Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-12-11

political wire-workers OF that Gay often
tried 10 have our Lord interfere in their
auarrels. Did he interfere! Never: nor
has He given His church any authority
to meddle with the political quarrels of
the present day. Ii he has. where shall
we find it! In the commission of the dis
ciplesi No. This is the commission He
gave His ministering disciples: . Go We
into all the world, and preach the gospel
to every creature" He did not bid His
disciples "protest in the name Of Al
mighty God" against legislative enact
ments, as did the three thousand and fifty
New England clergymen. He did not
bid them petition for edicts and intrigue
at courts. as did the Chicago preachers
No. He bid them preach the gospel.
He did not commission them as |" Con-
gress-1 Managing Society,"" but a. preachers
of the gospel. He did not send them
forth as "a :. Public Opinion Manvfact,n--
ing Society" so that the proper party
might be kept in power-no, sir. He
sent them forth to proclaim the gospel OF
the blessed Jesus, that men might be saved
from their sins. And what is the account
given in scripture of their ecclesiastical
meetings! Is there the least intimation
that members OF those bodies sent any
dispatch to civil officers asking their opin-
ion respecting the passage of loyalty reso-
lutions! Did they appoint standing com
mittecs to take council of Caesar! No.
Sir. never. Can this be said of our mod
ern ecclesiastical courts! 1t is the doc
trine of the Old Testament. and of Christ
and his apostles, that Christ's kingdom is
a spiritual kingdom, having no alliance
with secular powers; and the constitution
OF our church expressly declares that sy
mods and councils are to handle or con-
clude nothing but that which is ecclesias-
teal. But the General Assembly, pro-
Tossing to be a court of the Lord Jesus
Christ, and also protesting to derive au-
thority for all its acts from Him, and be-
ing confined by scripture to the exercise
of spiritual power, and being expressly
forbidden bv the constitution of our
church to intermeddlc with civil affairs,
has undertaken to decide political ques-
tion. 1t must be remembered that the
action of the Assembly administers a re-
buke to our Southern brethren for the
course they have pursued in this war, and
il undertakes to decide for them their duty
as citizens. Many of these brethren be-
lieve they owe primary allegiance TO their
States. whereas the action of the Assem-
bly, assumes as fact, that they owe
primary allegiance TO the National Gov
ernment. We may be fully convinced
our Southern brethren are in error, but
this does not affect the question al issue,
for the question whether a citizen owes
primary allegiance to his State or TO the
National Government is political ques-
tion which cannot be settled by an appeal
to the scriptures, by which the aethoriia-
tive teachings of church courts are limited
But the General Assembly has given an
authoritative decision of this question.
In doing this. it has violated the constitu-
ton of the church, which expressly de-
clares /" Synods and councils are to ham
die and conclude nothing but that which
is ecclesiastical. and are not to intermeddle
with civil affairs which concern the COM
monwealth.'
Again-The South say they are en-
gagged in q glorious revolution. and are
contending for their sacred rights. We
of the North-say they are engaged in a
rebellion-fghting against the most be-
nign government under heaven. The
brethren South are rs sincere in their be-
lief, as we are in ours. Who shall decide
the controversy between us! In all our
authoritative decisions as church court,
we are limited by the teachings of the
scriptures. But where do the scriptures
point out the distinction between revo-
luton and a rebellion.
The brethren South believe they are
fighting for their homes. for their families.
and for their inalienable rights. We of
the North believe they are waging war
against the best government on earth.
Where has Christ Jesus given his church
any authority to decide this question? !?
When he was upon the earth, two breth-
rcn quarreled about the division OF their
inheritance. One of them entreated
Nui ist liittlltltbtt- anu Nlidt was Ills
reply? Man. who made me a iudqe or
a divider over you" If He were now
upon the earth, and an appeal made to
Him for the settlement of our present
difficulties. would he assume the office of
a Judge respecting the rights of the North
and OF the South: Is it not more likely
his reply would be. My kingdom is not
of this world: if nv kingdom were of
this world, then would my servants fight. "
The brethren South are honest and sim
cere in the belief that this war. on their
part. is pistifable. We of the North,
with equal honesty and sincerity. contend
that they are engaged in most unjusti-
fable war. But where has Christ Jesus
given Us any authority for the decision of
such questions: Will these brethren be
so kind as to give us the chapter and
verse: The Assembly. in this action,
travelled out of the record; and if we were
not deaf, we might hear the Great Head
of the church saying TO us in tones of re-
proof, . Who hath required this at your
hands! In vain We teach for doctrines
the commandments of men,
| object to this action, because of its
unchr'stian spirit. 1t declares it to be
the duty of the National Government
TO preserve. at whatever cost. the National