospel. aud Offset to rule I
o. conscience, while he rules the state;
mt these u,ipgs Cesar IS not to be obeyed;
ne is taking the ttings of God and he m,
not ct them, Give not therefore Go
things to Cesar. No honest Bible scho
ia' will interpret the above passage to teach II
* we are obligated to obey a law that demar
tat a violation ofthe law of God. On the gu
ho ton Of obeying civil governments the Il
state Of The case Is this; where obedier
VI" does not involve disobedience to God,
nj - --..-- a. 49,