Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-04-11
Peissseai Preaching Csnde mined by
the Uev. Adam CLARKE, the Great
Methodist Commentatoro OF the scrip
tare.-Aasm Ciarke's Optnion Of Po-
ISetrna Rreachimw


The great Methodist commentator and preacher
Adam Clarke. hss left on record his opinion OF
political preachers, which we give W MS own
words:
At this time With tao eminent men Who nnforiu
nateiy took opposite sides of this great political
question, one pleading for The lowest RepHbli-
canism. the other exhausted himself in maintain
ing the divine rights Of Kings and regular Gov
ernments to do what might seem right in their
own eyes. the people a; large having nothing To
do with the laws but to obey them. His soul
was grieved nj this state Of things but he went
calmly or his way preaching Christ crucihed for
the redemption of lost world: and though his
abilities we're greatly inferior to those Of the col.
leagues. his congregation Was equal 20 theirs. and
his word more abundantly useful Political
preachers neither convert souls nor build up be
levers on their most holy feith; one nav piqne
himself on his isyai,y. the other his ibersiay
and popular notions Of GouerpDsesf; but in sight
Of the great Head Of the Church, the first Is a
sounding brass and The second tinkling cymbal.
When preachers Of the gospel become parties
in party politics. religion mOurns, the Church -
unedi6ed, aud political disputes agitate even the
faithful ol the land. snch preachers. no matter
which side they take. are 40 longer messengers
Of glad tidings. but the secdsmen OF confusion.
and wasters OF the heritage Of Christ Though
"
politics os the day. and never survived from his
Wing principles. yet in the pulpit was nothing
heard from him hut Christ cruciicd and the sal
walton procured by his blood - Life of Dr..
Clarke vol l.pp l60-l6l
The above extracts. though written in the
third person. are from DR. Clsrkes own pen.
The quotation is literal. italics and all. rs ref
erencc TO ihe book will show For our ex
pressionS Of disapproval Of political pereaching
we have been calei inidel Our political
priesthood viii he gracious enough W allow That
We are ut least in good company. We have no
desire To injurc them but would earnestly labor
for their benefit May they forsike the error OF
their WAYS so that il may be said of them in the
language Of DR. Cla.ke. whom we again quote:
"They neglected their pastoral duty, so that the
hungry sheep looked up. and were not fed =
OPINION on POLITICAL PREACHING ny EDMUND
BURKE. THE GREAT BRITISH ORATOR AND STATES
NAN.
Hear the grave and weighty words Of Edmund
Burke:
Politics and the pulpit are terms that
have but little agreement No sound ought to
be heard ia the Church but the leading voice
Of Christian charity. The cause of GIRL
liberty aud ciri Government gains rs little
- that of religion by this confusion of
duties Those who quit their proper char.
acter to assume what does not belong To them.
are. for the greater part. ignorant both of the
character they leave and OF the character they
assume Wholly unacquainted with the world
in which they are fond of meddling, and in
experienced In all It's affairs on which they pro.
nonnce with much confidence. they hare
nothing Of politics but III: passions they ereife.