Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1865-06-14
CHURCH AND STATE.

The United States have sustained much
detriment from the attempts made, from time
to time, to divorce politics and religion.
This has arisen from misunderstanding of
the opinions of the Fathers who framed the
organic laws Of the country. They did not
believe that religion had nothing to do with
politics On the contrary, they believed
that every act of the State should have di-
vine sanction, as well as every act of the
Church. But they feared the effects and in
huence of ecclesiastical es1abll.hments
such as existed In the Old World and
whose despotisms and intolerance caused
the Puritans to seek for home IN the in
hospitable wilds of the New World In
modern times, the attempt to separate them
has been made by designing politicians who
did not desire that either their principles or
practice should be brought to the light of
divine truth. Through the misrepresenta-
tions of this class, many well meaning men
have. had their judgment biased, and cred
ulity imposed upon, and been mysteriously
reasoned into the belief that not nly,,has re-
ligion nothing to do with politics, but that
between them there exists an inveterate and
irreconcilable antagonism. Indeed, they have
initiated the example of Constantine the
Great, and made religion the sidUe of poll
tics. Christianity had become so powerful
an element that Constantine believed his i'm
perlal sway was not secure without 1T. Reb-
els and their sympathisers do not ignore re-
ligion altogether, but they declare that re-
ligion must remain In a state of Seryile sub
lection to their will and purpose In their
opinion, for minister to preach against the
crime of slavery, which is everywhere con-
demned i'll the word of God, is to preach
politics, but to demonstrate its divine right,
authority and institution is to proclaim the
pure and unadulterated gospel of Christ.
1t is not our design at present to discuss
this matter on It's merits, nor to cite author
tiles to prove that there is an indissoluble
union between the pulpit and politics Dr.
John 4. Mason, one of the most learned
and brilliant pulpit orators that ever Ameri
ca has yet produced, speaks forth the words
of truth and soberneSs on this subject. That
religion, says he, has in fact nothing TO do
with the politics of many who profess it, is
ameanchOly truth Butthat it has, Of right,
new discovery. Can you persuade yourself
that political men and measures are to under
go no review in the judgement to come? That
all the passion and violence, the fraud and
falsehood and corruption which pervade the
system Of party, and burst out like a flood at
the public elections, are to be blotted from
the catalogue OF unchristian deeds because
they are politics Or that a minister
of the Gospel may see his people,
in their political career, bid defiance
to their God in breaking through every
moral restraint, and keep a guiltless silence
because religion has nothing to do with pol
itics? Many Of our difficulties and sins may
be traced TO this pernlclous notion. 1T our
religion had had more to do with our poll
tics. it would have been infinitely better
for us at this day.
But we have the example and the author
ity Of the Saviour, Paul, the Prophets and
the best men of every age, for saying that
there is perfect compatibility bet Eeen pol
itics and religion.
Much of the opposition given in these
latter days to the intermingling of the two
| things arises from a mistaken notion of the
nature character and source Of civil govern
ments. They are supposed to be human
rather than divine institutions-to be found
ed on the will Of men rather than on the
will and ordinance of God. Now if the BIZ
BILE speaks the truth when it says 'the pow
ers that be are ordained of God, and that
all magistratical authority and power have
divine command as their sanction, can we
suppose. for a moment that the Supreme
Ruler Of the universe, by delegating the
power of civil rule to man. thereby sets "a
| size ana destroys the principles OF MS own
moral government? That the God of NOR
| al government has inco1 porated the princi-
| pies of that government in the subordinate
and delegated governments Of men, is no
more to be doubted, than that he is the au-
thor of human government.
We have been led into this train of
thoughts from the circumstances Of our times
and the action of the different ecclesiastical
assemblies in the country for the last three
or four years Many of these bodies ignor-
ed to the last the idea of mixing up ecclesi-
astical politicalaction Though annually
| they rerpetrated the crime Churches
which claimed to be bond of union. have
become according to Stanton in his. Church
and the War, the very cause of dis-union
by attempting to divorce what God has join
ed together The State has shed light on
their counsels, and they are benefited by it.
They have to great extent made atone
ment for past dehnquencies They have
come out nobly to the rescue, and we can
unite with many of our contemporaries
throughout the country and say, 1.-The pull
pit saved the nation" We never wish to
see an established religion in this land as
there is in many European nations, but we
do hope that the Church will not fail to in
struct the State in the Science of Political
Ethics, though disappointed politicians
should exclaIm, Art thou come hither to
torment US before the time ?''-Rttsbuygh
Gazette.
Nonro C,Mro