The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-04-26


the lives of those who should attack il. The
Creator never sent man, nor beast nor mi.
nutest insect into this world defenceless.-
Nor Governments Of men any more than
men, without arms. Either Governments
are not of God, and have no right to be, OF
being, they have God-given right to beat
back the brute force that assails them. Aye,
the word of the Apostle is, Resist them al
your peril. You may refuse to comply with
a particular statute, II you have the law Of
God on your side, and fear not. So say the
precept and example both Of Paul and Of all
the Apostles. But resist the Porer, they
add, ,-disown its authority-put yourself in
the attitude of rebellious defiance to 1t as a
Government, and you draw down upon you,
is their solemn declaration, the condemna-
tion OF that Government that may be terri
bic to you beyond your thought or power to
conceive.
Not only, however, from fear Of certain
and terrible harm to yourself personally, but
from higher motives-"for conscience sake"
the Apostle adds, "be subject. What right
have you to impcril Others by your resist.
ance.
What right have you, then consider, to
occasion the injury and destruction that must
come upon interests wider and deeper than
any which you or yours may have immcdi-
ately and personally at stake. Though the
Government be far in many respects from
what you deem the best, there are other
methods than forcible resistance that are
open to you, which you have right to EN-
ploy, and which If you have right upon your
side you have reason to believe may cvcntu-
ally be successful. If you have not tried
these, or have but partially made use of them
through conscious weakness of your cause,
or unwillingncss to rest it on its moral mcr-
Its, then "for conscience sake" forbear to
use methods that not only in the view Of all
disinterested and just men must number you
with robbers and murderers and pirates, but
which in the sight of God can be no other
than wicked and punishable to an extreme
degree.
But the significance Of the text is not ex-
hausted by the duty Of general obedience to
the civil Government that is established over
us, and the danger as well rs wrong of for
chile resistance to its authority. The Gov
ernment has right to call upon its subjects
to maintain it when threatened, and to do.
fend il when attacked.
"If 1t be possible" says the Apostle, "as
much as lieth in you, live pcaceably with oil
men," Let your spirit be peace. Cherish
no resentment for personal wrong--no anger
at personal injury-no desire for revenge up
on personal foe. More than this, do oil
you can land all can do much) to promote
peace between those who are ut strife. BE
willing to sacrifice personal comfort, ease,
emolumcnt, everything but the right, (Which
is to be never sacrificed, and which no good
cause is ever helped by sacrifcing) for peace
peace in the household, peace in the COM
munity, and the peace of the nation. But
the magistrate, the Apostle Immediately pro-
ceeds to say, "bcars not the sword in vain.
"Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not
only for wrath but also for conscience sake"
In other words, il the Government is called
upon, as he says it surely is, to DO ga terror
to evil works." then you must not refuse to
do your part to make it so. If it be neccs-
sary to punish tho evil doer, you must be
ready to execute its bidding m that particu-
lar. II it must defend itself against those
who have risen with deadly aim and are lift
ing the arm of malice against it, you must
ay as for your own life to its defence. Else
tho magistrate Of the best Government on
earth "bears the sword in vain." Where is
the authority of the Government, where is
the Government, If there be none upon whom
it may call to maintain its authority, and
enforce the subsection Of the hostile and re-
bellious?
The Gospel is the Gospel of peace. Ny
teachings, YOU will bear me witness, nv
friends, have been preyalcntly evangelical
and peaceful. seldom 20 out of tho Cos.
pels for a text. hold myself always &C.
countable to the Gospel for all l preach. /
have no personal pride nor fear that would
hinder me a moment from publicly recant.
ING any doctrine or word might in haste or
ignorance have spoken, that could be shown
to be contrary to the doctrine or spirit Of Je-
su, Christ. l have said this 10 YOU before,
.nd 7 ro,,,t 4, ,o ,,, ,ow And a.k Won