New Oregon plaindealer. (New Oregon, Iowa) 1859-1866, 1863-06-26

a dictatorship, what more had he to do
than shackle the press and stiae pollti
cal debate.
Political Preaching Condemned by the Rev.
Adan, Clarke, the Great Methodist Commen-
lator on the Scriptures.
The great Methodist commentator
and preacher, Adam Clarke, has left
on record his opinion of political preach
ers, which We give in his own words:
It was the lot Of Mr.. Clarke to be as
sociated at this time with two eminent
men who, unfortunately, took opposite
sides Of this great political question ::
one pleading for the lowest Republican
ism, the other exhausting himself in
maintaining the divine right of Kings
and regular governments to do what
might seem right in their ogn eyes,
the people at largo having nothing to
do with the laws but toobey them. His
soul was grieved at this state of things
but he went calmly on his way, preach
ing Christ crucifed for the redemption
of lost world; and though bis abilities
were greately inferior to those of his
colleagues, his congregation was equal
TO theirs. and his,word more abuno ont-
ly useful. Political preachers neither
convert souls nor build up believers on
their most holy faith one may pique
himself on his loyalty, the other on his
libe, ality and popular ~".ions Of
govt rnment but, in sight of the great
Head of the Church, the 6rstis sound
ing brass, and the second is tinkling
cymbol.
when preachers Of the gospel be-
come parties in party polittcs, religion
mourns, the Church is unedifsd, and
political disputes agitate even the faith
full of the land. Such preachers, no
matter which side they take, are no
longer messengers of glad tidings, but
the seedsmen of confusion, and wssters
Of the heritage of Christ. Though Mr..
Clarke had fully made up his mind on
the politics of the day, and never swerv-
ed from his Wing principles, yet in the
pulpit was nothing heard from him but
Christ cruci6ed, and the salvation pro-
cured by his blood" ."-Lifeof DR.. A.
Clarke, DOL. l, page 160-l61.
The above extract, though written
in the third person, are from DR..
Clarke's own pen. Tho quotation is
literal, itslic and sll, as q reference to
the book will show. For our own ex-
pressions of disapproval Of political
preaching we have been called an inf
del. Our political priesthood will be
graci US enough to allow that We are,
at least in good company. We have nc
desire to injure them, but would earn
estly labor for their benefit. May they
forsake the error Of their ways, SO that
it may not be said of them, in the Ian
guage Of DR.. Clarke, whom we again
quote "They neglected their pastoral
duty, so that the hungry sheep looked
up and were not fed"
Opinion Of Political Preaching by Edmund
Burke, the Great British Orator and States
man.
"Politics and the Pulpit are terms
that have little agreement. No sound
ought to bo heard in the church but the
healing voice Of Christian charity. The
cause Of civil liberty and civil gsvsrn.
spent gains as little as that Of religion
by this confusion of duties. Those
who quit their proper character to as
sumo what does not belong to them,
are, for tho greater part, ignorant both
Of the character they leave and OF the
character they assume.
| Wholly unacquainted with the world
with which they are 50 fond Of med
ding, and inexperienced in it's affairs,
on which they pronounce with 50 much
confidence, they have nothing Of poh-
tics but the passions they excite