Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1888-05-10

Recompense no man evil for evil.
Avenge not yourselves for it is
written vengeance is mine I will
repay. Be not overcome of evil
but overcome evil with good. Let
every soul be subject unto the
higher powers. For there is no
power but of God; the powers that
be are ordained of God. Whoever
therefore resisteth the power re-
sisteth the ordinance of God and
they that resist shall receive to
themselves damnation. For rulers
are not terror to good works but
to evil. Wilt thou then not be
afraid of the power? Do that
which is good and thou shalt have
praise of the same. For he is the
minister of God to thee for good.
But if thou do that which is evil be
afraid; for he beareth not the sword
in vain; for he is the minister of
God, revenger to execute wrath
upon him that doeth evil. Where
fore We must need be subject not
only for wrath but for conscience
sake. For, for this cause pay ye
tribute also: for they are Gods min
listers attending continually upon
this very thing. Render therefore
unto all their dues; tribute to whom
tribute is due; custom to whom
custom; fear to whom fear; honor
to whom honor" This advice is
plain enough but so many CLOSES
have been put upon it by those un-
willing to obey it, that it would al
most seem to be the portion of
Paul's epistles, of which Peter
wrote: "In which are some things,
which they that are unstable do
wrest as they do also the other
scriptures unto their own destruc-
tion."
The appointed relations OF
church and state are obseured in
the United States by the almost
universal privilege of its election
franchises, enjoyed by church
members in common with other
citizens, and the complete separa-
ton that exists theoretically and
legally of the state from the
church, and are therefore less ex-
amined unto and less widely un-
derstood here than elsewhere. The
right of the ballot conceals and
protects ecclesiastical interference
in politics, that would be easily
seen and certainly punished in
other countries. 1t is one of oui
greatest glories that under our con.
stitutions no man can be debarred
from or deprived of either fran.
ehise or Office on account of his
religious conviction; and that
church establishment and the legal.
Iization and enforcemer1 of ecclesi-
iastical authority g. 'bidden; but
unfortunately ~ .nestimable priv.
lileges of .merican citizenship are
~ !, - instantly improperly used
by misguised Seligionists. Such
persons talk and act as totally ig
norant of the fact that our consti
tutions providentially confer gov
ernmental privileges upon then
for the legitimate purposes of civi
rule to be exercised under the limi
tations of revelation and the pro
visions of our constitutions.
| What is complained of as mos
Iunjustifiable is the maintenance by'
tportion of the clergy in their indi
vidual and associated assertions
| that 1t is the duty of church mem
4 bers to cast their ballots so as Il
Ipromote religion and save souls
| 1t is past comprehension to dis
cover by what logic such advic'
and instruction can be justified il
the face of what has been advanced
1t has been shown that church ant
state have different missions; tha
our fundamental laws are averse t,
1.-THE use of the ballot in the interests
ofreligionists; that the Apostle ex
| horted the church to use Its gracel
in subsection to civil power for tn,
purposes for which they had beer
impaired; that neither the dut,
nor right nor power of civi
government is vested in the church
and that revelation regarded tn,
mere suggestion Of ruling th'
kingdoms of this world as a temp
tation to the great head of tina
body. By what logic then can th'
exercise of civil functions. of an,
sort, in any way or for any pur
poses be converted into Christian
, duty2
II If eeclesiastics and religionist
must use the franchises of on
American constitutions, let them d
50 as American citizens for th
purposes for which they were con
j ferred. And if they must becom
: politicians and urge. their fello'
: citizens to sustain their policie.
/ let that be done on their persona
|, estimate of their merits and wit
becoming modesty, and not al
thoritatively as expounders of d
n f....S x~.A Il - -1s~l~ -