Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-06-04
PASTORAL Letter to our Churches.
adopted by the Presbytery of Redi

/, stone.
Iron the Pre.by,srsn Bannerl
The Address which follows was adopted
unanimously, and ordered to be published
and road in our several congregations:
AS watchmen upon the walls Of Zion, it
pehooves US to sound note OF alarm when
danger is nigh. Christians should at all
Times De watchful; but this is particularly
neeoiu' 10 times OF excitement. We are
700 apt to drift thoughtiessly with the cur.
ren. without special inquiry whittier it is
OF our country, It becomes Christians to CON.
slider well the path Of duty, and not TO snf
Ter themselves to be- drawn aside by the .de
ceitiul maxims of the world. "Ye are nor
OF the world. Aud although you must
needs, Tor time, continue In the world and
DC employed in its various concerns, vet in
AL your doings, you should remember your
high vocation and give evidences that YOU
| are Influenced by the prscepts of the Cos
pei. VI this duty, we fear some of you are
too forgetful. Our ears are paiued by hear
ing that some under our spiritual care have
been so forgetful of that Christian patriot.
ism which becomes and has ever character
ized Presbytetians, as to attend and cotfn.
tenance meetings which oppose and atrenpt
to weaken and defeat the efforts of the Ad
n,inistraton Of the nation to put down the
existing wicked and atroeious rebellion, and
whose acts aud resolutions tend to encour.
age and uphold the hands of rebels arrayed
IN arms against their lawful and benefCent
Government.
The highest judicatory Of our Church, by
a most solemn act In 1861, declared our OBJ.
legations as Christian patriots, to strength.
en-, uphold and encourage the Federal Gov
ernnient in the exercise OF all its functions
under our noble Constitution; and at the
same time declared that by the terms Fed.
eral Government, it meant that Central
administration, which being at any time
appointed and inaugura,ed, according to
the forms prescribed in the Constitution Of
the United States is the uisible representa-
t,pe q our national escisfence.' And in 1862
the General Assembly administers y stiA
under its authority, who, torgetfui of their
Christian obligations, sympathize with the
rebellion, or neglect to uphold the hands of
the Government. They say, "Let a spirit
OF quietness, of mutual forbearance, and Of
ready obedience to authority both civil and
ecclesiastical, illustrate the loyalty, the or
thodoxy, and the piety Of the Church. 1t
Is more especially to ministers of the Cos.
pei, and amongst them particularly to any
whose first impressions have been, OH any
account, favorable to this terrible military
revolution, which has been attempted, and
which, Gods providence has hitherto go
slgDalIy rebuked, that these decisive con
sideratons ought to be addressed.
And in the name and by the authority
OF the Lord Jesus, we earnestly exhort all
who love God or fear his wrath, to turn
deaf ear to all counsels and suggestions that
tend toward reaction favorable to disloy.
atty, schism, or disturbance, either in the
Church or in the County. There is hardly
any thing more incxcusable, connected with
this fruitful conspiracy against which we
testify, than the conduct of those office.
bearers and members Of the Church, who,
although citizens of the loyal States and
subject to the control Of loyal Presbyteries
and Synods, have been taithless to all au
thority, human and Divine. to which they |
owed subsection; nor should any one to
whom this deliverance may come, fail to
bear in mind that it is not only their out.
ward conduct concerning which they ought
to take heed, but it is also and especially
their heart, their temper and their motives
in the sight Of God and toward the free and
bene6cent civil government, which he has
blessed US withal, and toward the spiritual
commonwealth to which they are subject in
tho Lord. In all these respects we must all
give. account in the great day. And it is
in view OF our dread responsibility to the
Judge Of quick and dead, that We now make
this deliverance.
In view, dear brethren, of these deliver
ances Of our highest Court, we might be
much bold in Christ to eDjoin you that
which is convenient, yet for loves $ sake, we
rather beseech you to meddle not with those
given to chunge, but submit yourselves TO
every ordinance Of man iorthe lords sake.
BE not beguiled by the sophistries of wick.
cd men, or by the maxilns Of tho world, or
OF Interested politicians Remember that
your religion is to be carried into all your
actions. Whatsoever you do in word or
deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus
Whether ye eat or drink, or whatsoever We
do, do all to the glory Of God Deceive not
yourselves with the idea that religion has
nothing to do with politics. This is de.
vice Of Satan, the father Of lies. Your DO
litical conduct should be as much under the
control ofreligion as your conduct toward
your neighbor. The same authority which
enjoins your duties as neighbors and wives,
parents and children, and in all your private
relations, enjoins likewise your public du.
lies as citizens. No man has right to vote {
IS he pleases, or to take what side in poll, |
lies he peases, regardless Of the Divine will, !
but must do this in the fear OF God, and as
he shall give account in the great day.
No man has right to take sides against
he government God has constituted over 9
hin, by words or deeds calculated to incite !
o acts Of violence, except iu case of intoler.
.ble oppression. With this exception, any :
nan is as much bound TO sustain the Gov.
'rnment in the execution Of the laws, as he '
s TO be honest and not defraud his neigh.
,or. Nor can he screen himself, in his on. =
position, by the finsy pretext that he only
opposes the Administration, and not the q
Government. '
What is the Government but the acts and =
loings Of those who, as the General Assem- !;
'ly OF 1851 say, are "the visible represen. y
ative Of our national existence''2 II thoy q
re obstructed in the execution of the laws,
= not the Government obseructed and op >,
'osedp And ifthis is done, not by mere Z;
,ublie meetings and resolutions, but by force
II arms, does not this forcible resistance n
onstitute treason, the highest crime known :
9 the lawY And We put il to your sober y
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