The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-11-06

angry at minister or agreeing with ono a
pa,tv rather than another Those are wrong c
who are offended at minister on account OF /
his political views but though they are /;
wrong, it is still right for him to respect their
feelings and prejudices. The ground, there t
fore, OF a ministers duty to abstain IRON be- '
coming an active politician seems to DC this: {
it is his duty to avoid collision, even with
the unreasonable prtjudices of men, tor the
sake of doing them good and being the means
of their salvation, He oug ght to pursue such
"a course in relation to all prejudlces on
worldly subjects, as will conclltatc, not Of
fsnd In addition to the adove consldera-
tions, the world will always think it unseemly,
and it is unseemly, for one who is entrusted
with the momcntous interests OF immortal
souls. 10 occupy himself with the petty strlfes
Of political men. Of course the above con-
siderations have all the moro force when par.
ty spirit is unusually violent and bitter
while, on the other hand, their force would be
We much diminished if party spirit were
moderate and kind, which we fear is not very
likely TO be the case for some time
1t must be remembered that the very same
objection may be urged against political
churches as aganst political ministers, though
some coufue this question to the latter. Now
there arc some who a.c offended if minister
votes at ali but they will be equally offended
if one Of the members Of their own church
votes differently from themselves. While ob-
iecting to political ministers, they are trying
to make their church political. There are
some churches and there may be whole de-
nominations, in which ministers and people
are all of the same politics. and vote tor the
same set of candidates among whom per-
son of the opposite party would be made to
feel very uncomfortable in word church
which seems to have politca! creed as much
as a theological one. such O. church has Il
poitical character as q church ;such church
can do no good to those Of the opposite party;
thew will not join it, nor attend its serylces
SO that it deprives itself oi the power Of pro-
noting the salvation Of large part of the
people. Though therefore churches should
be united in the support of every good prlncl-
pie affecting the moral state OF the country
vet, in relation to general politics and to po'
litical parties, it is st crcditable to find .
diversity Of sentiment among their members
Notwithstanding what has been said, i
- will never do to forget that there arc yarlou
I'd duties devolviag Gu ministers OF the gospes
an On Cnristian churches in relation to clvi
lg affairs.
IN Christian preachers ought faithfully an
~. tearcssly to explain and declare the duses
., rulers, and of the people, as they are a!
GU down in the Holy Scriptures.
'se They should boldly reprovo aud dcnounc
les public vice and immortality either in high q
tes low places. The prophets constantly dlds H.
nd both to the kings and the people OF Israel
VOC They often spoke cut when no one else dare
.N' to speak, and thus sometimes became the re-
i'' deliverers of their nation.
- Ministers or churches may sometimes vel
les properly aud bencGcially declare their sent
ess men,s on public questions rela'iog to 'e!ig''
,el- Or morals, er to education in It's religious al
y it moral bearings. On such questions th'
po- ought, if the occasion calls Tor it, distinct
gu declare their minds and sometimes they CT
the not omit doing so without being Negligent
OIL the moral interests Of the country. Such
CT ; public exuression Of opinion, however, has
ght no binding authority; it is merely an opinl
but submitted to the people for their coosiderat''
o! they have still perfect right to pursue t
por- course they think best ; for no cccesiaSti'
gos- authority should be allowed to interfere W
for. the freedom OF the individual in relation
Dor- his civil privileges. 1t is just on this po
The that many fail to make necessary dists
. o! tou. They compare such expression
self opinion TO tho despotic mandates OF he TO
ooli- ish Church On political matters. They /
way get that Rome claims divine rgat to CT
oud troll Kings and States, and therefore wi
sue she speaks, even OIL political subjects,
nee speaks with authority, and counts 1t rebel!
rid and sin for any of her members 20 disoo
,on- Rome asserts the supremacy @! tue n
t he and the Church in all civil affairs, and Ii
C Of is aclaim to despotic po"er over the G.
If Of science, the opinions, tac policy, and all
= to circumstances of the people This OF cou
from is outyagoously wrong ior it is destructive
ene. the authority of the Government and its
a ac- sponsibiIty to tho people, and OF the Il
Sc Of dom of the people. and their duty to the
roft eminent. But,when Protestant MINIS
went or Church prouounces publicly an oplnio.
duce some public measure Involving the roi'g'
f. or moral interests Of the nation, they are
It's issuing a command like the Church OF Ko
fend- they merely expect their opinion 10 hav,
be influence according to the goodness of t
We arsumen,s and tae weight OF their ehSrAe
lot The rish, to exercise influence belong