The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1861-06-04
THE FOUNDATIONS ATTACKED.
Discourse deliceyed in the PRESBYTERIAN Church
Independence Io,Da. May 18th, 1861.
BY JOHN M. BOGGS, PASTOR.
Published by Request

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1
| BY JOHN M. BOGGS, PASTOR.
Published by Request.]
4 " Ifthe foundations be destroyed, what ca,
the righteous do 2" Ps. ll:3.
Some additional references bave beer
made, few passages enlarged, and verba
changes made in the Discourse as delivered.
The foundation is the most importan
part of any superstructure, whether ma.
terial, political, moral, or spiritual. L
it is defective, the whole fabric is unsub
stantial. If it is destroyed. all that rest.
upon it will fall, crushing the inmates in
its ruins. The greatness of such a cal.
amity will be proportioned to the inter
ests involved. The falling OF house,
overwhelming single family in des.
truction, would be a sad occurrence.
But the overthrow OF an immense edifce
in which thousands at the time we're as
sembled, would be vastly more distress
ing. The destruction of civil govern
ment in small community, comprizing
few hundred inhabitants, would be la
mentable ; but the subversion of a gov
ernment involving the best interests for
time Of many millions, would be a cal
amity, over which mankind every where
ought to weep.
In morals and religion. first princi.
pies are the foundations. These princi.
pies should be we'll established, and
guarded with especial care. For their
destruction would be disastrous in all it's
consequences. For instance, let the
idea that there is any essential distinc-
ton between right and wrong be obliter-
ated. and let there be substituted for it
the opinion that morals are a matter Of
mere convenience. or expediency, and
the very basis Of morality will be re-
moved. All the precious interests in
volved in sound morals in the communi-
ty will be endangered. Let the ideas of
the Divine Existence, and human ac-
countability, be undermined and no true
religion can exist. In the destruction of
these fundamental principles all tha. is
attractive, and redeeming, and glorious
in the religion of the Bible will be des-
troyed. And eff the foundations be
destroyed, what can the righteous
do ?"
We propose to consider this passage
chiefly in relation to the foundations Of
social and civil order and law. This is
understood by some to be the direct ref.
erence. And certainly the principle
which it involves will very properly ad.
NIT such an application. Ii the princi.
Piles Of social and public order be SUBJ
verted-if the foundations Of the govern.
ment under which we live be destroyed,
and widespread anarchy be substitu-
ted in its stead-what, oh what is there
in such prospect to recommend it to
men of right views and feelings and con-
duct? Such state Of things might in
deed be desirable to men of bad princi-
Piles and practice. In the confusion and
anarchy that would prevail. they would
gladly throw off the restraints that are
always 80 irksome to such men. Inter-
est or passion would be their rule Of ac-
ton. They would hold carnival amidst
the ruins Of all that is most precious in
human society. But on the contrary.
the friends OF order and good govern
ment--those who desire to do what is
right in their relations to their fellow
men, and those who "fear God and keep
his commandments" s"-such would have
nothing to gain, but everything TO lose.
by the change. All such therefore have
an immense interest in sustaining the
foundations Of order and law. For elf
the foundations be destroyed, what can
the righteous do 90
l. The foundations Of civil order and
government in our country are endan-
gered. l need not enter upon an argu-
ment to prove this TO be the fact We
have. alas, but too melancholy and con.
elusive evidence of its truth. The earth
quake declares its own presence by the
shock that is felt-by the quivering of
the earth--by the fall of houses and the
ruin of cities-and the widespread con-
sternation that is produced. Not less
certainly do the civil connections that
have arisen-the clangor Of arms that is
heard-this hurrying 10 and fro Of SOL
diers and munitions Of war-the immense
military preparations that are being
made-betoken the presence of some
imminent danger to the Republic. The
very existence of the government under
which we have been born. under which
it is our privilege to live. and under
which we fondly hope to die, is threat
cd. Men occupying high positions in
the cabinet. in the national legislature,
in the army. and elsewhere, have used
those positions to destroy the govern.
ment TO which. before heaven and earth,
they had solemnly sworn fidelity. Forts.
arms, revenues, ships Of the
United States, have been seized by the
enemies ofIthe Republic. in time Of
perfect peace. when it will not be even
pretended that the government had in
the least injured them. The flag Of our
that noble symbol Of our ma
lional sovereignty, has been insulted.
An unarmed vessel. carrying provisions
10 beleagured and famishing garrison,
has been fired upon. Aud that little
garrison Of less than Q hundred men,
true to their flag and their country-for
lhirty-four mortal hours, has been expo
sed to the merciless attack of seven thou
sand rebels with their batteries and in
struments Of war. Thus has direct. de.
I:Lo.o.o 49, kaan ,vanal n ara;oat H. -,