Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-09-25

God" and We should look up to Him for
wisdom to direct US to a proper selection.
Gods Supremacy in the Election Of
Rulers.
There is strong tendency in man to
forget God-to overlook his agency in the
arrangement Of human affairs. But in no
aspect of his action is there a greater la
bllity to this, than III political matters.-
There IS peculiar danger, in this repubi-
can country of ours, where so much is
said abont freedom, and where the people
are so jealous Of their rights, lest the poi
son Of this feeling should obtain possess
ion of the Southern mind, and lead men
to forget Him who hath prepared his
throne IN the heavens, and whose kingdom
ruleth over ali. The truth, therefore, in
this matter should be made prominert.-
The ground upon which our elevation as
nation rests, should be reorganized, and
all the fhbish, the hay, wood and stub
bic, with which poli,ical atheism would
cover it up, and hide it from the view of
men, should be swept away. Our safety as
free people is in practical acknowledge
lnent of God, and in action accordant
with such recognition. We have there
tore wished, at this time, when the minds
OF men are turned to the election of their
rulers, to contribute our mite, and to set
forth the teaching of the Bible on this
subject. We proceed, then, to show, as
we proposed, the principles upon which
the sovereignty of God in the election of
rulers is exercised.
One thing here may and ought most
| certainly to be taken for granted. God
does not act arbitrarily in this matter. He
has good and sufficient reasons for what
he does. Great and eternal principles un-
dcrlie all the movements of the Divine
Mind. His ways are directed by his own
infinite moral nature. While, therefore,
he acts in this matter according to the
counsels of his own will, there is nothing
eaprcous, partial, or arbitrary, in what
be does. His sovereignty is guided bv un-
erring wisdom-by infinite goodness. He
is no respecter Of persons or of nations.-
We say, then:
l. That Ia the exercise Of this sovereign
lty. in giving dominion to whom he peas
es, he acts upon the principle of bis own
Inherent right. Dominion is his. He is
the source OF all power and all authority
among men, There--sas sz-s.e!. Ilacaa a:,aaL
ing upon this point in our day. The hu-
man is put in the place of the divine
The people, We are told, are the source of
power. The sentiment heralded from one
mountain top to another, is that authority
to rule comes from the civil compact
originates in the will of the people. But
1t is not SO. The Bible denies it 1t teach
es us a very different lesson. It declares
that there is no power bnt of God that
the powers that be are ordained of him:
that authority to govern comes from him,
and not from men-not from any civil
compact. And hence be gives dominion
to whom he pleases. 1t is his right.
/ 2. In doing this, he does not interfere
in the slightest manner with human free
dom. Each one is treated as free moral
agent in this matter While here as in
everything else, it is true that the hearts of
all men are in his hands, as the axe is in
the hands of him that ifeweth Herewith,
still he controls, guides, governs men in
accordance with the nature he has given
them. He teaches them the truth press
es their duties upon them: holds them re-
sponsble to him for what they do But
in all this he touches not their freedom.--
lie works and they work. We see bis
hand in the motion of inert matter, in the
forming flower, in the falling rain, and in
the rushing wave that pours its imprison-
ed thunder upon the shore. These are
parts of his ways. He governs here by
force But in the world, the divine energy
works in man to will and to do, and there
fore men are free in willing and in doing
They act Just as they choose to act, and
yet God giveth the dominion to whom he
pleases. The result, in the true and high
est sense, is not of him that runneth, but
of Gou. He putteth down one and set
teth up another. 1t is his prerogatiye.
, and he exercises it.
3. There is another great principle un-
derlying the exercise -ofthis sovereignty.
God acts In this matter in such a way as
to encourage obedience to him amonp
men. lie has legislated for man as a citio
| zen, as really as he has for him IN any
other relation of life. He has marked out
: his duties here as clearly as he has in the
domestic or in the social circle. Shallow
] thinkers and political and infdel demaeo-
e cues tell US, indeed, that the Bible has
$ nothing to do with politics. But this is a
great mistake. The Bible aims to control
q the whole action OF man. 1t teaches MS,
f therefore, the true source of all power, and
e has much to do with the forms of govern
0 ment, and with the mode and spirit of its
administration. 1t prescribes the duties
t of the citizen and Of the ruler, and Laws
a down the principles by which both are to
be governed. 1t commands the people tc
r select for The places of authority and pow
] er able men, such as fear God, men O
r Truth, hating covetousness; and it com
Y mands such men, when invested with pow.
e er, to rule in righteousness, and binds ey-
cry one TO be subjeet unto them.
e We say, therefore, that God exercise!
e this sovereignty in such way as to en-
E! courage obedience to him in all things
lie He employs dominion, power, rulers. a
the means of blessing or of punisbing I,
le people. If they obey him-if they wall
~ in his ways, and keep his commandments
IS, he will give them good ruers-men VIII,
fear God and hate coyetonsness. But
: they forget him, and trample upon his Law
of and give themselves up to iniouity he wi
to turn the blessing into curse. % and II max a,
IS, them weep and howl under the crusbin
influence of wicked rulers. We have OF