The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-03-06
Tho Gospel and Politics.

It lisa favorito idea with many that the
gospel has nothing to to with politics, and
that If they enter at all into preaching, it
| is going outside the gospel. That is bcacausc
men do not understand tho gospel in its wider
applications. They are apt to call those
things strictly politics. which come within
the line Of religion. Tyran,s are glad to call
their tyrany politics, but if politics is SO re-
lated to religion, that tho preaching Of the
gospel in its fullest sense is q preaching down
| Of tyrany. The adherantsof james the Sec.
ond called tho preaching Of the ministers
against the acts which interfercd with their
labors political preaching but they would
not haE0 preached she gospel. If thoy had NOT
given their solemn testamony against bis
prosecutions. Tho Georgcans called II preach.
I ing politics when the ministers exclaimed
against the horrible barbarities to the Indians
within their borders, which the nation seemed
to uphold; but they would not have preached
the gospel that the Great Spirit has given,
IL they had not covered with it his red chill.
|dren.
Thousands Of men callcd.it preaching poll
tics when the idea was widely proclaimed that
slavery ought not to spread itselfa oil over the
future territory Of the United States, and to
cease to bo limited to its present unfortunate
home; but It would not have been preaching
the gospel. IL measure so seemingly filed
with physical and moral desolation had been
suffered to pass without rebukc. Many men
may call it preaching politics, when we speak
|againsta Confederacy purposcly designed to-
make bondage perpetual; against a rebellion
the most unjust and unwise the world has cv.
er seen; in support Of war tho most reason.
able that has ever been waged; and in favor
|of republican government that Is the hope
of the oppressed all over the world but
Christ will call it the preaching of the gospel,
and bid the men who have no gospel, that
bears upon the times remember that they are
but tithing mint, anise and cumin,' while
while they neglect 'weighticr matters Of the
law Many call it politics when Protestant
Christianity isinsisted on. as that in which a
republican land should DO interested, in dis
|tinction from the Papacy but the rcforn'ers
would think It a strange kind Of gospel which
did not paint tho 'mothcr of harlots' in all
|her denominations, and check, as far Ms posi-
|blc, her interference with FREQ republican in.
|stitutions. i,...-s
Ah what mistake people make, when
they think that under the name politics all
shades Of corruption may lurk, and escape the
6ery force Of the gospel. Do they not know
that politics frequently run into religion, as|
the shades of darkness run into the lines oi
light? Do they not know how tho Lord Je.
sus preached against those who sat in Moses
seat and governed Judca? Do they not know
how tho Reformen preached against all cor.
ruptions that were protected by political
formsl Do they not know how earnestly thc|
divines Of the revolution preached against
England, her fleets and armies, because the|
gospel was opposed to her tyrannical move.
ments? The fact is, that in this ruined world
politics do 80 many things under the cloak Of
religion, that the gospel might be liable to
the equivocal praise which was given to a
somewhat noted clergyman by one OF his
hearers, who was asked how he liked him.
Like him. said he, Il like him beyond
what can tell, for his sermons never meddle
with politics or religion.'-Re. John Pike,
Ro,ciey, Mass.