Year: 1861

.isie,h the power, resisteth the ordinance
Of God and they that resist shall receive
to themselves damnation." Rom. rjli
~ Here we have the plain duty o.
allegiance and .uppor, to the Constitution
lhe laws. and the authorities, under which
The Providence Of the Almighty has placed
us. Rebellion against these is thus made
a sin against heaven, however the politi'
clans Of this world may justify il. And
hence the purcst principles If all real pat
riotism become smctiled by the dictates
Of religion.


Tie second point in which the Gospel
touches the relations Of the citizen is the
duty Of prayer. 4" ! exhort, therefore,
saith the same apostle, " that suppieations,
prayers. inicreessions and giving Of thanks
BE made for AL men, for kings, and for all
that are in authority, that We may lead q
quiet and peaceable life in all godliness
aud honesty for this Il good and accept
able III the sight Of God our Savior q
Tim, Ii, l-3.) The obligation here en-
joined upon US, springs naturally out oil
tie same principle. For il all lawful gov
ernment be an Ordinance OF God, It Is
manifestly our duty to pray for the bles-
4 sing of God on those whom His Proyi-
dence has appointed to administer 1t
And therefore the Church has fully pro-
yided for the regular performance Of this
duty, by her prayer for the President
and for all who are in authority" her
prayer for Congress- her prayer that
I the good Lord would deliver US from
all sedilion, privy conspiracy and rebel
lion" and her prayer that lie would
give 10 all nations unity, peace and
concord


Thus Far the Scriptures and the Church
set before us our Christian duty to the
/ Government of our beloved country. The
J Constitution is our earthly king, and we
are subjects Of no other. That Constitu-
tion is the Constitution OF the United
States. and we are bound, i'll supporting
that, 10 support the Union. The Church
\ herself is the highest exponent OF the
principle of Union, because It is the will
Of Christ that Ills disciples should be One,
united as brethren: and that unity should
be maintained Notwithstanding the strites
and wars and revolutions which may stain
the history of nations In union is peace.
f In union is strength. In union is honor
and prosperity. And therefore, while the
Church is always, on principle, the firm
advocate Of Union, and brands the work
Of separation as heresy and schism, we
should always be ready TO sustain the same
4 principle in the Government, and TO hold
a needless invasion of the law and order
OF The land as serious transgresslon OF
our christian duty.


Here, then, my beloved brethren, as
members and ministers of the Church OF
God, We have two lines Of religious obli-
CATION marked out by the word OF the
/ Apostle; first to bear faithful allegiance
+ TO the Constitution and Government OF
our Country and secondly, to pray ior
its safety and protection. Beyond this We
may not 20, by bringing before our con:
gregations or our conventions the express
sion Of our political opinions. 1t is enough
that ON other occasions, when we are act
ing as individuals in our personal and prl-
vate capacity, we are all free TO publish
our sentiments as we may deem them con-
sistent with truth and wisdom. But here
we come together as a portion OF " the
body Of Christ" in His especial presence
and are bound TO contine ourselves within
the rules laid down for His spiritual king
dom. May the power of His celestial
grace enable us and the whole Church to
keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond Of
peace And may He in whose Almighty
hand are the hearts of men and the desti-
nies of nations, look down, with pity and
compassion, on the present distractions Of
our country, and restore it, in his own
good time, to its former harmony and con-
cord, with higher zeal for the interests Of
pure and undefled religion, and better
saf, guards for its perpetuity and glory
through all time TO come.