Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1863-04-20
DEMOCRAT & NEWS.
Political Preaching: Condemned by the
e,v. Adams LARK the Great Methodist
Comm .ntaior on the scriptures,


Tie great Methodist commentator and
preacher, Adam Clark, Las left on record
his opinion OF political preachers, which
We give in his own words
''li was the lot of MIR. Clark TO be as
soclat, d at this time with two eminent
men WHO, unfortu' ately, took Cpl osite
SIDES OF tbs great Political question !:
one pleading Tor The loves. Republican
ism, tae other exhau,ttg himself In
ma utaining the divlLe right Of kiogs
AID regular governments TO do what
might stem tight in their own eyes, the
people at large having nothing to do with
the laws but 10 obey them. Ills soul
was grleyed Al this state Of things; but
tie went calmly on his way, preaching
Christ cIue fed for the redemption OF u
lost world, aud though his abilities
we're greatly inferior 10 thoee Of his col
leagues, his congregation was equal 10
tGeirs, and his word moro sbundantly
useful. Political preachers neither con-
vert sous nor build up believers on their
most holy faith one may piqne himself
on his iogdifY, The Other on his HJcraa.
~ and fooatur notions 81 gorernweM /;
but, IL slgAt Of The great Head Of tie
ChuTch, The first Is a sounding brass, and
the second ttahl,ag cymb0i.
"N hen Preachers u the gospel be-
come part 6 in puyty poltiies, religion
mouns, the Chuich Is uned fled, and po-
iitioal disputes All ate even the faithful
OF the land. oach preachers, no mat
ter which side they take, are TO longer
messengers Of glad tidings, but the seeds
men OF confusion, and wasteis OF the
heritage Of Clnst Though Mr. Clark
had iuliy made up his mind on the poi
tics d tic day, and never s"erycd from
his Wing principles, yet III tic pulpit
was othing head from HIM but Ch,ist
cruciiied, and the salvation procured bv
Lis hood. life Of Or. Il. Liark,
cot. !, page l60-Gl.
The aboyt extracts, though written N
the third person, are tom DR.. Clark =
own pen. The qnotalioa is literal, Italic
| and all, rs reference to the book will
show. For eur own expressions of dis
approval Of politIca reaching we have
been called m inhdel Gar pol ticni
pr.e.thool will DO gracious enough 10
allow that W. ale, nj least, IN good com
p,uy. " e have no desire TO nlare them,
bat would earnestly labor r; her bene
fl. May they fofsake the error OF their
WAYS SO thai IL may not he said Of them,
in the language Of DR.. Clark, which We
again quote They neg ectol lhelr pas.
toral duty, ~ that the hungry sheep
looked up and were not fed.
oPINloS OF roLuiCAL PREACHING ny ED
| MuND BUgkE, TiiE GREAT BRITISH OR
AroK AID STATESMAN.
"PoAtcs and the pulpit arc terms
| that have lite agreement. No sound
lghtt be hearl IN the church but the
h aHuNoce al Christian charity. he
cause Of ctyll Gberty and civil goeern-
ment gains as lite ~ at Of rei,3 ron by
this con uslon OF duties. those Who quit
| Ii ir proper character to assume what
does 10. belong 10 them, are, for thu
Greater pant, ignorant OF the character
they leave aud OF the character they rs
| sume.
Wholly unacqnajnted with the world
with which they are 50 fond OF med
ding, and ipeXl erienced IN is atttlrs, on
wh eli they pronounce with 20 much
carfilcnce, TRY hure nothing Of poliHcs
Int Me puS@oas Mey erciie.