The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-11-30

4 LQe OF Qflmls1Vo tunes. LII Is
the SEPARATION OF Church and State. for
three huhdled years the church had no
alliance with the state. But when the Cos
pei of Jesus Christ had conquered the Ro-
man world and Constantine, the Emperor,
became obedient to the faith, the stats, anx-
ious to do what it could for the gift of God
which it had received, became the patron
of the church. Having many interests in
common, they cana at length 70 have many
officers and laws ia common. From that
time on state and church were so joined to-
gether that one was dependent upon the
other While this mutual dependency w4s
not altogether without advantages to both,
| 1t had also serious disadvantages to both.
When tn: spiritual power and the temporal
power are vested in the same man, it is diff
and the other begins. The spiritual power
In process of time gained the aseendency
over the temporal power, and the church
was oppressive and dictatorial to the State.
But the state also had its time and places of
supremacy, as it still has in the old world
1t hsmpered the church in her action and
trammeled her with laws that were of a
temporizing nature, and unworthy of the
spiritual kingdom of cur Lord Jesus Christ
At times the church almost forgot her di-
as the creature of the state. While, then,
we would not disparage the service which
the state has rendered to the church, in
countries where they are united by legisla-
tive enactment, 1t seems to me that in these
later times, at least, the church has lost by
this union in spiritual independence and
'wer more than she has gained in mate
rial support. And while the union of
church ana state has served its purpose. we
NAV rejoice that in this country it quickly
fulfilled its time. We are devoutly thank
full that here. in this respect. we have re-
turned to that condition of the early and
Apostolic chuEch in which she was un.
trammeled by state legislation and free
from any coalition or union with temporal
powers.
Acting in this freedom she undertakes the
solution of such troublesome problems as
that of small dioceses. or that of an enlarged
episcopate. with surprising readiness.
But althO Ugh the church is thus free from
state control, she is under obligations to
rencer the state real and true service On
this national Thanksgiving day. when we
come together in obedience TO the summons
of the state. and thereby express our tn ink-
fulness to God for national blessings, it can
not be amiss to call attention to the
RELATION OF FREE CHURCH To A FREE
STATE,
and consider what TIE nature of this ser
vice is.
The words read as a text are from a chap
ter in the history of Israel, of very great sig
ntficsGee;, David had been many years
King, had subdued his enemies and the
Kingdom had prospered under his rule.
Proud of his people md OF their prosperity
he yielded to the temptation of SATAN to
number them. There was no harm in tax
ing census OF the people, BIT the spirit
and purpose for which it was done were
wrong and fraught with evil consequences
10 the King and nation. 1t marked the re-
lance of the King upon an arm of flesh,
ins:ead ofthe arm Of I'D. 1t showed a spirit
of boasttul pride in the numbers of the peo-
pie over whom he was King. Whether the
hnrinO sim nlU th O
of the spirit, or whether il had in view the
further p;lrpose of military conquest is IN
certain; but whatever he full purpose was,
God was dispensed. 1t was departure
from the divine purpose of the LO d, and a
yielding to the influence and suggestions of
His enemy the devil And this sin must
necessarily bring its consequences uoon
David and his people. 1t was by special
favor, therefore, that God give TO 1ayid his
choice of three woes to be visited upon
them; three years famiue, three months
conquest over Israel by the enemy. or a
three days pestilence under the direction
OF an angel OF the Lord destroying through
out the coast of Israel. David chose the
pestilence. He thought it mo7e imme-
diately connected with God as his agent,
than the h nds of men. The pestilenee
came. Seventy thousand people fell; the
number was rapidly depleted of which the
King was proud at this juncture the
destr ying angel stood over Jerusalem
"And avid lifted up his eyes, and saw the
angel of the Lord stand between the earth
and the heaven, having drawn sword in
his hand stretched out over Jerusalem
Then David and the elders OF Israel who
were clothed in sackclo.h fell on their
faces" Tney int; ceded for the life of the
people. And David was commanded 10 go
up into the mountain and set u o an alter
unto the Lord upon the threshing-hoor of
Ornon. a Jebusie. Ornon and his sons
were threshing wheat They had seen the
angel, and in their fear had hid themselves
At the approach of David Onion went to
meet him and bowed him self to the ground
before him. What would the King OF the
Jews have at the hands of Jebusite one of
the ancient inhabitants of the land? David
said to Ornon, grant me the place of this
tnreshing-foor. that l may build an altar
thereon unto the Lord; thou shall grant it
me for the full price; that the plague may
be stayed from The people," Ornon would
give the King the threshtng-foor, the oxen
for the sacrifice, the threshing instruments
all, only tn the destroying sword be
sheathed and the plague be stayed. Bnt
David would not rec give the gift. He
would not offer to God that which cost him
nothing. He cpuld buy all at the fun
shekels of gold by weight" And David
built there an altar unto the Lord, and
offered burnt offerings and peace offerings,
and called upon the Lord. And the Lord
commanded the ANGEL and he put up his
sword again into the sheath thereof"
It was the altar that David build ID which
was effectual in sheathing the sword of the
avenging angel. 1t secu. ed for the sinful
King and people cessation of the pesti'
lence which their sins had brought upon
them. Itsupplicated God for mercy in the
midst OF deserving punishment 1t was the
altar that sanctifed the gift which David
offered; the altar of sacrifice from which
assembled the incense of the savory offer
ings of Gods people, and wherein were
BONE aloft their supplications and praises.
Now, dear friends, consider that the ser
vice which the altar with its sacr flee, upon
the threshipg floor of Ornon, the Jebusite,
rendered in sheathing the sword of the
avenging angel, and in staying the jut
punishment OF God against the King and
state of Israel for their sin, is the same SER
vice which the temple with its holy worship
rendered to Israel in sitter years. And it is
the service which the church is ever to rem
der to the state. She is to supplicate God
for mercy in behalf of the nation its rulers
aud its people; and by all m 'ans in her
power to strive to save the nation from
national sin and its Legitimate conse-
quences
THE TEMPLE OF THE JEWS.
It1vos +1-on This Same mountain where