Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-04-30

church and State to end strife among men
Nor can oil this involve in any alliance of
church and State at which any minister Of
religion, or any one else, of ever so weak
norves, need be Mortified. .t...
In taking issue with the sentiment of the
resolution we notice few things, cmbrac-
ing outstanding fitcts- automatic B,le
truth, in opposition thereto, and with which
it cannot be ieconciled. .H.0
I. The ministers of religion are bound
to declare from the pull the whole counsel
of God. So Paul-ihc model preacher in
his appeal.to the EphesiaD Elders. Christ
commissions them to teach all things what
soever he commands The divine counsels
and commands of Jesus are in the Bible
open, plain, public, and for all. No secret,
or unknown ccunsels of which nothing may
be known or said All public, and for all
and to be preached to all. The ministry
are not permitted to keep any thing back
So again Paul appealed to the Elders of
Ephesus. "He Stunned not to declare. -
We admit no minister can in any given time
elaborately declare every truth in the Bible.
But purposely of design, and for cause, as
presumed in the resolution-this is our is.
sue. To resolve to (''shu") keep back
very large part of the word of God under
circumstances requiring its defamation
this is our charge. To keep back when and
for the very reasons thar Christ, Paul, the
Prophets, Luther, Calvin, Knox, Wesley,
and all good reformers, contessors aud
martys of Jesus in all ages spoke out boldly
this is the trucking we expose. When
the enemy came in like food, then they
lifted up standard against him. When
iniquity abounded, then they preached
against sin. When good and honest men
cnquired for truth, then they declared it,
When wicked men or political parties or
nations opposed Gods law, then they as
serted its claims and hurled its penalty 10
the face of Kings and tyrants. Such we're
the reasons why they all declared all God 3
counsels, and such the reasons why the
resolutions keep back Now is time when
conscientious Christian men desire to know
from the Bible the moral character of this
war waged by the Government to put down
rebellion They desire to know what is
their duty as citizens-whether to give a
conscientious and practical support to the
Government in sustaining the war with
blood and treasure-with aid and comfort,
and with argument and prayers. But, no
the pulpit is dumb. No utterance of
any political sentiment None, till the
war shall be over, and this question shall
get out of the State. Then, yes, then
when no body cares much aboutthe obsolete
question when it gets out Of politics, and
can be found no where but in abstract Bible
teaching--then, when these brave soldier
of the cross can wield the sword of the
Spirit without hurting their friends and
with safety to themselves, they will deal
out their blows bravcly! Now when po.
litcol party finds all preaching of the Bible
doctrine on certain questions must be pre-.
judicial to its power as party-now when
sympathzcrs with treason shelter them.
selves under political name and organiza.
tion, opposing the war, and opposing the
Government in lis efforts to qucll treason il
arms and save its own lfe--now, too, wher
the Government and our rulers need the
prayers Of the church, and the counsel OF
the prophets whom God has appointed tc
give counsel from His Oracles--now wher
If ever-a testimony should be borne
against resistance to civil Government. JUS
now this resolution is boldly uttered declar
ing that the ministry must ''shun'' noD t
declare the very truths of the Bible needed
as never before in our land, and as they
we hope, may never again be needed til
the last trumpet shall sound. Let us, y,
teachers in Israel, have the mind of tn
Great Ruler noio, that we and this who'll
land need so much to know what is the way
in which we should walk to find peace.
q Every minister, as Steward OF God
word, is bound to giveto every one por
ton in due season. The Presbytery says
cannot allow its ministers to be required t
do such things. e0''.i 'lo' y, !.
i The Bible is given as the rule of duty t
all men, of all conditions, and in all rela
tions We have class of snners-politica
sinners our land who need to be taugh
the very first principles Of the Divin
Oraclcs and to receive the very porto
which Gods law contains for them. Thi
class of sinners, with all their friends an
sympathizers, indeed o large majority Q
the friends OF the Presbytery, seem dis
posed to ".forbear." Therefore, since man
members, and many more autercour
worshipers disrelish SO much of the teach
, ing of the Bible, all that distasteful par,
! which frowns upon treason, rebellion, di,
loyalty, and kindred sins, must be ker
! back till the moral health shall SO far re
| cover as to bear the truth without disturb
Ing the equilibrium Of morbid taste III
! such conyalescence shall return, aud th
political Il war shall be over, none can b
} allowed to require any Of our ministers I