Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1866-08-22

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product of that bitter repentance, is
still read and quoted for its admirable
unien of humanity and policy. Am
brose produced these consequences by
acting in the true capacity of a Chris
tian minister; for he reformed the
criminal by direct appeal to his own
heart. A political preacher in the
same circumstances would have in.
famed the sanguinary passions ofthe|
by exaggerating the treason
of the Thessalonians, and counseling
the military execution OF all who pre-
sumed to sympathize in their suffer
ings.
You will see, / think, the distinc-
ton would make. A Gospel preach
er addresses the conscience of bis hear
ers for the honest purpose Of convert
ing them from the error of their ways I;
a political preacher speaks to one
community, one party or one sect and
his theme is the wickedness of anoth-
er. The latter effects no religious
purpose whatever but the chances
are ninety-nine in a hundred that he
excites the bad passions Of those who
are present, while he ISLANDERS the alb
sent and undefended. Both classes of
preachers frequently speak upon the
same or similar subjects, but they do
so with different objects and aims.
/ will make my meaning more clear
by taking your own illustrations. You
believe in the first day of the week as
a Sabbath, and so believing your duty
undoubtedly is to exhort all persons
under your charge to observe it strict
ly; but you have no right to preach
a crusade against the Jews and Sew
enth-day Baptists, to get intolerant
laws enacted against them for keeping
Saturday as a day of rest If drunk
enness be a sin which easily besets
your congregation, You may warn
them against it, and inasmuch as alb
stinence is always easier than moder-
alton, you should advise them to taste
not, touch not, and handle not; but
your position gives you no authority
to provoke violent hostilities against
tavern-keepers, liquor dealers, or dis.
tillers. If any of your hearers be ig-
norant or coarse enough to desire
more wives thanone apiece, you should
certainly teach them that polygamy
is the worst feature of Asiatic man.
ners, inconsistent with Christianity
and dangerous to domestic happiness
but you cannot lawfully urge them tC
carry fire and sword into the territory
of the Mormons, merely because some
of the Mormons are in this respect
less holy than you. If the holding o.
slaves or bond servants be a practiea
question among the members of your
church, know of nothing which for
bids you to teach whatever you con
scientiously believe to be true on thai
subject. But in a community wher,
slavery is not only unknown, but i'm
possible, why should any preacher
make it the subject Of bis weekly vi
tuperation? You do not improve th,
religion of the Shareholder by tradu
cling his character, nor mend the spir
itual condition of your own people b,
making them thirst for the blood 0
their fellow-mcn.
If any person, to whom the servic
of another is due by the laws of th
f State in which he lives, shall nee
your instructions to regulate his pei
! sonal conduct towards the slave, yo
, are bound in the first place to tell hin
: that as long as that relation exists, h
, should behave with the utmost hu
manity and kindness; for this yo
have the clear warrant of the Apos
: tolic example and precept In dea
2 ing with such person you may z
: as much further as your own censcier
/ tious Interpretation of the Bible wi
D carry you. If you are sure that th
J. divine law does, under all circumstai
: ces, make the mere existence of sue
G relation sinful on the part of III
a master, you should induce him to di
: solve it by the immediate emaneipI
e tion of his slaves; for that is truth I
/ you which you believe to betrue. Br
: where is the authority for preachin
+ hatred of those who understand III
t scripture differently What priv
d lege can you show for exciting servi
= insurrectionl Who gave you I'll
e right TO say that John Brown WI
d better than any other thief or mu
l. dcrer because his crimes were cor
n mitted against pro-slavery men?
n / think the minister, in his pulp
It discourses, is forbidden to touch at a
! upon that class OF subjects which a
3, purelypolt cal; such for instance as Il
@ banking law, tariff, railroad charter
!, State rights, the naturalization Law
D and negro suffrage. These are que
II tions Of mere political cxpediency
e, religion takes no cognizance of then
e they come within the sole iurisdicti,
10 of the statesman; and the church b
la no mora r.i0ht IN faka eidee unon tho,