New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-09
Mass who spoke Religious Liberty" full report
Of whose address ~ published.
CHRISTIAN LIBERTY.
by PRESIDENT ALvAH HovEY, ID. ID.

dress you If AZ ALL Christian Liberty, since IL Is
subject Of peculiar historic and present importance TO
the body OF Christians with which am specially con-
nec,ed. For members OF that body have often been
constrained by tho love OF Christ 10 assert az great
rco the rights OF In respect TO the service
! Of God, and some OF them, 1t Is supposed,
| arc doing ihis, at tho present hour, in n
| distant land. Indeed. 1 may naturally suppose
that tho honored brethren who assigned me this theme
expected frank and earnest though temperate discus,
OnG could he wSTy Of a. GRTan AZ Siasr
position OF God, could possibly serve the oanse
Of truth, In what say tngTeior ns,b neither
eulogging critcsng another but, IN the spirit
OF love aud loyalty CHRIST, aiming 10 set forth the
controversy snail best speak for one Dy speaking H
ALL and shall best speak for all by laying possible
Ibe foundations my argument In facts that cannot no
moved. word OF explanation Will prepare the way
CHRISTIAN Liberty" will he understood to signify the
freedom Of action IN religious matters when accofds
with the Christian view of man in his relations 70 God
and the and this view OF man is furnished with
sum lent cearness by the teaching OF Oiis ana MS
| embrace also the freedom Of religious acton which
COMFORTS with the Christian view Of man IN his rea-
tons TO the Church OF which In any case he IL meDe
but tins part OF the subject do not propose TO discuss
BY action in religious matters Is meant OF course out
ward action, not that which IL purely mental or spr-
itua for by consent the latter should be Tree
from civil eOnstralu The inward life Of man cannot be
| regulated by the state. -
Now it is evident from the teaching Of Christ and his
|
ant relations 70 Goa on tDe one nam aul 10 ~
the Other aud remark uDOn the former OF these reia-
Tie authority Of God absolute and original at once
the aud the limit of all other authority Hence
the relations OF Christian to God are supreme, con
trolling all other relations. Every man. as creature, Is
rightfuy subject to God his Creator; but the grace
| OF redemption adds strength TO this primary
| obligation, so that Christians may be said
to profoundest homage and the most unqualified
too strongly. Jehovah KING IN all the earth, ana as
| loyalty to him never be justified by the plea OF
insya NV In her. IA
fix the limits OF Christian liberty IN religious con
GERMS the paramount authority OF Christ must have the
first place. IL PLAIN therefore that such liberty never
Oilers man the alternative OF dIsoDedegce instead Oh
! obedience TO the Lord.
Bat It is equally certain from the language of Holy
Writ that the state Is OF God for Que Apostle eXh0rts
lIs readers 10 honor tine king" ana submit them
selves to every ordinance OF men for the Lords sake,
whether 1t TO 10 the kng supreme or unto governors
as those that are seut by :" another declares that
the powers that be are ordained OF God" so that
"whosOeyer resisteth the power resstetn the Ordn-
ance Of God :" while Christ himself says, RENDER
Caesar the things that C9sars" The authority
civil rulers is he<efOre legitimate and submission To
is enforced by the voice OF conscience as We'll by
the impulse Of fear. Yet this conclusion must be re-
stuced in way there 10 danger OF Infinite per
pleAlty aud disorder. For civil magistrates must GER
tainly be thought in many 10 command what
Orbids, and to forbid what He commando. There
is. then, am sure, some means OF escape from TINS
seeming conflict Of authority and II may be found by
adopting OF The following hypothesis Either first,
tnat the state represented by us rulers mas authority
from the Lord 70 Interpret and enforce ms law IN re
Dous matters or secondly that the authority OF the
state Is limited to secular AFFAIRS Let either OF these
theories be consistently applied and conflict or au-
domain Of religion no longer pOSslDc
but attempt mnge the two. and confusion. with in
justice, to follow. Which OF these theories then,
correct when tested by the words Of Christ ana his
Can former be establishes Is it consistent with
the MOrd OF God TO suppose that clv rulers stand be
tween the souls O men ana that word WIN authority
the Head of the Church to declare ana enforce
the aud Charles Second, the Parliament OF
Great Britain and the Congress of the United
duty Of regulating for part Of mankind
III service OF Godi find evidence or even hint of
Ngff ar ~ htr
plcauOn such taught. The disciples of Christ
indeed, TO stand before magistrates and kings not
rather bear witness to the truth, aud in many
stances " sea- their testimony with blood II they mad
Tor instruction in the Gospel or for direc-
This important lesson would have been put into the
record u ner work Yea, more than TINS, some proyl-
SION would have been made TO furnish the people OF
every Christian land with succession OF cody rulers
should Dc able, with the burden OF secular Affairs
upon uer minds, 10 guae the action OF men III religious
concerns also more wisely than the saints themselves
the pastors Of the hCcA. But discover in the record
10 hint Of this junction OF the powers
provision TO qualify them for so high service. How
certain II may be that civil government though
founded by men, sanctioned by God, and should lie
hOGOred ana ODcyed by the Christian, 1t does not follow
that me state has control OF everything human, aud
may prescribe To men their duties 10 God as well TO
another IT does MOI follow tnat the rough and terri
bic forces winch NE state must employ are nj 10 3e
used N dealing with cases OF conscience. Acting within
ms proper sphere the magistrate is Code minister but
theTe 10 no sulnceut evidence thal Ms sphere o action
should embrace the duties OF religion. Toe hrSt ny
pOtheSIs must therefore be rejected.
Is the second worthy Of acceptance May We justly
conclude the New Testament that the authority OF
the state should be confined to secular affairs II 20
further IN my reply 10 TINS question tah some OF AOa
are prepared to beg yOu TO bear IN MUD the differ
circumstances and atmosphere IN wnich ne have
l may present a charitable if not a favor
able hesng ;oDnv m iG b BE true that tue
mas Xed my mind Oh the evils winch How FROM state
action i'm matters of religion 10 the neglect OF certain
advantages which are sad TO result from that action
aud possibly tue reverse Vi TINS may DC the case with
some Of YOU hut IL Will nevertheless De in our power 10
onproach the sacred Word together, and look with
honest heart for the lessons which 10 teaches IN doing
this few significant facts VIII certainly deserve aten-
And the first fact this: Christ committed to his dis
cples the work OF preaching inc pospe 10 every crea-
ture; but in giving tnen TINS commission lie made no
aIuson to consent aid from tue State. The COM
them TO visit every Land ana attempt TO change
the religious me OF .SeSIP people put nor
apce or obtaining the permission Of any civil ruler
INIT given that the State as such had right to direct
In the matter If any one should infer from the form Of
expression recorded by Matthew, Go We, therefore,
make disciples Of all the nations, that theofOliOwers OF
Christ To approach the people through their rulers
and establish an organic union between State and
Church, 1t Is enough to reply That nations in
their corporate form can neither he taught nor
baptized, that the same expression Is used IN previous
chapter TO denote the people composing the nations,
derstand the phrase . all the nations" equivalent
every creature" or every man IN the world so,
then the fact TO he weighed is simply hs-that the
SAVIOR committed the WORK OF eyangelizng nanKlnd
and teaching them 10 obey His wiu III al things to His
disciples, with no NUT ol au W VIC souEnt VI 0APeccu
from the State.
The second fact Christ provided for the proper
OrgaDiZatiOn instruction, and discipline OF his followers,
thus preparing them for united action Ths.s evident
from the history written by Luke aud called The Acts OF
the Apostes Believers In Christ were brought together
IN churches furnished with leaders were taught
TO the Lords Day for WORSHIP aud INSTRUCTION,
ana we're encouraged II able 10 assist the What
ever view be held IN respect To TINS primitive
organization, whether 1t be declared popular or presby
terrain episcopal elastic, 1t az least from above
and sufficient Christians did not therefore, need the
patronage consraDt OF the powers that be- 10 hold
them together f religious acton DISCONNECTED aud
\ weak as they seemed TO the world, they could
| be trusted, with faith in their hearts 10
! labor in concert for the best cause =" The
ocuss have no king. yet go they forth all Of them by