Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1863-03-09
James i and his Political Par-
s.. I#t sons. Et#WNtttg 7

We have seen how JANIS laid claim
to absolute power and was upheld by emf
nent lawyers. But it was not from them
alone that he received his support The
Church of England was his right arm.
There was an alliance between him and it,
offensive and defensive. He was partial
to the established Church from the first
day of his reign. He had seen Puritan
ism in his native Scotland, and hated 1t
for its republican tendencies as much as he
loved episcopy 70: its monarchical pre-
cepts He came to England an armed
friend to the bishops On his road to the
capital he was met by u numerous body
Of dissenting cIergymen, who presented to
him the T" MillenAry Petition" as it was
called, signed by 1000 Of their number
praying modification ol the rigid laws
against their sects. The petition was
moderate. reasonable. respectful Yet ten
of those who had presented it were thrust
into prison in few days the judges hay
ing declared it very near to treason and
felony, as it tended TO sedition and rebel
lion.
Ii the Las yers, by their opinions, gave
to his acts the semblance of constitutional
authority. the bishops and their clergy
thundered from every pulpit the divine or
gin of his power; taught that he was
chosen OF God t. rule over them, and that
resistance was rebellion against Heaven.
The archbishop of Canterbury affirmed
that undoubtedly his majesty spoke by
the special assistance of God" Bishop
NElLk, when asked at dinner by the king,
whether he might not take his subjects
money when he needed it, without the
formslity of parliament, replied: God
forbid that you should not Tor you are
the breath of our nostrils." And con
/ vocation of clergy having been called in
, 1906, they affirmed the functions Of king
| and priest to be the "prerogatives of birth
|, right and drew up set of canons
r chiefly political, intoxicating the doctrin'
of passive obedience, and denouncing al
) tenets hostile to pure and unlimited
e monarchy. Canon number two reads a.
n follows a ...a. .... ..... ..i r.. .prI
= "If any man shall affirm that men at Grs
ran up and down in the fields, etc, until the,
u we're taught by experience the necessity %
q government; and that therefore they ehos'
some among themselves to order and rule th'
rest, giving them power and authority 80 u
i do and that consequently all civil poioeI, jur
isdicton aud authority a0as first dTipsd tT0H
the people or disorder ed multitude, or eithe
is originally still in them, or else is deduGe,
e By their consent naturally from them and /
y NOT Gods ordinance originally descending
from him and depending upon him, he dot
u greatly err" f,I
r. There are great number Of reckles
n preachers in these days whose sermon
70 could have no better text than this canon
D, and who inculcate doctrines Of submisso
a to arbitrary power as slayish az any eve
'e taught by BANCROFT in the days of JAMR'
Ii or LAuD, SIBTHoRPE, and MANyAREd III
I, der the rule of his son CHARLES 1t ma
vi be profitable for these political churchme
80 to study the times we are discussing. |
t. those days the church, with all its inAl
to ence, could not save the king, nor Il
Ks king, with all his power, the church, whe
If an oppressed people, after long suffering
be was finally aroused and when the ten
b. pest OF rebellion swept over the land bot
90 were overwhelmed in common and utt'
re ruin. Church and state can no more r
er press free people now than then.
vet We have already disclaimed the desig
IT. Of casting an imputatioh upon the boC
b. of the legal profession, and we diselai
he now any intention TO reflect upon religio
FL NJ, do we find fault with all religious
N, nominations. There are several, even
SIS these days, wise and just enough to lei
to no helping hand to the tyranny Of ia
,es coLs's oligArchy; as in the days. of JAAI
Tor there were hundreds Of dissenting clerg
'se men, who repudiAted the seryils doctrn
Ily of the courtly priests. But ne do con
plain Of the unworthy professors ~ Seli
lot ION who necessarily worry US with poll
"a cal haiangusS and prayers. Religion