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


world, and Christianity itself would
have died out in half a century. But
they accepted the relations which
were created by human law, and ex-
horted their disciples to discharge
faithfully the duties which arose out
of them. Though the laws which de-
fined the authority of husbands, pa
rents, masters and magistrates were
as bad as human perversity could
make them, yet the early Christians
contented themselves with teaching
moderation in the exercise of legal
power, and uniformly inculcated the
virtues of obedience and fidelity upon
wives, children, slaves and subjects.
They joined in no clamors for or against
any administration, but simply testi-
fed against sin before the only tribu-
nalwhich Christ ever erected on earth; !;
this is to say, the conscience of the
sinner himself The vice of political
preaching was wholly unknown to
the primitive Church.
1t is true that Paul counselled ODE
dience to the government of Nero !;
and am aware that modern clergy
men interpret his words as a justifica-
ton of the doctrine that support of
an existing administration is 'part of
their allegiance to God" Several
Synods and other ecclesiastical bodies
have solemnly resoIUed something to
that effect But they forget that what
Paul advised was simple submission,
not active assistance, to Nero. The
Christians of that day did not endorse
his atrocities merely because he was
"the administration duly placed in
power" They did not go with him
to the theatre, applaud his acting, or
praise him in the churches when he
kidnapped their brethren, set fire to
city, or desolated a province. Nor
did they assist at his apotheosis after
his death, or pronounce funeral ser.
mons to show that he was greater
than Scipio, more virtuous than Cato
and more eloquent than Cicero. Po
litieal preachers would have done this,
but Paul and Peter did no such thing
There is nothing in the Scriptures
20 justify the Church in applying lis
discipline to any member for offences
purely y political, much less for his mere
opinions or feelings on public affairs
The clergy are without authority, a;
they are often without fitness, to de
eide for their congregations what il
right or what is wrong in the legisla
tion Of the country. They are no
called or sent to propagate any kline
of political doctrine. The Church anC
the State are entirely separate anC
distinct in their origin, their object
and the sphere of their action; inso
much that the organism of one car
never be used for any purpose of th'
other without injury to both.
Do | therefore say that the Chris
tian religion is to have no influence oil
the political destiny of man? Fa
from it. Notwithstanding the unfaith
fulness of many professors. it has al
ready changed the face of human SO
: ciety; and it will yet accomplish it
mission by spreading peace, independ
r ence, truth, justice and liberty regr
J lated by law, "from the sea to the NJ
: termost ends of the earth" But thi
e will be accomplished only by reform
r ing and elevating the individuals {
r whom society is composed not by e,
{ asperating communities against eac
4 other; not by any alliance with th
: governments of the world not by an
vulgar partnership with politicians I
, kill and plumber their enemies.
# Every time you reform bad ma
# and bring his character up to the stan'
S ard of Christian morality, you max
n addition, greater or less, to that righ
n eousness which exalteth nation, an
n subtract an equal sum from the 81
/, which is a reproach to any peopl
|, Sometimes a single conversation is e.
l. tremely important in its immedia
y effect upon the public interest of
Ir whole nation. No doubt the accep
Ie ance of tho truth by Dionysius q
IS Areopagite, had much TO do in moul
'e ing the subsequent laws and custom
e. of Athens. The conversion of Co
g. stantnO was followed by the insta
ID abrogation of all law which fetterl
y, the conscience In the reign of The
in dosius the people of Thessalonica 70
ar against the Roman garrison and kill
its commander For this act of reb,
in lion the Emperor decreed against the
'n the curse of an indiscriminate war,
n which the guilty and the innoce
lg were confounded together in one ge
es eral slaughter. His spiritual "guit
ey philosopher, and friend" at the tir
,s- was Ambrose, Archbishop of Mia
d. who boldly denounced his cruelty, !
ed fused TO give him the Sacrament,
nd even to administer it in his presen,
lis compelled him to take his seat amo
lis the penitents on the portico of t
M ohurch and induoad him IN hunl