The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1864-07-28
Communications.
[FOr the News.
pulpit P Politics"--Duty Of the Clergy.
(Concluded)

Gods commission to his ministers as
given to the prophet Ezekiel, chapter
33, verses 9Th and 9th, is: 30 son Of
man, have set thee a watchman unto
the House of Israel, therefore, thou shalt
hear the word at my mouth, aud warn
them from me. When say unto the
wicked, o wicked man, thou shalt
surely die, if thou dost not speak to
warn the wicked from his way, that
wicked man shall die in his iniquity,
but his blood will I require at thine
hand" The wise man Gays, "Right-
eousness exalteth a nation, but sin is
reproach to any people" Where are
principles Of righteousness laid down,
II not in the Biblt9 Tn what other
book shall we discover that "sin which
ia a reproach to any people2" The same
wise man says, "BY me Kings reign and
Princes decree justice" B"
Washington in his Farewell Address
says, "of all the dispositions and hab.
its which lead to political prosperity, re-
ligion and morality are indispensable
supports. In vain would that man
claim the tribute Of patriotism, who
should labor to subvert these great pill
lars of human happiness, these frmest
props Of the duties of men and citizens
Let it be simply asked where is the se.
curity for property, for reputation, for
life, If the sense Of religious obligation
desert the oaths which are the instru.
ments Of Investigation in courts of jus.
tice2 And let US with caution indulge
the suppOsition that morality can be
maintained withoutreligion." This great
man was not afraid of miring or trans
fusing the principles of religion into
politics. 1t is true that the motives
and sanctions of religion are addressed
primarily to individuals, but what is the
state, or government, especially in oul
coun try; but the aggregation of the same
individuals2 Says Vattell, "Nations Of
States are bodies polite, societies of men
united together to procur, their mutual
safety and advantage by means of their
unio n." "Such q society has its affair
and interests; it deliberates and take
resolutions in common, and. thus be
comes a moral person, having an under
stan ding and will peculiar to itself
and is susceptible of obligations anc
Laws" "Civil society is an iustituti OIL
of God" writes Wuyland. x
1T must be established upon the same
principles which, God has established.
''The Scriptures, says Dr.. Stanton, "are
full revelation of Gods will to man
They embody and develops the princi
Piles by which men as individuals AM
mankind as race, through all the or
CARNATIONS and compacts of society
whether of the family, the church, O
the State, are to be governed; and the
also set forth the relations which me
sustain to God under all possible aspect
and organizations Of society, and au
nounce the obligations which these T,
lations imply, and the laws by whic
! God governs men as individuals, "a
families, as communities, and as nj
+. tons" Do Christian men deny ths
'hHre can be such a thing as Nation,
sins2 Do they deny that nations dc
cline and fall because of national col
), ruption and crirne2 If these things b
#. so, 'ssre not men bound as much [
obey tho laws of God in q national et
n pacity, as they are 10 an individual ca
pacity-in politics as in religion
thingS temporal, as in things spiritur
d at the ballot box as at the Lords Il
d ble." Is it not, therefore. clear to II
e minds of ell sincere believers in Il
2, rightful government of God in the sffui
d of men, that the principles Of that gov
y ernmept are to be taught aud expos
ed and brought to bear upon tn
: minds and hearts of men, by means q
the agencies which He has establishe,
Is not the ministry of the Gospel OF
I of the chief Of these agenciesH "Pol
tics" in its wide sense is higher then
than the mere contest of parties Fl
power. "It includes that part of cthi
which consiSts not only in the regul
tion and government of State or n
; tiOn, for the preservation of its safst
peace and prosperity; but the prote
ton OF its citiEans in their rights, wi
the preservation and improvement
their morals" says Webster. Are Su
themes inappropriate aud unworthy
ar. the Christian Pulpit Why should t
:. proper and digpided discussion of su
60: 60, subjects in the light Of Divine Trut
impair the influence and bring Il