All our earthly benefits, and no small part of our
spiritual privileges and hopes are wrapped up in it. Religion
_cannot_ prosper, if Law is not potential--if the minds of the
people are to be perpetually agitated, distracted and tormented, by
confusion, fear and uncertainty!
* * * * *
I have stated these great principles, and made these general
remarks upon the subject presented in our texts, on account of some
recent teachings which have been put forth as _religious_--put forth
in _religious_ publications, by _ministers_ of the gospel. I have no
reference to mere politics--to political papers or political
parties, whig or democrat. I have never entered into such matters:
other things occupy me. I have never given but one vote in any legal
election, during the eighteen years I have resided in the State
since I returned to it; and I never expect to give another. And if
principles opposite to those I have laid down in this sermon were
promulgated among us, only by politicians and political parties and
papers, I should not advert to them here. I have always supposed,
that some extravagant and evil principles would be occasionally
promulgated for party purposes and political effect, and that the
people very well understand this, and therefore will not be led very
far astray by them. And whenever such evil principles have been put
forth in the name of religion, by men whose fanatical phrensy
contemned the Sabbath and other institutions of God, (like some of
our Northern fanatics, "men of one idea" and not capable of two,) I
have very seldom adverted to them at all, but have supposed it best
to leave them to be counteracted by their own extravagance and by
the character of their advocates, and let them die by their own
contemptibility.
Pages:
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32