The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1866-11-24


sors, it has already changed the face {
human society and it will yet accomplis
its mission by spreading peace, indeper
dence, truth, justice and liberty regulated b
law, 'frOm the SCI, to the uttermost ends
the earth" But this will be accomplishe
only by reforming and elevarng the indivit
uals of whom society is composed not b
any alliance with the Governments Of tn
world; not by any vulgar partnerships wit
politicians to kill and plunder their enemie
Every time you reform bad man an
bring his character up to the standard {
Christian morality, you make addition
greater or less, to that righteousness whic
exalteth Q nation, and subtract an equal SUI
from the sin which is reproach to any pet
pie. Sometimes a single conversion is OK
tremely importau, in its immediate effet
, npon the public interest of whole natior
No doubt the acceptance OF the truth b
Dionysius, the Areopaslte, had much to j
in moulding the subsequent laws and custom
of Athens. The conversion of COustantin
was followed by the short abrogatlon of a
| law which fettcred the conscience. In tn
reign of Theodosius the people of Thessaloni
ca rose against the Roman garrison An,
| killed its commander For this act of re
| bellion the Emperor decreed against then
the curse of an indscriminate war, In whicl
the guilty and the innocent were contoundet
| together in one general slaughter. Hi
spiritual guide, philosopher and friend q
thxt time was Ambrose, Archbishop of Milan
who boldly denounced has cruelty, refused tc
give him the Sacrament, or even TO admins
ter it in his presence, compelled him to take
his seat among the penitents on the portict
of the church and induced him to humb.. his
diaden in the dust for eight months i'll sue
cession. The conscience of the Emperor
was thoroughly awakened his subsequent
reign distinguished by justice and mercy
the integrity of the empire was preserved in
peace, and the great Theodosian code, the
product of that bitter repentance, is still read
and quoted for its adm irable union OF human
ity and policy. Ambrose produced these
consequences by acting in the true capacity
of Christian minister for he reformed the
criminal by a direct appeal to his own heart.
A political prea. her in the same circumstan
ces would have inha med the sanguiuary pas
sivns of the monarch, by exaggcIating the
treason of the Thessalonians, and counselling
the military execution of all who presumed to
sympathiZe in their suffcrings.
You will see. think, the distraction
would make. \ Gospel preacher addresses
purpose If converting them from the error of
their ways; political preacher speaks to
one community, one party, or one sect, AID
his theme is the wickcdncss Of aEo,her. The
latter effects no religious purpose whatever ;
but the chances are nInety>niue in hundred
that he excites the bad passions Of those who
sre present, while he ISLANDERS the absent and
undefendcd. Both classes of preachers fire.
quert!y speak upon the same or similar subs
;ec,S, but they DO so with different objects
and aInIs.
| will make my meaning more clear by
taking your own illustrations. \ GU believe
in Tie first day of the week Sabbath,
AMI so believing, your duty undoubtedly Is
To exhort all persons under your charge TO
observe it strictly; but you have no right to
preach Il crusade against the jews and Sev
enthday Bapiists, 10 get intolerant laws en-
acted against them for keeping Saturday
Il dav OF rest II drunkenness be "a sin which
easily beseis your congregation, you may
warn them against il, and Inasmuch AS abb
siineucc is always easier than moderation,
YOU should advise them to taste not, touch
not, and handle not: but your position gives
YOU authority to provoke violeEt hUstiiiiies
against tavern keepers. iiquor>dealcrs, or dis
,iiirrs. II any oi vour hearers be ignorant
or coarse enough TO desire u,orc wives than
one apiece. you should certainly teach them
that polygamy is the worst feature of A.iatic
man ers, inconsistent with Christianity and
dangerous TO domestic happiness; bat you
la: fully urge hem 10 carry hre and
sword into the territory ot the Mormons,
merely because spme of Iae MOrnous are III
this respect less holy than YOU. Ii The hol1>
ing OF slaves or bond servants be practical
question among the me bers OF your church,
! know nOihn. which furb'ds YOU 20 teach
whatever you con>cIeniIOusly believe to be
true on that subject. Bu; III community
where slavery is not only unknown, but I'M
possible, why should any preacher make ii
the subject of his weekly vituperation? Iou
DO not prove the religion OF the Shareholder
by traducIng his character, nor mend the
spiritual condition OF your own people by
II raking them thirst for the blood OF their
feliow>men.
If any person, TO whom the service of an.
other Is due by the laws of the State IN. W hich
he lives, shall necu your Instructions 10 regG
late his personal conduct towards the slave,
you are bound in the first place to tell him,
that as long MS the relation exists, he should
behave with the utmost humanity and kinds
ness for this you have the clear warrant OF
dealing with such person you may go as
much further rs yoar own conscientious IN
OF the Bible luay carry you. If
you are sure that the divine law does, under
all circumstances, make the mere existence
Of such "a relation sinful on the part OF the
master, Won Should induce him to dissolve it
by the immediate emanci patton Of his slaves
for that ia truth to you which you believe to
be true. But where is the authority for
preaching hatred of those who understand
the Scripture differently? What privilege
can you show for es 'iting servi.e insurrec-
lion? Who gave you the right to say that
Iohn Brown was better than any other thief
Or mrrder merely because his crimes were
against pro>siavery men?
l think the minister, in his pulpit dis
courses, is forbidden 10 touch at all upon that
class of subjects which are purely political
such for instance as the banking law, tariff,
abroad charters, State rights, the naturaliza-
ion laws and negro suffrage. These are
questions of mere political expediency
-elIgion takes no coenizance of them; they
come within the sole juris LECTION Of the
statesman and the church has 10 more right |
o take sides upon them, than the civil gov
,rnment has TO use its legislative, judicial or
executive power for the purpose Of enforcing
principles wholly religious.
In short, if | am not entirely mistaken, a
Christian minister has no authority TO preach |
ipon any subjects, except those in which di-
'inc revelation has given him an infallible |
uie OF faith and practice; and, even upon |
hem. he must speak always for the ed fca-
ion of his own hearers, BRIGHTLY dividing the |
yord of TRUTH so as to lead them in the way |
# all righteousness. When he does more
ham this he goes beyond his commission, be
'ecomes scurYy politician and hls influence
$ altogether pernicious.
The use OF the clerical Office for the pur-
'ose of propasatins political doctrines under
ny circumstances, or with s.ny excuse, is in |
ny judgment not only without authority, but
/ is the highest crime that can be committed !
ga,nst the government OF God or man.
,erhaps ] ought not to make this broad as.