Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1861-08-01
Third. Pray for "the powers that BE-"

sohsticated christian would stand utterly
amazed at so-called christian Bishop dl-
recting his clergy, on certain contingency
of govern nent, to expunge the name OF The
President Of the United States from the for
NAL PRAYERS of the church 1t 1t wore not
that lie has known the most ac0nGerful things
to be done under the name and sanction of
religion Presumption and stupidity cou d
be canned no farther by p-ofessed christian
bishop. If a ruler be supposed to be a
wicked man, or to be contemplating au act
of wiekedness, he has only the more OF pray
ers of christians. Or. if there only happtns
to be difference of opinion between the
party so ordering, and the executive of the
government as to duty and policy in pend
ing controversy is there christian bishop
whois capaple of so misrepresenting bis God
as to suppose that he is capable of charging
to meet the conflicting views, policies, and
prejudices of men No, no the command
reads 81 exhort therefore, that first of all,
applications, prayers. intereeseions, and
giving of thanks, be made for all men; for
kings, amt for all that are in authority =
Tim. 2: l., 2. When this command was
given, the civil governors were hedthenS, ty-
rants, and even prosecutors. Yet il modern
progress, for ruler te be supposed TO be op.
posed to measures deemed destructive of all
established government, is esteemed suf-
fclent reason to exclude him from the benefit
Of the prayers of christians And people
act upon the same absurd and presumptuous
principle, when they refrain in their private
and domestic prayers. toremember the civil
ruler, because he was not elevated to place
by the vote of the political party to which
they belong. This is to subjugate religion to
worldly interest and policies, instead of sane
tifYing worldly concerns by religious princi-
pie. We as a religious demonstration. may
have been heretofore too much neglectful of
the remembrance of our rulers in our public
prayer, IN ordinary times of peace. For this
we are to be blamed, so far as it is Justly
chargeable upon US but, thank God! we
have now no formal prayers to alter and
eddpt to the sinful prejudices and purposes
of men.
Lastly. Personal and official respect and
reverence are due on the part of the people
towards their rulers. This is deemed mat
ter of so much importance that it is made
subject of inspired injunctions. Thou shalt
not revile the Gods, nor curse the ruler of thy
people," Magistrates are called Gods, Fs
80: 6. because they are the representatives. of
God in the particular sense OF being rulers
under him, from whom. as Supreme Ruler,
all authority and government springs. When
Paul was reproved for speaking harshly of
of Gods high priest, he replied: :" wist not
brethren that he was the High Priest: for
it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the
ruler of thy people" The Apostle Peter in
describing very base class of persons, says,
They are not afraid to speak. evil of digni-
ties" and despise government" If there
is a sin in regard to their rnlers, with which
the American people are more ehargeable
than others, it is this of speaking ey il of their
rulers. 1t has been the fault of all times and
of all parties 1t is mainly owing to the Vi
olence of party feelings and party contests.
How much it has had to do in weakening the
bonds of society. as exhibited in the present
state of the country, God only knows.
CONGRESSIONAL FEW INFERENCEs.
1st. Civil government being the ordinance
of God, it cannot be no light sin to subvert,
or attempt to subvert government which
has the r&fifcation of his providence. and
accomplishes the ends of civil government.
3D. Therefore, subjecticn to magis'ratesin in
the lawful duties of their office. is chris
tian's imperative duty. A contrary course
of conduct is reproach of his religion. and
gives just occasion to suspect either his in
telligence of his piety. 1t is evidently con
trary to the injunetions of his Master.
3D. Rulers are not only "servants of the
people," but " ministers of God" The
minister of God to thee for good" Also, Prov.
g.: Is. They govern for God. 1t is his del
egated power which they exercise. T" There
is no power but of God" 1t therefore fol-
lows, that they are bound to govern by the
will of God that is, they are bound to gov
ern Ga the principles of justice, truth and
inapartiality, as taught in the word of God
They have great WORK to 90 Jor God,
" Ministers of God.''
4th. As there are duties which subjects
owe TO every authoritatively established gov
ernment; so there are corresponding duties
which every government owes to its subjects.
These duties may be summarily compra,
hended in the following statement. 1t is the
duty of the Government to support and pro-
tect the subject in his person, legal rights
and just liberties and privileges. This of
course implies that when Government man
ifestIy and systematically fails to accomplish
these ends, it may be RESISTED and overturns
ed by the people But no imaginary, or tri-
tRjnq, or Incidental evils or such as can be
remedied by the ordinary action of the peo.
Pile; will avail to justify revolution. or open
rebellion against Government.
And here, cannot forbear to express the
conviction, that the present rebellion of some
Of the Southern States against the General
and Central Government of the country, is
the most unreasonable and upjustifable op-
position to established Government, which
has ever taken place in the history Of Gov.
ernments. If we were 20 admit all the griev-
qnces which these rebellious States have ever
complained Of, as well founded, they would
not Justify the hazarding of one precious life
in securing their removal. But when we re-
member, that peaceful and ever accessible
means of redress of all real grievances were
always at hand and the means provided in
the constitution Itself for the amendment of
its provisions, if at that time they bore uns
favorably upon any part of the people; we
cannot but pronunce the present attempted
revolution as the most indefensible of all the
upheavings and overturnlngs which have
taken place among the nations since the
world began Government has been admin.
istered confessedly in accordance with the
constitution and the laws and with impair
tality, or if partiality at any time has been
shown, it has always been to those now in
rebellion. The acts of Congress have been
mainly as those now in rebellion made them,
or wished them. The party with which they
acted has administered the Government for
the past thirty gears, with scarcely an inter-
ruption. When they complain, they COM
plain mainly of what they themselves have
done. And Up to the time when they began
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