Year: 1860

as the recurring agitation OF questions
whose chief Importance consists In their
moral and religious bearings. And It is
not likely, so long as the Christian ministry
retains nught Of spiritual life, that however
censured, II will cease to fulfil this sacred
obligation


But old as is the discussion, the true rela-
tion OF the pulpit to politics, and motes and
bounds between politics and religion have
not usually been defined with precision.
The charges against ministers for meddling
with politics have been usually characterz-
ed more by passion than precision, by deh-
ance than defnteness, by acrimony than ar
gument. On the other hand ministers have
not always accurately marked the limits Of
their calling and the pulpit--"drum &C.
clesiastic"-has sometimes resounded with
discourses justly offensive rs political har-
angues. This indeGniteness is reason for
a candid investigation of the subject and
for such investigation the existing interest
makes the present favorable time.


In the outset must fnd If possible,
some principle to determine what is aud
what is not beftting the discussion of po-
liticnl nftairs. will accept the very prin-
ciple so often flung at us by our censors.
Preach the gospel never preach politics


But what is it to preach the gospel Z
First aud chiefly it is minister's business
to unveil the spiritual world to men and
make its great realities a constant presence
and motive to tlem. 1t is to awsken them
to their eternal destiny and to the reality
OF interests and motives trsnscending all the
interests OF earth /; it is to make them feel
Gods presence aud their accountability to
him the reality Of bis law and itssuprema'
cy above the wishes and will Of men it is
to establish the conviction that there are
principles Of right immutable and eternal,
sanctioned by the authority and sustained
by the Almightiness Of God, and more to
be valued than property or life and that
the least wrong done to the least Of human
beings perces the ear of God and awakens
his displeasure 1t is to disclose Gods
eternal compassion in Christ, to bring men
near the Cross and to teach them to look
on all human action, interests and duties in
the light Of Gods redeeming love- Who
ever leaves these great realities of the world
unseen in the background and makes the
substance of his preaching to be the details
of private morals, of social reforms or po-
litical duty, goes aside of the main work of
the ministery and must make his ministcry
comparatively fruitless | further affirm
that most important part Of a minister's in
auence even in giving healthy tone to
politics is exerted not 10 occasional sermons
specifically touching some political wrong,
but in the braciug and elevating influence
of those great spiritual realities which are
the themes of his common ministration.
For example, o minister does more to
awaken compassion for the oppressed in his
ordinary preaching Of the love of God in
Christ making humanity sacred by suffer
ing in it aud for it, than by his occasional
specific applications Of the law Of love to
slavery. Hence the gospel exerts power
ful influence to purify and reform society
and government independently of the ad.
vocacy Of specific reforms. Hence the
most important part Of the work of the min
istry in its bearings on political action is to
keep these elements of heroism alive in the
hearts Of the people. But this is not all.
The minister must apply these spiritual truths
to discriminate right from wrong in the
actual conduct of life, to rebuke the sins
that are actually current in society. l have
spoken of ministers who abridge the legti.
mate power of the gospel by comparatively
overlooking the great realities of the spirit.
nal world, the grand truth of the divine
government and redemption which ore the
great motives 10 new life, and fritter away
their strength on the details of specific vir.
tues On the other hand is another class
who present the truths of the gospel only
as glittering generalities and do not lay
! them like live Goals from the altar on the
conscience of their hearers in rebuking
actual sins. Both fail to demonstrate the
power of the gospel. That power is reaiz
ed only as the great truths of the gospe
are applied to living men as power of re.
buke and of salvation.


What is Christianity worth if it only tick
les the ear with high sounding phrases and
the heart with fruitless Sentimentality
What is Christianity worth if il does MOI
come down from the skies with its heavenly
majesty, purity and love, to purify the aetna
life of men, to eDnoble it with heavenly
principles huu iHfiSOIdtc u W Heaf6uly &C
ton How is Christianity godlike if il
does not confront and rebuke the iniquitiet
that lift their defiant heads in society anC
assault the institutions which are the forti
fed strongholds of sin ?


And know no reason why the politica
action of individuals, of parties, and of tn,
government is to be exempted from being
tested in the light of the gospel aud rebuk
ed as sin if in violation Of its eternal law
know not that politicians have received
safe conduct from the Almighty TO traVe
unuuestoned aud unrebuked the tortuou
paths of political iniquity. If man mis-
applies funds entrusted to his keeping b,
another, may not call it sin because it /
a State officer who is guilty of il, and tn
act may have bearings on the interests Of
party 7 Is not bribery an iniquity becaus
il is a member Of Congress that is bribe
for political purpose Does the embez
element of public money cease TO be a sin
if the money embeLzled is expended to caI
~ an election


affirm then the gospel must be preacl
cd in its application to political action.


But, you will remind me that / said tn
guiding principle must be, Preach the goi
pol, but do not preach politics. | said Sc