Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1861-04-24

SNy~Ss 0~NNSA VI budS uioCOOioe
was by no means unprecedented TIL,
sentiments have been growing with my
growth from infancy. But the phraseOlogy
in which those sentiments we're clothed fol
exhibition yesterday, and many of the fig
ures of speech employed to give them an
introduction to the audience; have already
50 deserted my memory that 1 could nov
recall them with great difficulty.
should be very glad to do anything. al
whatever labor. that could aid my country
in this her hour of peril. but knowing tina
short speeches, short essays, and strong
arguments embodied in decisive action. arr
now most needed. I will content myself
with giving your readers a brief abstract
JAMES MARVIN.
The terf, n. ~. SM rerse-HK SHALL
Rave DOMINION FROM SEA TO SEA. AMI
PROM Il RIVER TO II ENDS OF TIL
EARTH. The Psalmist rises in this hi
last public prayer for Solomon's success, t,
the contemplation of the Mesiah's ever
lasting Dominion.
The universal sovereignty Of Christ. j:
prophetically declared in the Scriptures, and
confidently believed by christians. In it,
progresses, it is like a river making its way
through all distractions from its mountain
source to the broad, full ocean. Barriers
may be thrown across its bed, but however
strongly set, the silently accommodating wa.
tiers at length press them asunder. and
scatter in fragments the defiant rubbish.
Practically considered, christianity. in
seeking this universal sovereignty, deprives
man Of no individual, social or civil right,
but confirms them all to him, in their
highest and truest sense.
1t encourages the highest. indeed all hu.
man virtues. 1t demands personal purity,
social reciprocity, and allegiance to ciUil
dr. 1t encourages the acquisition Of
knowledge, enjoins diligence in the prosecu.
ton of human enterprise, and promotes
human liberty.
Among the many forces or means en-
ployed in securing those ends. one Of the
most effective is Human Government
And of all the governments yet employed
BY God, to secure this desirable consuma-
ton none have served the purpose so we'll
as ours. The highest christian attainment
is only made where there is the most ex-
tended, independent thought. Every form
of despotism. whether it applies restrictions
to mans rightful prerogatives to govern
himself in matters of religion or of state, de-
grades the man, cripples his eh~ristianity;and
though individuals may attain the full stan
dard Of christian stature despite the despo-
tism, the masses can never reach the maxi
mum designed by heaven. Hence the his
tory of past centuries is the story of varied
forms of governments. used by the Sovereign
Ruler. while they best served His bench
cent designs. and then rejected, to be So.
perseded be others. Here then We may
consider our place in the worlds history,
in the development of a heaven born chris
tianity. History has had its epOchs, and
its eras.
Luther and his coadjutors opened the
way for the onward flow of free, civil, and
religious thought. Columbus and his sue
cessOrs revealed in the forest of a new
world. an asylum from despotic intolerance,
and a future empire for freedom of thought
When ruthless hands, obedient to covetous
hearts, would have uprooted this young
tree Of a better civilization than the world
had yet seen, our fathers focked to the
rescue, watered it with their tears, breathed
upon it with their prayers, and thus saved
the glorious prize for themselves. and left
1t to their children and the world in their
almost if not quite inspired Declaration of
1875. They subsequently prescribed the
terms Of possession to Us in that best char
ter of human freedom ever yet prcmulga-
ted as q basis of human government and
an exponent Of q nations christianity, a
charter hat recognizes the right of each
to think and act for himself in all matters
of civil polity and religious duty; a char
ter under the operations of which God and
the Bible are distinctly recognized in all
the forms of law, courts of justice, and
eaths Of office.
Under these constitutional guarantees.
we have grown so vigorously that we had
come to regard our inheritance inalienable,
and indestructible. But in this year Of
our Lord, 1861, this charter. this eonsti-
tuition, is assailed-not by a foreign foe,
but by a powerful organization of restless,
rebellious spirits within our own national
jurisdiction. The question now is. as
christian men, shall we resign our God
given rights, and accept in their stead a.
civilization centuries behind our own?-I
Shall we 20 back with the millions CALLED
under the yoke of dcspOtism, and fight over
again the battles for freedom Of thought,
and conscience? Despotisms are the same
whether administered by an absolute auto
crat, or by an ~imperious mob, only the
latter is the more tickle and less merciful
What is to be gained by such submission,
but the curse Of dying in slavery? What
is left when our Constitution is discarded,
our government demolished? for secession
all this. Yield these articles of
compact, and all must be recast answ.
What then is our duty as christian
men? for thisis above ali others a most
question for US as christians.
One that is most appropriate for even
the most sacred place, occasion or day
-one that may well grace the pulpit
on the holy sabbath. II involves my
as a citizen to tho protection
and benign influence of a civil govern
mont, which presents the highest and
noblest charter of christian Liberty,
the world has yet known under the
name of human law.
list. We owe to this country a high
and noble patriotism; alove Of eoun-
try such as faithful sons feel for the
mother that bore them; a love that will
not unfeeingiy hear that mother ira
duced, her precepts stigmatized, her
very name spoken in Jest. A love
which would ever unfurl the unstains.
cd stripes and stars to the breeze Of
l- - ko. 49, o,1I A.