The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1862-06-12

Fort Street ChuTch, Ho7otnU, S"HsL@Y.
Hay 11th, 1s62-PUBLIsHED RI RzQrEsI.
people ssse men. such a. f-ar Col, n-n Of truth, h.,.Hg cps :
Ousn-as and place sash over thsm; to be nirs- g 'E'a-ands
and rulers Of hzIlFsds. rulers Of Gitss aud ruisrs q ;~Ey.
The Bible is a large hook. Compreh-r- ~. and
complete, honest, fearless and faithful. il discus
as everybOdy's affairs and probes eyeTyirJdy's
character IL is eyerybOdy's monitor. everybJdy's
counsellor, everybody's friend. IL sets before all
men the worthiest ends which can be- pursued.
IN whatever calling, and supplies principles and
prscepts for our moral restraint and guidance, IN
al conceivable circumstances and relations IN life
And IL u as impartial as IL Is comprehensive.
Seeking not the favor nor fearing the frown Of
the mightiest Of men, IL rebukes SIN and COM
mends virtue in high places as well IA low
swerving never one hairs breadth from the right
line Of eternal truth 70 accommodate itself TO the
prejudices Of any class, or To forward the interests
OF any faction.
Does il require the creditor 70 be merciful and
patient and forgiving towards the unfortunate
debtor rs he hopes himself to be forgiven his debts
IN the final reckDuIng;-it also enJpins uIOn the
debtor, To use all diligence TO meet his obligations
and to cIpc eel every outstanding claim. providing
things honest in the sight Of all men,"
While it commands children to obey their
parents in the Lord, that is in all things consist
ent with his requirements, ii also %enjOins upon
fathers not To provoke their children To wrath,
but TO bring them up in the nurture and admoni-
hiVat u tAC LII
Il speaks not TO the servant alone saying, = Be
obediens 10 your masters according To the flesh,
with fear and trembling, ia sisgleness Of your
heart rs unto Christ; Tot with eye-serviec as men,
pleasers." u speaks with equal emphasis and
authority % masters. saying, {. Do the same things
unto them ~ that ~, be aetuated by the same
principles, and manifest the same kindness, faith
fulnesl and fear Of God which are fitting ia them.
Do the same things unto them, fuTbearing
threatening. knowing that your Master also is in
heaven Neither il there rpsrecf of uer-nus with
him."
So too, while obedience and loyalty t. the con-
stitured authorities are required of every subject,
> under every form of government, the duties Of
rulers are not less clearly expressed and implied.
The same prophets that bore their burning mes
sages to the peuple, denoancing the wrath of God
against prevailing iniquity and popular sins, were
hardly less frequently commissioned to warn those
who occupied the high places Of power, and to
prOmulgate moral principles for the government
of princes And our Lord and his apostles,
while avoiding partisan political s%trifes, aud de-
claring that the divine kingdom which they
sought 20 establish was to be advanced not by
pr teal maneuvering, but by the dissemination
OF piritual truth. did nevertheless practically
illustrate the fact that Christianity was designed
not to take men out Of the world and to secure
sanctity by seclusion, but to make them only the
more Efficient in every department OF duty, ard
IN every calling and condition in life While
they never presumed to dictate a line of secular
DbtiCy W tutl FGleI UT Oucu-lstly CidIUle a u
tual supervision and control of public affairs,
they did seek To inculcate sich general principles
rs should tend to make every man in his own
sphere and capacity the best man for that position.
As n Minister of Christ. it IS mnniiestly my
duty to declare the whole counsel of God. to ex-
pound Gods word in every part, and tD bring the
principles CT Christian morality to bear upon all
classes Of men. In preaching upon the duties of
rulers, however, IL surely cannot be necessary To
disavow any purpose to shape specific legislation,
will any one do me the injustice to- think that /
would degrade my sacred ofEce by making an
attack, either openly or implied, upon those who
are here intrusted with Positions of honor and in
tuence.
And let me say that, as 1t Is not my province
to judge of the capacity or the character of pub
lie men, and TO say who are fitted to hold such
Offices, 50 neither are you called upon to sit here
N jurors TO decide upon the merits or dement's of
individuals. IL Is our business to contemplate
the Bible pattern for rulers and subjects, and
then TO strive to live up to what is required of
each one OF US in our own position. And IL, in
contemplating this perfect pattern, any of you
who hold office should seem to yourselves To come
short of il. you shall have no more right to infer
that | am aiming to secure your removal from
Office than that i aim to put every sinner out of
the world who does not come up to the perfect
standard Of character which il is my duty az all
times To hold up before all men.
Taking the word OF God then as our guide. we
rcfnark tDtt ~ JTA fb0ADtCcIf0H OF q TheT -
ABILITY. 80 thought the Elther-ir-law Of Moses
when Ee gave him the excellent advice in the text,
advice winch Moses. under the divine direction,
was prompt in following =. Moreover, thou shalt
provide ont of all people able men, such as fer
God, men of truth, hating covetousne=s, and
place such over them u be- rulers" No matter
what qualifications men may have for the hum
bier walks of life, If they are not men of ability,
they ought not to hold places of great response
bility in the government. y business house, or
= I-a- -
ed and great interests at stake, can afford, and
ought to Command the best business talent avail
able for the management Of its affairs But no
business house can in influence, IN Importance, OF
IN the pecuniary interests involved, be compared
with a government which has To do, not alone
with the protection OF property, but has power
10 open new channels Of wealth. To foster untried
arts, to guard the gate-ways of commerce, TO
p maintain that social order upon which all values
depend, and 20 provide for the intellectual train
ing. and to some extent, for the moral culture Of
q great nation.
IL first class steamship needs and deserves ADLER
officers than might be required to ~navigatea canal
boat, they who are placed at the helm Of state.
and who may be called To shape the course of
empires. ought first of all to be able, wise, expe-
Fienced men.
Honesty of intention will not compensate for
laundering awkwardncss. Purity of life will not
plaster over u defective legislation. Personal
worth will not make good n nations lsses.
Christianity teaches no such absurdijy as that
pious men are to have the precedence over others,
where they are not by their abilities. as well as
tlieir virtues, fitted to govern 1t would not give
n devout Ounce command of n ship in 4 storm
because he CHANGED to b. the most piOus man ON
board nor would il warrant any man in aspiring
10 positions of trust for which he is not fitted by
talent and experience, and where his goodness
must of necessity be evil spoken of. Ii Is. more
over. undesirable that 4 mans natural amiabiliiy
or his Christian graces should be put into the
market. or that ones domestic and social virtues