The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-10
THIRTY-FOURTH STREET REFORMED
CHURCH.
DIR. RILEY ON THE LIMITS OF CIVIL ALLIE
GIANCE.n

DR. RILEY ON THE OF ALLIE
GLANCE"
Yesterday forenoon the Rev. DR.. Riley preached
a forcible sermon in the Reformed Dutch church,
Tnirty-lourtn street, near Eighth avenue. He was
attentvely listened to by a select congregation,
who were evidently moved by the preachers eo
quence. Tne text was Matthew, XIII, 2l-"Ren-
der therefore unto Caesar the things which afe
C@sar's.r Tue text marks with divine clearness
the limits OF civil allegiance. Nineteen Christian
centuries could be called TO witness that there IS
no more vital conflict tnan that between human
conscience aud human ambition The astounding
doctrine OF the Pope's infalnblity gives to man
the attribute OF God. Limitless authority Is thus
given over the minds and actions OF men; and
TINS could not TAIL 10 bring on tenacious struggle
tion to tue Cnurca. Tne great Empire OF Ger
many has now slaked her very life upon the issue
OF the present struggle with the Cnurcn OF Rome.
Men so we'll eaucatcd anu highly civilized as the
Germans Undoubtedly are Cannot Iail 10 see and
MAGNITUDE or TIE CONFLICT.
They see ana measure those preenslons or
Rome which aspire TO enslave the souls OF men.
Here, In America, our great Centennial anniver-
sary loses It's value and significance II we
are to surrender the liberty of our con-
sciences at the bidding Of the Romish Pope There
may yet be collision, and tnat soon, too, between
State authority anu the POpe's spiritual preten-
stons. TIE cruel ana despotic Alba may again
have to be fought In some otaer form on the nelds
OF free America; the bloody lnquisItiOn may nave
TO be put down once more ana Telinuus liberty
agaio purchased at tue pnce OF blood. Anything
snort OF complete domination over mems bodies
as wen consclences viii not satisfy imperial
Rome. The conflict between Pope and people may
soon come, ana when 10 does, then will our repun.
hcanlsm and love OF liberty Ue brought to severe
test. The crafty Pnarisees wanted TO entrap
Christ by asking n IL was right 10 give tribute 70
Caesar or not Tney wanted HIM 10 indorse the
payment OF tribute to Cesar, and thus spoil ms
influence WITH the hebrews while these people
anxIOusy looked fOr the overthrow OF
Rome's Imperial egions. But the Pharisees were
sOreB disappointed 1nen the divine Master, by the
fat OF His mighty word, forever drew the line be-
tween mans duty 10 Coo and ms allegiance 70 the
STATE. ana the acknowledged great loyalty OF
ancient as well as modern Christians to the laws
OF the countries wherein they have l1ycd shows
that the precept OF Christ has taken ineradlcabie
root among tue faithful OF His Cnurcn.
Taefe are three elements "a TINS questlon-the
cIvll power OF the State, the Cnurca and the con-
science OF tue individual; 30 tnat between them
IL IL triangular battle Tor supremacy. Tue
Church forced King Henry III. to siand humby at
the Pope's door, and before that, tnen aud now
works necessarily tor the ensiavement OF mems
bodies as well as their minds. The consciences Of
Tns ALLEGIANCE OF EMPIRES.
bismarck says no; this shall not De. Such ale
glance as the Pope claims means subjugation OF
conscience 10 an earthly ruler. Win the Reior-
nation came emancipation OF conscience. kous-
seau declared tnat government is nothing but
social compact aud others nave taught that IN
every generation society should be broken up and
that there ts no authority bat that oil the indivd
ual Will. Let these theories run riot In excess II
they choose, but we must acknowledge tnat the
nations being Is ia conformity Win 6ods orul-
nance. The nations life comes not from single,
but Is born OF many families. 1t rs something di-
ierent and stronger han the emanatlOn OF family
ties. The authority Oh our government does not
rest upon the right OF conquest It's rulers rule
by the grace OF God. The nations lie
is sacred ao0ve all human things, ana
there is no power but thai OF God
wnicn ought TO AFFECT 10. The nation Is ordained
by God. Ii IS Ills servant and receives nom HIM
its power. It's laws hose or Goa, and 10 mas
the power 10 make men DO right. IL emanates
from that authority which Is ABOVE all nations
It's authority comes not because the majority vote
1t, but because the majority hold authority as a
trust from God. 40 issues rom the moral nature oil
man-that rs the state and mas an organic unity
in itself Tue word "ChurChD means 1.-THE L0rd'sn
Ii IS the eternal communion OF saints. IL Is
founded by God HIMSELF through the Holy Ghost
ruled Dy the same head and maintained by, the
same soul.
THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH
In It's sphere IS the that OF the state in It's
sphere ne Church I'D the state make the great
purposes OF God move to happy termination.
Whence comes the issue, then, between Cnuren
and slater IL Is sin, the destroyer OF all human
happiness that does ii. Tire Churcn ana state or
Otner institutions can come into no conflict with
each Other uuttl stu intervenes 10 corrupt them.
Tue blame put by the one upon the other Is be-
cause there IS Sun between them. what gave the
Pope power to bind the c0nscienceY tradition.
NhO, then, decides the claims OF tradition TO thi5
power IL ~ tue conscience oil the individual
The binding authority oil the scriptures themselves
depend upon aCheir rational appeal TO mems prl-
vate judgment. The divine condemnation oil sin
rests upon human responsibility. There Is IN man
an innate power Vi discovery OF right and wrong,