The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1861-10-23
COPS SUPREMACY IN THE ELECTION OF
RULERS

GODS SUPREMACY IN TIE ELECIlON Or
RULERS.
There is strong tendency in man to for
get God--to overlook his agency in the ar
rsnrement of human affairs. But in no as
pect Of his action is there greater liability
to this, than in political matters. There is
peculiar danger, in this republican country
Of ours, where so much is said about free
dom, and where the people are so jealous Of
their rights. lest The poison OF this feeling
should obtain possession OF the Southern
mind, and lead men to forget Him who hath
prepared his throne in the heavens, and
whose kingdom ruleth over all. The truth,
therefore. ID this matter should be made prom.
iaent. The ground upon which our eIeva-
zion as nation rests. should be recognized,
and al the rubbish, the hay, wood and stub
bic, with which political atheism would
cover i. up, aud hide il from the view Of men.
should be swept away. Our safety as free
people is in = political acknowledgment Of
God, and in action accor,iant with such re.
eognition. We have therefore wished, at
this time, when the minds of men are turned
70 the election Of their rulers, TO contribute
our mite. and TO set forth the teaching OF the
Bible on this subject. We proceed. then, 70
show, a. We proposed, the principles upon
which the sovereignty Of God in the election
OF rulers is exercised.
One thing here nav and ought most GER
fainly to be taken for granted. God does
not act arbitrarily in this matter. de has
good aud Sufficient reasons for shat he does.
Great and eternal principles underlie all the
movements Of the Divine Mind. His ways
are directed by his own infinite moral ma
tire. while, therefore, he acts in this mat
Ter according TO the eounsels of his own will,
there is nothing csprieious. partial, or arbl-
trary, in shat he does. His sovereignty IS
guided By unerring wisdom--bs Infinite good.
ness. he is no respecter OF persons or Of
nations We say, then:
1. That in the exercise Of this sovereign
", in giving dominion 10 whom he pleases,
be acts upon the principle Of his inherent
right. Dominion il his. He Is the source
OF all power and all authority among men.
There is much lOos. speaking upon this
point 10 our day. The human Is put IN the
place Of the divine. The people, We are
told, are the source 81 power. The senti-
ment heralded from enc mountain top 70 an.
other. is that authority TO rule comes from
the civil eompact.-origlnatss IN the will Of
the people. But il Is not 50. The Bible
denies Il II teaches Us a very different
lesson. II debates that there Is no power
bat Of God; that the powers that be are or.
dained Of him; that authority 10 govern cones
from him, and not from men-not from any
civil compact. And heace be gives domin.
ion 70 whom he pleases. It's bis right
2. N doing this. he does not interfere in
the slightest manner with human freedom.
Each one Is treated a. free moral sgeat IN
this matter. While here. a. 10 everything
else, x Is true that the hearts of al men are
10 his hands, - the AZ i 10 the hand. d hin
that heweih herewith. slill be controls, guides,
governs men in seeordanre with the nature
be has given them; EXHIBITS 20 them the
truth; presses their duties upon them; holds
them responsible 70 him for what they do.
Bot in al tins he touches not their freedom.
He works and rbey work. We see bis hand
in the motion Of inert matter, in the forming
Hoser, in the falling rain. and in the rush
ing wave that poufs its imprisoned thunder
upon the shore. These are parts Of his ways.
He governs here By force. Bot tin the sOrld,
the divine energy works il man 70 will and
20 d., and therefore men are free IN wiling
and n doing. They aei ju.t - they choose
% act. and yei God eise,h The dominion 70
whom Ne pleases. The result, 10 The true
snd highest sense. il not 81 him that rnnneth.
bot d God. He pstteih down one and set.
teth pp another. II il be prerogatise, sad
be exercises Il.
;. There - another great principle under.
lying the exercise u ihis s0sereigniy. Col
acts 10 this matter 10 such way a. 10 "a.
courage obedience TO him among men. He
has legislsted for man a. eiiizen, az re.
ally az he has for hin 10 aay Other relation
Of lie. Sc has marked oat his dates here
"a clearly a. he has 10 the domestic Or 10 he
social circle. shallDw thinkers aad polltl.
cal add si6dsI drmsgogBss tell y. indeed
that The Bible has nothing TO DO with pal,tics
Bat this sa great mistake. The Bible AIM
20 control ne whole sefion Of man. u tsache
u. therefore. Tie true source ~ Ell poser
snd has mach 10 % With the forms Of gov
srnment. add with TIE mode and spirit o. Id
sdmisislrsuon. Il preseribss he dslies .