The daily clarion. [volume] (Meridian, Miss.) 1863-1866, 1865-07-30

thGt soirit Of profound respsct andb.yGEty,
'cas erer eytacedby Hin, for the accfedited ana
authorized installations OF tie GogcrHneat Of
the Cosars. Jesus Christ hEed under the
reign of an Emperor, bit whatever may
have been His views with regard 70 civil
rule and authority, He never even in the
most indirect manntr ignored or disre-
garded the dignity and authority Of con
stituted civil law and custam. No disor.
ganizer or dis.urber of national tranquil
ty was the son of God W,.uld that hos
tile and contending parties in all lands
had mastered the lesson IL thus taught,
stamped as it swiih. the luminous signet
OF hls own example
claim TO be neither politician nor
statesman, and God forbid that / should
this morning enter. upon forbidden
ground. Hitherto have religionsly avoid:
ed the discussion of any political topic in
ray pulpit ministtations, and holding firm
ly to the opinion that Religious Teach
er has about as much as he can attend to,
10 preach Jesus Christ and Him Cruci6ed.
God help the preachers, both North and
South, TO attend strictly to their Rcine ealing,
remembering the Great Commission" of
which the Son OF God is the author. go
ye into all the world and preach he gospel
TO every creature, : i good for eH Hts. aud
propounces its terrible syllables IN the
ear of all who have undertaken, in Gods
name, the solemn, and ,momentous task. ,"
How far the preachers" have contrib
uted to produce the mighty and recent
disruption of this continent, is not per
haps for your speaker to determine, but
let the Sacred Ministry. North and SoatA,
earn practical and saiutory lesson from
I'll. IL 4 L"
npen record and ever remember that a
faithful ministry and an unadulterated
Gospel are the grand and enduring pledges
q a natton'S prosperity and peypetuay. Let
US, therefore, JOIN our hands aud hearts,
in solemn compact, that Jesus and the
Rusurrection," shall be our, lifc-engroSs-
ing theme. ~ 1~
But to return. The profound respect
and Veneration that Jesus Christ enter
tanned for the civil authority of the Coe
sars' is forci5ly illustrated in the follow
ing incident in His wonderful life. Let us
with degree of care consider it. The
significant Iact is thus detailed by ST.
Matthew. Master" exclaims the insid-
ious and hypocritical Pharisee, 'we know
that thou art { true, and teaehest the
way Of God iu truth, neither carest
thou for any man for thou regardest
not the person of men," Here
you have the flattering intro uctioa OF
one of whom it has just been declared
that he desired to 'sntxngEsthe Son of God
IN his talk" But, continues the oily !
hatterer, "1ell us, therefore, |
what thinkest thou? Is it lawful to We
tribute unto Cesar, OF not ? Shall We be |
law abiding subjects under the reign of
Cesar, or shall We not rather di&claim our |
to him, by withholding the |
payment of the tribute money which has |
been levied upon us for the support of the |
royal CROWN This question my bretlren,
was most ingcniootsLy conceircd, and the eel
ebrated DR.. Adam Clarke very appropri- |
ately suggests, who that loved Jesus, and |
was not convinced of his sovereign wis
dom, could help trembling for him in
these circumstances. The answer was
difficult, when it is considered that mHlti- |
tudes Of the people had begun now to
receive Jesus as the promised Messiah, !
who was to be the deliverer of their nation |
from spiritual and temporal oppression, and |
therefore had lately sung to Inn Hosan-
nah Rabbi. If then He should decide |
the question In Cesar's favor, what idea |
must the people have of him, as the ex
pected Messiah If against Cesar, He
is ruined" Jesus Christ, however, illus
trates his sovereign wisdom, by entering |
upon no discussion of the great question,
but with the majesty of a God, lie ex-
claims, ''show mo the tribute moaey,"
and they brought Him a penny. The |
mild, yet searching inquiry is, "whose
8 lhls image, and superscliption." The |
immediate response is Caesars. "Render
therefore unto Cesar tine things that are
~msar's." "Be just, and loyal to your
own government, land by adding,l land
into God the things that arc God's."-I
eSus thirst pronounces an answer wor
hy OF Divine Wisdom. ~-a -.
The celebrated author lust quoted. has
orcibly said. This answer is full OIL
,onsummate wisdom. 1t establishes the
'o,'fs, regulates the rigAts, and distin-
cuisines the jurisdiction of the two en-
'Ess OF heaven and earth. = - But
Thlie the earth is agitated, and distract
"a with the question of political right,
md wrong, the reader will natufally ask.
what does man owe to Caesar to the
,tVl governments tunderswhich he lives YSl
Cur lord has answered the question:
: That which is Caesars" But what
; thatwhlch IS Ctesar's.i lst, honor. Cd
'oedlnce and 3d,tribute. 'sThe civil gov
hlohe uuuer WHICH man lives, and /
~ winch he Is protected, demands, his
lonor, and bis service. The laws which
re made for the suppression of eyil-doers
md the maintenance of good order
' Vhich are calculated to promote the ber.
mt OF the whole, and the comfort ofsthej
Individual, should be religiously obeyed.
- But remember. it the Caesar Il. @.
he civil goVernment1 should fntrude in
o the things of God. coin a new creed.
II broaeh new GosPel, land !; feet to rule
ne conscience, while he rules the state.
these things, Cesar is not to be obeved.
lie IS taking the things of God and he
must not get them. Give, not therefore,
iod's things to Cesar, zand give moi ,
ssars Things to God.o The Son of God. !
herefore, enJoins the solemn duty of |
WI government, upon all who have ,
ny preserving the dignity and an.
lnritYs Cff nj n lNl.