The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1862-05-23
[For tho Bedford Gazette. ]
a Preacher on the Stand.

/
A Preacher on the Stand.
MIR. EDITOR:
am one of those who believe in the rule
of conduct laid down in the old latin proverb,
"Ne sutor ultra c,epilam," '.The shoemaker
should not 60 beyond his LAST" or, in palmer
language, every man ought to mind his own
business and let that of other people alone. And
l consider this precept especially applicable to
preachers of the Gospel. Their business is to
preach "Christ and him crucifed;" to make
known to men the glad tidings of human re-
demption; to point out the narrow way which
leads to heaven; not prate of systems of Sec
ular Government, nor to go about dabbling in
politics, counseling and encouraging rancorous
disputes, helping to breed violent differences of
opinion, and thus become instrumental in the
eternal destruction of many immortal souls.
l have been led to these general observations
by the recent publication of some extracts from
letter said to have been written by Rev. S.
Barnes, formerly pastor of the M. E. Church
of this place The portions of Mr. Barnes let
ter which are published, read as follows:
"You say you are glad that | am still true to
the Republican cause, and better still to the
Union. Aye-When l am false to my country
or to those constitutionally appointed to admin
lister its laws, or to a President as sound and
true and honest as Abraham Lincoln and his
eminently just and prudent administration, then
let my right hand forget its cunning and my
tongue cleave 10 the roof of my mouth. Why,
sir, 'Ihe Powers that be are ordained of God ;
whosoever, therefore, resisteth the power, re-
sisteth the ordnance of God, and they that re-
sist shall receive to themselves damnation.-
Romans, 13, IL.
| sCould l then be a Christian if / were to re-
bel or even ym,pataise with rebellion, if to rebel
is to 'resst tile ordnance Of GodF Can Chris
tian innocently resist the ordnance of God, or
in any way countenance or sympathise with it
in others? Why, sir, Loyahy, nay more, Patri-
otism, is part of my religion, taught me in
Gods word.
moreover, / should betray my commission
as a minister of the Gospel, did not 60 further,
and as commanded, put the people in mind to
obey magistrates, and to do this By example as
well as by precept.-Titus 8, l, and Peter 2, 13.
GAS to 'expediency,' l know no such word,
either as a Christian or minister, when God
so unequivocally commands"
presume that Mr.. Barnes did not intend his
letter to be published. If he did, Ihave mista-
ken the man altogether, as L had supposed him
to he too shrewd to permit his writings to 90
into the hands of the printer without first SUBJ
mitting them for revision to some one who un-
derstood orthography and the rudiments of En-
glish Grammar. But suppose the appearance
OF my clerical friend in his shabby English,
might be accounted for by the over-heated zeal
OF the patriotic parsonage to whom the letter
was written. Or if that parsonage belongs to
the same class of individuals of which another
of Mr.. Barnes particular friends and correspon-
dents in this place is distinguished member, the
act of indiscretion which gave publicity. to the
letter, might be traced to the communicative in
fiuences generally attributed to five or six glas-
ses of lager. But | am not disposed to carp at
the Reverend gentleman's grammatical and or
thograp hical inaccuracies, though such compar
isons as ga President as sound and true and hon.
est'as Abraham Lincoln, and his eminently just
and prudent Administration" such syntactical
anomalies as ''Can Christian innocently resist
the ordnance of God, Or in any way counte-
nance or sympathise with it in Others" and such
spelling as ''ordnance" for ordinance, are tempt
ing subjects for critical dissection. l shall pass
these little faults and proceed to the discussion of
the general object and tendency of the publication
of Mr.. Barnes letter.
l. The design of the person who gave this
letter into the hands of the printer, was POLITICAL
His object was to bolster up the sinking fortunes
of Mr.. Linco!n's administration. He did not
put it in print for the purpose of converting sim
ners unto Righteousness, but to turn members of
the M. Z. Church unto Abraham Lincoln. He |
did not publish it in order to accomplish any re-
ligious end, but TO give moral tone to the con- |
duct of the political party at present in power.
1t any one will undertake to invert these allc-
cations, we should like to be shown single line
in the letter calculated to draw men from the |
things of this world unto those of better. The
letter is altogether about politics and even goes
so far as to name the party to which the writer |
adheres. 1t follows, therefore, likewise, that
Mr.. Barnes, in writing the letter, could not have
had any religious purpose in view, and conse
quently, that he has descended from the dignity |
and sanctity Of his high calling to draggle his
ministerial robes in the filth of party politics
In this respect Mr.. Barnes is q cobbler who has
gone "'beyond his last;" and it would have been
much more to his credit as Christian minister,
and, perhaps, much more for the benefit of the
person to whom his letter was addressed, if he
had written little more about the Redecmer's
kingdom and little less about that of Abraham
Lincoln.
2. AS to the tendency and effect of Mr..
Barnes letter, it is easily seen that they will be
unfavorable to the cause of religion. The cx-
ample set by the writer will be followed by 9TH
er ministers, and soon the spiritual interests Of
men will be accounted of no greater Importance
than the affairs of parties and political platforms.
The stu,ly of party doctrines and party schemes
will divide the preachers time with the search
ing of the Holy Scriptures. The political ros-
trum will steal away the thought and attention
due alone to the sacred desk Then certain as