Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-05-14
The Christianity Of the North.

The Christianity Of the North.
The field Of religion, except so far as it At
fects tho politics Of n nation, is one upon which
the secular journalist should not intrude. 1t
IS with no desire to indulge in a sheer at true
religion, that we write these lines, but a peru
sal Of the So-called religious papers Of the
North has forced upon us the painful convic-
ton that the mass OF the Northern clergy have
forsakcn the doctrine OF the Prince Of Peace,
snd are engaged in the work Of the Primo Of
Darkness. Listen to the savage shout of
Beecher, who calls for "war, redder than
blood" See the ceremonies Of religion in
voscd to bless and consccrate 4 war Of inva.
sion and determination Of the South. We do
not mean to do injustice to the entire body Of
Christians in the North. We do not doubt
that there are many who mourn over the mad
ness Of the hour and lament with unaffected
sorrow the impending Grill war. But it is i'm.
possible not to see that the prevailing senti-
uens Of the Christian Church North is for
war, fierce, relentless, bloody war; especially
is that the case among the powerful and
wealthy congregations Of the Puritans through
on, the New England and the Central States,
What a spectacle does this blood.thirsty
spiri, Of the Northern Church present to the
world. How does tho lip of tue skeptic curl
in derision and contempt when the minister Of
& Holy Religion, the disciples Of Him who
came into the world to preach "peace on
earth, good will to men" suddenly lay
aside their prieStly robes, forget the
prcccp:s of their Master, and strive, by all the
means in their power, to inflame the angry
passions Of their people, and to precipitate a
crusade upon the people of the South? And for
what reason? Because, like the Pharisee,
they CITY out to the Southern Christian 81
ain holier than thou" What confidence do
they expect mankind to place in the efficacy Of
their religion, when, upon the first surge Of
popular passion, they lend themselves with
eagcrness to the work Of aggravatins it into a
tempest, instead Of reminding their congrega
tons that the vital moral principles of Chris.
tiani.y are peace and love.
The Holy Author Of our religion declared
that My Kingdom is not Of this world"
But the Puritans arrogantly assume q higher
morality than the Son of God himself. Their
kingdom is Of this world, their morality and
religion are of this world, and they think that
their mission is to force upon mankind, by the
power Of the sword, their tenets and opinions.
When Christ preached his sublime religion
or love in the Roman world it is we'll known that
slavery Of the most absolute and despotic kind
prevailed throughout the dominious Of Caesar,
Yet Christ did not preach that insurrection
and serviie yer we're parts Of his creed. On
the contrary, there came from bis lips no words
Of cersu7c Of slavery; but his apostle eNhorted
"Serran:s be obedient unto your masters
Gu. Beechcr and Cieever and the rest Of the
pur;tans proper, and those affiliated with
them, have a higher Law Of Christianity as well
We'll as a higher Law Of the Constitution.
Tertulliap. one Of the early fathers Of the
Church, composed an Grafton in eulogy of g
Christian soldier, whcsthrew downshissrmsi u
.::s.s-oi .ofgiol- QdesIionable rs the reason
Of his refusal was, it still shows the spirit of
early Christianity to have bcca opposed to
war.
But things have changed with a portion of
the Church, since tho Saviour and his Apostles
preached and the Fathers CT the Church ex-
pounded the precepts of the Gospel.
Beecher & Co. have 8 new Gospel, in which
WAY, re,ider than blood, takes the place Of the
cross - Christ, and vindictive and devilish
ha:c Of their brother Christians Of the South,
is substituted for the love, charity and works Of
kic'.aess which Christians were once exhorted
20 render to each other.
This furious war feeling in the Chris.
tia Church North, does not prove that the
Gospel of Christ has no saving efficacy upon
the hearts and minds Of men; it only proves
that I large portion Of the Northern Church
has trampled upon the Gospel itself, and have
embraced a meretricious bastard Christianity,
in which political power and ambitious priest
craft have usurped the place Of the gentle and
persuasive doctrines of true religion.
We are assured in the sermon on the Mount,
that"Blessed arc the Meek, for they shall Inherit
the Earth" What inheritance is prepared for
the Priestly Puritans, with whom, at present,
neekpcss is a sin more heinous than the awful
and mysterious crime Of the "Sin against the
Holy Ghost"