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

missoned to teach the whole hw as reveal.
ed in the Bible, az well as the gospel And
in preaching both law, and gospel they are
"to be governed by the word Of God" The
Presbytery had case of law before them
in the case Of the Krkwood Congregation
and their pastor. From what we learn the
congregation desired a little expounding Of
the teaching of the law in regard to certain
Christian duties. The Presbytery evade
all this, and resolve in regard to the sphere
Of ministerial duties as if the law were be
yond the range, aud nothing but gospel to
he preached True, they don't expressly
say so. They 40 worse. They speak in
such sibylne style Us they think will save
themselves, and the pastor suspected Of
alien feeling and disloyalty in conining his
ministrations exclusively to what they aud
he may be pleased to cal the gospel: And
SO ignore large amount of the teaching of
the Bible, which the semi-secesh pastor,
and all of his kind rcsolve-as by this reso.
luton allowed--to ''shun" ever to declare
They will not preach the whole iatoAthe
gospel only.
4. The ministers of religion are, by the
law of their commission, bound to preach
against all sin-To "cry aloud, spare not
show the people their sins and transgres.
sors." Then it will not do to evade the
law, and refuse to preach against sin either
by saying they are to preach ''the gospel
as directed in Gods word, or, that certain
sins are in The State, or are boldly avowed
and committed by. political parties. Nor
will it do to say that sin must be let alone
because it is in our very midst, in our sight,
or vindicated by political party. Nor will
it do to say, the ministry must be mute in
regard to certain sins because to bring the
light OF the Bible to shine upon them sin
ners will take offence and cry out, '.poiiticat
preaching." The Bible permits no shield
to be spread over any sin to protect it from
its piercing arrows We pity the ministry,
the PresDytery, the resolution occupying
such position and filling such an Office
But, if this resolution have any meaning
if it can have any effect, it must be to oper.
ate as friendly safeguard against the fire
and hammer oil Gods law threatening sin.
We should like TO know what great national
sin, for which God is now chastislng this
land, does not fnd apology, protection,
comfort, aid in this resolution. Bad enough,
ii any one sin should find truce, armlstice,
or compromise with men whom God has
armed with the sword OF the spirit express
ly to make battle against all sin. But too
bad, wliea whole cohorts OF the enemies OF
their master find safety ut the very horns OF
the altar, as this resolution guarantees.
Shall we name slavery-lts cursed rebel
lion, and war upon the nation-sympathy
for treason--putliug bad men into Office,
men sympathlzlng with treason to rerjure
themselves, and cripple rather than sup
port the HOvernmenC IN bearing the sword
u salust those VINO resist the powers that
be" Long aud black Is the catalogue OF
sins and crimes finding comfort from this
resolution.
s. Ministers of religion should occupy u
stand above all politics, political questions,
aud ali political parties, and all their Intlu-
ences They should govern, Or influence
all those, rather than Ue ruled by any Of
them. The Divine Law, being the Higher
/ Law, and the law Ut Him who is higher
than the highest Of all legislators, and being
the law under which they minister excu-
slve,y, let them obey It's ruiugs themselves,
and IN the naule vi It's author demand OF all
SUBMISSION to It's high claims and IN inta-
tiOn OF the noble prophet, say Tor their
master-"Now, therefore, hear the word oi
the Lord. But ministers, who stand in
The sacred desk shlvering III their shoes
Quaillng before gigantic snS-sins for which
God Is now pouring out the walls OF his
wrath, as the result OF the untaithtulness
ami cowardice of his ministers, who should
have gwen warning, show, us by this resolu.
ton they do show, themselves unequal t.
the times On which We have fallen aud to
the solemn doctrines they impose. This
crisis demands ministry OF different
character aud front. They see the con.
vy.sions in church and State resulting from
slavery, and who can tell from the resolu
TONERS aud from their pulpIts whether slav,
cry ls from God Or from the devil-whethel
it Is 1.-THE sum OF all vnhanies," or the
corner stone Uf all virtueS--Whether it is the
blood gorged Molach fattcning upon the
souls OF Its victims, or the great cvilizer
and missionary Institution ordained by God
for the salvation of, an otherwise, lost coa
tlnent. How long it will take the power Of
the gospel, in its lnute silence upon this
and other evils, to eradicate them from ou,
sin suiitten earth, we would like to know.
10 there any resemblance in this resolu
! tion 10 the commissioning given to the prophet
in these words See, L have this day sci
thee over the nations. and over the king
:. doms, TO root out, and to pull down" How
political such high position, and over ma
tlons, tool 10 teach nations U, quit,
TOO nigh for the giddy heads of men $,
tlmid--men. who quail before any politica
sentiment-dhy question in the State" l..
Phere rs another position not SO pretendin,
so lotly--so God like, Yes, very humble
See Rev. II, 4. .sAnd lbs tail dre,o III
third part Of the stars of heapea, and dit
cast tiien. to The earth." We thank God, W
covet no such distinction among the eccle
slastical stars.
6. What the Prophets, Christ and hi
Apostles, preached is still " be preache,
by the ministry now aud these ancien
: preachers are the models after wbic
preachers of the gospel are to copy. w
have both the matter, and the manner O
their preaching spread out in the Bible, an,
given as the text book OF the gospel minis
| try. iaal p.H tf W
Did the Prophets meddle with thing
now called political, and by the enemies Q
religion and by this resolution laid unde
, interdict? Did ever Christ or his Apostle
n