The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1868-10-15

relations, as sup!!br., interiors, or
equals" and "forkddeth the neglecting
of, or doing anything against the honour
and duty which b4engeth to every one
in their several Thces and relations. 7"
The right trninint OF families in the
faithful and mutual discharge Of these
varied obligations9s the right training
of communities, ai4 Of the church.
The second foundltion lin social life Is
cirH society or cirl government. l am
not now going intdR political harangue,
as 1t may be called upon this subject,
although believe he pulpit is just rs
egitimately open, Is the press, for
the discussion Of IN social and civil
questions that Involve moral principle,
for the glory Of God ard the elevation
and salvation of thdhuman race. The
pulpit is a power In bociety. 1t aims to
publish the truth and the truth Is
mighty and will ppval. The preach
ing of the gospel inits wide range, and
In its varied application to the wants
anu n!o'. w.ll ~. being ms Of man, Is the grand
conversion of tho world-for turning 1t
upside down. for the overthrow of what
is evil, and for the establishment Of
what is good. Hence the maxim IL as
| pernicious, as it is rife, that politics and
religion have nothing to do with each
ther. But | now refer to civil society
in its properly organized form as one of
the foundations upon which we must rest
for existence and enjoyment. 1t includes
neighborhoods, cities counties, states, and
nations. This form OIL life II also from God,
and as an essential enlargement of the fam
lily relation. Said Paul in his telling dis
course at Athens-"God hath made of
nj oil x,f,r Cav 20.
on all the face of the earth, and hath
determined the times before appointed,
and the bounds of their habitation."
The parallel use of the term "founda-
tions" in the SD Psalm, and 9th verse,
clearly conveys the notion of civil socie-
ty, as properly constituted and equitably
governed. Says DIR. J. A. Alexander
on the teXt--"The pillars or foundations
are those Of social order or society itself
These are said to be destroyed, when
truth and righteousness prevail no
longer, but the intercourse of men Is
governed by mere selfishness.' And
the learned Poole ssys-"Piety, justice,
fidelity, and mercy are pillars or foun-
datiOns Ofa State or Kingdom. And
again "Maintaining religion and justice,
and setting up good magistrates, and
encouraging good ministers and good
AlSh, orc l'iuSCN tiC VI HatIoI.
Would that such wholesome truths
were more prevalent, and especially in
times of partisan zeal, and political ex-
citement, when men are SO eager for
the success to office of their respective
candidates whether good or bad. Civil
society involves these two things
personal liberty and legai ortlcr. The
first gives adequate scope to the powers
of the individual man, the second is
founded on some system of public au-
thority. Individual liberty, without
restraint, results i'm anarchy; and
anarchy usually ends in despotism. In
the social compact, society becomes the
guardian of the individual securing to
him his just rights and privileges: and
the individual promises obedience 10 It's
laws, and fidelity to it's highest interests.
Says Blackstone, "The true and natural
foundations of society are the wants
and fears of individuals Thus there
are common interests, and such things
as anarchy, or civil oppression can and
should never be tolerated.
The government in any society will
be just what the people make 1t. 1t will
be the result of the fundamental ideas
that exist in thepopular mind and of the
type offeelings that movethe publicheart
Savage ideas will produce IL savage form
of government. If those ideas be mon
archicai, then a few will make laws for
the many. Or if the mass of the people
have sufficient intelligence and virtue to
understand their rights, and properly
exercise them, while at the same time
they maintain public order through
their own chosen representatives., then
we shall have republican Democracy
with full liberty, and that we'll regula-
fnI Inv |" hnr
ty will unite liberty with civil order; or
instead thereof, will encourage a system
of violence, and of rebellion against
lawful authority to destroy the very
foundations of society, will depend up
on the prevailing ideas and feelings of
the people. AS well might you build
your house on the quicksand, and ex-
pect it to stand when "the rain decend-
ed, and the floods came and the winds
blew, and beat upon it," as to erect
form of government on the basis of an
ignorant, vicious, and disorderly peo-
pie, and expect it to he permanent
amidst the violent convulsons to which
it must necessarily be subjected. With
out n good foundation what can the
most accomplished builder do: With
out the basis of good order, wise legis-
lation, and incorr,lptible integrity in
do: or what has the righteous done:
AS it may he rendered his example, his
prayers, his eXpostulations, his efforts
are vain to check the prevalence oS
iniquity aud promote the interests of
true religion. How important then
that Christiduity-which educates best
both mind and heart-prevail; that
Bible principles, summed up i'll love
supreme to God and love equal to man,
be well understood and deeply rooted in
the heart, for then both liberty and law
would be triumphant. Christianity is
not mere negation-a mere wishy
washy, milk aud water, anything or
nothing establishment. 1t is positive
in its character. We must choose the
good, and refuse the evil. God says,
"Thou shalt" or "Thou shalt not"
IF ye be willing and obedient, ye shall
eat the good of the land; But if
We refuse and rebel We shall be
devoured with the sword" "Believe
on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt
be saved, believe not and thou shalt be
damned" "Render unto Cesar, the
things which are Cesar's; and unto
God the things which are Gods" And
if there be any truth in history, or any
worth in sound principles, or any value
in liberty defined by just and equal