Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1863-08-12

atory SO 10 do for the language Of our
constitution is perfectly explicit. Chapter
81 and section 18th "Synods and coun,
ellis are TO handle and conclude nothing,
but that which is ecclesiastCal, and are
not TO intermeddle with civil affairs which
concern the Commonwealth, unless 10y way
OF humble petition In cases extraordinary -,
or 10y way of advice for satisfaction OF cons
science, II they be thereunto required by
the civil magistrates" Throughout the
Scripture we look in vain Cor auy warrant
/ for the Church OF God in its organized
form to council force or war, ut any time,
or under any clrcumNtauces. This is n
matter which belongs exclusively 10 the
civil Government that other and -orN
dinaie ordinance Of God in the world for
the welfare Of man The Church Is out of
her appointed sphere and is guilty Of a
grievous sin yea, of apostacy "9uad ad
toe, when she substitutes 'lhe call TO
arms" for the call to Jesus" The Church
Of Christ was organized for the purpose Of
perpetuatiug the Gospel throughout the
world and to the end of time go ye
( therefore and teach all nations, baptizing
in the name Of the Father and of the Son,
and Of the Eoly GHOST; teaching them to
observe all things whatsoever have com.
manded you and lol | am with you ais
ways, even unto the cod of the world, ," is
the full extent OF the Divine commission
under which she acts. GLORY to God in
| the highest, on earth peace and good will
/ 10 men" was the song of the angels that
heralded the birth Of Christ The vital
and distinguishing principle of His spirit,
ual kingdom is love, which subordinates
ever vthng to itself. Its conquesls are the
conqCests of love. Its ministers ~ such,
are not allowed to bear the sNold or 10
counsel its use. They 20 forth under
| Divine commission and under the all,conN
| querng power Of .ove and faith, as lambs
in The midst of wolves, with messages Of
mercy and grace TO the guilty and mlsera>
BILE of our race and il is an unseemiy
spectacle aud trightlul departure from tie
example OF or Lord aud His inspired
| Apostles from the teachings Of Scripture
and the whole tone and spirit Of the Cos,
nel, for the Church to whom ORY the KEYS
have beer given by her Divine head or the
symbol Of her power, to grasp also The SIcOrk,
which belongs exclusively to the State
Such confusion of the proper spheres of
civil and ecclesiastical courts, san only be
! to both Church and State, "a SAVIOR of death
unto death" When we hear the voice
and see the foot prints Of the good shep,
herd, we will hearkcn and follow-tuL
ben we hear tho voice OF u stranger,
| speaking in strange accents, no matter ia
what form or whence II may come, though
it may presume to speak III the Masters
name and by His authority, if It be alien
from His spirit and his words, ,cc caNoi
hear - with Iaap ip,prag.i,y, ,E tho
responsibilities which rests upon u.s. and
expecting to answer before that tribunal
from which none can escape, and whose
authority none can USurp or defy, this
Pre-, bytery records its solemn protest and
Iremonstrauce against the aforesaid action
of the General Assembly and Of tho
Synod Of Baltimore; and its disapproval Of
the support which its com mssioners to
the last Assembly gave to that action, be-
lievine, as we do, that it is at variance
with the true nature and functions Of the
Church as taught IN The word Of God,
and also IN our standards, and with the
spirit of our holy religion and deeply iniu
rious to the cause of Christ and the inter.
ests Ct the Presbyterian Church. For 1t
is our firm conviction, corTObOrated 10y the
tone o! the secular press, by speeches OF
many reprcsen tative men, and who by the
action OF the civil Government in refusing
to exempt the clergy from military service,
that the prostitution o' the pulpit to po,
litical uses, and the fierce deliverances Of
ecclesiastical bodies, have had powerful
tendency to destroy the reverence, respect
and confidence of worldly men in the
Christian ministry, and have had disas.
trous effect upon the cause o! true religion
! We look with sadness and shame upon
the present state Of the Church, secular,
lied beyond what we had ever anticipated
and with gloomy apprehension To the fu-
ture. Hour Church courts do ~ OF exclude,
according 10 the requirements of our add
mirable constitution, all civil and political
questions from their deliberations, there
must DO an end to harmony and peace:
and they will present the mournful spec,
taCle OF strife and fierce contension. and
the spirit of God will take his departure
| irom.these scenes Of confusion, and leave
the Church shorn Of it, strength, prey
| TO angry passions, the modification Of her
| friends, and the derision OF her enemies
Our prayer and our hope is, that God in
the abundance of His mercy, will bring
back our Old School Preshy Teri IN Church,
hitherto mighty Lulwarll Of q wise con.
servatisrn and a spiritual worship, from
her strange wanderings, and save His
cause and kingdom from the evils and
woes with which they are threatened by
the i'll advised and pernicious counsels
and deiverances Of those who profess 10
/ speak in His name, and by His authority :;
and that the Church of our choice and Of
our iondest love may rise up chasteued
and purified, casting away ali en,angling
alliances, and enter with renewed energy
and with holier love in her glorious mis-.
sion OF cvangelizing the country and the
world by the dyiney appointed method
preaching only christ and Him crueiiied
psS@lt is said that the difference be.
tween eating strawberries and cream
and kissing pretty girl, is so small
that V cannot be appreciated.
Rsg~The saying that there is moro
pleasure in giving than receiving, is