The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1863-08-28
Political Preaching.

mo. Before It's establishment undcr
a typical administration of divine af-
fairs, Joseph, by direct providence,
was exalted TO the first civil command
under Pharaoh Of Egypt. He was
prime minister, lord chancellor, or
secretary Of state, filing the first seat
in the royal cabinet. Moses and osh-
iua, during the days Of the Democracy
of the Jewish confederacy, were both
civil chieltans, and eminently dis
Itinguished for religion--thc latter,
during the most devout and holicst
history of that cventful people The
gallant Pharaoh, the psalm singing
Deborah, the dauntless Gideon, the
faithful Jephthah, followed in sue
cession, while David, the far-seeing
prophet and enchanting poet, vas u
statesman after Cod S own heart, to
fulfill all his will-the shepherd king,
and model chief magistrate in the
midst of the most rcfulgent glare and
luminous glory of the united mon
archy. 1t is likewise claimed the af-
ficted yet resigned and patient job,
was an eminent ruler OF the East in
the land of u. Ezra and Nehemiah
both prophets aud public eXpositors
of God word to the populace, were
worthy official functionaries of the
State. Daniel, than whom there new
er existed a juster, holier, deyouter
and more righteous person. was not
less distinguished for his official sta
ton in the courts of four different
kings. To this, Notwithstanding, [
opine it may he responded, the exam
pie of good men under Il former econ
omy cannot be % criterion for us, rs
they were guilty Of many things in
'derogation to Christian morality
True. they were-Abraham and Sa-
'rah both lied. Noah and Lot both
got drunk; the latter was guilty of
|incestuousncss with his own daugh-
ters Abraham and Jacob were polyg-
amists: and David an Audulterer; but
the cases were very dissimilar, and
bear not the remOtest analogy. God
nowhere distinguishes those criminal
acts of otherwise good men with his
smiles ofapprobation, but rather with
frowns Of the most significant repre-
hcnsion. Yet, he places the brand OF
condemnation upon sin, when perpe-
trated even hv his nearest intimate
earthly friends. For this reason, and
rs caution 10 others, and not rs Ii
ccnse to embolden in crime because
good men sinned great sins, the re
cords of their misdoines have suryiv-
ell the ravages Of times iron teeth. as
Il perpetual reproach in all time be
low the skies.
But where did God ever reproach
Joseph, Moses, job, Joshua, Barah,
Deborah, gideon, Jephthah, Eyra,
Nehemiah. Daniel, aud others, for the
part they acted Oh The stage OF civil
society? II, then. is was virtue
,meritiug divine applause, it cannot
now be u reprobate crim.nality.
! Ere close t''1 lessons from the old
Testament among the many, | shall
lmano one more reference, and that
shall he the noble, anti-oppression and
liberty-lovinc prophet Obed, who, by
the way, wa- oue Of the clerical poll
ticiau-. See record in Chron. 2S
,9-l5. 1t ! be remembered that
the vice inciplc Of the right o.
the captor en- wing Che caIti-c, was
a pruc.j,s in c., .'y 14.ion Of aa.iQ9i-
,|ty eXceat the Is,s0'iti-h. EEvpt, A:l
Ibia, ChGllcn, and Sy.ia, g. VOL .
Greece and Rome, recognized this
fright. hut no such was obtained from
p. the Mosaic code. or was the practic,
.or the nation. There are two facts o
history illustrating thus: The one il
% the case Of the heathen captivcs, rs
e recorded in 2 Kings, 6: 2l-- 23, tin,
other in the case OF the Jewish pris
oncrs, in , Chron. 2S: 8: 10, Fact,
lin this case stand thus: In the day.
of the idolatrous and cruel Ahaz
liking Of Judah, Pckah, son Of Bema
Iliah, being King of Israel, God sen
r.his army against Judah, and the,
slew in one day 100000 valiant men
because they had forsallen the Lor,
God of their fathers. With ahund
= ance of spoil they also took 200,00t
/ cautives, women. sons, and daughters
and brought them to Samaria. Thel
this noble and patriotic prophet Obed
| who "dabblcd in the muddy waters o
= -lpolitics,' met the eonquering host Il
the gates of the city and said: "Be
, hold. because the Lord God of you
fathers was with Judah, he hath de
liyered them into your hand, and v
have slain them in II rage that reach
| eth up to Heaven; and now We pur
pose to keep under the children o
Judah and Jerusalem for hond-me
and bond women to you; but are ther
not with you, even with you, sin
?, against the Lord your God? Ne'
: hear me, therefore, and deliver tn
captives again which ye have take
- captive of your brethren, for th
y fierce wrath Of the Lord is upon you
= With the prophet agreed Azarial
/ Bercchiah, Jehizlliah, and Amas;
heads Of Ephraim, and friends Of free
dom, who stood up against the arm
u ed men returning from the war, an
protested that the captives should nc
!. be brought into the city nor enslaveC
;. The people rallied to their supper
~ and these noble. men "tOOll the car
Is tives, and with the spoil clothed a
4 that were naked among them, and Al
ell rayed them, and shod them, and gay