Daily Republican., 1881-10-04
AN ELOQUENT DIsCOURsE.
Render nnto Caesar the things
which are Caesars.

, Render unt0 Caesar the thInG
which are Caesars.
Last Sunday Rev. i. N. Voigh
, preached in the Old Swedes Chnrc
from Luke, 10th chapter and 9th verst
"Render therefore unto Cesar tn
things which are C;ssar's" The sci
mon being devoted to some considera
tipns on the death of President Garfield
the following is an extract as furnished
by Il gentleman who WAS one Of the con
gregation:
"God in his all wise providence ha.
taken firm us a most excellent Presi
dent, whose memory we recently hon
ored by a day OF humiliation and pray
er. The life Of such \ man as GartielC
is Of great value to Lis country, pos
sessing both prudence and wisdom
qualities which would enable him Il
administer the government we'll. Blu
now he is at resi- and the former Vice
President now stands in his place
This is thertto fit time for refresh
ing our minds with our duty to oul
civil rulers, which is no small part OF
the light which Christians are requile U,
to hold up before men. "The power
Siltsp oC hiO oiuhlhC' VI 'IOhl, anu 81
long as they do such things AS God al
lows we must be subject to their rult
"for conscience sake" 1t was in this
state that our Lord used the comma nd
given in the text" Here the Rev.
speaker reviewed at length the state of
the Jews under the Roman Emperor
| fbe rius Cesar, they being required tc
pay tribute, how the Pharisees stirred
up revolt against its payment, causing
continual conflict between the state Of
ficers and the Jews, for which their
Rabbis were responsible ON account OF
their greed and avarice. When they
came 20 Our Lord with TIE question,
"ls it lawful pay tribute to Caesar II
not?" He asked them whose image and
inscription the tribute money bore.
| Enough, they are selt-COndemned.
The existence and Use OF the money
was evidence OF the sovereign 5 ac,
knowledged r!gh. to rule. The prin-
ciple taught by Our Lord in the text
| has a general application to all Rulers.
Even the lower animals confess the
principles of loyalty TO their Superior.
| 10 teach this becomes the duty Il
| Christ ministers. Hence st. Paul di-
rects Titus to remind the converts of
his Diocese, go be subject to princi-
palities and powers, to obey magistrates
and thus US good citizens to be ready
| unto every good work" The very fact
of our Lord rcquiri.,. the Jews to obey
and serve such IL man as Caesar shows
what a weighty matter He considered
political tealty to be. He thus teaches
us that no personal objection against
our rulers can be any just excuse for
using even disrespecttul language about
them. The most dangerous source OF
this is to be found in radical political
newspapers, which so often blaze forth
vOlleys of invective against the Presi-
dent or some other man in authority.
Our late President was murdered by a
petty politician, and already some or
these papers are beginning to fire their
seditious md iiuInoral bullets into the
face Of our new President. Parents
shut out such newspapers irom your
homes rs dangerous things, teaching
people nuc "to render unto Caesar the
things which are Caesar's.' Let all
this evil speaking against our rulers
stop short, Tor the times are evil enough
OF themselves.
Political office seekers aim AT those
points by pleasing themselves and de-
grading others. Listen not to these
men they are dereittul Geuagogues,
only seeking toc tn4 SpOils, but choose
ye out honest men, without respect of
party, and kee!r them III office ON good
behavior.
The Jews suffered less under Tiberius
Caesar from tho violence and IA apaclty
of their Governors tnan under any
other emperor, tor his idea was as he
expressed it, The Governor who an
t!cipatcs e short harvest makes the
most OF 1t, and eXtOrts the most he can
in the shortest period. Hence he
changed his Governors but twice in %
years. lt is the same with us, for often
our Office holders are detected rendering
to themselves the things they should
render unto Caesar While we claim
the protection of our Government and
use its coinage we should carefully pay
all its demands and comply with is
Just laws. Render, therefore, unto our
rulers the tribute Of rcspeCt-never
speak evil OF dignitaries, but do them
honor as ordained Of God. The tribute
of taxes, for this is the main source of
the wealth OF Nations, and Is com
manded by our Lord both by precept
and example And finally the tribute
of prayer, that God may bless and pro-
tect and make them TO Judge the people
righteously. Our church calls upon us
daily to pray God 'to bless his servant,
the President of the United States, and
all others in authority. Thus and in
whatever other way it can be done, rem
der unto our chief magistrate and all
having authority, respect and submis-
sion, and then we shall be prepared for
loving and serving our country with
undivided loyalty, complete in Him
who is the "Head of all Principality
and Power, the Lord Of Lords and King
of Kings"