Facts for the Times

THE IMAGE

“Saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword and did live.” Verse 14. FT 68.2

The wounded beast, nearly all agree, was the Roman combination of civil and ecclesiastical power, or Church and State, hence to “make an image” in this country, there must be a union of Protestantism and Republicanism. FT 68.3

That there is such a tendency now manifested is certain from the following facts: FT 68.4

1. Protestant churches look to the civil arm for protection and are incorporated by the State. FT 68.5

2. Republicans have, and do still legislate upon religious subjects. FT 68.6

3. Politicians and religious men are united on both sides of the slavery controversy. FT 68.7

4. They are united in measures and action in their anti-slavery, temperance, and Sunday-keeping reform movements. FT 68.8

5. Both political and religious men have publicly advocated the necessity of a union of Church and State. FT 68.9

A New York paper gives the following brief summary of a speech delivered on the anniversary of Washington’s birth-day: FT 68.10

“Daniel Ullman, Esq., delivered an eloquent and highly instructive address. His argument was, that continuity of territory, unity of race, a common language and religion are essential to the perpetuity of empire. He recited with precision and clearness, the fortunes of the Roman empire of Philip II, of Spain, Louis XIV, of France, to sustain his position. Passing these in review, he adverted to Russia, as possessing every element of greatness, but free institutions. The people, he said, are nearly all of one race, and one section of that race—its territory is compact, and communication between its different parts easily effected. The people are attached to their country, their Sovereign, and their religion. They are imbued with confidence in their destiny. And who shall say, if our own Union is dissolved, that their dreams of universal dominion will not be realized? He then adverted to the rise and progress of the American Union, and added that we need a common religious sentiment. FT 68.11

“The mass of our people is essentially Anglo-Saxon, and it must absorb all other races before we can have a consistent national sentiment. He held to an American race.” FT 69.1

Mr. HAVENS, an American, in a speech delivered in Erc county, N. Y., says: FT 69.2

“For my own part, I wait to see the day when a Luther shall spring up in this country who shall found a great american catholic church instead of a great Roman Catholic church; and who shall teach men that they can be good Catholics without professing allegiance to a pontiff on the other side of the Atlantic.” FT 69.3

Mr. James L. Smith, in his renunciation of the American party, published in the Washington Union, says: FT 69.4

“My objections are that a union are that a union of politics and religion or Church and State never worked well.” FT 69.5

Dr. DURBIN, in the Christian Advocate and journal, speaks of a time coming when the civil power will enforce the sentiments of the church by law. He says: FT 70.1

“I infer, therefore, that the civil magistrate may not be called upon to enforce the observance of the Sabbath (Sunday) as required in the spiritual kingdom of Christ; but, when christianity becomes the moral and spiritual life of the State, the State is bound through her magistrates to prevent the open violation of the holy Sabbath, as a measure of self-preservation. She cannot without injuring her own vitality, and incurring the divine displeasure, be recreant to her duty in this matter.” FT 70.2

“A sermon for the times,” preached in Jackson, Mich. by a popular Methodist minister, was published agreeably to the following request: Rev. J. S. Smart:— FT 70.3

“DEAR SIR:—The undersigned having listened to your sermon on the ‘Political Duties of Christian Men and Ministers,’ and believing its sentiments to be such as should be disseminated at the present time, do respectfully solicit a copy of the same for publication.” Signed by sixteen principle men; several of them irreligious. FT 70.4

On page four of religion and politics, we read the following: FT 70.5

“And is not the man who attempts to put assunder what God hath so evidently joined together, and enemy to all good government.” FT 70.6

Again on page six, speaking of the rights of ministers he says: FT 70.7

“I claim that we have, and ought to have just as much concern in the government of this country, as any other men. We are profoundly interested in the prosperity and permanency of this government. FT 70.8

“There is no such thing as banishing conscience from politics. It is just as much a ‘moral act’ to vote as it is to pray. FT 71.1

“But thank God, we are not alone. We are the mass of the people. Virtue in this country is not weak; her ranks are strong in numbers, and invincible from the righteousness of her cause. Invincible if united! Let not her ranks be broken by party names.” FT 71.2

The effect of this unhallowed connection of politics with religion, is thus graphically sketched by the Presbyterian Herald: FT 71.3

“There seems never to have been a time in the history of our country, when questions of religious and political science were so mingle together as at the present. When we open a paper, it is often hard to tell at the first glance whether it is a political or religious journal. In all parts of our land, but especially in the northern portions, the platform and the stump give excited utterance to theological dogmas; while the pulpit thunders forth political harangues.” FT 71.4

It then gives a description of true religion and the place it should occupy, and continues: FT 71.5

“Such is the position of religion, and such her relation to politics and all other earthly things.—But of late we have seen her descend into the heated arena; lose herself in the surging and tossing crowd, and when next she emerges, or rather, when her position is again occupied, ’tis no longer herself, but a drunken drab, wild with excitement, raves and retches and belches forth words of strife and scorn, bloodshed and bitterness, adding fuel to the flames of hatred and envy, and mocking heaven heaven with daring blasphemy—essaying even to wield the thunders of Jehovah. When such a scene meets our troubled vision, we cry, ‘Surely religion has been trodden in the streets, truth and righteousness lie bleeding in the dust. Alas! alas! has she perished forever? Shall we never more behold her beauty and feel her sweet attractions?” FT 71.6

Dr. GEO. BECKER on the right to discuss political questions in the pulpit, says: FT 72.1

“It is the result of a long conflict that this point has been reached; but it has been reached.”—Speech in Yale College, Jan. 17, 1857. FT 72.2

Dr. LYMAN BEECHER, as quoted by Dow, says: FT 72.3

“There is a state of society to be formed by an EXTENDED COMBINATION of INSTITUTIONS, Religious, CIVIL and literary, which never exist without the CO-OPERATION of an EDUCATED MINISTRY.” FT 72.4

The following extract is from a sermon delivered at the dedication of the Second Presbyterian Church, Fort Wayne, Ind., Feb. 22nd 1846. FT 72.5

Mr. CHARLES BEECHER says: FT 72.6

“Thus are the ministry of the evangelical Protestant denominations, not only formed all the way up, under a tremendous pressure of merely human fear, but they live, and move, and breathe, in a state of things radically corrupt, and appealing every hour to every baser element of their nature to hush up the truth, and bow the knee to the power of apostasy. Was not this the way things went with FT 72.7

Rome? Are we not living her life over again? And what do we see just ahead? Another General Council! A World’s convention! Evangelical alliance and universal creed!” FT 73.1

A correspondent of the Baltimore Sun gives the following account of a visit of more than 100 Methodist ministers to the President, while they were in attendance at Conference in Washington: FT 73.2

“Rev. Mr. Slicer then introduced ‘the Rev. Dr. Levings, and ministers of the Baltimore annual conference, consisting of a part of Pennsylvania, a portion of Virginia, and the western shore of Maryland.’ Maryland.’ The President replied, ‘I am happy to see the gentlemen.’ Dr. Levings then addressed the President in a very neat and appropriate manner, congratulating him on the general prosperity of the country, and amongst other good things, remarked, in substance, that as ministers of the gospel of peace, they indulged a hope that the existing war would be speedily terminated on conditions honorable and satisfactory to both countries. As Republicans, however, they were determined to sustain their country until a more favorable state of things should ensue. FT 73.3

“President Polk replied, in a brief, but handsome manner, expressed his high gratification at their visit; his long conviction of their patriotism and readiness to serve their country under all circumstances, in peace or in war.” FT 73.4

The following extract is from the Annual Report of the Vermont Missionary Society, for 1841: FT 73.5

“The ministers are the heads of the churches— the leaders of the sacramental host of God’s elect. No measure can be carried without them, much less in opposition to them.” FT 73.6

The following spirited lines were dedicated to the Mounted Volunteers of Kentucky, by Rev. Eliphalet Case, of the Cincinnati Enquirer: FT 74.1

“Ho! Pioneer, your cabin leave; ho! farmer, leave your field; FT 74.2

Ho! work man with the iron arm, that never yet did yield; Take down the deadly rifle now, and whet the bowie knife, And like a tropic tempest, come ye, gathering to the strife.” FT 74.3

The Dixon Transcript, referring to the Pittsburgh Convention, says: FT 74.4

“After prayer by Rev. Mr. Lovejoy, the Rev. Mr. Brewer of Conn., said, he was in favor of using firearms, and fighting for freedom in Kansas. FT 74.5

“Rev. Mr. Chandler said he believed that Sharp’s rifles were the best peacemakers, there was no danger too many of them would be introduced into Kansas. FT 74.6

“Rev. Mr. Lovejoy was willing to go either as a captain or private. He would use Sharp’s rifles, and fire with good aim! FT 74.7

“In the North Church, soon after, Rev. Henry Ward Beecher said, I hold it to be an everlasting disgrace to shoot at a man and not hit him.” FT 74.8