North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1866-08-08

effect. But they forget that what Paul
advised was simply submission, not active
assistance, to Nero. The Christians of
that day did not endorse his atrocities
was merely because be was "the admins
tration duly placed in power" They did
not 60 with him to the thcater, applaud
his acting, or praise him in the churches
when he kidnapped their brethren, set
fire to city, or desolated province
Nor did they assist at his apotheosis after
his death, or pronounce funeral sermons
to show that he was greater than Sci pio,
more virtuous than Cato, aud more elo-
quent than Cicero. Political preachers
would have done this, but Paul and Peter
did no such thing. -.. r.f" ....r
There is nothing in the Scriptures to
Justly the church in applying its discipline
to any member for otfenses purely political
much less for his mere opinions or feelings
on public affairs. The clergy are without
authority, as they are often without fitness.
to decide for their congregations what is
right or what is wrong in the Legislation
of the country. They are not called or
sent to propagate any kind of political
doctrine. The Church and the State are
entirely separate and distinct in their ORR
gin, their object, and the sphere of their
action; insomuch that the organism of one
can never be used for any purpose of the
other without injury to both.
Do / therefore say that the Christian re-
ligion is to have no influence on the polit-
ical destiny of man? Far from it. Not
withstanding the unfalthfulness of many
professors, it has already changed the
face ofhuman society; and it will yet ac-
complish its mission by spreading peace,
independence, truth, justice, and liberty
regulated by law, "from the sea to the
uttermost ends Of the earth" But this
will be accomplished only by reforming
and elevating the individuals Of whom So
ciety is composed; not by exasperating
communities against each other; not by
any alliance with the governments of the
world; not by any vnl gar partnership
with politicians to kill and plunder their
enemies. ... :v.-...t. .s
Every time you reform bad man and
bring his character up to the standard of
| Christian morality, you make an addition,
greater o: less, to that righ. eousness which
exalteth nation, and subtract an equal
sum from the sin whichris a reproach to
any people. Sometimes a single CONVEX
sion is extremely important in its immedi-
ate effect upon the public interest of a
whole nation. No doubt the acceptance
of the truth by Dionysius the Areopagite
had much to do in moulding the subse-
quent laws and customs of Athens. The
conversion of Constantine was followed by
the instant abrogation of all laws which
fcttered the conscience. In the reign of
Theodosins the people of Thessalonica rose
against the Roman garrison and killed its
commander For this act of rebellion the
Emperor decreed against them the curse
Of an indiscrimlnate war, in which the
guilty and the innocent were confounded
together in one general slaughter. His
spiritual ''guide, philosopher, and friend"
at the the time was Ambrose, Archbishop
of Milan, who boldly denounced his cruel
ty, refused to give him the sacrament, or
even to administer it in his presence, COM
PEELED him to take his seat among the pen
itents OIL the portico of the church and in
duced him to humble his diadem in the
dust for eight months in succession. The
conscience of the Emperor was thoroughly
awakened; his subsequent reign was dis
tinguished by justice and mercy, the in
tegrity the empire was preserved in
peace, and the great Theodosian code, the
product of that bitter repentance, is still
read and quoted for its admirable union of
humanity and policy. Ambrose produced
these consequences by acting in the true
capacity of Christian minister; for he
r.formed the criminal by a direct appeal
to his own heat. A political preacher in
the same circumstances would have in
famed the sanguinary passions of the
monarch by exaggerating the treason of
the Thessalonians and counselling the mil
itary execution of all who presumed to
sympathlse In their sufferings. n. a
You will see, / think, the distinction |
would make. A gospel preacher address
es the conscience of his hearers for the
honest purpose of converting them from
the errors OF their ways; political preach
er speaks to one community, one party or
one sect, and his theme is the wickedness
of another. The latter effects no religious
purpose whatever; but the chances are
ninety nine in hundred that he excites
the bad passions of those who are present,
while he slanders the absent@nd undefend-
ed Both classes of preachers frequently
speak upon the same or similar subjects,
but they do so with different objects and
aims.
L will make my meaning more clear by
taking your own illustrations. You be
lieve in the first day of the week as the
Sabbath, and so believing your duty un-
doubtedly is to exhort all persons under
your charge to observe it strictly; but you
have no right to preach crusade against
she jews and Seventh-day Baptists, to get
ntolerant laws enacted against them for
keeping Saturday as day Of rest. If
/ drunkenness he a sin which easily besets