L AW A N D G OVER N MEN T

O R IG IN , N A T U R E, EXT EN T , A N D N EC E S S I T Y

D I VI N E A N D H U M A N G OVE R N ME N T ,

AN D OF

R E L I G I OU S L I B ER T Y .

HAR MON ! IN G SB U R Y ,

T h y C om m a n d m e n t i s i
e xcee d n g b ro a tL ” ~ P s5 pg 96

N EW Y OR !

P U B L I S H ED B Y (3 . M . S A XT O N 121 F U LTON S T R EET ,

1 8 49 ,
 PR E F ACE .

T WE N T Y y e a r s a g o , o r m o r e a d i sti n g u i s h e d c l e r g y
,
a

”
m a n r e m a rk ed t h a t ,
“
m o r a l su a s i o n m ea n i ng g o od
,

a dvi ce w a s su ffi c i e n tl y e ffi c a c i ou s i n r e g a rd t o a l l
, ,

m a tte r s c o n n e c te d w i t h the fi r s t t a b l e o f the D e c a

lo g u e t o b a n i s h i rr eli g i o n a n d i m m o r a l i t y fr o m the
,

w o r l d w i t h o u t the a i d o f h u m a n l e g isl a t i o n
, S uc h.
’

a r em a rk c om i ng , fr o m su c h a s o u r c e a rr es te d o ur ,

a tte n ti o n a t t he t i m e a n d g a v e d i r e c ti o n to m u c h su b
,
:

se q ue n t stu dy o f t h e pr i n c i p le s o f l a w a n d g o v e r n
m e n t t h e r e sults m a i nl y o f w h i c h w e r e e m b o d i e d i n
, , , ,

thi s w o r k y e a r s a g o .

In t h e m e a n t i m e t h e p u b li c m i n d ha s b e e n o c c u
,

g p i e d, m o r e a n d m o r e w i t h d i s c u s si o n s o n t o p i c s h e r e
,

m a ; m u c h ha s b e e n s a i d w h i c h s e e m e d c a l c u
“ e br c e d
l a te d t o W e a k e n t h e o b l i g a t i o n s c o n s e q u e n t o n h u m a n
1
o v e r n m e n t a n d t h e r e s p e c t fo r l a w ; u n til i t ha s b e e n
g
t h ou h t t h at o o d m i h t b d o n by a n e ff o r t to di r e c t
3 g g g e e

V a tte n t i o n t o the su bj e c t o f L A W A N D G O V E R N M E N T i n ,

r e s p e c t t o t h e i r o r i g i n n a tu r e e x te n t a n d n e c e ss i t y
, , , ,

a n d t o t h e n a tu r e a n d e x te n t o f R E L I G I O U S L I B E R T Y .
iv P R EFA C E .

In t h e se d i squis i t i o n s n o c l a i m i s s e t u p fo r o r i g i
n a l i ty , o r pr o fu n d i t y o f r e s e a rch . T he A u t h o r w i ll
fe el i t t o b e a su ffi c i e n t c o m p e n s a ti o n fo r h i s t oil i f h e
h a s su c c e e d e d i n c olle c ti n g a n d a rr a n g i n g fo r t h e ,

c o n s i d e r a ti o n o f t h e well d i s p ose d o f t h i s g e n e r a ti o n
-

t h o se o l d tr u ths by w h i c h o ur P il g r i m F a t h e r s w e r e
,

u i d e d r a t h e r w h i c h G o d h a s r e v e a le d t o us a s h e
g , , ,

d i d t o t h e m a n d o t h e r a g e s i n h i s b le sse d Wo rd
,
.

I n a tte m p ti n g t o s e t fo r t h t h e n e c e ssi t y a n d t h e o b l i
a ti o n o f L A W i t i s by n o m e a n s i n te n de d t o u n d e r
g ,

v a lue t h e p ow e r o f g o o d a d v i c e r e m o n st r a n c e a n d
, ,

e n tre a ty . T h es e m e a n s d o i n fa c t r e s t r a i n m ulti tu d e s
fr o m v i c e a n d i rr eli g i o n Y e t t h e r e a r e o t h e r c h a r a c
.

te r s u p o n w h i c h t h e i r i n flue n c e i s h a rd l y p e rc e p ti b l e .

T h o se w h o n e i t h e r fe a r G o d n o r r e g a rd m a n m us t b e
r e st r a i n e d by a p o w e r w h i c h c a n b e b o t h s ee n a n d
f e l t i n t h e pr e se n t li fe
, L
. e t g o o d m o r a l i n fl ue n c e s
b e m ulti p l i e d a s m u c h a s p oss i b le b u t l e t t h e c i v i l ,

a r m b e a t h a n d w h e n t h e s e fa il I n d e e d t h e e x is t
.
,

e n c e o f L a w wi t h i t s p e n a lt y i s s o m a n i fe stl y r i g h t
, , ,

’
a n d c o m m e n d s i tsel f s o t o m e n s c o n s c i e n c e s t h a t i t ,

b e c o m e s st r i c tl y s p e a k i n g m o r a l i n flue n c e a n d m a y
, , ,

b e te r m e d a n e sse n ti a l ele m e n t o f m o r a l su a s i o n .

I t i s w h o l l y u n r e a s o n a b le t o pr e te n d t h a t t h e v i e ws
h e r e pr e se n te d o f t h e u n i o n o f L a w a n d g o od a d
,

v i c e i n su pp o r ti n g g o o d m o r a l s te n d s t o a u n i o n o f
,

C h u rc h a n d S t a te ; o n t h e c o n t r a ry n e i t h e r g o ve r n ,

m e n t n o r pe r su asi o n c a n full y p e r fo r m i ts p a r t e xc e p t ,
 P RE F A C E .

as i t i s fr e e an d i n depe n d e n t o f th e o the r . T h e su p a

p o r t e r s o f t h e s t r i c te s t m o r a ls a r e t h e b e st fr i e n d s o f
,

t h e fa i t hful a d m i n i s t r a ti o n o f L a w a n d a r e t h e m e n ,

w ho h a v e e v e r r e s iste d m os t st r e n u ousl y a n d su c c e ss
”
full y t h e u n i o n o f C h u rc h a n d S t a t e
“
.

If t h e c o m m o n c a rp e r s a b ou t C h u r c h a n d S t a te
‘

m e a n by t h ei r c l a m o r t o c h a r g e t h e fr i e n d s o f L a w
w i t h a w i s h t o g i v e t o t h e s e c ul a r a r m t h e r i g h t o f
c o n tr oli n g t h e c o n s c i e n c e o r t o g i v e t o a n y C h u r c h
,

o r e c c les i a s ti c a l o r g a n i z a ti o n t h e p o w e r o f c o n tr o l i n g
t h e g o v e r n m e n t o r t h e r i g h t o f a n y i n te rfe r e n c e i n
,

t h e a d m i n i st r a t i o n o f t h e L a w t h e c h a r g e i s fa ls e a n d
,
—

sl a n d e r ous .

B u t i t by n o m e a n s follo w s t h a t c i v i l g o v e r n m e n t
‘

ha s n o thi n g t o d o w i t h r eli g i o n o r r eli g i o n n o t h i n g t o

,

do with g overnme nt O ur C o n sti tu t i o n r e c o g n i z e s

.

r eli g i o n a s i ts b a si s n 0t P a g a n i s m n o r M o h a m m e d a n
—

i sm n o t R o m a n i s m n o r s e c t a r i a n i s m o f a n y ot h e r s o r t
, ,

n o r a n y o r g a n i z e d fo r m o f h u m a n p o w e r , bu t C h r i s
ti a n i ty
— G E N E R A L C H R I S TIANITY as r e v e a le d, t o us

i n t h e s a c r e d S c r i p tu r e s .

T he follo w i n g d i sc uss i o n w i ll s h o w b e y o n d a r a ,

ti o n a l d o u b t t h a t the B i bl e i s the f u n d a m e n ta l L a w
,

o
f t h i s n a ti o n — T H E G R EAT F OUN T A IN or C O M M O N
L AW . B y i ts pr i n c i p l e s a l l q u e s ti o n s s h ould b e t r i ed
a nd s e ttled .

To a s c e r t a i n ho w fa r t h e pr e se n t m ora l c h a r a c te r
-

o f t h i s n a ti o n i t s l a w s
, an d re c e i v ed opin i o n s , a r e c on
VI P RE F A C E .

fo r m e d t o t h i s S T A N D A R D a n d t o r e c a l l i t t o i ts o r i g i n a l
,

pr o fe ss i o n a n d h i g h d e s ti n y i s t h e g r e a t o bj e c t o f the
,

su b se q u e n t p a g e s .

I n pr e p a r i n g m os t o f t h e se t h o u g h ts t h e A u t h o r ha s
b e e n g r e a tl y a i d e d e s p e c i a ll y a s t o P a r t F i r s t by a n
, ,

e s te e m e d a n d a b le j u r i s t a n d o t h e r l i te r a ry g e n tle m e n
, ,

w h o s e s e r v i c e s h a v e c o n t r i b ute d l a r g el y t o i ts i n te r e s t
a n d v a lue — a ls o h e ha s m a d e use o f t h ou h ts a n d
g ,

s o m e ti m e s o f w o rd s a n d se n te n c e s i n S e c 3 P a r t I , .
,

-
R
’
N C
fr o m e e s e w y c lo p ae d i a — Wh e w ell s A s t r o n o’

m y a n d G e n e r a l P hy s i c s B u c k s T h e olo g i c a l D i c
’
—

t i o n a r y ; a n d C o m b e o n t h e C o n s ti t uti o n o f M a n .

N e w Y o r k, J a n .
, 1 849 .
 C ON T E N T S .

PA R T I .

LAW AND GOVER NMEN T .

PA G E

S E C T I O N I G en er a l P r i nci p l es a n d D ef i n i ti on s — L aws D i v in e
. ,

or h u m an ; N at u ral L a w ; R ev e al e d L a w ; C e r e m oni a l
L a W ; J u d i c ial L a w ; M o ral L a w ; R em e di al P e n a l an d , ,

C r i m inal ; I nt e rnati onal , 13—19

E C T I ON II N a tm e a n d D esi g n of G over nm en t a n d L a w
. .

A u t h o rit y of H u m an G ov e rn m e nts D e ri v e d f om G od ; I

E l e m e ntar y M o d e ls of C i v il G ov e rn m e nt s ; Th e o cr a cy
a1 ch A rist ocracy D em oci a cy
-
c- I
!

III T he p l
.

ECT O I N .
i f s g o r er n n i en t e mbm ces the con tr l of
: f
o

a ll tfi i n g s E ffi ca cy o f G o d s P hy si cal L a ws ; L a w o f G rav
’
.
—

i t a ti on ; of F ri cti o n ; o f M o ti o n ; of I nstin c t ; of fl o a t an d
C o l d ; Of E l e c tri cit y ; M ag n e tis m ; V e g e tati o n ; S ou n d ; A t
m o sph e r e ; L i g h t ; E t h e r H e av e nl y B o d i e s S o l a r Sy s t e m ;
S tab ility of t h e Oce an P a r ti cl e s of M att e i M a n I n h is
O ri g inal S t I u ctu r e ; C om b o on t h e C o nstit u ti o n of M an ;
O r g ani z e d S u b stan c e s ; N a t u r a l L a ws in h a r m o n y Wit h
th e C o nstit u ti o n of M an ; t h e H u m an B o dy t h e Ex t e rnal ,

Wo rl d ; B l o o d ; S ap in t h e V e g e t a b l e ! in g d om ; th e F l y
an d th e B e e ; F is h es ; C ontr ol ov e r ev e r y P arti cl e of M a
t er ,
S E C T I O N I V M o r a l S it a si o n
.
,

S E C T ON V
I V Of Me C o n sti tu ti on a n d P ig /i ts f C z t i l G oi e r n
. o
'

m en t
S E C T O N V I T i l e P 7 i n ip l es f tile D i i i n e L a w to be en
,

I . c o f r ced o

by C omm u n i ti es D u t y i n t h e Ch o i c e o f R u l e rs G od s
’
.
—

M o ral A dm inistrati o n am on g t h e A n g e ls Ou r F i st P a
,

r e nts ; P r ob ati o n Of Wor k s ; P r o b a ti o n of F ait h ; a S av i o r ;

‘

D om e sti c C onstit u ti o n ; t h e F l o o d an d th e g i v in g of t h e,

L a w ; A b rah a m ; t h e F a v o r e d N a ti o n t h e J e wi s h Th e o
c ra cy ; N e w E co n om y ; Writt e n R e v e l a ti o n ; N ati o n a l a n d
T ra di ti onal o r M o ral L a w a C o d e of C i v il o r M u ni ci p a l ,

L a w ; t h e Ch il d r e n Of Isr a e l ; M t S in a i ; th e M o ral L a w .

Wr itt e n on T a b l es o f S t on e ; A nal og y b e t w e e n t h e M o ral

an d C i v il C o d e ; M e n r e qu ir e d t o a ck n owl e dg e G od an d ,

d o G o o d ; B las ph em y I d ol a t r y ; S a b b a t h b r ea k in g ; I d ol -

atr ou s or I n fi d e l Op ini o ns ; M en q u i i e d t o b u i l d H ou s es of
Wo rs h i p an d su pp o rt R e li g i ou s I nstit u ti o ns a n d Te a ch e I s
,

D u t y Of s p e aki n g T r u t h o f instr u ctin g Ch il d r e n an d

,

y ou t h ; of d estr oy in g P lace s o f I rr e li g i ou s a n d I d o latr ou s

”

Wo rs h i p ; L ove t o t hy N e i g hb o r ; P r ov isi o ns r el a tin g t o

L an d ; S abb at h f oi t h e L an d ; Y e ar of J u b i l e e ; R e stit u
t i o n ; D e s t I u ct i on o f Tr e e s ; Ti tl a o f a l l L a n d s ; P r o t ec ti o n
o f P e rs o nal P r o p e rt y ; o f P e rs o ns O f Ch ar a ct e r ; L a ws
r e gu latin g th e D om esti c C o nstitu ti o n ; S abb a t h s ; P e r
j u r y ; B ri b e s ; Estray s ; G l e anin gs ; t h e B lin d ; F als e
B alan ce s ; We i g h ts ; M e as u r e s ; C ou n t e i f ei ti n F or o'
a 7

ge r y ; L e p r ou s H ou s e s ; ! u a ran tin e ; J e al ou s y ; Tr e spa s s z

 C O N T EN T S
PA G E

off e rin gs ; S tri pes ; V a g r a n cy ; th e G os pe l D is p en sati on ;

th e S a i o r app e ars ; th e G os p e l r e a ffi r m s t h e M o ral a n d
v -

C i il C o d e ; D esce nt of t h e Sp iri t ; R e v i e w of t h e D is c s
v u

si on ; th e El em e ntar y P rin ci p l es of C ivil L eg isl ti o n ; t h e a

P e ntat eu ch ; C i v i l G o e rn m e nts consti t t e an i m p o rtant

v u

e l e m e nt o f G o d s M o ral A d m i ni strati o n ; C om m u niti e s

’
,

N a ti o ns e tc, r es p onsi b l e f or t h e d u e A d m inistrati o n o f

.
,

C ivil G o v e rnm ents ,

57 — 9 6

P A R T II .

RELIGIOUS LIBERTY .

R eli g i ous P oliti cal C i v il or M uni ci p al L i b e rt y ; R i gh ts

, , ,

N at u ral o r A d ve ntiti ou s ; L i b e rt y ; F r e n ch C o nstit u ti o nal

Ch art e r ; R e li g i ou s To l e rati on ; C i v il G ove rn m ents G od s ’

M inist e rs f or G o od ; a P r o fess o r s O p ini o n ; a J u d i cial’

Ch ar g e ; an ot h e r J u d g e ; a d istin gu i s h e d C l e r gy m an ; th e
o t h e r si d e o f t h e ! u e s ti o n t h e C o nstit u ti o n o f t h e U S . .

M ass B ill of R i g h ts ; J u d g e Wil d ; th e C o nstitu ti on of

.

Oh i o ; Ch an c ell o r ! e nt ; t h e S u p r em e C ou rt of P e nn ; .

J u d e T h at ch e r ; C hi ef J usti ce H al e ; L o r d R a y m o n d ;
L or Ch an cell or of E n g lan d ; J u d g e P ar k e r ; D om e sti c
C onstituti on ; C i v il G ov e rn m e nts to coOper a t e wit h t h e
D ivin e ; I n fi d e l s clai m ; L i cens e L a w of M as s ; L i ce nti ou s
’

P i ctur e s ; L o tt e r y Ti ck ets ; C ou nt e r f e it C oin ; R ob b e r y ;

R u m s el l e r ; M ill d a m ; S lau gh t e r h ou s e ; ! u arantin e ;
- -

Turnin g t o t h e R i g h t ; R u nnin g H o rs e s R i d in g on S i d e
wal k s ; B ri d g es ; Tolls ; G u n p owd e r ; a Sh am e l ess F e ll o w ;
H o u s es of I l l F a m e ; U ns oun d P r ov isi ons ; H e alt h L aws ;
-

L o tt e ri es ; Sy st em of R estraints ; Ox D is cou r se ; S m o k in g
B r e we ri e s ; Op e nin g G ra v e s ; Te l l i n g B e lls ; Ch an c e ll o r
Wal wo rt h ; J u d g e D a g g e t ; J u d g e C ran ch ; D r B e e ch e r .
'

J oh n We sl e y ; L i ce nsin g th e Traffi c ; L o r d Ch e st e rfi e l d
M a n n ot h is o wn ; C anal L ock s ; C o p artn e rs h i p ; H o w t h e
D r u n k ar d trans g r e ss e s ; th e S u i c i d e ; N ati o nal C u rs e ; L i
c e ns e s ; S e llin g a P e stil e n ce ; G rat u it ou s E h i b iti o ns ; L i x

c e n t i o u s n es s ; t h e S a bb at h ; Ch an c e ll o r ! e nt ; P r o f an e
S we arin g ; P ub lish in g E rr o rs En e m i e s of th e L a w ; F r e e
d o m o f t h e P r ess ; H u m an Ch att els ; E l ec tin g R l e rs ; S a u l ; u

H u m an G o v e rn m e nt s C i v i l o r Ec cl e sias ti cal ; R e li g i o n o f
-
,

t h e C o u ntr y ; R i g h t s o f C o ns c i e n c e ; F r e e D is cu ssi o n ;
S o m e woul d h a v e n o C ivi l L a w ; Th om as J e ff e rs on L i ce n
ti o u s m a n ; G o od a d v i ce A l on e will n eve r d o ; Wa s i t ri gh t
f o r G o d t o c r e t e t h e M at e rial U nive rs e
a P hy si cal L aws ?

E ff e cts o f I n fi d e l L e ct u r e s ; a P r o fe ssi o n a l Y o u n g M an
an o t h e r Y o un g M an ; a C o n s ta n t V isit a nt a M i dd l e A e d -

M n n d h is Wi fe ; P r of nit y ; S un d ay M ai l s ; G a m b l n g
a a a i
a nd C ou nt e r f e itin g C l u b s ; N ati n a l S ins b rin g N ati o n a l
J u d g m e nts ; N oa h ; L o t ; P ha ra o h ; A ar o n ; D avi d ; S a b
b a t h b r e ak in g a C ri m e ; M ails ; P o st m a st e r G e n e ral
-
-

C on g r e ss ; l l i n d oos ; B o rn e o ; N e w Z e a lan d ; Wh o l e P a
gan Wo rl d ; Wa r ; M u n g o P ar k ; M D B risso n ; L aws . .

r e qu irin g R i h t A c ti o n a r e fr a ct o r y H o rs e ; a S t u b b o rn
l l b e l l i u Cgil d ; P e o l e s u ff e rin g fr om U n
,
e o s
p j st L a ws 97 u .
—
28 6
 P AR T I .

L A W AN D G O VER N M EN T .

S E C TI O N I .

G e n er a l P r i n c ip l es a nd D fin i ti on s
e .

IN all the depart ments o f s ci ence , we find many hind

r a n e es t o the devel o pment o f truth , whi ch hav e their
origi n i n a mis a ppli cati o n O f t erms Whenever the exact
.

m eani ng o f a pr o positi o n i s o bs c ured , either by the i n d e fi

n ite us e O f w o rds which have vari ous s i g n i fi e a ti o n s , o r by
e mpl o yi ng a style Of expressi o n that i s t o o di ff us e , i t i s

nearly imp o ssible f o r any o n e rightly to a pprehend the

true n ature o f the a rgum ent Thi s is especially tr u e ,
.

when t erms are appl ie d descriptively t o Obj ects wh o se

n a tures are gen eri cally dissi mi lar A very striking i n .

stance O f thi s kind may be fo und i n the use o f the term

L aw . I t i s empl o yed i nd iscrimi nately , as well to describe
the m o de by whi ch G o d g o verns his intelligent creatures ,
b eing free m or a l agents , as t o den o te the meth o d by which
He s ecures the results O f brutal i nsti nct and als o as de
s criptive O f the vari o us pr i n c i pl e s O f hi s admi ni strati o n i n
r e g ard t o the wh o l e univers e O f matter We are taught .

t o speak O f the laws o f matter i n th e same m anner as we

speak Of the laws by whi ch G o d g o verns his m o ral ki n g
d om . But G o d acts , i n th e c o ntr o l o f matter , by the
i mmedi a te exertion of his power ; and , although hi s o w n
pl a ns , as well a s hi s a ctions , a r e ce r t a i n a n d unifo r m , it
2
14 L AW A N D G O V ERN M EN T .

b y n o m eans fo llows that He has imparted to m atte r eithe r

the power Of v o lit i o n , o r o f acti vi ty A cti on is the result
.

O f v o liti o n
. F ree and i ntelligent moral agents , on th e
other hand , are end o wed with the p o wer O f a ct ion , a n d
with the p o w er O f choice While the m o vements i n the
.

material universe result from the i mmediate a ction O f th e

Deity , the conduct O f rati o nal i ntelli g e n c es is c o ntrolled
by their o w n voliti o ns i nfl u enc ed o nly by m o tives . It is
t rue that God c o ntrols everythi n g after th e counsel of
his o w n will Y et i t i s e qually tr u e that He can control
.

m atter o nly by fo rce ; and that mi nd alone i s susceptible

o f bei ng c o ntr o lled by law . I n fixing o u r elementary
noti o ns of law , w e should be careful , therefore , to gi ve to
that term an application b o th definite and exclusive .

L aw , i n i ts s tr i c t sense , i s A R UL E o r AC T I ON prescri bed

by s o me being having a right t o contr o l the c o nduct O f his
subj ects ; whi ch i s designed f o r the ir g o vernm ent , and
whi ch they are b o und to O bey I n a l o ose r sense , law
.

de notes the t e nde ncy o f matter to act i n a certai n m a nner ;

a s the t ende ncy o f heavy b o di es t o fall to the earth , and

th e magneti c needle t o poi n t t o the p o le . But law , i n

both senses , pr o ce eds fr o m G o d , the Creator , Pr o pri et o r ,
a n d S o vereign Disp o ser O f all things . I n the latter s ense ,
we shall use th e term l a w , w he n speaking O f i n a nim a te
m att er .

F r o m this definiti on i t i s evide nt ,that i nasmuch a s G od

i s the o nly being i n the uni verse havi ng a perfect right , a s
Creat o r , to c o ntr o l o ther beings , his will must , O f n e c e s
sit c o nsti tute the ir o nly i nfallible rule f acti n H is
y, o o .

RI GH T O F C ON T R O L i s i nc ide nt to the act O f creati o n o r

pre servati on , and his gre a te r c o mpete nce to g o vern .

Bei ng the abs o lute A uth o r and Pr o priet o r O f a l l other

bei ngs , they are necessarily and rightfully subj ect t o H i s
unlimite d d o mi ni o n T H E O B LI G A T I O N which results f ro m
.

be ing placed under l a w i s b a s ed , t he r efo re , on the wi l l o f

 G ENER A L PRI N C I P LE S . 15

God or , i n other words , upon the c o nstituti o n of things

of which He is u ndeniably the A uthor .

I t i s i mp o ssible f o r a n i nfini te mi nd to err B u t a bei ng

.

whose capacities are fini te , i t i s e qually O bvious , c o u l d

nev e r a pprehend , s o perfectly , the pl ans Of I nfinite Wis
dom , or even the remote cons equences Of his o w n acti o ns ,
as to secure h i m from th e possibi lity O f mistake There .

i s a very evident n ecessi ty , t h erefo re , that A LL R A T ION A L ,

FI NI T E B E I N G s S HO UL D B E P L A C E D UN D ER TH E O P ERA T I ON
O F L A W They might otherwi se , throu g h i g n o rance , a c t
.

without a n y e vil i n te nti on , if fre e to act according t o th ei r

own i m pulses , entirely deran ge the plans Of the D eity ,
and u pse t the wh o le c o nstituti o n o f things .G o d has
placed all his i ntelligent creatures , then , unde r l a w He .

gave them r ules o f acti o ns , whi ch , had they been perfe ctly
o b eyed , would have s e cured the perpetuity of happi ness ,

and the entire stabili ty Of th e m aterial uni ve rs e .

IVe kn o w nothing o f the cel e stial i ntelligen c es , except

wh a t we derive fr o m the Bibl e and w e there learn li ttle
m or e concerning the m than that they w ere under law , and
that a p o rti o n of them , havi n g e e l l e d , a r e now su fferi n g
the consequences o f their si n B u t i n reference t o o u r
.

o w n race , o u r kn o wledge i s much m ore definite E ach .

i ndividual is brought i nt o existence i n a st a te O f helpless

i nfa n cy , and under an economy by whi ch i t i s designed
that he should acqui re , under the parental r o of, habits
of unwaveri ng O bedi ence to parental law , so that when he
takes hi s stati o n i n s o ci ety , his e arly habits may aid h i m
i n c o nfo rming t o th e regulati o ns of the social syste m .

E xperi en ce has sh o wn that m en t ake advantage O f the

“
f act that the penalty O f th e divi ne law i s n o t spe edily
e xecuted ,
” and harden the mselv e s i n i ni quity ; and also
th a t they n eed the restraints Of a l a w wh o s e penalty shall
b e i nflicted i n thi s life Henc e h a s a risen TH E N E C ESSI T Y
.

O F H U M AN G O V ERN M EN T
,
a n d Of hu m a n l a w G o.d h as
16 L A W A N D G O VE RN M EN T .

consequently a uthorized and i nstituted the syste m of hu

m a n g o vernment , and enj o i ned o bedi e nc e upon a l l its
subj ects Th e auth o rity o f a l l such governments , how
.

ever , i s who l ly d er i ve d from the law o f God for without

su c h a lic e nse , e very restrai nt ex ercised by o n e i ndividu a l
o ver an o ther , or by c o mmuniti es over individuals , would

b e a dire ct i nfringement o f the D i vin e prer o gati ve .

LA W S AR E EI TH ER D I V I N E OR H UMA N .

The DI VI N E L A W embr a c es all thos e rul es o f a ctio n

whi ch God has prescribed f o r the gov ernment of hum a n
c o nduct S ome o f these rules a r e discover a bl e by th e
.

light o f n a ture , and others are sp eci fically rev e aled i n th e

Word of G od Th e fo rm er a r e ge n erally classified und e r
.

the head o f N A T U RA L L A W , a n d the latter , under that of

R EV E A LE D L A W .

N A T U RA L L A W embra ces th o s e rules o f God s mor a l ’

g o vernment whi ch are di scoverable by human re a s on ,

with o ut the aid o f a written revelati o n Th e precepts of .

N atural L aw are writte n i n th e c o nsti tu ti on of things , a n d

placed there by the finger o f God They have the s a m e .

fo r ce as th o se whi ch are contai ned i n the revealed l a w .

F o r th e manner i n wh ich a law i s pr o mulgated can n eithe r

i ncre a se n o r dimi nish th e w eight o f its sancti o ns .

The R EV E A L E D L A W embrac es all th o se precepts whi ch

are rec o rded i n the Bible I t i s som eti mes wh o lly p osi
.

t i ve , at o th ers , o f a mi xed character , as in the law o f t he

S a bbath , etc These precepts are di vided , by m o st writ

.

e r s , i nto three classes z C e r e mon i a l or R i tu a l , J u d i c i a l ,

—

and Jlf or a l .

The M osai c C EREM ON I A L L A W was t emp o rary , and

prescribed the fo rms and c erem o ni es of the J ewi sh Church ,
a nteri o r t o the advent o f the S avi o r .

The J U D I C I A L L A W e m b r ac e d a l l those m u ni c i p a l an d
 G EN ERA L P RI N C I P LE S . 17

po liti c al p re c epts whi ch were designed to cont r ol the pub

l i c and internal poli cy of the Jewish nati o n .

The M O RA L L A W , o n t he o ther h a nd , relates t o the e h

t ire race , and c o nt a ins the whole code o f R eligi o n and
m or a ls .

I t cann o t be supposed th a t the Judi ci a l L a w was i nsti

t u te d f o r the purp o se of supplyin g any defe ct i n the moral

c ode ; f o r if the latter were obeyed perfe ctly , there c o uld

be little o r no ne ce ssity f or the forme r The s a me i s tru e

.

Of human l a w . I ts ne cessity r e sults from the fact that

m e n i n the pursuit of temporal O bj e cts lose sight of the
r ewards and punishm ents o f a spiritual life , and will not
b e restrained W ith o ut the aid o f a law wh o se i n fli c ti o n s a r e
m o r e immediate and vi sible The m o ral c o de , th en , i s
.

n o t only perfect i n itself, but i t a ff o rds the o nly solid foun

d ation for the civi l c o de .The latt er can neither prescrib e

an
y rule of a cti on pr o hibited by the former , nor excuse

the perfo rmance o f any duty whi ch it enj oins Human .

l a w i s designed simply to me et th e di ffi culty w hi ch r e sults

to soci e ty from the fact that m e n do n ot , and will n ot uni
fo rmly regulate t heir acti ons by a more perfe ct and higher
standard I t i s the o ffi ce Of human law , then , t o restrai n
.

those vi o lations o f the m o ral c o de , whi ch a r e calculated to

i nterrupt o r defeat the s o cial e c o n o my , and to encour a ge
those acti o ns whi ch tend to the general welfare A s all .

human governments derive their right to g o vern s o lely

f rom the li cense and authority o f Jeh o vah , i t is plai n that
such of their enactments as run c o u nter to his wi ll , a r e ,
a n d ought t o be , abs o lutely i noperative and v o id Henc e .

i t i s a maxim o f j udicial i nterpretati o n , i n all Christi a n

nations , that n o human c o mmand sh a ll b e enfo rced whi ch
i s at variance with the Divi ne law .

HUMAN L A W , therefore , is a rule o f acti on presc ri bed by

human government , commanding i ts subj ects t o do wha t
i s r ight , a n d to a bst a i n from d o i ng wh a t i s w r ong .

*
2
18 L A W A N D G O V E RNMEN T .

L aws of this descripti on may be m o re pr o perly d iv ide d

i nt o thr e e c l a sse s R emed i a l , P en a l , and C r i m i n a l .

A R EM E D I A L L A W i s desi gn ed to repair th e consequen ces

of wrong a cti o n I t i s wr o ng f o r an i ndividu a l t o refus e
.

to pay hi s debts ; and the law whi ch comes i n and e n

forces their c o llecti o n i s stri ctly remedial S o i t i s wron g
.

fo r a m a n to i nj ure th e char a cter o r pr o perty of hi s n eigh

b o r ; and the law which , whe n he has don e so , c o mpels
hi m to repai r the i nj ury , partakes of the same n a ture .

A law i s said to be PEN A L , when any equivalent fo rfei t

ure i s ann exed t o i ts command , whi ch , i n c a s e o f tran s
r e s s i o n , requires the payment o f a specific sum o f money ,
g
or ex acts some e qually c ertai n pe cun i ary forfeiture A ll .

the laws of G o d are , i n this sens e , pe nal .

C RIMI N A L L A W S , on the o ther hand , whi ch , althou g h

s o metimes i ncluding a pecuni ary pen alty , always relat e t o
a cti o ns i nvolving a flagrant Vi o lation o f the law o f mora ls

and which n ecessarily disturb the safety and h a pp i ness of

the entire communi ty .

The law o f G o d is as applicabl e t o nati o ns as i t i s to

i ndiv iduals . T h e supp o siti o n that tw enty i ndi vi duals ,
banded t o gether i n a disti nct c o mmun ity , have any other
o r gre a ter right c o llecti vely , than they have i ndividually ,

ei ther t o che at , steal , r o b , o r murder , den o tes a degree

o f stupidi ty and fo lly but li ttle sh o rt o f abs o lute madness .

I t i s true that an i ndependent nati o n stands i n a p o si ti on

whi ch frees i t fr o m th e supervisi o n O f any earthly tribunal
ye t , s o l o ng as G o d c o n tinues t o wi eld the sc eptre o f uni
versal empire , it can n ever be emancipated fr o m o n e pa r
ti e le o f its o bligati o ns to re nder a perfe ct o bedi ence to hi s
law I N T ERN A T I O N A L l a w, then , i s n o thing m o re than the
.

law o f G o d appli ed to nati o ns , a s t o i ndivi duals Y et , to .

a v o id ci rcuml o cuti o n , i t has been usual t o embrace unde r

the head o f th e L a w Of N a t i o n s , all th o se ru les for th e a d

mi nistrati o n O f j ustice be twe en nations which h a v e r e c e i v
e d the s a ncti on o f ge neral us a g e .
 NA T UR E O F G O V ERN M EN T . 19

S E C TI ON II .

N a tur e a n d D esi g n o
f G over n men t an d La w.

IT has alre a dy b een observed that n o fin it e i ntelligence

c o uld s o fully c o mprehend the plans of the D eity , or ev en
the rem o te c o nsequences o f his o w n c o nduct , as to secure
hi m , w ith o ut the aid o f l a w , fr o m th e p o ssibility o f mis
t a ke If G o d had s e en fit t o c o ntr o l men by fo rce , o r by
.

i nstinct , they c o uld n ever hav e bec o me fre e agents They .

would have acted , i n that cas e , as simple machi nes , with

out the p o wer o f v o liti o n o r ch o i ce I t was , therefo re ,
.

one o f the m o st essential features o f the original c o n s ti tu

ti o n , that all finite i ntelligences sh o uld be governed , and
'

yet b e permi tted to act freely : and it i s i mpossible t o c o n

c e i v e o f a plan by whi ch such a purp o s e c o uld b e a c c o m

p l i s h e d , except th r o u h th e o perati o n o f l aw
g
'
W
‘
e can .

n ot d o ubt , then , that the n e cessity o f g o vernment has re

s u l te d fr o m the divi n e c o nstituti o n ; n o r c an w e hesitat e

t o b eli eve that it o rigi nated i n the mi nd o f J eh o vah .

The right whi ch i s v ested i n a s o ci ety t o g o vern its i n

dividual c o nstituents , i s und o ubtedly d er i va ti ve F o r m e n , .

irrespe ctive o f their relati o ns to G o d , stand up o n a perfect

equality N o o n e can have a n atural right to c o ntr o l th e
.

c onduc t o f hi s equal N o r can a c o mmunity o f equals ,

.

a s sume , with pr o pri ety , any right whi ch might n o t wi th

e qual j usti ce b e assumed by each i ndividual memb er S o .

that there i s n o thi n g i n the fact o f ass o ci ati on whi ch can

b e c o n s tr u e d a s c o nferri ng such a righ t
‘
.

The supp o sition that there is such a right , has led s o m e

mi nds , deeply impressed with the necess ity o f huma n g o
v e r n m e n ts , t o derive th eir auth o rity from the consent o f

the gov erned I f the e quality of men were the only f e a

.
2 0 L A W A N D G O V ERNMEN T .

ture of their rel a ti o nship , we might say , wi th great pro

r i e ty , that an i ndividual w h o has c o nsented to yi eld up
p
an o f his natural ri ghts , c ould n o t after w ards c o mplai n ,
y
a lth o ugh he might i n c o nsequence b e subj ected to per

sonal i nconveni enc e Y et i n a community o f twen ty , the

.

consent o f eleven could n o t confer the right to govern the

other ni n e E very i ndividual o n this hypothesis , who h a s
.

n o t fre ely and personally c o nsented thus t o be governed ,

i s absolutely fre e fr o m a l l a llegiance t o human authority .

But an actual and universal c onsent i s n o t prete nded .

The argument i s based upon a mere ficti on The fa c t .

that a man was born i n a state o f s oci ety , furnishes no

e viden ce that such a conditi o n was voluntary He w a s .

not self created The argument i s wholly delusive

-
. .

O ur s o ci al relati o ns are alt o gether i nfe r i or to thos e

“
whi ch subsist between us and o u r G o d I n hi m we live ,
.

and m o ve , and have o u r being .

” Having cre ated us f o r
Himself, He i s o u r pr o pri etor , and has an unlimited right
to c o ntr o l every acti o n and every desire o f o u r h earts .

He has a right to acc o mplish , by o u r v o luntary age ncy ,

th e ultimate design o f o u r cre ati o n ; and we have n o right
to i nterpose any o bstacles calculated to defeat hi s pu r po
ses We have n o greater right t o destr o y o urselves , than
.

w e hav e t o destr o y others S elf destructi on i nv o lves a

.
-

direct vi o lati o n o f th e D ivi ne prer o gative A n i ndividual

.

w h o has c o mmi tted murder , may deserve de ath , but he

has n o right t o bec o me hi s o w n e xecuti o ner ; h e has n o
right to avenge o n e crime by the c o mmissi o n o f an o ther .

H o w , then , c an h e delegate t o o thers a right which h e

d o es n t himself p o ssess
o ? I f human g o vernments have
i

n o o ther auth o ri ty than that which i s d e r i t e d fr o m thei r

c o nsti tuents , i t fo ll o ws that all capi tal punishments are

m urders ; and every impri s o nment a m o st palpable i nva
si o n o f th e auth o ri ty o f G o d they have be come a publi c
—

n u i s a n c e , and ought to be abated .

22 L A W A N D G O V ERN M EN T .

ci fic Counsel i s mi n e , a n d sound wisdo m : I am u m

d e r s ta n d i n g : I hav e strength . By m e , ki ngs reign , and
pri nces de cree j usti ce By m e , princes rule , and n o bles ,
.

eve n all the j udges o f the earth .

” “
F ear God h o nor the
”
ki ng . I exhort , therefo re , first O f all , that suppli cati ons ,
prayers , i ntercess i o ns , and givi ng o f thanks be made for
a l l men f o r kings , and f o r all that are i n auth o ri ty that
w e may lead qui et and peaceable li ves , i n all g o dliness
a n d h o n esty
”
. G o d hi mself, as Chi ef E xe cutive , admi n
i s te r e d this government , up t o the time o f S aul , by n a
ti o n a l c o mp a c t at S i nai , s o far as related t o the Hebrews .

S ome contend that the above t exts p r o ve only that G od

a c c eded t o an existing usa e B ut the a p o stle Paul i n
g .
,

wri ti ng to the R o mans , as if feari ng the p r evalenc e of

false notions i n r egard t o the true basis of human g o vern
m e nts , has entered i nt o th e subj ect with s o m e degree of
m i nute ness , a n d placed i t entirely beyond the re ach of
cavil
L e t ev e ry soul be subj ect u nto the higher powers .

F or there i s n o p o wer , but o f G o d the p o wers that be ,

a r e or d a i n e d o f G o d V h o s o e v e r , therefo re , resisteth the
V
.

power , resisteth the ordinance o f G o d and they that re

sist , shall receive t o th emselves damnati o n F o r rule rs .

are n ot a terr o r t o good w o rks , but to the evil Wilt .

th o u , then , n o t be afraid o f the power P D o that which

is g o od , and th o u shalt have praise o f the same F o r h e .

i s the mi n i s te r of G o d to the e f o r g o o d But i f th o u do

.

that whi ch i s evil , be afraid , f o r he beareth n o t the sw o r d

i n vai n fo r he i s the mi niste r o f G o d , a revenger , to exe
cute wrath up o n hi m that d o eth evil Wherefo re ye must
.

n eeds be subj ect , o t o nly fo r wrath , but also f r c o ns c i en c e

n o
’

s ake . F o r , fo r this cause , pay ye tribute also , f o r they

a r e God s mi nisters , attending c o ntinually up o n thi s v ery
’

thi ng R e nder , therefo re , to a l l the ir dues t r ibute to

.
 N A TU RE OF G O V ERN M EN T . 3

w hom tribute i s due ; c usto m to who m c usto m ; fe a r to

whom fear hon o r t o whom honor ” .

A lth o ugh it is unqu e sti o nably true , th a t hum a n g ove r n

”
ordained o f G o d , i t does not fo ll o w that H e
m ents are
has authoritatively determined e ither thei r fo rms , o r their
m anner of organizati on
'

. We find th a t m any o f the l a ws

a n d maxi ms conta i ne d i n the Bible , relati n g t o thi s subj ect ,

w e re o riginally addressed to the enti re race a n d that th e

co m mands enj o i ni ng obedi ence , are couched i n very gene
ral terms Human g ove r nme nts are described as R ulers
.
”
“
T h e powers that b e ” Judges N obles
Pri nces ” Kings ”
. F r o m these cir c umstances , i t is
quite evident that G o d n ever i ntended to dictat e any par
ti c u l a r form o f C o nstituti o n .E ach n ation has b e e n left
free to fo rm its own government and that is u nd oubtedly
best , whi ch em a nates directly from the people , provided
they are i ntelligent and moral But when a government
.

is once c o nstituted , its authority rests upon the i mmutable

will of J ehovah , and the whole nati on b e c omes resp onsible
for i ts char a cter a n d e ffici ency .

A nother feature of human gov ernment c o ns ists i n the

“
fact alluded to , by a n ap o stle , that t hey are min ist ers
of G o d f o r g o o d ” revengers t o exe cut e wr a th upon
him that d o eth evil . I f this be true , the very perfecti ons
o f the Di vi ne character demand that He sh o uld h o ld th em

to a stri ct and imparti a l account That this has be en the

.

unifo r m course o f his providence ,i n every age o f the w o rld ,

may be made abundantly manifest by a reference to the
p a ges o f history But more of this hereafter
. .

There are five E LEMEN T ARY M O D E L S O P CI VI L GOVERN

'

M EN T , from s o m e o n e or m o re of whi ch all o thers hav e

been fo rmed .

.1 A T H EO C R A C Y , i n W hi ch God i s r e c o g nized as the

i mmediate and only S ove r e i g n Thi s fo rm o f g ove r n m en t
.

wa s pe c uli a r t o the J ews .

24 L A W A N D G O V ERN M EN T .

2 . A P A T RI A R C H Y This for m of g ove r n m ent undoub t

.

e d ly grew out of the relati ons h ip subsistin g betwee n p a re nt

a n d child and is o nly a sli g ht m o dificati o n of that whi ch
is termed do m esti c the O ldest m a le a n c estor , o r so m e
—

other venerable i nd i vidual , ad o pted as a chief, constitutin g

the Supreme director of the tribe .

3 A M O N A R CH Y A fo rm i n whi ch all the powe rs of

. .

the S tate a r e vested i n a single i ndividual , n ot b a s ed on

p a r entage for the ess ence o f the P a triarchy i s M on
a rc hi cal .

4 A N A RI S T O C R A C Y
. Thi s term i s appli ed a s d e s cr i p
.

tive of a government vested i n a class o f nobil ty , by Vi r

i

tue of the ir rank .

5 A DEMO C RA C Y
. . I n a simpl e Dem o cr a cy , the power
i s exercised by the people at l a rge , c o nve ned i n ge ner a l
c ou ncil , o r by r eprese n tatives , publicly chose n for tha t
p urp o se .

A ll o ther fo rms of g o vernment are ter m ed M I XE D .

I f men had not be c o me depraved , there would ha v e

be e n n o n ecessity f o r the insti tuti on o f ci vil governme n ts ,
to be admi nistered by men the law o f God direct would
have s ecured o bedi ence and uni versal happin ess . B ut
wh en sin had once g zi i n e d a footi ng i n the hum a n he a r t , i t
was fo und that m e n had be c o me supre m ely s elfis h , and
could n o t be restrained from v i olati ng the Di vi ne law , o r
from i mpr o per and brutal i ndulgences E xperi ence h a s
.

sh o wn that a large pr o porti o n o f the human race s eek , as

their supre m e and ulti mate g o o d ,th o se ple a sures which a r e
immediate and transit o ry , to the alm o st entire negle ct of
th o se higher , n o ble r , and fu ture enj o yments which God
has prepared fo r th o se w h o l o ve and o bey hi m A s i mi lar
.

pr o pe nsity e xhibits i tself i n reference to the apprehe ns i on

o f evil Th o se evils which are n ear and visible , strike us
.

forcibly whil e th o se which are distant and future , exert

a n i nflue nce whi ch i s c omp a ratively tri fli n N othi n ca n
g .
g
 N A T URE OF G O V ERNMEN T . 0

be m o re c ertai n than that neither the rewards punish

n or

m ents o f the eternal w o rld , are fo und t o aff o rd a su ffi ci ent

protecti o n f o r the present life These circumstances will
.

help as well to teach us the design o f human g o vern

m ent , as t o demonstrate thei r n ecessity .

CIVI L G O VERNMEN T , then , i s an i nstituti on re n dered n e

ce s s a r
y by the m o ral c o nditi o n
,
and the depravity o f the
r a ce , o r by the c o nstituti o n and relati o n o f thi ngs and
designed to act s ub o rdi nately , and i n acc o rdan ce wi th the
D ivin e law , i n a sphere limited t o the c o ntr o l o f those
a cti o ns whi ch relate t o the s o cial and m o ral c o nditi o n o f its

subj ects While the Divi ne admi nistrati o n direct is adapted

.

m ore particularly t o the spiritual ne cessities o f m en , de

sign ed to prepare them f o r a higher state o f existen ce ;
human g o vernments are adapted t o the preventi o n o f all
such acts as are calculated to derange the i mmedi ate and
healthful o peration o f the soci al ec o n o my , and t o s e cure
that c o u r s e o f acti o n i n each i ndividual , which is calculated
‘

to pr o m o te the gen eral welfare They are n o t designed

.

t o have the cogni zan ce o f matters purely spiritual they

c a n neither contr o l the heart n or regulate the c o nsci e nce .

B u t i nasmuch as the spiritual i nterests o f men are far m o re

imp o rtant than th o se whi ch are merely temp o ral , i t i s o h
v i o u s l y the duty o f the civil arm t o p r o tec t them , as w ell

fr o m th e O perati o n o f irreligi o us i n fluences , as fr o m the

consequences o f O pe n assault .

I t is the o ffi ce o f human legislati o n t o carry o u t , define ,

and enfo rce the obj ects o f civi l government I n re pairi ng
.

the c o nsequences o f wr o ng acti o n , i t acts remedially but

i n se curing right acti o n , i t o perates by the admi nistrati o n
of rewards o r punishments Whe n a g o vernment is desirous
.

of securing the aid o f individual enterprise , i n referen ce t o

some parti cular emergency , it may v ery pr o perly h o ld o u t
the expectati o n o f s o me definite reward , and this is by n o
m e a ns unco m m on . O n the o the r hand , the pr i n c ip al
3
26 L A W A N D G O V ERN M EN T .

m e a ns of preventing w r on g a cti o n , c o nsists i n the a ppro

p r i a te use o f punishme nt . A ll hum a n government wit h i n

the limit whi ch G o d has given i t , is bound to be , i n a l l its

d epartments , legislative , j udici al , and executive , a m er e
m i niature o f the D ivi ne and i n wh a tever respe ct i t is not so ,
i s null . A ll auth o rity i n human g o vernments , or at le a s t ,
the ir right t o be , and t o act , c o mes a s a trust directly from
God ,a n d correspondi ng to the several departments ; and the
true model o f human g overnments i s , 1 s t , elective a trust —

c o m mitted to the pe o ple ,o r rather ,i t is beli eved ,t o the he a d

of each family thus o rgani z ing the S tate , as w ell a s the
—

C hurch ar o und the domesti c constituti o n , and maki n g citi

z e n sh i
p i n either a premium t o i nduce an e ntrance i nto i ts

r elati o ns , as the grand preventi ve of u nlawful indul g en c e

t hi s elective sovereignty , givi ng the right , and imposi n g
the responsibility o f desi g nating merely to o ffi ce , not cloth
i n g o ffice with auth o ri ty . 2 d L egislat ive sovereignty , o r
-

th e right and duty to make laws , c o mi ng t o the legisl a to r

a s a sacred trust , as dire ct fr o m G o d , as elect ive s o v e r

e i g n ty does t o the people . A nd 3 d E xecutive i n c lud

—
.
—

i ng j udici al s o vereignty , giving the right , and imp o si ng the

duty o f executing law c o ming , like the o thers , direct to
—

th e rul e r fr o m G o d , f o r t he right exercise o f which he is

directly resp o nsible to G od The M agistrate , whethe r
.

“
legislati ve o r executive , i s i n his plac e a s G o d — c alled
ods ” i n the O ld Testamen t and i s b und be and do
g , ,
—
o t o

j ust what G o d himself w o uld , were He personally i n hi s

place and aught c o ntrary t o this i s tr e a s o g to the supreme
G o vern o r and hi s g overnme nt .

The PUN I T I V E A C T I O N of e very w ell r e g ul a ted g ove r n

-

m ent , naturally embraces thre e disti nct o bj ects

.1 T o re clai m i ndividual tr a nsgress o rs , by the in fli c ti on
o f pe cuniary fines o r temporary impris o nments .

.2 T o take a w a y the power o f i nj uri ng o thers

; eith e r
by the i m pr i sonment or de a th of the t r a ns g r esso r .
 THE P L A N O F G O D S G O V ERN M EN T
’
.

3 . dete r men f ro m pursuing wrong c ours es of acti on

To
by examples o f vi ndi ctive su ff eri ng .

A n o ther promi n e nt o bj e ct o f human legislati on should

a lways be to s ecure t o the entire communi ty appr o pri a t e
,

m eans o f i n s tr u c ti on This is o n e obj ect , d o ubtless , o f the

.

preceptive p a rt o f every law ; but this I s n o t en o ugh The _

.

means of g eneral e ducatio n should b e made ch eap an d

a bundant , so that every citi zen might hav e the O pportunity
,

not si mply of learni ng the abstract rul es o f acti o n , pre

s cribed by specific laws but also o f acquiri n g that g e ner a l
knowledge of the nature o f thin g s , a n d of the Divi ne g o
Ver a m ent , whi ch i s calculat ed t o i mpress hi m with c or r ec t
Vi ews of his i ndividual re sponsibi lity .

S E C TI ON III .

The P l a n f
o G od ’
s G o ver n men t e mbr a ces th e C on tr o l f
o

a l l T hi n g s .

WE have already see n that all finite i ntelligences are , o f

necessity , plac ed under law ,and that G o d could n o t o the r
wise c o ntr o l them , with o ut destroyi ng the i r free agen cy .
.

With o ut law , there could b e n o system n o V irtu e no — —

vi ce I t i s equally n ecessary th a t the brute cre a ti on , and

.

e ve n matter i tsel f , should be made subservient to th e plans

o f I nfini te Wi sd o m Hence we find , that while the brut e

.

c r eati on i s c o ntroled by instinct , every particl e of matt e r

i s classified , a n d a cted upon , accordi ng t o fix e d a n d ce r
t a i n rules .

E verything , the r efo r e , a ni m a t e a n d i n a n im a te , i n the

28 L A W A N D G OV ERNMEN T .

above sens e , i s under law ; as w ell the tallest sera ph , a s

the humblest sai nt the arch ap o stat e , as the most di m i n u
— -

tiv e spiri t o f the pit the mightiest monarch , as the

—

cr o uching s erf the el ements ,as the changing seas o ns th e

— —

great leviathan o f the deep , as the i nsignifi cant c o ral , the

base o f wh o se wonderful w o rks i s the bed o f the o ce a n ,
the t o p , the regi o n o f th e clouds and as well the sturdy
o a k , as the ti nted fl o wer , which lives and fl o uri shes b e

neath i ts spreading branches E ve n G o d himself, the

.

M aker and G o vernor o f them all , i s u nder law that i s to

say , h i s very nature impels hi m to d o right , a n d prevents
h i m fr o m d o i ng wr o ng .
“
He cann o t li e ” — n o r can h e

b e i ndi ff ere nt to truth .

T he efl i ca c
y of G o d s P H YSI C A L L A W S i s s e en i n th ei r te r
’

r i bl e P en a l t i e s
. I n te rnp e r a n c e and d e ba u c h e r y are speed
ily fo ll o wed by disease , pain , and death The unhappy .

victi m l o ses hi s reputati o n and enj o yment i n this w o rld ,

and blast sall h is h o pes f o r eternity I f, then , all natur e ,
.

animate and i nanimate , i s under law i f the physical c o n

—

s t i tu t i o n o f man i s u nder laws which he can n o t vi o l a t e

with impunity , why sh o uld i t ever be d o ubted that , as a n

intellectual , se nti ent , and m o ral being , he must fo rever act
unde r a syst em o f la w s givi ng him the full sc o pe o f a fre e
agent , sancti o n ed by penalti es still m o re terrific He is .

e nd o wed with c a pac ities f o r l o vi ng and servi ng G od he

—

can fo rese e the evi l , and fle e fr o m i t h e can understan d

—

a n d apply the physi cal laws o f his animal nature and he

can seek and secure the fav o r , and enj o y the fri e ndshi p o f
his Creat o r Y e t , he i s the o nly being i n the univers e ,
.

except the fallen angels , w h o has dared to resist the will

of G od and i t is to his rebelli o n , that w e a r e c o mpell e d
t o attribut e all the e vils which curse the w o rld .

The L A w o r G RAVI T A T I O N reaches , n o t o nly to all bodi e s

and su bstances o n this gl o be , but equally t o all h eavenly
b od ies , s o far as o u r science ha s been able to r e a ch , ev e n
30 L A W A N D G OV ERNMEN T .

thi ngs around hi m , sh o uld be fixed by friction — c elestial

sh o uld n o t be The surface o f the earth i s c o vered wi th
.

lo o s e masses ,whi ch , if the p o w er o f fricti o n were ab o lished ,

w o uld rush fr o m their place hither and thither , i n c o nfus
i on the m o st wild and terrific Were i t n o t f o r this law ,
.

man c o uld n either w alk n o r stand S h o uld he atte mpt i t ,

.

i t w o uld be quite as di fficult as if he were to attempt to

asce nd an i nclined plane o f sm o o th i ce By this law , .

me n are n o w able , at their o pti o n , to w alk or stand still

when th e farm er o r mechani c lays d o wn hi s tools , h e .

kn o ws where t o find them agai n .

T H E L A W O F M O T I ON is appare nt i n the r o tati o n of

the earth E ach day measured by the passage o f the
.

stars , i s s o precisely o f the same length , that acc o rding to

L a Place s calculati o n , it i s i mp o ssible that a diff ere nc e o f
’

a hundred th o f a s ec ond o f tim e sh o uld have o btai ne d

betwe en the length o f the day i n the e arli est ag e s , and a t
the prese nt ti me I f he r m o ti o n were re ta r ded by th e
.

e stablishment o f any o th er law , she w o uld wh eel n e a r e r

a n d n earer t o the sun at every rev o luti o n and at last reach

,

t h e centre like a falling h o o p The same w ould happen

.

t o the o ther planets , and the wh o le s o lar system w o uld i n

the c o urse o f time , be gathered i nt o a vast heap of matter ,

with o ut life o r m o ti o n .

TI I E L A W O F I NS T I N CT , i n i nferi o r animals , m anifests

itself i n the l o ve o f o ffspri ng , O f h o me , o f c o mpani o ns ,
n o less than i t d o es i n pr o vidential care f o r fo o d , self pre -

servati o n , and the gratifi cati o n o f the senses .

“
T II E L A W o r H E A T A N D C O L D , r esp e c ti n g wa te r , i s
remarkabl e Water i n c o o li ng c o ntracts till its t empe ra
.
,

ture is w i thi n eight degrees o f th e freezi ng p o i nt I t then .

expands till i t bec o mes i ce Th e c o nsequence i s , that i n

.

large b o di es o f water , the surface o nly be c o mes fr o ze n ;

whe reas , had the ge ne ral law o f tempe rature i n this case ”

prevailed , the waters o f our lakes and rivers would h a v e

 TH E P L AN or G O D S G OVERN M EN T
’
. 3 1

beco m e frozen first at the bottom, and then up wa r d ,t ill th e

whole w o uld ,l o ng ere thi s ,have become a s o lid body o f ice
-

the heat fr o m the sun being n o t su ffici ently i ntense to

m elt the lavers first fo rmed at the b o tt o m But by the
.

law whi ch n o w g o verns , w e have i ce bridges i n wi nter ,

and b o at and ship navigati o n i n summer .

T H E L A W S O F E LE CT RI C I T Y , M A G N E T I SM , V E G E T A T I ON ,
S OUN D , AT M O S P H ERE , L I GH T , ETH ER , etc , are discove r
.

abl e , W herever w e g o .

O ur kn o w l edge o f the HE AVEN LY B O D I ES i s m o re com

p e te , exact , th o rough , and s a ti s f a c to fy , than it i s with re
l
spe ct to any department o f N atural P hil o s o phy O ur ac .

quaintance w ith the S O L A R SYS T EM i s such ,that we can cal

culate the pre cise plan and m o ti o n o f m o st o f its parts , at any
peri od , past c : future , h o wever rem o te and we can refe r
s

th e changes whi ch take place i n these circumstances to

their pr o ximate cause ,the attraction o f o n e mass O f matte r

t o another , acti ng betwee n all the parts o f th e univers e .

A man i n the o l d w orld makes the disc o v ery o f a n ew

planet o r satellite ,and gi ves a descriptio n o f i t i n a b o o k ,
whi ch is sent three o r fo ur th o usand miles , and c o mes i nto
the hands o f an astr o n o mer i n the west ern hemisphere
The next evening , if he can hav e a cl o udless sky , h e
tak es hi s lamp , g o es i nt o the O bservat o ry , adj usts his
i nstru m ents a greeably to the directi o ns laid d o w n i n th e
bo o k , l o o ks at his cl o ck , an d when the m o m ent arri ve s fo r
the obj e ct to pass b efo re the telesc o pe , he says t o the by
st a nders , N o w lo o k , and se e h o w exact and perfe ct i s
the sci ence o f A stron o my ” .That very m o ment the
obj e ct i s passing the eye gaz es upon i t ,but i n a second , i t
—

is g o ne
The regularity o f the S o lar S ystem excludes the noti on
o f accident i n th e arrangement o f the o rbi ts o f the plan ets .

N or c a n the stability o f the o cean be attributed to ch a n c e .

32 L AW A N D G O V ER N M EN T ;

To day , its w a te r s , ru nning mountai n h i gh i n o n e di rc e

-

tion , a s if a b o ut to overleap i ts bound , and produc e

a no ther delu e , are suddenly checked and sent back
g ,

a ain t o fill the vacuum whi ch their pre c ipitate fli g ht h a d

g ,

j ust occasi oned .

E VERY P A R T I C LE O F M A TT ER possesses an alm o st endless .

t ra i n o f pr o pe rti es , e a ch acting accordin g; to i ts pecul i a r

and fixed laws F o r every atom o f the same ki nd of
.

m a tter , these laws a r e i nvariably and perpetually the sam e ,

while f o r the di ff erent kinds o f matter , the di fference of
these pr o perti es is equally c o nstant I n p r o vi d i n g f or the
.

s us ten a n c e of a n i ma l l if e and comfo rt , i t became necess a ry

th a t G o d should weigh , and take acc o unt o f every one of

the p a rticles o f whi ch th is eart h is c o mposed , th e de ns i ty
of the a i r , the d r o s of th e o c e a n , the c l i ma te , the succes
p
si on and alternati on , at a n y g iv en place , o f he a t a n d c o l d ,
r a i n a n d s un s h i n e , wi n d a n d c a l ms and other atmospheri c
,

C han es , giving a vari e ty i n the laws of vegetable o rg a ni

g
z a ti o n adapted to the vari ety o f clim a te , by means o f
whi ch the gl o be can be clothed with v egetati on , and pe e
pl ed wi th animals , almost fr o m p o le to p o le .

M A N , I N H I S O R G AN I C S T RU CT U RE , is a w o nderful ma
chi n e a compound o f mind and matter H e i s subj e ct to
—
.

thre e disti nct systems o f law M ORA L , P H YSI C A L , a n d

—

C I VI L or M UNI C I P A L ; th e first tw o eman a ti ng directl y

from G o d , and the other i ndire ctly arising o u t o f the n e
cess i t o f his p o siti on as a m ember f s ci ety Wh ev r
y o o . o e

Vi o lates the m o ral law p o urs c o ntempt up o n the L aw

giver , and as a c o nsequenc e , is o fte n subj ected to the i m
m ediate penalti es i nflict e d f o r a breach o f the physi cal l a w
o f his being . A m a n v i o lates , fo r i nstance , the seventh
com m and o f the m o ral c o de Th o u shalt n o t c o m m it
”
adultery . S h o uld this act bec o me fre quent , he v i o lates
a ls o the physi cal law of hi s being and bec o mes debased a n d
,
 TH E P LAN O F G O D S G O V E RNMEN T
’
. 33

imbe c ile , both i n body and mind , incurri ng thus the penalty
of physical law L et a man get dr u nk , o r p o i s o n his sys
.

tem w ith alc o hol , or w i th any other subst a nce l e t h i m —

r u n i nt o the fire , or throw himself o ver a pre cipi ce ; i n

either o f these cases h e violates physi cal law , and he must
immediately su ffer its penalty S o if he sh o uld O pen an
.

a rtery , he w o uld V i o lat e an o ther o f these physi cal laws ,

and the penalty i s immediat e death , unless avoided by the

ski ll o f a s u rge on A vi o lati o n o f the civil code i s also
.

foll o wed with appropriate penalti es .

I t cannot b e to o much i nsisted o n , that the Creator h a s

bestow ed definite constituti ons o n physi cal nature , a n d on
man and animals ; and that they are regulated by fixed
l a ws There are n o excepti o ns t o th e laws o f nat u re ;
.

f o r the Creat o r i s too wi se and t oo p o werful , to m ake i m

p erfect o r i n c o nveni ent arrangements F o r example , i t is
.

a physi cal law that b o ili ng wat er destr o ys the muscula r

and n erv o us systems o f man This I s the result purely of
.

the c o nstituti on o f the b o dy , and the relati o n betwee n it

and heat , and man cann o t alter o r suspend the l a w Phy .

s i c a l laws embrac e all t h e ph en o mena of m ere matter as ,

for instanc e , a heavy b o dy unsupp o rted falls to the ground , .

O R G ANI Z E D SU B S T AN C E S , o r beings , stand higher i n the scale

o f c reati o n . They act , and are acted upon , and are
ter m ed or g a n i c These laws are superi o r to the m ere
.

physi cal ; f o r i nstance , a livi ng man , o r an i mal o rgani c —

bei ngs may b e placed i n an o ve n wi th the carcass o f a

—

dead ani mal and remai n exposed t o a heat which will

,

completely bake the dead flesh , a nd yet c o me o u t alive ,

and n o t seri o usly inj ured , th e dead flesh being m ere
physi cal matter I nt elligent beings stand yet higher i n
.

the s cale The tw o great divisi ons o f this class a r e

.
,

I N T E LLI G EN T A N D ANI MA L , and I N T E LLI G EN T AN D MORA L

c r e a tures . The dog , hors e , a n d eleph a nt , belong to the
34
‘

L AW AN D G O V E R N ME N T .

f o rm er , a n d m a n to the latter The vari ous se ns e s h a v e

.

r e c e ived a defini te c onstituti o n , and stand i n a d e te r m i n

a ble relationship t o external obj ects for ex a m ple , to
a he a lthy palate wormwood canno t see m sweet , nor sug a r

bi tter Those w h o o bserve the o r g a n i c laws reap the

.

r e war d s of health , V i gor of body , and buoyancy o f mind

W hil e those who V i olate them , are puni shed by si ckness ,
fe ebleness , languor , and pai n N 0man whatever enj o ys
.

s e lf a pprobati o n , a n d the estee m and love of others , w ho

-

yi elds no Obedi enc e to the moral c o de , but g ives h i msel f

u
p to the dom i.
ni on of brutal pr o pensit i es .

N A T U RA L L A W S AR E IN H A R MON Y W I T H TH E WH OLE C ON

S T I T U T I ON OF MA N .

strong ships , skil l f ully m a n ag e d , fl oat , a n d

S t a uneh ,
‘

so ha r moni ze with man s i ntelle ctual law

’
Had they .

a l w a ys sunk , the reverse would have been true So .

those who ri o t i n deb a uchery and drunkenness , are si c kl y ,

a nd j ust what w e might exp e c t S uch c o nduct is.

no t only repugnant t o the physi cal c o nstituti o n of m a n ,

but i t i s i n direct h o stili ty t o hi s i ntellectual and m o r a l

pe r cepti o n ; the opp o site result w o uld ha ve created a n
e ternal j ar i n these arrangements When sickness and.

pai n fo ll o ws a deb a uch , the obj ect o f the su fferi n g may be

to urg e a more scrupul o us o bedi e nce to the o rgani c laws ,
.

th a t th e i ndivi dual may e s ca pe premature death , whi ch i s

the i nevitabl e c o nsequenc e o f to o great and conti nued d i s
o bedienc e o f these la w s Bishop Butler says , that fr o m
-

the idea o f the syste m , or c o nsti tuti o n o f hum a n natur e ,

i t wi ll a s fully appe a r that our o w n nature , i e , c o n s ti tu . .

ti on , is a dapte d to virtue , a s fr o m t he ide a o f a watch , it

a ppea r s that i ts n a ture i e c o nstituti o n o r system , i s
, , . .

a d apted to me a s u r e ti me M a nki nd ha v e vari o us i ns ti ncts

.
 ’
TH E P LAN OE G OD S G O V ERN ME N T . 3 5

a nd pri nciples o f action , says Combe , a s brute crea

—

tures have and they h a ve sever a l whi ch a r e n o t possess

e d by brutes . The latter obey their i nsti ncts , or p r i nci
ples o f a ctio n , accor d i ng t o certain rules , whe n the i r
bodily constitution and circumstances act s ui ta bly to thei r
w ho l e n a tur e
. T H E HUM AN B O D Y consis ts o f b o nes , mus
c les , nerv es , a nd bl o od vessels ,b e s i d e s o r g a n s o f nutriti o n ,
-

of reprod u ction , of respir a ti o n , o f fee ling , and o f th o ught

a l l of whi ch are c o m po sed o f physi cal elements , and , to a

certai n e xtent , a re subj e cted to the phys ical laws o f cre a

t ion . B y the law of grav itati on , the body falls t o the
round by a chemi cal law excessive c old fre ezes and
g ; , ,

e xcessiv e heat dissipates i ts fluids .

T H E E X T E RNA L WO RL D appears to be wisely and ben e

volently a dapted to the o r g a n i c s y s t e m o f m an , i e , to h i s
‘

, .

nutriti on , and to the development and exercis e o f his co r

p or c al o rgans T he n a tur a l l a w appe a rs t o be , that e very
.

o n e who desires to enj o y the ple a sures of health , must

s pend i n labor the energy wh i ch th e Creat o r has i nfused

i nt o his li mbs The p en a lty f o r n eglecting thi s law , i s

.

i mp erfect dig esti o n a n d d isturbed sleep , debility , bodily

a n d mental lassitude , and , if carri e d to a certain length ,
c onfirmed bad health , and early death .

F o r a breach o f the moral law , th e penalty is n o t alw a ys

so apparent as i t is f o r a breach of the physi cal I n the .

fo rmer case , the penalty i s mai nly reserved as a means of

future retributi o n , while i n the latter , i t i s inflicted m o r e
immedi ately i n th e present life Y et the i nfli cti on of .
“

p hysi cal penalti es i s often so gradual , a s w ell as c o mmon ,

t hat their e fficacy as punishments , i s , i n many cases , almost
e ntirely annihilated The inj u rious cons equences o f ex
.

ce ss i v e eati ng or dri nki ng , o r even labor , d o n o t , for

i nstan ce , uniformly exhibi t thems elves i n thei r clear e st
l ig ht , unt i l lon g a fte r the m i n d o f the tr a ns ress o r h a s b e e n
g
36 L A W A N D G O V ERN M EN T

dire cted from the vi o lated law and hence , h e wi ll not be

very likely to regar d them as specific pen alti es .

But there are i nnum erable varieti es of p hysi c a l a n d

or a n i c law , whi ch , as yet , have never bee n explai ned
g .

O thers , th o ugh known , are very i mperfectly understood

a n d o thers sti l l , when kn o wn , fill th e m ind wi th w o nde r

a n d ast o nishment . I n the animal c o nsti tuti on , f o r i nstan c e ,

h ow w o nderfu l is i t that the B L OOD can b e thr o wn i n such
exact quantiti es , and wi th such vel o ci ty and preci si o n , a s
t o reach , i n so sh o rt a ti me , and with such rapid puls a
ti ons , thr o ugh the larger p o rti o ns o f the body , to the
mi nutest e xtremiti es The ci rculati o n o f the S A P , i n the
.

ve e t a b l e k i n d o m , is e qually ast o nishing

g g . L arge quanti
ties o f i t , at different seas o ns o f the ye a r , are pumped
fr o m the r o o ts o f the plant o r tre e , and fo rced upw ard ,
wi th great rapidity , through the stem o r trunk , to the tall
est branches , and even thr o ugh the fibres to the tip of
every twig and bl o ss o m H o w the F LY o r B EE can wa l k
.

or sleep o n the smo o th surface o f the ceilin g , i s a gre a t

mystery to us , unti l w e are i nfo rmed , that by means o f
small cavi ti es i n th eir feet , fr o m which they can expel the
a i r at pl easure they avail themselves of the extern al pres
,

sure o f the atm o sph ere , to e nsure the n ecessary adhesion .

F I S H ES have air bladders , by the dilati o n and c o n tracti on

-

of which they can acc o mm o date themselves wi th perfect

”
p recisi o n , t o the law o f gravi tati o n . S O w o nderful and
m i nute are the laws which regulate and g o vern the king
doms o f n ature , that , whe n exami ned , we are c o mpelled
to feel the i mp o rtance and abs o lute n ecessity o f the D i vine
c ontr o l.

That G o d sh o uld exercise an unceasi ng C ON T RO L OV ER

EV E RY P A R T I C L E o r M A TT ER which he has created , as well
a s o ver all o ther beings , whether i ntelligent o r o therwise ,

i s as necessary as i t is that they should answer th e pu r

p oses f o r whi ch He designed them I n the a bsence o f su c h
.
38 L A W A N D G O V ERNMEN T .

will ultimately a cc o mplish all hi s purposes If the pe nal .

ti es o f physi cal and o rgani c law are i n all circumstances

ex e cuted with absolute and undeviati ng precisi o n , i t is
imp o ssi ble t o believe that w e shall find hi m less rigid i n
regard to the m o ral c o de However l o ng He may se e fit
.

t o suspend the ex ecuti on o f its penalty , o u t o f a d e s i r e to

sav e men , through mercy , fr o m th e c o nse quences o f their
own tr a n sg r e ss i o n s , th e unpard o ned si nner will ultimate
l y find , that G o d is t o o w i s e and to o g o o d t o tri fle wi th
the everlasting i nterests o f his moral kin g dom He wi l l .

find that the purposes o f J eh o vah t o execute the penalti e s

of th e m o ral law , are n o t less immutable than they hav e
be e n found t o b e i n r eference t o that whi ch i s org a ni c o r
physi c al.

S E C T I O N I V

M or a l S u a si on .

IF the term M or a l S u a si on mean that process o f i n flu

e n c i n g th e mi nd and c o nduct i n fav o r o f virtue whi ch
,

con sists i n the exhibiti on o f truth , enforced by argument

a nd entreaty g oo d a d vi c e and g o o d e x a mp l e merely ,
—

which perhaps i s the m o re c o mm o n acceptati o n o f the

term i t i s n o t , and n ever can be , am o ng pr o bati o n ers , a
—

s ubsti tute f o r g o vernment Th o ugh th e phrase i s s o o ften

.

i n the m o uths o f the high and th e low , the le arned and the
ign o rant , there i s d o ubtless li ttle defini te and i ntelligible
understanding o f i ts true imp o rt We pr o p o se , therefo re ,
.

to sh o w what i s legitimately impli ed by the phrase , M or a l

S u a si on : that i t i s , when rightly underst o od , and faith
fully applied , adequate to every emergency relating to
hu m an th o ught , w o rd , and act since i t c o mpris es a l l the
 M ORA L SU A SI ON . 39

i nstrumentaliti es furn is hed by G o d , whi ch are intelligibly

i ntended and adapted to i nfluence the will o f a m o ral ,
accountable being to persuade , to move him A nd i t
—
.

will be seen , as we pr o ceed , that God g o verns Hi s crea

tur e s accordi ng to this last definiti o n ; and it is the o nly
means given t o man by whi ch He can pre vent evil , and
.

i ncit e t o g o od acti o n But i n prom o ting great an d b e

.

n e v o l e n t refo rms , such as S abbath o bservance , Temper

a nce
,
A nti
-
S lavery ,
a n d the like
.

,
all th o se w h o ad o pt the
fo rmer definition repudiate appeals t o ci vil law , o r the
fears o f men , and prefer to thr o w themselves o nly and
e ntirely upon the i nfluence o f reaso n ing , advice , entreaty ,

i n c o ntradisti ncti o n to all res o rt t o penalty Thei r doc .

tri ne is ,persuade the vi ci o us t o refo rm ,but never t h re at en

do n o t hurt them But this i s n o t G o d s plan
.
’
.

l s t L et us , then , f or a few m o ments , dwell up o n th a t

.

a r t o f M O RA L SU A SI ON whi ch , f o r conveni ence sake , will

p
be den o minated G O OD A D VI C E .

I t i s unquestionably true , that the lin e o f disti n cti o n

betwe e n virtue and vi ce may b e drawn s o cl o sely , and
enfo rced by such weighty arguments , that n o unbi ass e d
m ind can easily resist the c o nvi cti o n that , while the o n e i s
w o rthy o f un iversal admirati o n , the o ther , b e i ng O pp o s e d
to h appi ness , is abs o lutely detestable Y et i t must b e
.

remembered , that a n y degre e o f m o ral suasi o n whi ch fails

t o produce entire c o nvi cti o n , and c o rr e sp o nding acti o n , i s
i nsuf fici ent . N o w , as men are depraved b y si n , i t i s quite
certai n that the ir minds , as w ell a s thei r conduct , will b e
g reatly influenced by their p erverted appetites and pas
sions N o exhibi ti o n o f truth , however str o ngly enfo rced
.

by argument , can b e reli ed u p o n as furnishing a unifo rm

means o f c o ntr o l its e ffi cacy must o ften be c o unteract ed ,
if n o t entirely paralyz ed by the perversity o f their desires .

Y et ,as me n are easily led , i n Vi ew o f truth , to the per

fo r m a n c e of m an y duti es whi c h do not p ar ti c ul a r ly c onfli c t
4 0 L A W AN D G O V ERN M EN T .

with thei r prej udices o r passions , i t c a n n o t be deni ed th a t

'

ood advi ce and instructi on are a most important aux ili a ry

g
i n the business o f controli ng thei r c o nduct A nd i t gives
.

us pleasure t o a d d that most men , i n a ci vili zed , christian

community , c a n be i nfluence d and c o ntr o led by thes e
m eans . Y et , who does not know , that there , even , many
are found caring f o r the i nterests ne ither o f God n or man ,
a s there were i n the d ays o f M o ses , who need and must

have the o ther elements o r m oral su a si o n a p pli ed i n thei r

c a s e , o r control is abs o lutely i mpossibl e ?
G od has unifo rmly treat ed the human rac e a s fre e mo
r a l age nts — has regarded them as capabl e o f appreciati n g
truth— o f discerning betwe en g o od and evi l , and of cho o s
i ng the on e and refusi ng th e o ther This v ery capaci ty
.

constitutes one o f their m ost p eculi ar characteri sti cs .

B rutes may b e allured , o r terrified , i n vi ew o f s ensibl e o h

j e c ts but th ey can n e ither appre ci ate truth ,
n o r feel the
fo rc e o f argumentati on S o als o o f the man w h o will
.

ne ither liste n to truth , n or be i nflue n c ed by good a dvi ce

t o right acti o n and hence th e n ec essi ty o f law and g o v
ernm e n t —
sensible o bj ects , by whi ch he may be deterred
fro m depredati o ns on soci ety Had G o d left us with only
.

the fo rmer i nstrumentali ty , wherewith to guard hi s and

our i nterests , there w o ul d be n o safety i n this w o rld .

G o d has placed the human family u nder the i nfluen c e

of oo d a d vi c e i n e very age o f th e w o rld , and i ts e ffi cacy
g
as a m eans o f restrai nt has bee n fully test ed H e h a s r e .

v e aled t o us a perfect rule o f ac ti o n , whi ch c onstitutes the

o nly legi ti mate st a ndard o f right and wr o ng and w e fi nd
i n the S A C RE D V O LUM E the m o st t o uching appeals i n fav o r
of vi rtue , as wel l as the m o st alarming descripti o ns o f the
c o nsequenc es o f vice I t i s filled wi th exh or tati o ns , ex
.

p o stulati o ns , threatenings , and e ntreati es , design ed to l e a d

us i n the way o f righte o usness and truth and J esus
Christ himself ha s besought us , by his o wn agoni es a nd
 MORA L SU A SI ON . 41

d eath , to become virtuous and holy F or the s a m e pur

.

pos e , G o d has given us a S abbath , a g o spel mi nistry , and

vari ous instituti o ns o f ben ev o lence , wh o se o perati o ns are
e xclusively directed to the m o ral and reli i o us i mprove
g
ment o f the race .

I f these means a l on e are ever t o b e reli ed up o n , as a f

fording a s ufli ci en t means o f regulati ng human c o nduct ,
how d o es i t happen that men , placed under such a c o m
bi nati o n o f i nfluences , are still fo und , n o t only self wi lled
-

a n d rebellious but o ften p o sitively vi ci o us ? I f th e re

,

w a rds o f vi f tu e , resulting fr o m the c o nstitution of things

if the exp o stulati o ns o f Paul , the terr o rs of future r e tr i b u
ti on , and the entreati es o f G o d , cann o t restrai n them ,
how stupid must b e that fo lly which can i nsist that men
w ill ever be su fficiently restrain ed by g o o d advi ce , ex
postulation , entre a ty , m e r e l y P Have thes e i nflue nces ,
e ven when ai ded by the sw o rd o f the civil magistrate be en
,

found suf fi ci ent to pr o te ct the commun ity from theft , r o b

b ery , and murder P Have w e n o sui cides P Has the
tongue o f slander be en silenced P Have the fires Of
li cent i o usness been quenched P Has the i ntoxi cati n g
bowl been br o ke n P If the day sh o uld ever a rriv e whe n
the se questi o ns can be h o n estly answered i n the a ffi r m
ative , when crime i n all its vari eti es shall ceas e , a n d
when the entire race shall b e rest o red to their he avenly
allegi ance , i t will t h en be soon en o ugh to bl o t o u t ou r
statutes , annihilat e civil governments , and unbar our
p ris o ns But the day has n o t yet arrived whe n it will b e
.

”
s afe t o un chai n the tiger.

F r o m these remarks , i s i t not evi dent that W he r e g o od

advi ce shall hav e exerted its utm o st i nfluence , th ere will
still remai n an ample field o f e ff o rt f o r the civi l magistrat e ,
f o r which he was espe cially commissi o ned P Civil l a w
“

was i nstituted by G o d to meet this very emergency A .

l a rg e portion of the hum a n r a ce will not c o m e withi n th e

2?
4
42 L A W AN D G O V ERN M EN T .

reach of truth They refuse t o search for i t a n d if fo rc ed

.

up o n their atte nti o n , they will e ither r efuse to ex a mi ne

i t , or else rej ect i ts m o tiv es G o o d advi ce , then , c a n
.

n ever be regarded as a substitute f o r g o vernm ent , u ntil

me n shall c ease to be selfish , and universally and v o l u n
t a r i l y act from the pri nciple that they will do that to
oth ers whi ch th ey , i n like circumstances , would wi sh to
hav e d o ne to themselves The sw o rd o f avenging j usti ce
.

can n e ver , wi th safety , be sheathed , until th e wh o le race

are converted to G o d , and made pure by th e bl o od of the
L amb .

2 md M OR A L S U A SI O N
. .
—
Wha t i t d oes c omp ri se
.

We have sai d that m o ral suasi on c o mpris es all the i n

s tr u m e n ta l i ti e s furni s hed by G o d whi ch are i ntelli g ibly
i nte nded and adapted t o i nfluen ce th e will of a m o ral ,
acc o untable bei ng to persuade to mov e hi m
— —
as w ell
-

those to whose knowledge they m a y come , i n earth and

heaven , a s th o s e to wh o m they are more i mmedi ately a p
pli ed , o r o n wh o m punish m ent i s i nfli cted E ven p en a l ti es
.

i nfli cted upon the culprit , as w ell as p recepts , partake

largely o f thi s character especi ally i n th e i r i nfluence
—

Up o n communi ty T o the culpri t , they may n o t always

.

sus tain , stri ctly speaking , this characte r ; but to th e free

and unc o nvicted , th ey always d o Consequ ently human
.

g o vernments cann o t safely be dispensed wi th , but thei r

aid i s and always will be necessary , i n all m o ral refo rms .

T o the unhumbled and unsubdued i n thi s life , th o ugh they

c an n o t be when pr o bati o n i s e nded , penalti es are o ften
m o ral suasi o n , wh o se design i s to refo rm the o ff en d er , a s
w ell as to pr o tect the defe nceless , and de ter the i nn o cent .

That pe nal ty whi ch te r mi n a te s this pr o bati o n , partakes n o t

o f this characte r s o far as the culpri t i s c o ncerned To
, .

him then , i t i s only physic al , while to o thers i t i s m o ral

, .

M o ral suasi o n i s n o t , therefo re , as many g o o d , as well

a s bad m e n vainly i magine m ere a dvic e ood counsel
, ,g
 MOR AL SU A SI ON . 43

a r ument and entreaty , — a divor c e m ent fro m the i nfluence

g
p ertaining to g o vernments and law but , on the c o ntrary ,
i t embraces , o r comprises all th o se means calculated to
,

deter fr o m wron g , and incite t o right acti on , comi ng eithe r

from G o d o r man , and o perating up o n all pr o bati ons i n
this lif e , if n ot upon a l l m o ral agents who are n ot su ff er
”
i ng the vengeance of eternal fire , i n the life whi ch is t o
.

c ome .

Hen ce all th o s e w h o fear t o a d Opt and sustai n g o o d and

wh o les o me law , lest they should o verl eap the b o unds o f
m oral suasi on , greatly m istake their duty , and l o se an i n
v a luable c o adj utor i n the work o f refo rm Civil law and
.

o vernments are o f G o d , and a m o st i mp o rtant element i n

g
his mor a l admi ni strati o n , relating t o every m o ral agent ,
and all that pertai ns t o thei r c o nduct , n ot his p hysi c a l
—

a dministrati o n , relating t o i nani mat e and s enseless obj ects .

A nd when we hear an i ndividual , o r a conventi on o f i a

d i v i d u a l s , prefacing their O pini o ns o r proceedings w ith
res o luti o ns repudiati n g all i ntenti on t o s eek the aid o f the
law , i n any and all m o ral enterpris es , but to c o nfin e
themselves t o the i nflue n ce o f m o ral suasion alone , ”

( meaning g )
o od advi ce , we cann o t avoid the convi ction

that they d o n o t understand their duti es t o uching this

m atter , o r gre atly restri ct the meaning o f th e t erm a nd

are n o t awar e o f the am o unt o f evil they are d o ing , no r

o f the c o ntempt cast up on laws s o esse nti al t o the per

e tu i ty o f o u r m o st valued i nstituti ons What m o re

p .

e ff ectual way could be devised to bring such laws i nto

di srepute , than t o induce clergymen , and di stinguished
laymen , i n solemn conventi o n , t o resolve that they d o n o t
i ntend t o call f or the ai d o f law i n their attempts t o i n
flu e n c e and g o vern m e n . A s th o ugh they were wise r
than all their fo refathers , these many centuri es — the
m akers o f the law n o t o nly , but wiser th a n G o d himse l f,
wh o w a s the fi rs t to i nstitute hum a n gove r n m ents b e c a u s e
44 L A W A N D G O V E RNM EN T .

of the impotency of a l l o ther means to deter a n d ke ep a

c ertain class o f men , i n all communiti es , and i n all times ,
from destroyi ng themselves and o thers A nd what will .

so dishearte n good and virtu o us legislat o rs , i n their efforts

hereafter to prote ct the i nterests o f c o mmuni ty , as such
de clarations , coming from such high authori ty P M ost
men admit that o u r laws against pr o fani ty , S abbath break -

i ng , and the like , are g o od and salutary If so , why may

.

not i n d i vi d ua l s for i t i s n o t , and no one supposes i t is ,the

—

p rovi nce o f c o n ven ti o n s a s a bo d y to c o mplai n se ek that

—

a i d fr o m such laws w hich they w ere i ntended to furnish P

I f n o t , why have laws P A nd if they are g o o d , as i s gene

r ally admi tted even by th o s e conventi ons , why cast such
contempt up o n them ? I f w e w o uld n o t have the m b e
come a dead letter , w h o , if such me n w i ll n o t , will help
to sustai n them ? I f w o rthy o f regard , why be asha m ed
to own and help to defend them P
But let us analyze the phrase M o r a l S u a si o n , that i t may
b e be tter u nderst o od what the term , philosophically, do es
m ean , n o t what i t has be en , wi th o ut exa m i nati o n , s up
os e d t o me an
p .

“
M or a l , relating to the practi ce of me n toward e a ch
other , as i t may be vi rtu o us o r vici ous , g o o d o r bad ” If .

the practic e o r act be good , the man i s said to be o f good

m o ral character if bad , o f bad m o ral charact er .

“
S u a s i o n , from persuasi o n , t o persuade , to bri ng t o any
parti cular o pini o n , persuasi o n see ms rather applicable to
—

”
the passi o ns , and argument t o the reas o n ( Walker s
-
’

D i cti o nary ) to c o n vert , o r bri ng o ver t o a particula r

—

Opi ni o n whi ch will lead to c o rresponding ac ti o n I s n o t a .

m a n persuaded by m o ti ves P and what i s a m o tive , but

—

that which determines the ch oi ce which i ncites t o acti o n ?

M o tive may be draw n from thre e w o rlds t o i ncite to ac

t i o n , which must imply m o re than g o o d advice f o r S ol o
m o m says , Wi thh o ld not the rod a n d why P be c a use i t
46 LA W AN D GO V ERN M EN T .

i ng the o nly remai ning i ngredi e nt i n God s o r m an s a dm i n

’ ’

i s tr a ti o n , which c a n c o n tr o l vi ci o us practices , (th o ugh n o t

Vi cious thoughts ) dire ctly , if i ndi rectly B o th o f these means
.

c a n , and will ,when c o mbin ed and appr o pri ately used , e ff ect

t h e O bj ect ; conse qu ently , God has c o mbined them and

thr o ugh the ag e ncy o f h is servants , has i nstituted fam ily ,
state , n ational , and e ccl esi asti cal g o vernments P o liti cal ,
.

m unicipal , and j udicial regulati o ns , and all the terri ble e u

g ines i n the physi cal o r m o ral w o rld , whether of dise a se

or death , c o nsequent up o n vi o lated physical law , or more

dire ct manifestati ons o f G o d s di spleasure at si n , are but
’

part and parc el o f the mean s empl o yed to produce the same
result , all of which are but s o many less o ns o f m o ral
—

su a s ion , c ertai nly upon all the living , if n o t the dyi ng .

A nd what are all o u r Bibles , religi o us teachings , laws ,

o fficers , c ourts of j ustice , j ails , pe nitentiari es , gall ows ,

&e , but incitements

.
— motives to ch o os e the right and turn
from the w r o ng P
A ll that G o d does t o r estrai n m e n from wrong doing ,cer
-

ta i n l y , must be n o thing more n o r l ess than m o ral suasi o n ,

j udging fr o m his W o rd and acts Dr o wning the A n te d i
.

luvi ans , as well as the w arnings and expostulati o ns of

N o ah destr o yi ng S o d o m and G o m o rrah , n o less than
—

the example and go o d advi ce o f A braham and L o t the —

plagues o f E gypt , and th e destructi o n o f Phara o h and his

hosts , as well as the w o rds and acts o f M o ses , were —

m oral suasi o n to all the living , if n o t the dying , because

all these means were but vari ed motives to O bedi e nce ,
c a lculated t o exert a healthful i nfluence i n that and
thr o ugh all time A ll the dispensat i o ns o f G o d j udg
.
—

m ents and merci es , threateni ngs and punishments , i nte nded

as discipl inary , partake o f the same character Penalties .

i nfli cted up o n the l o st , are m o ral suasi o n t o pr o bati o ners

if o nly to them I n a w o rd , all law and g o vernment
.

a l l m o ral i n fluences W hether of chur c h o r st a te te nd to

, ,
 M ORA L SU A S I ON . 47

the s a me end to i nfluence th e will , a n d ch a n g e the cha

—

r a c t e r f o r better o r f o r w o rse
—
f o r weal or f o r woe
. Con
sequ ently , m o ral suasi on , pertai ni n g t o the practi ce or the
duti es o f men , covers the wh o le ground of i nfluences , c om
ing fr o m whatever source the y may .

When God cast the reb el angels fr o m Heaven , that act

would not come under thi s head , to the o ffenders , but i t
w o uld to the rest o f the i ntelligent univers e , a n d i s s o t o
the present day S o , also , are the i n fli c ti o n s of every j ust ,
.

human penalty Whil e they are warnings , i ncentives to

.

r ight action m or a l suasi on i n ma n y i nstances t o the de

—

l i n qu e n t , t h ey are i n e ver y i nstance t o the i nnocent , and

go t o help determin e the will , and m a ke up the char a cte r
of acco u ntable m o ral agents .

S O l o ng as pr o bation lasts , are lab o rs put forth to bri ng

th e subj e c t unde r th e control o f righteous pri nciples . To
s ecure an obj ect s o desirable , his fears , hi s j udgment his
,

c o nsci ence ,his reason , hi s sympathy , hi s int erest , his phi

l a n th r o py , his b en evolence, hi s gr atitude , hi s en ti r e bei n g ,
—

physi cal , i ntelle ctual , and moral ,are i ntelligibly addressed ,

both by God and m an A nd during all this pr o cess , m o ral
.

suasi on , means i ntended and calculated t o i n cite to pro pe r

th o ughts and acti on , and deter fr o m all that w o uld pr ej u
dice the i nterests o f God o r his creatures , here o r here
after , are the o nly i nstruments used S upp o se we exclude
.

a l l these , except such as g o od advi ce , what w o uld th o s e

other i nfluences b e den o mi nat ed ? I n what do gove r n

m ents and law consist , but i n precept and penalty Where
there i s mer e pr e cep t or a d vi ce , there i s neither law n o r

g overnment . S uch cannot be f o und i n all the civilized

nations o f the e a rth , much less i n the g o vernment o f God .

F rom him , we have p en a l ty and pr e cep t What , we ask

.

a gain shall those i nfluences pertai ning to law and govern

, ,

m ents , b e denomi nated , if not m o ral suasion or pe r s u a s

i o n ? S h a ll th e y b e c a lled c ompulso r y P— c o m pellin g a
48 L A W A N D G O V ERN M EN T .

man to r e a d the l a w , to think o f , a n d obey i t , whether he

will o r n o t o r mere i ncitements t o read , consider , and , i n
vi ew o f all th e premises , the amaz in g c o n s eque nces ,
—

decide whether he will obey and live ,o r disobey and die P

A nd what shall th o se i n c i te me n ts be called ? A s yet , no
physi cal me a ns have bee n brought to bear up o n him , n u
less human and Di vi ne law and governments are wh o lly
phys ical , whi ch is n o t th e cas e Then they are m oral
. .

Are the T e n C o mma n d men ts physi cal i n thei r m oral as pe ct P

Is all the governme nt of G o d s o Well , are o ur laws a n d
statutes any m o re physical i n their character , than the D i
vin e ? A nd w h o but the i nfidel , the grossly li centi o us ,
cl a i m that G o d had n o t a ri g ht to e nact such laws , and
i nstitute such g o vernm ents a s the Bibl e recomm ends , pe
n a l ti e s and all f o r , i t sh o uld ever b e remembered ,
W here there i s no penalty there i s n o law A nd penalty , .

though entirely physical i n i ts op e r a ti o n s , h a s n o p o we r to

a nnihilate law and governments , but i s a n ecessary i ngre

dien t o f them , and i s o nly thus far physical , as i t respects

the subj ect e nduri ng it O ften t o him , as has a lre a dy been
.

show n , i t h a s be en m o ral suasion , o r its means , whi le to

ot h ers i t has be e n , i s , and will be , o nly such , which we
think n o s o und , unbiassed mi nd wi ll deny H o w then can .

there be a separati o n P What else than m o ral suasi on , o r

its m eans , c a n th e i nfluences and oper a ti ons o f l a w and
g overnments be c alled The fact that stripes ,
j ails ,
a nd

penite nti ari es partake o f physical acti o n , depri ves them

not O f their persuasi v e character , b o th o f whi ch are l e g i ti
mate e l ements O f all g o o d g o vernments , having f o r thei r
o bj ect th e pr o per acti o n and highest happi ness o f thei r

subj ects , and their o w n h o n o r , stability , and gl o ry A nd

-
.

do not human g o vernments , patterned after the Divine ,

lead t o that result ?
We h ave bee n thus p a rti cular f o r the fo ll o win g re as ons ,
Vi z.
—
there a r e four cl a ss es of m e n i nte r ested i n this e x
 M ORA L S U A S I ON .
49

am in a ti on F i rst , those o pposed t o a l l l a w and govern

.

m ents , human and D ivi n e S ec o n d , th o se opp o sed t o all

.

h uma n law and g o vernment Third , th o se w h o would

.

have laws , b o th o f G o d and man ,as well as g o vernments ;

b ut they must n ever confli ct , i n a single i nstance , wi th a
m an s will o r i ncli nati o n , touching hi s c o nduct tow a rd
’

F ourth ,th o se who

i

God , o r his mor a l s t o ward men .

—

believe that law and government , both Di vine and hum a n ,

a r e n o t o nly n ecessary , but admirably adapted to influen ce

a n d contr o l me n i n relation t o a l l their acts o f every n ame

,

a n d descripti o n With regard to the first t w o we have

.

ha d little t o say t o uchi n g this matter ; f o r i t is re ason

a bl e , san e and rev erenti al minds we wish t o address
,
I t .

i s mai nly o n account o f the third class that we have taken

up o u r pen F o r the third and fo urth classes are , i n fa c t ,
.

for o n e and the s ame thi ng , law , g overnment , o rder ,

—

a n d religi o n ; as the two fo rmer are f o r misrule , anarchy ,

a n d i nfidelity The third class w o uld o btai n their o bj e c t

.

by law and government ,appl i ed mai nly to practices gr o w

i ng o u t o f vi o lated principles contained i n the sec on d
t able o f the D ecalogue , relati ng t o pr o p erty and m o r a l
s uasi o n , as they understand o r use th e term g o od advi c e
—

only , applied t o restrai n o ff enders agai nst the fir s t t a bl e

m an s dut ie s , m o re espe cially t o ward his G o d
’
They .

d are n o t s o much as a l l u d e t o civ il law i n c o nnection

w ith religi o us enterprises , such as Temperan ce , M or a l
P urity ,Human L iberty , S abbath observance ,Profanity ,a n d
t h e like — oh n o these are subj e cts t o o h o ly t o be pol
lut ed by the C o operation o f ci vil en a ctm ents , though c o r
r esp o ndi ng W ith the Word o f G o d A s though they were
.

n o t sacred , comi ng as they d o o rigi nally from the same

s ource , as the m or a l code Did G o d authori z e th e Jews

.

t o c o nsider and treat hi s c i vi l c o de as t o o secular t o be

a ss o ciated i n their i nflue n ce , to contr o l th e acti on s of men

with the m or a l c ode o r th a t i t wa s not to a i d i n a r e l i

5
.
5 0 L Aw AN D G O V E RNMEN T .

i on s point of vi ew P Did He say the moral code i s for

g ,

m o ral and religi o us men t o use , but they have nothi n g to

d o wi th the civil ? A r e li g i o us man must n o t appeal to
th a t , i t i s o nly f o r i rreligi o us men t o handle , and t o apply

to i rreligi o us subj ects o nly N ay , v eri ly , n o such thin g .

Th o se tw o c o des emanated fr o m the same pure ,h e avenl y

s ource , plain l y marked wi th the Di vi n e impress i ntended
f o r and adapted to the g o vernment o f man , b o th i n his
m o ral and p o li tical character —
i ns eparable i n thei r appi i
c a ti o n , fr o m the very nature o f the case and c o mmi tted
to the hands o f th e sam e i ndividuals f o r use , as th e nature
of the w o rk t o be perfo rmed , and time place , and circu m
,

st a nces o f the case , might seem t o require L ike twi n .

br o th ers , they stand sh o ulder t o sh o ulder , Opp o sing e ve ry

i nfri nge ment up o n themselves , by their terrible den u n ci a
tions and sancti o ns e ffi c i e n t helps al ike valuable and
—

n ecessary i n the hands o f human admi ni stration , o rgani ze d

to w i eld the m by the gre at L awgiver of the un ivers e .

They were n o t t o be , and c o uld n o t be , safely s eparated .

A nd their characters were alike sacred , b o th havi n g i n

vi ew o n e and the same o bj e ct , the gl o ry o f G o d , and th e
g o o d o f man . A nd b o th the third and fo urth classes above

a lluded t o , are s eeking the same o bj ect , but seeki ng i t i n

diff eren t ways B u t w h o is ready t o say the i r way i s

.

’
better than G o d s -

the e xample given us as the only

r ati o nal and successful o n e by whi ch man can be g o vern
e d P O r w h o w ill call that t o o s ecular and pr o fan e whi ch
G o d has sanctified and s e t apart f o r a particular o bj ect
t o be a c o w o rker i n the hands o f the best o f men , wi th
-

hi s m o ral and h o ly law P

N o w , the definiti o n o f m o ral suasi on whi ch limi ts i t t o
go o d advice , i s alt o gether to o c o ntracted to o li mited fo r
—

th e aid o f civi l g o vernment , with adequate pen alties , i s

never t o be dispensed w i th i n curbing the pass i ons and
c ontr o li ng the c o nduct o f fallen man But if they a r e too
.
 MO R A L S U A SI ON . l

s e cular and profan e t o ai d i n m oral a n d religi o us enter

pris es th o s e subj ects pertaini ng m o re parti cularly t o the
—

soul , G o d , and heaven to o secular t o b e used by go o d ,

—

h o ly , and m o st dev o ut men , i n all that p ertai ns t o hum an

acti o n , s o far a s man can take c o gni zance o f i t ; then they
.

are t o o secular and pr o fan e t o prote ct a n y o f m a n s i nte ’

rests his property , reputati o n , and l ife , t Oo se cular a n d

— —

profane to be i n the hands o f any man , o r set o f men .

Y e s , s o se cular and pr o fan e as t o disgrace its A uth o r ,

being unfit and unsafe f o r the purposes i ntended to o —

secular an d profan e t o b e i n the world , and the soo n er

they can b e aband o n ed the better . O h o w S at a n laughs
when he hears civil g o v ernment den o u nced But we are
f o r law and go vernment , Divi ne a n d human , f o r mor a l —

s uasi o n i n its m o st c o mprehe nsive sense A n d ther e is no

.

subj e ct s o sacred a s t o exclude a n y o f God s laws A nd

’
.

if man s laws are n ec essarily t o o s ecular f o r them , they

’

o ught t o b e ab o lished . But j u st civ il laws and govern

m ents desecrate n o g o od cause , o nly as we first desecrate
the m by prostituti ng t h e m t o unh o ly purp o s es A ll law
and g o v ernm e nts valuable t o men are h o ly and g o od and
n o b etter ad apted t o guard o ur d o l l a r s and c en ts th a n
other temp o ral and even spiritual i nterests M o ney i s no .

m ore secular than an appl e ; and n o m o re danger o us ,

only as we id o liz e i t make i t o u r g o d A ll things , then ,

—
.

c omi ng fr o m G o d , are h o ly , while consecrated t o his

service and the g o o d o f hi s creatures ; and pr o p er t o be
used o n all o ccasi o ns t o w h i ch they are adapted by law
or gov ernments .

S inc e wri ti ng the ab o ve we have b een fav o red , by

spe ci al r equest , w ith the fo ll o wi ng vi ews a few t o ps
o f th o ughts
” — from th o se w h o stand high i n the religi o u
s

a n d classical w o rld —
,
O n e says
S U ASI O N might , with great pr o pri ety , be empl o yed to
denote all i nflue nce exe r ted upon the mi nd of a mor a l
62 LA W A N D G O V ERN M EN T .

bein g ,
t o
p hi m Thi s , o f course , d i fle r s r adically
e r s u a d e .

from the kind o f p o wer requisite t o r o ll a l o g , or move a

plan et , and may di ff er i n many o f i ts p o i nts , or at least ,
parts , fr o m the i nflu enc e o n e might us e to move a hors e .

I t w o u ld i nclude both appe a ls t o re as on and to the pa s

si ons ” .

“
I n answ er t o the asserti o n , that i n all th e gre a t
m o ral refo rms , g o o d advice , reason , and argument alon e
a r e the i nstruments t o b e us ed m o ralists may w rit e ,
—

talk and preach , but sh o uld divorce thems elves and a l l

their i nfluenc e i n this de pa rtment o f human acti o n , ent irel y
a n d f o r ever , fr o m law and g o vernmen t he asks , Is
thi s d o ctrine s o und o r h o ll o w , tru e o r false P
l The m o ral g o vernme nt of G od eschews i t utt e r ly
. .

While i n t his g o vernment there is n o lack of a pp eals to

re a s o n and t o c o nsci enc e to the h o p e o f reward ; als o ,
— ,

there i s at the same time n o lack o f appeals t o fe ar .

There i s ample u s e o f p en a l ty G o d has written i t o n

.

e arth and sky has spread i t o u t o n the blazing p a ge of

hi story has caused i t to stand forth befo re the moral
—

universe i n ev erlasting remembrance , i n the sm o k e o f ‘

thei r t o rments ascending up f o r ev er and ever that H e

regards punishment a s o n e o f the a ppropri ate m eans of
m o ral i nfluence I I i s system o f m o ral suasi o n disca r ds
.

no t p e n a l ty .

“
2 . I n e very i n s ta n c e i n whi ch the L ord h a s c o ndescend
cd to ske tch a scheme o f m o ral i nflue nc e f o r us to us e , a s
a ch eck up o n vi ce , He has i ncluded p e n a l ty as o n e o f th e
e lem ents S e e th e g o v ernment He i nstitut ed f o r the H e
.

brews His end o rsemen t o f th e sw o rd beari ng power , fo r

.
-

a te rr o r to the evil , as i n R o m 1 3 1 5 , and i n family

’
.
—

go vernm ents .

3 I t i s plai nly assum ed by the De ity , that the hop e

.

o f refo rmi ng o r restrain ing human depravi ty wi th o ut pen

alty , i s vai n S urely n o t ender hearte d refo rmer w a s

.
-
54 LAW AN D G O V ERN M EN T .

du c e r esponsible acti on , or willin g , whethe r r ight o r

wrong .

I I M e a n s of M or a l S u a si on
. l E ntreaty . 2 Arg u —

ment 3 E xp o stulati o n — 4 Pr o mi ses 5 Threatenings

— —

6 Warni ng 7 Teachi ng
—
8 E x a mple
— 9 E xh o rtation —

1 0 A dmoniti o n l l R epro o f
— l 2 R ebuke — 1 3 Ch a stis e —

ment 1 4 A ffli c t o
— i n s — 1 5 M erci es — 1 6 J ud g ments — 1 7
Discipli ne
1 8 G O V ERNMEN T S .

1 F amily —
2 S chool Town
—
3 — 5 N a ti on a l
4 S t a te —

— 6 D i vi n e Pr o vid e nt ial and M o ral T o w i t z — law , pr e

,
.

c e pt , pen alty , courts , writs , sh eri ff s , j ails , pe n i te n ta r i e s ,

g a ll o w s execution o f capital punishment , both by hum a n
—

a n d Di vi ne governm e nts , designed t o make a publi c i m

pressi on , and is t o the pu b l i c , moral suasi o n D eath i s .

warni ng to the living , and t o the m , moral su a si o n Pesti .

lenc e , earthquake ,fi re , sword ,fl o o d , i n sh o rt , every m e r cy

a n d every j udgment i n the pr o vidence o f G od are only

means o f m o ral g o v ernment , o r moral suasi o n the mor a l —

law g o spel , m eans o f grace , H o ly S pirit Whatever c a n

,
.

present a c o nsiderati o n and i nduc e c h o i c e i n a m o ral agent ,

i s a m eans o f m o ral suasion ” .

I n c o nclusi o n ,w e w o uld add , if the phr a se mor a l s ua s i o n

d o es n o t legit i mately i mply , and c o mprehe nd all these i n
s t r u m e n ta l i t i e s o f control , or g o vernment , then it i s wholly

i n e d a qu a tc to acc o mplish the things m o st to be desired

the pre v enti o n o f evil , and the i ntr o ducti o n a nd pr o mot ion
o f the great est am o u nt o f g o o d t o t h e race Wh oeve r .

w o uld div o rce i t fr o m law and g o vernments ,penalties , etc , .

strip i t o f th o se elem e nts i ndispensable to the acc o mplish

m en t o f the greatest g o o d ; and h o w ever much we di ff e r
i n our definiti o n o f th e t erm , m o st s u a s i o n i s ts a r e seeki n g
the same thi ngs fo r which w e c o ntend the control o f
ma n , the su b ordi nation o f individual and ass o c i ated i n te
 C I V I L G OVERN M EN T . 55

r e sts , to the g re a test good of the whole , a n d lor y of th e g

.

God M o ral suasi o n , defin ed to mean only g ood a dvi c e ,

.

entreaty , argumentati o n , may answer , f o r aught we c a n

tell (bu t so far a s we re collect , it has n ever b een tri ed i n
any safe example , designed f o r o u r imitati o n ), f or th e c o n
trol Of by far the greater pr o p o rti o n o f m e n i n civili zed
life But even there will always b e found i n dividuals w h o
.

will care f o r none o f these thin g s God had civil ena c t

.

ments and penalti es , s o must we have them ; they a r e

both a s ne c essary i n our day a s whe n g ive n to the Hebrews .

S ECT I ON V .

Of the C on s ti tu ti on a nd R i g hts f
o C i vi l G o ver n men ts .

TH E ature a n d ge neral obj ects o f ci vi l g over n men ts h a v e

n

bee n already explain ed ; and we are n o w t o speak m o r e

p a rticularly o f their o rgani zati o n , and o f the pri nciples
whi ch reg ulate their acti on .

E very i ndepende n t na ti on has a right , as betwe en its elf

and all o ther nati o ns , t o ad o pt such a fo rm o f gover n ment
as its citi zens shall ch o ose Y et , i n fo rming a ci vi l con
.

s ti tu ti o n i t i s o bvi o usly the duty o f every c o mmuni ty t o

adopt s u ch a o n e as will best s ecure the virtu e and happi
.

ness o f i ts i ndividual c o nstituents The D ivi ne ri ght o f

.

i ndividuals i s to b e guarded , so that they cann o t b e o p

ressed r deprived o f thes e rights e ither by a party
p ,
o
,
or a

government M an has a right t o hi mself, and all o ther

.

blessings o f this life , i n c o mm o n wi th his fell o ws , until

fo rfeited by m isc o nduct , and t o i nfringe th o se rights i s r e
bellion against G o d .

1 The p o wers o f civil g o vernment are divided i nto

.

thr ee gener a l cl a sses —

l eg i s l a ti ve , j u d i ci a l , a n d e xe cu ti ve .
56 L A W A N D G O V ERNMEN T .

In m odern g o vernments , e ach of these c l a sses of

p owers i s commi tted t o a distinct and separate department ,

having i n s o me respe cts a n egative i nfluence ove r the

o ther tw o . I t i s o f the first i mp o rtance , then , that every
c o nstituti o n sh o uld c o ntai n a spe cific e numerati o n o f th e
p o wers and duti es o f e a ch department ; a n d that e ach
sh o uld be s o o rgani zed as t o s e cure their united e ffi ci ency
i n pr o m o ting the gen eral welfare , and i n o pposing the i n
O

tr o d u c t i o n O f vi ce and crime .

2
. E ach o f these p o wers should be li mited by the l a w
o f G o d , and by the wants o f the community . Civi l liberty
sh o uld b e well defined , a n d carefully pr o te cted I f the .

fre ed o m o f the ci ti zen , i n regard t o any o f th o se matters

which are n o t o pp o sed t o the law o f G o d , and which a r e
not at variance with the gen eral welfare , is restrained , i t
’

is an encr o achment up o n i ndivi dual rights , and an i nfri nge

ment o f the Divi ne prer o gati ve G o vernme nt sh o uld not
.

attempt that to whi ch i t is clearly i nadequate The pro .

vi nce of civil g o vernment i s the s o c i a l st a te , rather th a n

i ndividual character .

3
. I f laws sh o uld be e n a c te d r e qu i r i n g men to l o ve G od ,
to repent o f their sins , o r to beli eve in a S avi o r , i t IS quit e

o b vi o us that they c o uld n ever b e ex ecuted ; n o human

g o vernment c o uld ever deter m i ne w he n they had bee n

v i o lat ed The p o wer o f human legi slati o n o ught , there
.

f o r e , t o be s o restri cted as t o preve nt any such enactments .

I t cann o t c o ntr o l the a ff ecti o ns , and all such services a r e

w o rs e than useless , unless they spri ng fr o m the he a rt .

The duti es o f spi ritual religi o n c ann o t be e n fo rced by th e

civil magistrat e R eligi o us tests are bey o nd the purvi ew
.

o f human auth o ri ty and any attempt to enforc e them is

,

d o wnright usurpati o n .

4 But i t d o es n o t fo ll o w , that the ci vil p o we r ha s n o

.

right to pr o hibi t the perfo rmance o f any act w hi ch i s o p~

p o sed to G o d : fo r e very s uch act must , ne cessarily , i n
 O B L I GA T I ON T O EN F OR C E TH E D I V I N E L A W . 57

volve the g en eral welfare N 0g ove r n me nt c an with a n y

.

s o r t o f pr o pri ety be thus restri cted The grand pri ncipl e

.

o f ci vil administration i s t o pr o hibi t ev ery thi ng that i s

wrong , o r that is adverse t o the g e n er a l welfare , and t o

command the perfo rmance O f a l l those m o ral and s e cula r
duties which the governme nt has the ability t o enfo rce .

The great O bj ect o f civ il gover n ment is t o protect and e u

courage the g o o d , and t o restrai n the vi ci o us I t encircles .

e a ch m ember o f the community with the restraints o f the

l aw p o i nts to every transgress o r o n wh o m i ts penalty i s
i nflicted , as a warning to deter those fro m fo llo w ing his
ex a mple and cuts Off, o r imprisons those who a r e s o
malev o lent a s t o endanger the general safety .

SEC TI ON VI .

T h e O bl i g a ti on f
o C ommun i ti es to ca r r
y ou t a n d e n or ce f the

P r i n cip l es f
o th e D i vi n e L a w .

A s all civi l gover nments derive their authority fro m the

will o f G o d , it is evident that His law must be regarded
a s the s o le basis o f their power I t is true that human s o
.

c i e t , i n the prese nt age o f the w o rld , embrace s a vari ety

y
o f artificial relati o ns and pe culiariti es , which had n o ex

i s t e n c e at the t ime whe n the law w as gi ven ; yet these ,

for the m o st part , a r e mai nly c o mpou nded o f o rigi nal ele
ments , i nstituted by G o d at the creati o n I n adapti ng Hi s .

l a w to thos e fixed and perman e n t relati ons , which c onsti

tute the chief elements o f the m o ral system , i t can n o t b e
supposed that He would overl o o k any o f the ir p o ssibl e
modificati o ns ; and hence , w e find , o n examinati on , th a t
”
His law is e xceedi ng broad , and appli cable to th e mi
’

n u te s t c ircumstan c es of hum a n life N otwithstanding th e

.
58 L AW A N D G OV ERN M EN T .

r a pid changes whi ch have marked the w orld s history , H e ’

ha s n ever fo und i t n ecessary , either t o m o dify o r repeal a

single general pri nci ple n o r have any o f hi s laws bec o me
obsole te He i s the A uth o r o f the J ewi sh c o de , and o f
.

the A braha m ic i nstituti o ns , and has repealed and altere d

them as was best .

The B ible c o nsti tutes , i n fact , the o nly perfect charte r

of civil liberty , and standard o f s o ci al rights and d u ties ;
it i s the l lI a g n a C h a r l a o f the w o rld N o human legisla
’
.

t o r has e ver y e t be en able t o de vise a si ngle fe ature o f

l a w , po ssessi ng any value , ei the r i n the m o ral o r mun icip a l
departme nts , that cann o t be dire ctly traced to s o me o n e
or m o re o f the elementary pri nc iples made kn o wn t o us i n
the Bible The mun icipal c o de o f the J ewish The o cracy ,
.

whe n c o mpared wi th the legislati o n o f m o dern nati o ns ,

m ust be rec o gni zed , at o nce , as th e o rigi nal fo untai n fro m
whence w e have derived n early al l o u r n o tions o f j udi ci a l
policy I t has been th e chi ef b u s i ness o f law makers , i n
.
-

civili zed nati o ns , to sele ct , collate , and modify parti cula r

feature s o f th at c o de , s o as to make them c o nfo rm t o ex
i s ti n g relati o ns and habits o f th o se f o r wh o m they are
designed t o be rem o deled .

I f the auth o rity o f civil g o vernments is derived fr o m the

will o f G o d , as c o nsti tuting a disti nct feature o f hi s moral
admi nistrati o n fo r the race i f the Bi ble com prises a ful l
—

outlin e o f the rights and duti es o f c o mmuni ti es , as well as

o f i ndi viduals and if i t be true , as He has declared i t t o be ,
,
“
that ci vil g o vernme nts are His mi nisters f o r g o o d , ”

”
revenge rs to exe cute wrath up o n hi m that d o eth e vil ,
the c o nclusi o n is abs o lutely i r r e s i t i b l e , that th e y are b o und
by o bligati o ns o f the deepes t s o le mni ty , t o carry o u t , a n d
enforce , by adequate penaliti es , the pure and u nadulte rated
law o f G o d c o nce rni ng the s o cial s tate , to the full e xtent
of thei r a b ili ty Y et , as n o human g o vernment p o ssesses
.

th e attribute o f o mniscie nce , G o d has reserved to hims elf

 O B LI G A T I ON T O EN FOR C E TH E D I VI N E LA W . 59

th e right o f j udg i ng the heart ; and He has l e ft t o th e ci vi l

m agis trate the si ngle duty o f i nfluencing o r restrai ni ng the
c o nd u ct Take , as an example , th e si n of lewdnes s The
. .

l a w o f G o d , l o oking at the heart as the s o urce and fo un

t a i n o f the evi l , pr o hibi ts , as well the i ndulge n ce o f an
impure desi re , as the gratificati o n o f lust while th e ci vi l
m agistrate i s n ecessarily c o nfined t o the preventi o n , o r
p u nis hment o f i mpure and i nj uri o us acti o n Thi s i s a dis
.

ti ncti o n which results fr o m the i ncapacity of the ci vi l

p o wer ; and i t runs thr o ugh th e W h o le catal o gue o f sin
M an j u dges fr o m the external a p p e arance but God
kn o w eth the heart .

A lth o ugh civil g o vernment was never design ed t o e x e r

cise its c o erci ve p o wers i n reference t o matters that are
purely spiritual yet , as i t is always c o mp o sed o f i n divid
u a l s w h o are pers o nally accountable to G o d f o r all the i n

flu e n c e s whi ch they exe rt , and as th o s e i nflue n ces are

greatly Increased by the p o siti on whi ch they o ccupy , i t is
clearly their dut y t o ackn o wledge their sub o rdi nati o n to
the divi n e app o intment , a n d the ir o bligati o n t o the e ntire
will o f J a h o v a h
. E xe cut e j udgment b ewe e n a m a n and
” ”
his neighb o r E x ecute j udgment i n the morning ,
“
B e W ise ki ss the S o n
— ”
— Ps 2
. . .

N o man should ever b e E LE CT E D T O OF FI C E , the r efore ,

wh o 1 s e ither i mm o ral , Take ye wise men , e t —
Or

w h o d o es n o t ackn o wledge that G o d i s the uni versal

G overn o r , a n d that all men are b o und , i ndividually , as
well as c o llectively , t o O bey his wi ll , h o wever mani
f e s t e d , whether i n the c o nstituti o n o f thi ngs , o r by direct
r evelati o n G o d has said , that when the wi cked bar e
.

r ule , the pe o ple m o urn L egislat o rs , i n c o nstructing a

.

system o f laws f or the gui dance o f th e pe o ple , and f o r the

dire cti o n o f the ex e cutive and j udi ci al depar tments , are
bound to se e that i t will n ot o nly acc o rd i n all its pa rt s
with the divi ne e c onomy ,but th a t i t will Operate e ffi ci ent
 60 L A W AN D G O V ERN M EN T .

ly , so far a s i s practicable , t o c o mpel Obedi en ce to the e u

t ire w ill o f J eh o vah , o n all m atters that c o ncern the s o cial
st a te . H e that ruleth o ver me n must b e j ust , ruli ng i n
the fear o f God .
” A nd they shall rule the pe o ple w i th
”
j ust j udgment . A s the w i l l o f G o d can be m ore pe r
x

f e c tl y learned from the Bible than any o ther s o urce , i t is

e qually their duty t o se e that the people at large enj oy a
p
r O pr i a t e means o f readi ng the Holy S criptures , i n o rde r
p
that they may accurately understand the measure of their
duty , and the nature o f their rights They cann o t o the r
.

wi s e discharge the o n e Or pr o tect the o ther R eligi ous .

kn o w ledge is abs o lutely essential t o civi l liberty T h e .

i ntellige ntly religi o us , i nfidelity herself being j udge , h a ve

pr o ved themselves , i n every age Of th e w o rld , t o be the
i nex o rable fo es o f tyranny , and the m o st staunch adv o cates
of rati o nal fre edom N o r are the j udici al and exe cutiv e
.

departments ex empt fr o m a single responsibi lity A s the .

i nterpreters a n d exe cut o rs o f law , they are b o und to give

i t that c o nstructi o n which will best accord with the c o nsti
tu ti o n o f thi ngs , and with the divi ne requireme nts of
r ighte o usness and truth .

I f c o mmuni ties are held resp o nsible by G o d i n thei r n a

ti o n a l capacites , f o r nati o nal acts , i n the sa m e m anne r a s
i ndividuals , i t fo ll o ws , tha t they are b o und , o n all sui tabl e
O c c a s i o n s , p u b1i c 1y to r e c og n i z e their dependence and a o

c o untabili ty , and gratefully to in v o ke the c o ntinuanc e of

hi s pr o vide ntial care and pr o tecti o n . They have n o right ,
U p o n any o ther pri nciple , t o exempti o n fr o m those terribl e

m eans o f national chastisement , war , pestilence and f a ,

m ine . The conduc t o f Benj ami n F ranklin , i n the A meri

c an C o ngress , i n pro p o sing a s o lemn and publi c n o t o f d e
v o t i o n and praye r , whe n that b o dy was a ffli cted by th e

distracti o n o f i ts councils , was n o t less phi l o s o phi cal a n d

p r udent ,
than i t was ne e d ful and a ppropriate
.

W h ile c ivil govern m en ts a r e a dm i nist e r e d u pon the

62 L A W AN D G OVE RNMEN T .

s ile nt c o ncerning them “ e there learn that they are

.
r

exceedi ngly numer o us , and that they are di vided i nt o o r

ders o r ranks l ve know not whether thes e d isti nctions
.

are governme ntal ,o r merely i ntellectual all we kn ow con

cern ing thi s matter is , that while the enti re class i s Ofte n
alluded to under th e gen eral nam e o f A ngels , s o me o f
th e m are frequently styled A rcha n gels others S eraphi m ,
and others still , a r e usually described as Cherubim .

I n the s ec o nd epistl e o f Peter 2 4 , i t i s said , I f God

spared not the angels that si nn e d , but cast th em d o wn t o
hell , and del iv ered them i nt o chai ns o f darkness unt o
j udgment and i n Jude 6 , The angels whi ch kept n ot
their firs t estate , but left the ir o w n habitati o n , he hath r e
served i n everlasting chai ns , u nder darkn ess , unt o the
j udgme nt of the great day ”. F r o m these and o th er pas
sages , w e learn several i mp o rtan t facts 1 The c elesti al
. .

beings were created by G o d , and are therefo re finite 2 . .

Their first estate was that o f h o li n ess , and c o nsequently o f

h a ppi ness 3 S o me o f them s inned 4 A ll w h o si nned
. . . .

were punished N o w , as no b eing w h o is n o t unde r law

.

c a n sin , or be j ustly punished , we n eed n o other evidenc e

t o establish th e additi onal fact , that the g o vernmen t o f

A n g els was a g o vernment o f law o r prec ept where pe n —

alty might , o r might n o t have been reve a led But w e .

have n o speci fic i nfo rmati o n as t o the nature o f that law ,

n o r d o w e kn o w wi th c ertai nty , wh ether they w ere e n

trus ted with the right O f ass o ci ated self g o v ernme nt but
-

fr o m what i s said i n Jude 9 , and fro m the fac t that G od

h imself executed the penalty , i t may be i nferred , perhaps ,
that they did n o t, t o any great exte nt , p o ssess that right .

The only rule o f action to which they were pr o bably

amenable ,w a s the law o f un iversal and disi nterested ben e
v ol e n ce
. While livi ng under law i n a stat e o f i nnocenc e
a n d happi ness , L ucifer
“
the S f the m o rn in ,
” high i n
,
o n o
g
r a nk , beca m e u ne a sy and unw illing to submit t o the r e
 O B LI G A T I O N T O EN FO R C E T H E D I VI N E L Aw . 63

straints with which G o d had e ncircled him He there .

fo re rebelled , and cut himself lo o se from his heavenly

allegiance . I n his rebelli o n , i nnumerable o ther Spirits
were involved , w h o be came th e miserable shar e rs o f hi s
terrible o verthrow Pri o r to the exe c u ti o n o f the se ntence
.

den o unced up o n the transgress o r , all the celestial h o sts , -

i t may he , were living under the i n flu e n c e o f preceptive

law ; if so , the rebelli ous A ngels demonstrated to the
whole uni verse , i n their fall , the s o lemn tr uth that pre cept
alone is not su ffi ci ent t o se cure the unwaveri ng obedi ence
of fre e and finite i ntelli g ences The e xtent and maligni ty
.

of the rebelli o n , on the other hand , manifested with equal

distin ctness , that the time had now arrived when God
must either give up hi s thr o ne ,o r else expel from his pre
s ence , and pu nish those wh o had thus reb e ll ed agai nst
hi m. Th e rebel spirits were therefore c a st o u t o f heaven .

I t would seem that as soon as i t had be en su ffici ently

dem o nstrated , that good advi ce al o n e was utterly i n a d e
quate a s a means o f c o ntr o li ng fre e m oral agents , wh o s e
capaci ti es a r e finite , G o d added to hi s moral a dmi nistrati on
another element , by i ntroducing and h o ldi ng up before hi s
Spiritual empire a terrible example o f continuous and i h
describable su ff ering .

2 O U R F I RS T P A REN T S
.
— P r o ba ti on of Wor ks Th e .

n ext feature of G o d s m o ral admi nistrati o n was exhibited

’

i n the case o f o u r first parents , while i n a state o f i nn o

cence Created imm o rtal , and placed i n a garden Of ex
.

u i s i te beau ty , produci ng sp o ntane o usly everything th a t

q
was necessary f o r their comfo rt a n d happi ness , exempt
fr o m weariness , diseas e , and pai n ,and surr o un d ed by every
thi ng that could charm the s ens es , entertai n the mi nd , o r
cheer th e heart , i t might have b een expected , by o ther
i ntelligences , that they , at least , w o uld have remained
tru e and faithful t o thei r allegiance But i nasmuc h as
.

they were fi ni te , and a s the poten cy o f good advi ce h a d

64 L A W A N D G OVERNM EN T .

be en a lready tri ed , and proved to be i ne ff ectual , G od saw

fit , i n givi ng th em a rule o f acti o n as a test o f thei r obedi
e nce , t o establish a law that was s o perfe ctly simple and
r easonable , as to c o mmend i tself, at once , to their c o n
sci ences S ele cting a s ingle tre e o f the g arden , He di
.

r e c te d the m n ot to e a t o f i ts frui t
. T o this command He
a nn exed and published to them the ri o rous penalty i n
g ,

the d a y thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely di e ”—

death
spiri tual , and at som e future time , temp o ral A s a further
.

prec a uti on , He may hav e revealed , and probably did r e

v eal t o them , the history o f th e rebel angels , both o f the ir
fall a n d punishment We are j ustified i n this assumption
.

by a n a logy , and i t seemed desirable to vi ndicate D ivi ne

g oodness .

A dam a n d E ve , then , were pla c ed i n circumstances pe

c ul i a r l fav o rable they had everything t o make them
y ;
happy They were i m m o rtal , had a law which they could
.

h a ve n o reasonable i nducement to vi olat e , were abundant

l y warn ed o f the fe arful conse quences o f transgression ;
and had learned that G o d , i n o n e i nstance , at least , had
executed a penalty o f m o st terri fic imp o rt They si nned ,
.

h o wever and by that act dem o nstrated the utter i n a d e

o f suasi o n , aside from civi l l aw , even whe n aided
q y
ua c

by a kn o wledg e o f the fact that G o d had threat ened them

w i th death , and o nce executed , and might agai n execut e
the penalty whi ch I nfinite Wi sd o m had Sh o wn was th e
w a g es o f transgressi o n.

.3 P R O B A T I O N o r F A I TH
. But as the fall o f o u r
fir st parents seemed to have been i nfluenced by the
temptati o ns o f an ap o state spiri t bel o ngi ng t o a high er
o rder o f creati o n , and a s th e mercy o f G o d had bee n ex

cited i n th ei r behalf, i t was deemed a pr o pe r o ccasi o n f o r

the i ntroducti on o f a further element o f h i s m o ra l admin
i s tr a t i o n. A s they w ere to bec o me the pr o gen it o rs o f a
nume r ous O ffspri ng , G o d c o uld n o t wisely h a ve abr o gated
 O B LI G A T I O N TO EN F O R C E TH E D I VI N E L AW . 65

the penalty o f his law , e ve n i n fav o r o f s u ch as might

v o luntarily return t o their allegiance su ch a c o urs e w o u ld
have i nv o lved an entire surrender o f his auth o ri ty N o r .

c o uld He have executed the wh o le penalty , eith er by a n

n i h i l a ti n
g the wretched pair , o r by c o nsigning them t o i n
stant and everlasting misery , with o ut seemi ng t o abandon
his o r i ginal design i n their creati o n S uch an event might
.

h a ve been hailed by the rebel angels as an o ccasi on o f

i nfernal triumph and i t might pr o bably h av e been used ,
als o , as an i nstrument o f still further mischi ef to hi s d o
mi ni on I t was highly i mportant , therefo re , that each o f
.

thes e c o nti n genci es sh o uld be pr o mptly met and arrested ,

by the development o f a new administrati o n , which should
give additional influence t o the Divine law , and secure th e
final rest o rati on and salvati o n o f s o me p o rti o n , at le a st , o f
the human family , wi th o ut i mpairing their fr e edom .

The added features o f the new moral admini strati o n

c o nsisted chi efly o f the followi ng parti culars G o d imme .

d i a t e l y announced hi s determinati o n t o pr o vi de f o r the full

vindi cati on o f his law , while He suspended its p enalty
and to F URNI S H f or the rui n ed r ac e A S AVI OR w h o sh o uld
make such an at o n ement as w o uld j ustify the fin a l salv a
ti o n o f all th o s e w h o w o uld fo rsake thei r Si ns , confide i n
his mercy , and v o luntarily return t o the p a ths o f o b e di ence
and truth A t the same time He declared that the te rrible
.

penalty o f his law sh o u ld b e ulti mately and fully executed

up o n all w h o rej ected his mercy The e ntire race , as i m
.

m o rtal beings , were deposed fr o m their o rigi nal ra nk , a n d

made subj ect t o the reign o f temp o ral death By suspend .

i n g the executi o n o f hi s law , He all o wed t o men a fur th er

d a y of p r o ba ti on , and while that peri o d c o nti nued , they
were c o nstan tly warn ed o f thei r impending danger , and
ar o used t o th o ught by the i nflicti o n o f physi cal and mental
su ffering After surr o unding them wi th such an ar r ay of
.

i nfluences , G o d gav e them , i n the pr o l o ngation o f thei r

66 L A W A N D G OVE RN M EN T .

l i v es , m ost a m ple Spac e f or repent a n ce and , fi ndin g that

they were still treading rapidly the downward c o u rse , He
rais ed u p E n o ch and N o ah , as preachers o f righteousn ess ,
to warn them of th e wrath to c o me He had previ o usly
.

gi ven th em the D OMES T I C C ON S T I T U T I ON ,wi th i ts associ ated

g overn m ent and i nfluences ; but they rushed madly o u

ward , until th e earth was p o lluted with blood and cri me ,

and until i ts i nhabi tants had bec o m e s o extremely wi cked
a s to render i t evident that they c o uld n o t be recl a imed ,

without s o sh o rtenin g th ei r day O f pr o bati o n , as to quicke n

thei r apprehensions Of death G o d then altered the aver
.

age durati on o f human life , and established i t at o n e hu n

dred and twenty years But this was n o t enough ; the
.

t ide o f si n rolled o nward w ith i ncreasing strength and

God n ext c o mmissi o n ed N oah t o ann ounc e that the w o rld
w as ab o ut to be d estroy ed by TH E F LOO D yet , still they
repe nted n o t they continu ed t o c o rrupt thems elves un ti l
“
the e a rth was filled with vi olence ” Hi s forbearance
.

being exhausted , He came o u t i n his fury and swept away

the wh o le human race , except the famil y o f N o ah S o far , .

precept and Di vi ne law , unaccompani ed by ci vi l law h a d

n o t be en su ffi ci ent t o c o ntrol m o ral agents ; N o ah and his

family o nly were saved that th ey might r e pe o ple th e earth

-
.

4 T H E F LOO D A N D TH E L A W
. .The fo urth peri o d o f
thes e devel o pments extends fr o m the flo o d to th e givi n g
o f the L aw o n M o un t S i nai ; and i s disti nguish ed as th e

peri o d wh en G o d began m o re cl early to reveal his will ,

and to enfo rc e i t by civi l penalti es S o m e o f thes e pen
.

a l ti e s as that f o r murder G e n 9 6 , w ere t o be i nflicted

, , .

by men , and o the rs by himself I mmediately a fte r the

.

deluge , and while i ts t erri ble scenes w ere fresh i n the

mi nds O f N o a h and h i s fa mily , G o d appeared to th em and ,

tendered them a c o venant o f mercy r e pr o claimed his — -

”
law , and set hi s b o w i n the cl o ud , as a t o ken that He
would not again destr o y the earth wi th a flood B u t the .
 O B LI G A T I ON To EN F OR C E TH E D I V I N E L A W . 67

Old le a ven o f wi ckedness very s o o n began to exhibit its elf

i n the conduct of Ham and N o ah , then patri arch o f the
race , being imbued wi th a spiri t o f pr o phe cy , pr o nounced
a s entence o f degradati on up o n the descendants o f hi s
O ffending s o n , which G o d has ratified , and whi ch t o this
day remains as a solemn m o nument o f his displeasure and
hatr ed o f sin Whe n the i mpressions o f the fl o od , sub
.

s equently t o th e death o f N o ah , had gr o wn somewhat

dim , th e great mass o f mankind agai n b et o o k thems e lves
t o the practi ce O f id o latry . They had at length become
s o wi cked , that when the unwelc o me th o u ght was fo rced

U p o n them that the earth n eeded an o ther cleari ng , they

w ere compelled t o remember the miserable fate o f thos e

w h o had perished i n the deluge , but w o uld n o t t r u s t i n
'

the Divin e promise , n o r yet were they willing to reli nquish

thei r si ns U nder these circumstances , they un dert o ok ,
.

i n the true Spirit o f infidelity , t o declare th emselves i nde

pendent o f the D ivin e c o ntrol , and united i n a grand con
s ir a c t o erect i n the Plai n o f S hinar a t o wer whose top
p y
should reach unto heaven But G o d m et them i n the
.

Plai n , and by c o nfo unding th eir language , dr o v e the m

asunder and th ey s o on be came divided int o distinct and
hostile tribes , sp endi n g a large p o rti o n o f their ti me i n
predat o ry warfare .

Hithert o the kn o wledge o f the tru e G o d had been m o stly

traditi onal , and at this j uncture , it had be en s o much c o r
r u pte d by the diss o luti on o f the patri archal system o f gov

e r n m e n t , and the practice o f id o latry , that i t exercised but

little influenc e There was great danger , therefo re , that

.

unless s o m e n ew m easure o f admi nistrati o n were i ntro

d u c e d , i t w o uld so o n be driven fr o m the w o rld T 0 meet
.

and avert s o disastr o us a crisis , we learn that G o d imme

d i a te l y set i n m o ti o n a traiu of special and semi miracul o us
-

pr o vidences calculated n o t only t o chastis e the o ff en ding

n a ti ons , but also to s ecure to himself a pe c uli a r p eople ,
68 L A W A N D G OV ERN M EN T .

W i th wh o m He might safely e ntrust a writte n revelation .

A B RA H AM the s o n o f Terah was sele cted fr o m am o ng the

, ,

t rue w o rshipers , and set apart to be the pr o genit o r o f the

FAV O RE D N A T I ON He was a man o f exemplary pi ety ;
.

and G o d b o re ample t estim o ny to his w o rth by that re

markable expressi o n , I kn o w hi m that he will c o mmand
his childre n and hi s h o useh o ld after him ” But whi le
these pr o vidences were yet i n pr o gress , and immature ,
the i nhabi tants o f S o d o m and Gom o rrah had be c o m e S O
“
exceeding vi le , that G o d rained up o n them a h o rrible
”
t empest o f fire and brimst o n e , and erected o ver thei r
grave a m o nument o f his w rath , whi ch the t o o th o f time
can n ever e ff ace O ther nati ons were chastised f o r their
.

i ni quities by the sw o rd , and by famin e B u t when the

.

ch o sen family had be c o me s o mewhat numer o us and c o r

rupt , they were reduced t o slavery , and c o ntinued s o ,
until they were willi ng t o call up o n G o d f o r succ o r .

Having chastised and destr o yed their o ppress o rs , He

br o ught them forth fr o m the land Of b o ndage , by the hand
o f M o ses , and f o r the space o f fo rty ye ars kept the mi n

th e wilderness , under the i nstructi o n and guidan ce o f their

leader D uri ng the wh o le peri o d fr o m the deluge t o the
.

ex o dus , the D ei ty was c o nstantly exhibiti ng himself as

th e G o vern o r o f c o mmuni ties and nati o ns , as well as o f
n d i vid u a l s and the events O f that peri o d have m o st fully
devel o ped the i nsuffi ciency o f m o ral law and i nfluen ces ,
u naided by civil law and g o vernments .

.5 TI I E J E W I S H T H E OC RA C Y. I t cann o t b e expe cted

that w e sh o uld always be abl e , as fi nite bei ngs , fully to
c o mprehend the c o mplexi ty o f the Di vi ne purp o ses They.

relate to the g o vernme nt o f m i nd , and t o the c o ntr o l O f

matte r to time and t o e terni ty to me n and to angels
—

t o heaven and to hell Y e t there is n o gre at di ffi culty i n

.

gathe ring fr o m G o d s pr o vidential dealings wi th the human

’

family , such o f the m o re essen tial features o f his m o ral

7 0 L A W AN D G OV ERN M EN T .

of C I VI L GO V ERNM EN T A s might have been expe cted ,

.

then we Shall find i n the N E W E CO N O MY

, ,

l A clear c o nci se and spe cific W RI TT EN REV E LA T I ON

.
, ,

O f the N a t ur a l , and T r a d i ti o n a l o r M O RA L L A W a L aw
,
—

whi ch is bi ndi ng up o n all men , i n all places , and under all

possible circumstances ; and which , when honestly c o n
s tr u e d
, embraces the
w h o le o f human duty .

2 . A c o de o f C I VI L o r M UN I C I P A L L A W , devised by I n
fi nite \Vi s d o m , designed m a inly t o carry o u t and enfo rce
th e m o ral c o de bei ng i n fact , a m ere extensi on o r i nter
—

r e ta ti o n o f it guarded by appr o priate sancti o ns o r penal

p ,

ti es , f o r the guidance o f the civ il magistrate and sh o wi ng

—

most c o nclusively , that G o d regards the civi l p o wer a s

an imp o rtant eleme nt o f his o w n m o ral admi nistrati o n .

I t is und o ubtedly true , that m an y o f th e legal e nact

m ents under the J ewi sh The o cracy were o f a v ery special
and l o cal character , and i t w o uld n o t be pretended that
they were ev e r bi ndi ng up o n o th er nati o ns S uch were
.

their laws regulati ng their fo reign i nterc o urse , their ritual

and temple s e r v i c e ,th e dress o f the pr i e s ts ,th e i r sacr i fices ,
abluti o ns , ci rcumcisi o n , feasts , the year O f j ubilee , etc .

e tc But their ci vi l o r muni cipal c o de was altoge ther

.

disti nct fr o m these , and was und o ubtedly designed t o show

what were the pr o per subj e cts o f human legislati o n , and
t o teach c o ming ages the elementary pri nciples o f ci vil
g o vernment .

The n ecessi ty o f a wri tten revelati o n f o r the benefit of

the wh o le race , has been s u ffi c i e n tl v dem o nstrated yet i t
w as c o mmitted i n the first instanc e to the J ews o nly , and
the reas o n d o ubtless was , that it c o uld n o t o ther w i se have
b een preserved I n the midst o f an id o latr o us a e , they
.
g

had be en si ngled o u t, i nstructed i n thei r duty , and trai n ed

t o this ve ry servi ce under the special guidanc e o f Heaven .

\ Vhen the time had arrive d f o r ushe ri ng i n the n ew dis

'

O e n s a ti o n ,
th e C H I L D REN o r I SRA EL w ere summ o ned fr o m
 O B LI G A T I ON T O EN F O R C E TH E D I VI N E L A W . 7 1

the land o f b o ndage to the fo o t o f M OUN T S I N A I Their .

deliverance fr o m E gypt , i ndeed their whole j ourn ey ,

was conducted by th e direct agency and miraculous
p o wer o f G o d A fter they had arrived at the M ountai n s
.
’

base , G o d demanded o f them , thr o ugh M o s es , whether

they w o uld c o nsent t o give up th e practi ce o f id o latry ,
b ec o m e his pe o ple , and O bey hi s law ; and i n resp o nding
t o thi s demand , they entered i nto a solemn covenant t o be

the L o rd s M o ses was then called up t o the t o p o f th e

’
.

M o unt , i n th e sight o f all I srael , by an audible v o i ce , and

by the sou n d o f a trumpet i ssui n g fr o m the thi ck darkn ess
whi ch had gathered around its summi t and when he had
ascended and ent ered i nto the cl o ud amidst the most
awfu l thunderings and lightnings , h e received fr o m the
hand o f G o d TH E M O RA L L A W , W RI TT EN U P O N TW O
TA B LES O F S TO N E But while M o ses was detain ed upo n
.

the M o unt , this highly fav o red and ch o sen pe o ple b ecam e
-

alarmed at his detention , and , n o tw i thstanding thei r recent

c o venant , and while thes e t erribl e representati o ns o f the
Divine M aj esty were sti ll fresh in their rec o llecti on , they
again bet o o k themselves , p u bli cly , t o the sin o f id o latry ,
and w ere punished by the ex ecuti o n o f three thousand
s o uls This t errible chastis ement , i nfli cted by M o s es ,
.

s e ems t o have prepared the way f o r a renewal o f their

c o venant , and o f supplyi ng oth er Tables i n li eu o f th o s e
whi ch he had broken while i t also dem o nstrated , i n the
clearest manner , the n ecessity o f a m o re vig o r o us and c o n
stant acti o n o f the civil p o wer The law whi ch was thus
.

promu lgated , was the D e c a l og ue o r Te n C o mm a n d men ts .

While thes e were engraven by the finger o f G o d hims elf,

the muni cipal c o de was written o u t f o r the pe o ple by
M o ses , at the i mm e di ate command , and under the explici t
di ctati o n o f Jeh o vah .L et us see , then , h o w far the
m uni cipal c o de was designed to carry o u t a n d e n f o r c e th e
'

m oral .
72 L A W AN D G OVERN M EN T .

M OR A L C O D E . C IVI L O R MUN I C I P A L C O D E .

s a cr i fi c e th
f
l s t C o mm a n d me n t o the ( 1 ) He that
D e c a l og u e Th o u shalt have
. u nt o a n y G o d ,save unt o the
n o o ther G o d s befo re me . LO R D o nly , he shall b e u t
Ex 2 0 3
. . t e r l y destr o ye d — E x 2 2 .

2 0 This penalty w as ex e
.

c u t e d by M oses up o n thre e

th o usand at o n e time S e e .

E x 3 2 : 2 7 , 2 8 A n other
. .

executi o n i s recorded i n
N um 2 5 2 5 J o b under
.
—
.

st o o d this matter , and sh o ws

that very many o fle n c e s ,
generally supp o sed to be
bey o nd the reach O f human
tribunals , are legitimately
wi thi n their supervi si o n .

J ob 3 1 2 4 2 8 — .

2 n d C om Thou shalt n ot
.
( )
2 Curs ed b e the man
make unto thee any grave n that maketh a n y graven or
i mage , o r any likeness o f m o lten i mage Deut 2 7 .
—
.

a n y thi n g that i s i n heaven 15 . He that s a c r i fi c e th

ab o ve , o r that is i n the earth u nto a n y G o d Save unto the
beneath , o r that is i n the L OR D o nly ,he shall be utter
w ater under th e earth th o u l y destr o ye d Ex 2 2 : 2 0
— . .

shalt n o t bow d o wn thyself The civil law i s extended to

t o them , n o r serve them . include th o se w h o e ntice
Ex 2 0 4 , 5
. . o thers t o vi o late the first and

sec o nd c o mmandments , and

punis hes them with death .

Deut 1 3 : 1 — 1 1 A s for i h
. .

stance , the i nfidel who

w o uld turn away others
fr o m se rving G o d .

3 r d C om
Thou shalt n o t
.
( )
3 Bring fo rth hi m that

take the name o f the L o rd hath cursed with o ut the

thy G o d i n vain ; f o r the camp and let all that heard
L o rd will n o t h o ld h i m him la their hands up o n
'

guiltless that taketh his his hea d, and let all the c o n
name i n vai n — E x 2 0: 7 . . r e a t i o n st o ne him
g g A nd .

th o u shalt speak unt o the

children o f I srael , saying ,
 1
OR A L
M AN D MUNI C I P A L L A W. 73

whosoever curseth hi s G o d
shall bear hi s si n ; and he
that blasphemeth the name
o f the L o rd , he shall surely

b e put t o death , a n d all the

c o ngregati o n shall certainly
stone hi m as well the
stranger , as he that is b o rn
i n th e land , when h e blas
p h e m e th the name o f the

LO R D , shall be put to death .

-
L ev 2 4 : 1 4 1 6 Thi s
.
— .

penalty was , then , exe cuted

by the express c o mmand o f
G od L ev 2 4 : 2 3
—
. .

4 th C om . R emember the ( )
4 Y e Sha l l keep the
S abbath day t o ke ep it h o ly
-
. S abbath , therefo re , f o r i t i s
S i x days shalt th o u l ab o r , h o ly unto y o u ; every o n e
and d o al l thy w o rk ; but that d e fi l e th i t , shall surely
the s eventh day is the S ab b e put t o death : f o r wh o so
bath o f the L o rd thy G o d : ever d o eth any w o rk there
i n i t thou shalt n o t d o any i n , that s oul shall be c u t o ff
w ork ; thou , n o r thy s o n , fr o m hi s people E x 3 1 .
— .

n o r thy daughter , thy m a n 14 . S ee E x 3 5 : 2 , also .

s ervant , n o r thy mai d ser -

L ev 2 3 3 0 G o d directed
. .

vant , n or thy cattle , n o r the this penalty t o b e i nflicted

stranger that i s wit hi n thy up o n o n e i ndividual f o r pi ck
gate s — E x 2 0 8 1 1 .
— . i ng up sti cks o n the S abbath ,
and i t was i n fli c te d N um .
— .

15 : 3 2— 3 6 .

5 th C om H o n o r thy father
.
( )
5 He that smiteth hi s
and thy mother , that thy father o r his m o ther shall
days may b e l o ng upon the surely be put to death A nd .

land which the LO R D thy he that curseth his father

G o d giveth the e E x 2 0: o r his mother shall surely
—
.

12 . be pu t t o death E x 2 1 — .

Children , o bey your pa 1 5— 1 7 I f a man have a .

rents i n the L o rd ,f o r thi s i s stubborn and rebelli o us s o n ,

right Hon o r thy father and whi ch will n o t o bey th e
.

mother (whi ch i s the first v o i ce o f his father , o r the

c o mmandment with pro v o ice o f his mother , a n d
mise ) — E ph 6 : 1 , 2
. . tha t when they h a ve chas
.
74 L A W AN D GO VE RN M EN T .

tened him , wi ll not hearken

unto them ; then shall hi s
father and his m o ther lay
h o ld o n hi m , and bring him
o u t wi th the elders o f hi s

city , and un t o the gate o f

his place , and th ey shall say
unt o the elders o f his city :
this o u r s o n ,i s stubb o rn and
rebellious , he will n o t Obey
our v o ice , h e i s a glutton
and a drunkard A nd all .

the men o f his city shall

st o n e hi m with st o n es that
he d i e D en t 2 1 : 1 8 2 1 —
.
—
.

6 th C om Th o u shalt n o t .
( )
6 H e that killeth any
kill E x 2 0 1 3
.
—
This o n e Shall surely be put t o
. .

law was subsequently ex deat h L ev 2 4 : 1 7 He —

. .

p o unded , s o as to reach the that killeth a man he shall

fo ll o wi ng case Wh o soever be put to deat h L ev 2 4
.
—
.

hateth his br o ther is a mur 2 1 S e e als o the gen eral.

derer , and ye kn o w that n o law Gen 9 6 The.

— . .

murderer h ath eternal life same penalty is extended to

abiding i n hi m l J n 3 : the o wn er O f an o x , k no wn
.
—
.

15 . t o be vi c i o us ; if he g o re a
man that he die , the o wner
shall be put t o deat h E x —
.

2 1 : 28, 29 F o r the mo .

d i fi c a ti o n s o f thi s penalty ,
S e e Ex 2 1 18 23 .
—
.

7 th C o m Thou shalt n ot .
( )
7 The man that c om
c o mmi t adultery E x 2 0: m i tt e th adultery with a n o
. .

14 . This law , als o , was ther man s wife , eve n he ’

subsequently exp o unded ,s o that c o mmitteth adultery

as t o embrace licenti o us with his n eighb o r s wife ; ’

th o ughts . the adulterer and the adul

Wh o s o ever l o o keth o n a te r c s s shall surely be put t o
w o man t o lust after her , deat h L ev 2 0 1 0 O ther — . .

hath c o mmi tted adultery laws i n the same chapte r ,

wi th he r already i n his extend the same penalty
heart M at 5 : 2 8
.
—
still further verses 1 1 2 1
. .
-
.

But wh o rem o ngers and Adultery w as again declared

 MORA L AN D MUNI C I P A L L AW . 75

adulterers , G o d will j udge . to b e a capital O ffence i n

— Heb 1 3 4 . . D eut 2 2 2 2 . The ravish
.

i ng o f a betr o thed female

was punished with death .

D eut 2 2 2 5 2 7 But i f s h e
.
— .

was n o t b etr o thed , then the

man was t o pay a fine , and
marry her — Deut 2 2 2 8 , . .

29 . S e e an i nstance o f the
executi o n o f thi s penalty
r e c o r d e d i n N um 2 5 8 , and .

its appr o val i n verses 1 1 1 3 —

.

I n Jo b 3 1 9 1 2 , w e s e e a —

j ust c o mmentary o n this

c o mmand .

8 th C om Thou shalt n o t
.
(8 ) He that stealeth a
steal E x 2 0 1 5
.
—
.Ye . man and s elleth him , o r , if
shall n o t steal L ev 1 9 : .
—
. he be fo und i n hi s hand , he
11 L et him that st o le ,st eal
. shall surely b e put t o death .

n o more — E ph 4 2 8 . .
— E x 2 1 1 6 I f a man
. .

shall steal an ox o r a sheep ,

and kill i t o r s ell i t , he shall
rest o re five oxen for an e x ,
and four sheep f o r a sheep .

-
Ex 2 2 : 1 . S ee oth er
.

provisi o ns i n the s a me chap

t er , verses 2 8 — .

9 th C om
Thou sh alt n o t.
( )9 B eh o ld if the witn ess
bear false wi tness against be a false witness , and hath
thy neighb o r E x 2 0: .
—
. testified falsely against his
16 . br o ther then shall ye d o
unt o hi m as he hath th o ught
t o hav e d o n e unt o his bro
ther D eut 1 9 : 1 8 , 1 9
.
—
. .

l 0
th C om Th o u shalt n ot
.
(1 0 ) Thi s c o mmand is
c o vet thy neighbor s h o use ’
addressed exclusively t o the
th o u shalt n o t c o vet thy heart , and w as i nt ended t o
n eighb o r s wife , n o r hi s
’
dry up the s o urces o f cri me .

man servant , n o r his m aid

-
I t cann o t be made the sub
servant , n o r hi s o x , n o r his j e c t o f direct legislati o n ,
i n
ass , n or anything that is thy the civi l c o de any fu rther ,

n ei g hbor s — E x 2 0 1 7
’
. . than to fo rbid o r puni sh
7 6 L A W AN D G O V ERNMEN T .

th o s e acts whi ch flo w fr o m
a c o vet o us disp o siti o n The
.

civi l laws fo unded up o n the

4 th , 6 th , 7 th , 8 th and 9 th
c o mmandments , are , i n this
sense , appli cable to the
l oth . S ee als o , the fo llow
i ng references —
Ex 2 2
.

2 4 3 0; D eut 2 4 : 1 4 , 1 5
— . .

A fter G o d had fully pr o mulgated his m o ral code ,f o r the

benefit and g o vernme nt o f th e entire race , we see fr o m
the preceding analysis , that each o f i ts s eparate en act
ments , as w ell th o se that bel o ng to the first tabl e as
those i n the s econd , was transfo rmed by hi m , when acting
as th e temporal S o vereign o f the J ewish nation ,to a muni
c i a l code , and re enacted wi th specific penalti es to be a d
p
mi nistered by the civi l magistrate while He reserved t o
himself th e exclusi ve right o f admi nisteri ng its spiri tual
sancti ons I t i s t o be remarked , als o ,that to e ach o f thes e
.

m o ral prec epts , unless i t be th e t enth , G o d a ffi xed , at the

time O f their ad o pti on i nto the civil c o de , the penalty o f
death His J ewi sh subj ects had been exce edi ngly r e fr a c
.

tory , and eve n rebelli o us , and He had i nstructed and

warned th em by some o f the most alarming j udg me nts ,
and s o ught t o wi n their a ffecti o n and gratitude by hi s u n
b o unded mercy ; but n ow , h i s language t o the m w a s ,
o bey and li ve or dis o bey and di e
” H e neither listened
,
.

t o th e lamentati o n o f the i d o laters , n o r gav e any he ed t o

the lic enti o us grumblings o f i nfidelity A s th e supre m e
.

h ead o f th e The o cracy , He n o w determined to wi eld th e

arm o f the civi l magistracy , and by the terr o rs O f spe edy
and visible punishments to secure the acc o mplishment o f
hi s o w n design .

But i n o rder to carry o u t h i s purp o ses o f furn ishi ng f o r

hi s peopl e a full a n d explicit s y ste m o f c ivi l j u rispruden c e ,
78 L A W A N D G O V ERN M EN T .

hand , which the l o ve o f God W ill always i ndu c e : such a s

habitual attendance o n publi c w o rshi p , c o ntributing t o the
supp o rt O f religi o us i nstituti o ns , o r t o the pr o mulgati o n o f
Divin e truth Ke eping this distinction i n mind , let us
.

l o o k at the muni cipal code o f the J ews , and exami n e the

n ature o f i ts provisi ons , calculated t o secure the pr e v a
lence o f l o ve t o G o d .

1 I t i s spec i fically c o mmanded

. Hear , O I srael the
L OR D our G o d i s o n e LO R D ; and thou shalt LOV E TH E
L OR D TH Y G O D with all thy heart , and with all thy s o ul ,
and wi th all thy might ” Deut 6 4 , 5 S e e also e x
.
-
’
. .

p o stulati o ns and entreati es t o the perfo rmanc e of this duty .

— Deut 1 0: 1 2 , 2 0
.
,
2 2 7 : 6 8 —
.

2 The civi l code als o contained assurances th a t a f a i th

.

ful P ERFORMAN C E O F TH I S D U T Y sh o uld be fo ll o wed by per

s o nal and nati o nal benefits , t emp o ral as well a s spiritual .

-
D eut 6 : 1 7 1 9 ; 7 : 1 1 1 5 ; 3 0: 2 — 1 6
.
— —
.

3 B LA S P H EMY bei ng made a capital cri me by the civi l

.

c o de , was puni shed w ith death — L ev 2 4 : 1 4 — 1 6 . . .

4 The penalty agai nst ID OL A T RY was als o death

. .

Ex . D eut 2 7 : 1 5 ; 1 3 : 1 1 1 .
— .

5 S O the chi ef magistrat e was re quired to i nflict the

.

penalty o f death upon the S A B B A TH B REA K ER E X 3 1 -

.
— .

14 . L e v 2 3 : 3 0 N um 1 5 : 3 2 3 6
. . .
—
.

6 The same puni shmen t was awarded f o r th o s e who

.

promulgated IDO L A T ROUS o r I N FI D EL O P I N I O N S , o r who e n

tic ed o thers t o i d o latry —Deut 1 3 6 1 0 . .
— .

7 M e n w ere als o requ ired , by the civil code , P U B LI C LY

.

T O A CK N OW LE DG E A N D W ORS H I P G e n — E x 2 3 1 7 D eut . . .

27 : 5 7 ; —
12 : 5 7 ; 2 6 : 1 1 1 ; 26 :
-
Ex 2 4 — .

Z ech .

8 They were R E ! UI RE D T o B UI L D P LA C ES FOR P U B LI C

.

W ORS H I P , and to CO N T RI B U T E F O R TH E SU P P O R T o r RELI

C I O U S I NS T I T U T I ON S — E X 2 5 : 2 8 E x 2 8 Deut 1 8
, . . . . . .

1 —8 .
 LO V E TH Y N EI GH B OR . 79

9 .They were required t o SU P P OR T RELI G I OUS T E A C H E RS ,

am o unting at the tim e thi s law was given t o twenty
th o usand male s — E x 2 8 1 D eut 1 8 : 1 1 8 N um
. . .
— . .

18 : 21 ; 3 5 : 2 J o sh 2 1 2 , 3 S e e als o , L ev 7 th a n d
. . . .
.

8 th chapters .

1 0 A s t o TH E D U T Y O F P ROM U L G A T I N G T RU T H
. See .

D eut 1 1 : 2 0 Z ech 8 : 1 6 ,
. . .

1 1 The civi l c o de re quired fr o m parents and o thers , the

.

utm o st fidelity i n the I N S T RU CT I ON OF CH I L D REN AN D YOU TH

and th o se instructi o ns were t o i nclude religion , as we ll as
m o rality — D e n t 1 1 : 1 8 2 1 4 : 9 , 1 0
.
—
.

1 2 I t required the D ES T RU CT I O N O F P L A C E S O F I NI ! UI
.

T OU S AN D I D OL A T R O US RES O R T , as prej udi ci al t o the i ntere sts

o f V ital pi ety Deut 1 2 1 — 4
.
—
. .

13 I t made all TH ESE D U T I E S P ER P E T U A L D eut 1 2 1

. . . .

N 0 o n e can d o ubt , after examining thes e precepts and

penalti es , that i t was a part o f G o d s design i n the i n s ti tu ’

ti o n o f their civil g o vernment , that i t sh o uld pr o te ct , as

w ell th e first table o f hi s m o ral c o de a s the s ec o nd and
as well the duti es o f religi o n as o f m o rality A nd why .

n ot extend i t t o all civil governments ? We are aware

that many w i l l n o t all o w thi s extensi o n n evertheless , the
positi o n , we d o ubt n o t , is tenable .

11 .
— TH OU S H A L T L OV E TH Y N EI GH BO R AS T HYSEL F .

A lth o ugh the pri nciple here laid d o wn , like that wh ich
fo rmed the first branch o f o u r S avi o r s analysis , li es b e ’

yond the reach o f p enalti es t o b e infli cted by the civi l

m agistrate , it may , n evertheless , constitut e the basis o f a

g reat vari ety o f laws , designed either t o s ecure the per

f o r m a n c e o f such acti o ns as love t o o u r n eighb o r will un i

fo rmly prompt , o r prevent such as w o uld b e o bvi o usly
o pp o sed t o i ts dictates S ome o f the fo llowi ng provisi ons
.

see m to look at both sides of this a n a lysis but the m aj or

80 L A W A N D G O V ERNMEN T .

i ty O f the m flow n aturally fr o m that whi ch ha s be en l a s t

n amed Y e t , a s a further cl a ssificati o n would be wh o lly
.

unn ecessary , we pr o ceed with o u r exami nati on .

“
1 We find the command ,
. Thou shalt L O V E TH Y
”
N EI GH B O R as thyself, disti nctly pr o mulgated as o n e of the
precepts o f the civil c o d e L ev 1 9 1 8 But i t has n o —
. .

civi l penalty a ffixed i t i s a mere pre cept .

2 A m o ng the P R O VI SI O NS REL A T I N G T o L AN D , we n o tic e

.

the fo ll o wi ng The J ews held only a possess o ry i nterest

—

i n their lands : their t itl e was expressly limited by the

origi nal Pr o pri etor F o r the land i s min e
. f o r ye
were strangers and s oj o urners w ith me ” L ev 2 5 2 3 .
— . .

I t was D IVI D E D among th e tribes B Y LO T , and afterwards

subdivided among their famili es i n the same manner .

N um 3 2 : 3 3 Josh ch 1 2 t o 2 3 N um 2 6 52 5 6 ;
. . . . . .
—

2 7 : 7 ; 3 6 : 9 1 2 ; Josh 1 7 : 3 6
— The law pr o hibited
.
—
.

“
the REMOVA L o f L AN D MA R K S , o r vi sibl e b o undari es .

D eut 1 9 1 4 ; 2 7 : 1 7
. E very s eventh ye a r was t o be
.

”
a S A B B A TH o f TH E L AN D unt o the L o rd a year O f rest , —

when the land could n o t be cultivate d L ev 2 5 2 — 1 7 —

. .

They were t o number s even S abbaths o f years s even

times , making fo rty n ine years , and the fifti eth w a s the
-

Y E A R O F J U B I LE E L ev 2 5 8 1 3
— .They could only sell —
.

th e use o f their lands unti l th e j ubile e , and the pric e was

to be regulated acc o rdingly ; f o r i n the j ubilee i t was to
revert t o the fo rmer pr o pri et o r L e v 2 5 1 3 1 7 , 2 7 , 2 8.
—
.
—
.

E ven i n case o f a sale , there was still a right o f redempti on

befo re the j ubile e L e v 2 5 : 2 6 3 4 A n o ther law pr o
— .
-

v i d e d that if an i ndividual sh o uld turn his beasts i nt o his

“
n e ighb o r s field , o r v i n eyard , o r cause them to be e aten ,
’

h e sh o uld make R ES T I T U T I ON w i th the l o ss o f his own ” .

E x 2 2 5 S o , i f a fire sh o uld break o u t and burn

. .

“ ” “ ” “
stacks o f c o rn , o r standing c o rn , o r the field , he ”

that kindleth the fire ,was t o make restituti o n — E x 2 2 6 . .

S ee a further p r o visi on i n Deut 2 0: 1 9 i n r e ferenc e to .

,
 D OMES T I C E G U L A T I ON S . 81

the D ES T RU CT I ON OF T REES I n thes e pr o visi o ns , w e hav e .

the origi n o f fo ur i mp o rtant pri ncipl es rec o gni zed by the

c o mmon law , and i n m o st o f the modern c o des o f civi l
legislation 1 s t That the T I T LES O F A LL L AN D S was o rigi
. .

nally v ested i n the civil government , o r i n the community

fo rmi ng its c o nstituency and consequently t h at when th e
o wner dies , leavin n o o n e to i nherit it , i t must revert to
g
the o riginal pr o pri etor 2 d That all wilful ,o r e ven u n i n t e n. .

t i o n a l , but carel ess I N J URI E S to P R O P E R T Y ,are t o be repaired

by c o mpelling the wrong doer t o re n der an equivalent to the -

inj ured party 3 d That T I T LE D EE DS and boundari es are to

. .

b e pr o tected fr o m vi o lence A nd 4 th That the debt , o r he . .

w h o is compelled to part w ith his land at such a price as

i t may b e valued at , ought t o have a reas onable time i n
which t o redeem i t .

3 The civ il c o de o f the Jews c o nt a i ne d several pro

.

vi s i o ns f o r the P RO T E CT I ON O F PERS O N A L P RO P E R T Y S teal .

i n g was prohibited and punished vari o usly but i n general ,

by c o mpelling the thi ef to make restituti o n , and to double
or quadruple the a m o u nt st o le n — E x 2 0 1 5 2 2 1 — 4 , .

7 , 8 , 12 S T E A LI N G A M AN was punished with de ath

. .

L ev 2 4 : 1 7 E x 2 1 : 1 6 Deut 2 4 7 I t was also pr o vided

. . . . . .

that the B ORRO W E R sh o uld b e resp o nsible for the retur n o f the
thing b o rr o wed , and if i t were hurt o r died , the o wne r
”
being n o t with it , the borr o wer was to make it go o d ” .

—
E x 2 2 : 1 4 But the rul e was not appli cable when
. .

the thing was hi r e d and the owner was presen t Ex 2 2 — .

15 . T h e l a w c on c e r n i n g P LE D G ES was e qu ally b e n e fi ce n t
and e quitabl e E x 2 2 : 2 6 D eut 2 4 : —
. 1 3 , 17 . . .

F or l a ws a g a i n s t F RAU D , see L ev 1 9 1 1 , 13 Ex 22 . . .

9 13
—
Provisions i n regard t o i nj ur i es to P ERS O N A L P R o
.

P ER T Y E x 2 1 : 3 3 3 6 2 2 : 9 L ev 2 4 : 1 8 Here we
.
— .
— . . .

hav e the o rigi n o f o u r mo d er n l a ws , n o t o nly against S T E A L

I N G , but also against F RAU D S , D E C E P T I ON , and T RES P A SS ,a s
well a s thos e regul a ting B A I LMEN T S .
82 LAW AN D G O VE R N M EN r .

4 L A W S FO R T II E P R O T E C T I O N O F TH E PERSON M U R
. .
—

D E R was pr o hibi ted and punished wi th death E x 2 0 1 3

,
— .
.

N um 3 5 : 1 6 1 9 Ge n 9 : 6 L ev 2 4 : 1 7
.
-
. . I f an o x
. . .

kn o wn to be danger o us G ORE D A M AN s o that he di ed th e , ,

owner was to be put t o death E x 2 1 : 2 8 3 0; Or h e —

.
—

m ight i n s o me cases be fined v er 3 0 F or rules concerning

, . .

H OMI C I D E n o t pun ishable with death , se e E x 2 1 2 02 3

,
.
—
.

D eut 1 9 5 M AIMI N G and other pers o nal i nj uri es were

. .
,

variously punished Whe n me n w ere strivi ng t o gether ,

.

and o n e was s o i nj ure d as t o ke ep his bed , if he agai n arose

and walked abr o ad o n his sta ff , the o n e w h o i nflicted the
i nj ury was t o pay f o r his healin g E x 2 1 1 8 , 1 9 F or —
. .

the i njury o f a pregnant woman , when death did not ensue ,

the trespasser was to pay a s th e j u d g e sh o ul d d e te r mi n e .

E x 2 1 2 2 F o r maiming , except i n the case o f a SE R

. .

V AN T , the o ff ender w as to su ff er a si milar i nj ury to th a t

whi ch he i nflicted , by th e O perati o n of the l e a: t a l i on i s .

E x 2 1 2 3 2 5 But when a servant w a s maimed by hi s

.
—
.

master , he became fre e E x 2 1 : 2 6 , 2 7 —

. F r o m these .

provisi o ns , m o dern g o vernments h ave learned to d i s cr i m i

n ate between murder and culpable o r j ustifiable homicide ;
and they are here taught , that while the deliberate mur
derer i s w o rthy of death , o ther h o micides , resulti ng from
c a relessn ess o r malevolence , u nacc o mpanied wi th an i nt s u
ti o n to ki ll , o ught als o t o b e puni sh ed , but not s o severely .

The elementary principles o f these laws , and o f thos e

whi ch relate to personal i nj uri es , where death d o es n o t
ensue , as maiming , assault , & c , i s precisely identical wi th
.

that whi ch regulates m o dern legislati o n We here find .

o u r crimi nal laws a gainst m u r d e r h o mi c i d e m a i mi n and

, , g,
o ther v i o l e n t i n ur i e s
j ,
and our R EME D I A L S T A T U T ES t o

repair the c o nsequences o f i nj uri es n o t resulting i n death ,

except that thei r penalties are n o t always re g ulated by the
same standard .

5 L A W S FOR T I I E P RO T E C T I ON o r C H A RA CT ER
. Thou .
 D O M E S T I C R E G UL A T I ON S . 83

sh lt n ot be a r F A LSE W I T NE SS agai nst thy neighbor

a Ex .
” —
.

20 16 Thi s crime was to b e punished by i nfli cting u pon

.

the wi tness the i nj ury whi ch h e i ntended to i nfli ct up o n

the o n e against whom he t e s ti fi e d D e n t 1 9 : 1 8 , 1 9 —
. .

S LAN D E R was als o pr o hibite d — E x 2 3 1 L ev 1 9 1 6 . . . .

D eut 2 5 1 3 . M odern nati o ns punish the crim e o f

—
.

P E R J URY as did the J ews though n o t i n the sam e mann er

,

and the simple crime o f s l a n d er i s n o w treated as i t pr o ba ,

bly was then , as a personal inj ury t o b e repaired by th e

payment o f a sum o f m o ney .

6 L A W S RE G UL A T I N G TH E D O MES T I C CON S T I T U T I ON
. .

M A RRI A G E was i nstituted i mmedi ately after the creati on .

Ge n 2 : 2 4 The J ewish c o de treated i t as an existi ng

; .

i nstituti o n , and pr o tected i t by a v a r i e ty o f special statut es .

AD UL T ERY was pr o hibited and punished with deat h E x —

.

20 14 L e v 2 0 1 01 4
. D eut 2 2 2 2 2 4 R A P E
.
—
. .
—
.

was punished variously D eut 2 2 2 5 2 9 FO RNI C A .

—
.
—
.

T I ON was ge n erally punished by c o mpelli ng th e i n te r m a r

r i a e o f the O ff enders ; but whe n th e father o f the female
g
obj ected , thi s was omi tted , an d the man was made subj ect
to a fi n e E x 2 2 1 6 , 1 7 He might , i n some i nstances ,
.
—
. .

b e punished with deat h De n t 2 2 2 1 , 2 2 ,2 9 I N C ES T

—
. .

was ge nerally punished wi th deat h L e v 2 0: 1 4 , 1 7 , —

.

19 21 ; 18 : 6
— F o r o ther provisi o ns c o ncerni ng L I C E N
.

T I O U S P RA CT I C ES , se e E x 2 2 1 9 L ev 1 8 1 9 2 4 . . .
—

2 0 1 5— 1 8 M o dern legislati on o n this subj ect i s exce ed

.

i n g l y imperfect A want o f Chastity is rarely made a cri mi

.

n a l Off ence ; and the o nly disabili ty whi ch attends i t , i n

most c o untri es , c o nsists i n i ts a ffordi n g a su ffi ci ent ground

f o r div o rc e , and i n i ts renderi ng the guilty li able t o a civi l
acti o n f or damages A ll m o dern g o vernments unite i n .

p u nishing i n c es t , r a p e , bug g e r y , and S o d omy , as crimes .

P A REN T S were re quired t o G OVER N and I N S T RU C T TH EI R

CH I L D REN D eut 8 : 5 ; 6 : 7 , 2 0 E x 1 0: 2 ; 1 3 : 8 ,
.
— . . .

14 .
84 L A W AN D G OVERN MEN T .

7 .The S A B B A TH w a s recognized by the J ewi sh code a s

a D ivin e instituti o n , and pr o te cted by e nactments d e n o u n c
i ng the penalty o f death against th o se w ho were guilty of
des ecratin g i t E x 2 0: 8 , 1 0; 3 1 : 1 4 L ev 2 3 : 3 0
.
— . . . .

N um 1 5 : 3 2 3 6 A mong ci vilized nati o ns , the S abbath

.
— .

i s still pr o tected by l egislati o n , alth o ugh , a s a general

thing , th e prescribed penalti es are alt o gether i nadequate .

8 The J ewish code forbade the taking o f B RI B ES

. Ex .
—
.

23 : 8 M odern n a ti o ns hav e foll o wed the same example ,

.

a n d still pu nish i t as a hei nous crime .

9 I f a man sh o uld m e et the o x o r A SS o f his enemy

.

G OI N G A S T RAY , he was c o mpelled to take i t up and deli ver

i t to him ; and if he fo und i t i n a pit , he was required
t o help i t o u t E x 2 3 : 4 , 5 F r o m these provisi o ns we
—
. .

derive o u r m o dern laws c o ncerni ng E S T RAYS .

1 0 The RE A P E R was fo rbidden t o reap the corn ers o f his

.

fi eld , o r to gath er TH E G LE ANI N G S o f hi s harvest ; and the

T I LLER O F VI N ES w a s n o t su ffered to glean his vi neyard .

These gleanings w ere reserved f o r the benefit o f the poor .

— L ev 1 9 : 9 ; 2 3 : 2 2
. I sa 1 7 : 6 Here w e have the
. . .

origi n o f o u r laws concerning the po o r .

1 1 N O stumbling bl o ck might be cast i n the way o f

.
-

TH E B LI N D L ev 1 9 : 1 4 S ee m o dern laws conc erning

.
— . .

consequenti al and mali ci o us i nj uries t o the p erson , fo und

ed up o n the same pri nciple .

1 2 The law pr o hibi ted the us e and eve n the p o ssessi o n

.

O f F A LSE B A L AN C ES , M E ASURES , AN D W EI GH T S L ev 1 9 .
-

3 5, 3 6 Deut 2 5 : 1 3 1 6
. . S imilar pr o vi si o ns exist i n
—
.

a l l o u r m o dern c o des ; and o u r laws agai nst C OUN T ERFEI T

I N G , FOR G E RY , etc , pr o bably had a similar origi n

. .

13 I n the J ewi sh laws c o ncerni ng the treatment o f

.

l epers , and LE P ROU S P ERSONS , w e fi nd a complete system

o f ! U AR AN T I N E n o t very dissimilar t o o u r o w n S e e L ev . .

1 3 ch C o mpare these provisi o ns wi th m ode r n laws con

.

c erning public nuisanc es , health , etc .

86 LA W AN D G OVERNMEN T .

als o c om m i ssioned to guard the sovereignty O f l a w ,

and more clea rly t o announc e the plan of salvation , a s
w ell as to predict the speedy advent o f th e pr o mised S e
vi or Y et they c o ntinued t o rebel N o twithstanding th e
. .

awful j ud g ments whi ch th e Hebrews w ere commissi on

ed t o execute up o n their id o latr o us n eighbors , and n o t
w i thstandi ng all the restrai nts with w hi ch G od had sur
rounded them , they still persisted i n manifesting a spirit o f
o p en disloyalty , and an i nveterate l o v e o f the ab o mi n abl e

r ites of i dolatry A lthough th ey retain ed a kn owl edge o f

.

th e true G o d , and ge nerally mai ntai ned an o utward pro

f e s s i o n o f their allegiance t o h i m , yet , until th e close O f
the propheti cal writin g s , i t i s v ery clear that id o latry w a s
their e a sily besetting si n But the other n ati o ns o f th e
.

e arth seem t o have b een given u p t o w o rk o u t w i th g re e

d i n e s s the ab o minati o ns o f pag anism .Here agai n w e find
developed a N E C ESSI T Y F OR the i ntr o ducti o n o f SOME F U R
TH ER EL E M EN T OF M OR A L P O W ER .

.6 G O S P E L DI S P EN SA T I ON
. Hitherto the h o pe o f salva
ti on for a rui ned race had rested entirely U p o n the pro
mise o f J eh o vah to provide a S avi o r , and by his S piri t
to turn th e hearts o f the pe o ple to h imself But , alth o ugh
.

TH E S A V I O R A P P E A RE D and O ffered up h i m s e lf a willing

sacrifice f o r the Sins o f the whole world , and f o r many
years publicly taught the J ews i n thei r stre ets and i n
the i r synagogues , and held up befo re them hi s o w n
spotless exampl e o f perfec t dev o ti o n t o the will o f G o d ,
ye t He di sti nctly assured them that He did n o t c o m e to
destr o y ei ther the law o r the pr o phets , but to fulfil them .

—
M att 5 : 1 7 The task o f pr o vi ng that the G o spel d o es
. .

n ot , i n any sense , rev o ke o r repeal , ei ther the m o ral o r

the ci vi l c ode , might have bee n readily dispensed wi th ,
i n vi ew o f the specific declarati o n w e ha v e j ust qu o ted ,
‘

were i t n o t for the fact that a few i ndividuals are n o w i n

d u s tr i o u s l y ci rculating an o pposite senti m ent . This ci r
 G OS P E L D I S P EN S A T I ON . 87

c u m s ta n cewill j ustify us i n devotin g a little t i me t o th e

pr o of o f the pr e po s i ti o n that TH E G O S P E L not o nly R E
A F FI RMS BO TH o f these codes , but g o es still farther , and
gives them a much m o re rigid c o nstruction than th a t
whi ch had befo re prevailed .

When o u r S avi o r was questi oned , o n o n e occasi on , as

t o the relative merits o f the di fferent com m a ndments o f
the D ecalogue , He answered by reducin g them to two
“
single elements love t o G o d and l o ve t o man
—
Thou .

shalt l o ve the L o rd th y G o d with all thy heart , and with

’

all thy s o ul , and with all thy mi nd This i s the first and.

great c o mmandment and the s ec o nd is like unt o it Thou .

shalt l o ve thy n eighb o r as thyself ” M att 2 2 : 3 5 3 9

.
—
.
— .

I t i s quite remarkable , to o , that i n g i vi ng this elem entary

exp o siti o n o f the Ten C o mmandments , He qu o ted literally
fr o m the J ewish civil c o de D eut 6 : 5 L ev 1 9 : 1 8
.
— . . . .

We thus find hi m giving a full ratificati o n to both thes e

codes : and He then adds , speaki ng o f the elementary r e
“
q
.. u i r e m e n ts o f l o ve t o G o d and l o ve t o man , O n thes e

t w o c o mmandments hang all the law and the pr o phets

” .

M att 2 2 : 4 0 He says again , i n M att 5 : 1 8

. . F or .

v erily I say unt o y o u , till heaven and earth pass , on e j e t

o r o n e tittle shall i n nowi s e p a ss from the l a w , t ill a l l b e

fulfilled ” .

A v ery considerable p o rti o n Of Christ s S e r mon on the

’

M ount was dev o ted to an i nterpretati o n o f such o f the

c ommands o f the D ecalogue , and o f such o f the precepts
o f the civil c o de , as had b een most frequently evaded , o r

abused by mi sconstruction His wh o le argument w a s

.

based up o n the fact that b o th codes were still i n force .

We are there taught that t o b e angry with a brother with

o u t a cause was a vi o lati o n o f the c o mmand , Thou shalt
n o t kill
” M att 5 : 2 1 2 3
. .
—S e e als o t o the same poi nt ,
.

1 J o hn 3 . 15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a m u r

derer ”. I n c o m menting upon the co m m a nd , Thou s h a lt
 88 L A W AN D G OVERN M EN T .

“
not c o m mit adultery , o u r S avi o r adds , But I say unt o
o u that wh o soever l o o keth o n a w o man t o lust after her ,
y ,
”
hath co m mitted adultery wi th her already i n his heart .

M att 5 : 2 7 , 2 8 He then pr o ceeds to exh o rt hi s hearers

. .

to eradicate fr o m their hearts every i mpure desire .

A t the time O f the promulgatio n o f the civil c o de , the

sacredness Of the marri age c o ntract was but little regarded ,
-

and div o rces were frequent ; and as G o d determi ned t o

reserv e i n his o w n hands the right t o deal with those w h o
thus practiced , He barely limited the evil by i ntr o duci n g
i nt o that c o de a provi sion requiri ng th e man who put
a way his wife t o give t o her a bill o f div o rcement . N ow ,
a s the J ews h a d c o nstrued this law Of li mi tati o n as san c

t i o n i n g di vorces , w ithout any j ust cause , our S avi o r n ext

t o ok o ccasion t o refer t o G o d s origi nally recorded i nsti
’

tu ti o n , and to quote i t from their civi l c o de and then add

“
ed , by way o f c o mment , B ut I say unt o y o u tha t w h o
soever shall put away his wife , savi ng f o r the caus e o f
fo rnicati on , causeth her t o c o m m i t adultery ; and wh o so
ever Shall marry her that is divorced , committeth adul
te ry .
” —
M att 5 : 3 1 , 3 2
. . S e e als o M ark 1 0: 4 , 1 1
.

R eferri ng to the third com m andment ,and quoting , pr o

bably , fr o m s o me o f their j udici al o r tradi ti o nal i nter
“
r e ta t i o n s o f th e civi l c o de , o u r S avior c o nti nues Y e
p ,

have heard that i t hath been said by them o f o l d ti me ,

t h o u shalt n o t fo rswear thyself, but shalt perfo rm u nt o
the L o rd thi ne o aths ; b u t I say u nt o y o u , Swear n o t at
all , n ei ther by h eaven , f o r i t i s G o d s thr o n e n o r by the
’

e arth , f o r i t i s his fo o tst o o l n e ither by J erusalem , for i t

i s the city o f the great King ; n e ithe r shalt thou sw ear by
thy head , because th o u c anst n ot make o n e hair W hite o r
blac k B u t le t y o ur c o m municati o n be yea , yea , nay ,
.

D a y ; f o r whats o ever i s m o re than these , c o meth o f evil

”
.

-
M att 5 : 3 3 3 7 I t i s pro p er to rem a rk , i n this c o nnec
.
— .

ti on , a lso , that i n re fe r en c e to one s i n whi c h necess a rily

 G O SP E L I
D SP EN S A T I ON 89

i nvolves a vi o lati o n of the thi rd comm a ndment , our S a

vi or has pronounced the fearful j u dgment that i t is a b s o
l u te l y unpardonabl e , Whos o ever speaketh agai nst th e
Holy Ghost , it shall n o t be fo rgive n him , ne ithe r i n this
world , n eith e r i n the world t o c o me ” —M a tt
12 : 3 2 . . .

S ee also M ark 3 : 2 8 , 2 9 L uke 1 2 1 0 . .

F r o m what has been already said , i t i s pe r fectly e viden t

that the S a vior , i n quoting fr o m b o th c o des , i n d i scr i m i
h ately regarded them as being i n fu ll force and th a t by
;
his co m ments upon particular precepts , He i nte nde d t o
i n c ulcate a much more rigid rule o f construction th a n th a t
whi ch had previ o usly prev ailed By this i t i s n ot m e a nt .

that nati o ns , o th e r than the Jews , befo re their p eculia r

dispens a ti o n w as don e away , have been , and w ill c o nti nu e
to be , subj e ct to the p e culi ariti es Of the J ewish civil code .

But this is n o t all We shall find o n exa m in ati on ,that the

.

Gospel , equally with t h e D ec a l o gu e and the J ewi sh civil

code , proh ibits e verythin g th a t i s wron g , and co m m ands
“
everythi ng that i s right Therefo re , all thi ngs what
.

soever ye w o uld that m e n sh o uld do to you , do ye eve n

s o to th e m for this i s the law and the p r o phets ” M att .
—
.

7 : 12 This is the GO L D EN RULE

. and if m e n would
“
fully confo rm t o i t , they w o uld ceas e to d o e vi l , and
lear n to do w ell ” i t r eq
— u i r e s a c ti ve o be d i en ce We a r e .

taught also , spe cifically , t o keep the c o mmandments .

M att 1 9 : 1 6 — 1 9
. The duty Of know ing , servi ng , and
.

fe a ring G o d , i s fully enj oi ned by the G o spel M att 2 6 .

-
.

41 . L uke 1 8 : 1 M att 6 : 9 , 1 5 James 2 : 1 0 Thess

. . . . .

5 : 17 M att 5 : 4 4 , 4 8 ; 1 0: 2 8 L uke 1 2 : 5
. . . .

The Gospel als o enj oi ns U pon all me n the duty of sub

missi on a n d ob edi ence to civi l g o v e rnment Put them .

i n mi nd t o b e subj ect to principaliti es and p o wers to

obey magistr a tes , to b e ready to every good wo rk ” —Ti t . .

3 1 . O bey them th a t h a ve the rule ove r you ” .

H eb 1 3
. 7 . S ub m it you r selves to eve r y o r d in a n c e of
d?
8
90 LA W A N D G O V E RN M EN T .

m a n , fo r the L ord s sake whether i t be to the ki ng a s

’

supreme , o r unt o g o vern o rs as unt o th em that are sent by

hi m fo r the pun ishment o f evil d o ers , and f o r the praise
-

of them that do well ” .1 Pet 2—

13 , 14 . L et every
.

soul be subj ect unto the higher p o wers , for there i s

no p o wer but o f G od ; the powers that be , are ordained
of G Od ” — R om 1 3 : 1—7 F o r this , th o u shalt n ot
. . .

commi t adultery th o u sha l t n ot kill— th o u shalt n o t steal

—

-
thou shalt not bear false wi tness th o u shalt n o t cove t
—

and if there be a n y o ther commandme nt , i t i s bri efly

comprehended i n thi s sayi ng , nam ely , th o u shalt l o ve thy
n eighbor as thys elf L o ve w o rketh n o i ll t o his n eigh
.

bor ; therefore l o ve i s the fulfilling o f the law — R om ” . .

13 9 , 1 0 The c o mmand t o l o v e o u r n eighbor , n o t only

.

requires us t o do him all th e go o d we c o nsistently can ,

but i t clearly fo rbids that w e sh o uld d o hi m any inj ury
“
love w orketh n o ill ” What w e o w e to one o f o u r
n eighb o rs , w e o w e to all ; and hence , w e are taught by
the A p o stle , that n o o n e h a s a ri g ht t o d o any act , o r to
omit the perfo rmance o f any duty , which ca n be prej udici al
to the general w elfare .

A n o ther element o f m o ral power , therefo re , that w a s

I ntroduced by the G OS P E L disp ensati o n is , that i t R E
A F FI RMS TH E M O RA L COD E , A N D A LSO TH E C I VI L , which i s
b a s ed up o n i t I t teaches us t o c onstrue the elementary
.

pri nciples which had been previ o usly pr o mulgated wi th

great stri ctness , and t o regard t h e i nstituti o n o f c ivil g o v
e r n m e n ts as a part o f the Divi ne ec o n o my , subj ecti ng us

t o the duty o f O bedi enc e to the ci vi l m agistrate .

The n ext element w a s TH E D ES C EN T O F TH E HOLY S P I RI T

— the establishment o f th e GOS P E L M I NI S T RY and the —

G A TH ERI N G O F A VI SI B LE C H U R CH , c o mmiss i o ned and r e

quired to publish t o every creature that the w o rk o f man s ’

redempti o n was n o w c o mplete S alvati o n i s n o w seen to be

.

p oss ible , a n d freely o ff e r ed to every m ember of the hu m an

 S
GO PE L R E! U I S I T I O N S . 91

f a m ily . Y et the great mass of m anki nd still rej ect its

graci o us overtures , and i ts pr o gress i n converting the
w o rld i s b o th slow an d d i fli cu l t I nfideli ty and vi ce are
.

not yet subdued but are , even n o w , c o ntending earnestly

f or the C o mplete mastery o f the r a ce .We have , h o w
e ver , the assurance o f G o d that the S avi or w ill return

that righteousness and truth , peace , j oy , and eternal

blessedness , will then prevail .

7 . Whether God designs t o i ntroduce A N Y F UR TH E R

E LEMEN T o f m o ral po wer under this e c o n o my , o r whether
that gl o ri o us result i s to b e acc o mplished by a m o re
c o pi o us e ff usi o n o f his S pirit , or by b o th t o geth er ; or
whe ther the M illennial state i s t o be ushered i n by the
i ntr o ducti o n o f an o ther dispensati on o r econ o my , i s a
u e s ti o n a b o u t whi ch there i s much dispute Though the
q .

m o ral admi nistration o f God i n reference t o the human

family has been characterized by the gradual exhibiti o n o f
successive and cumulative elemen ts o f m o ral power , i t
must b e remembered that thi s feature o f the Divi n e
e con o my furnishes n o evidence o f hi s w a nt o f foresi g ht ,
n or d o es it at all impeach his w isd o m .

A careful REVI E W OF TH E P RE C E D I N G D I S C USSI ON will

fo rce upon the mind o f every unprej udiced re a de r s everal
m o st imp o rtant c o nclusi o ns .

.I I n th e m o ral governme nt o f G o d , n o di sti n cti o n i s

rec o gniz ed between m o ral and civi l law , except i n regard
t o penalty . That i s , the o bj ect o f b o th s eems t o be ,
to s e cure and perpetuat e universal o bedi e nce t o the will
o f the L awgiver , o bedi en ce t o th o s e great pri nciples , a
p
pli cable t o the race civil and religi ous S uch there were
—
.

i n the codes o f the Hebrews I n each o f these c o des ,

.

there is a spiritual penalty but i n the latter there is also

always a temp o ral o r physi cal , and frequently i n the
former A s the S upreme Govern o r of the uni vers e , G o d
.

h a s r ese r ved to hi m self the e xc lusive r i g ht o f a d m i niste r

92 L AW A N D G O VE RN M EN T .

i ng the o n e (spiritual ), and delegated to the civil p o w e r

the ri g ht , and imp o sed the duty o f admi nistering the other .

The Spiri tual penalty annexed to every speci es O f s i n is eter

nal death but the temp o ral o r physical must o f necessi ty
be o f suc h a n a ture as to c o me withi n the abilit y o f the
civil magistrate t o i nflict N either O f these pe nalties ,
.

however , can be regarded as a substitute f o r the o ther .

A man w h o h a s vi o lated th e c ivi l law by the crime o f

murder , subj ects himself to its pe nalty , whi ch is temporal
death but , i nasmuch as he h a s by the same act , vi o lated
als o the m o ral c o de , b e i s liable , n o twi thstandi ng the i n
fli c ti o n o f the ci vi l penalty , to su ffer the pai ns o f death
eternal .

I t i s n o t pretended that th e Jewish mun i cipal c ode i s

bi nding up o n o th er nati o ns i n any o ther sense than as a
system o f preceptive o r p o li tical m o rality I t w a s devised
.

by the S uprem e L awgiver and i ts penalti es w ere adapt

ed to the peculi ar ci rcumstances and character Of the
J ews M any O f these penalti es were extremely rig o r o us ,
.

while o th ers w ere c o mparatively trivial ; yet they w ere

all w isely adapted to the acc o mplishment o f the peculiar
purp o ses o f their n ati o nal exi stence and p o si ti o n I t .

c o uld n o t have been designed , therefo re , that o ther na

tions sh o uld c o nfine their legislati o n rigidly to the lette r
of the J ewish c o de , either as t o its precepts o r penalties .

Y et i t was und o ubtedly i ntended to teach all nati o ns the true

pri nciples and o bj e cts o f ci vi l legislati o n , and the necessi ty
o f sui table and adequate pe nalti es t o secure the due o b
,

servance O f the precepts to which they are annexed .

l I A L L TH E E LEM EN T A RY PRI N C I P L ES O F CIVI L L E G I S

.

L A T I O N which have ever bee n ad o pted by human g o vern

m ents p o ssessing any value , have be e n D ERI VE D , m o re o r
less di re ctly , FROM D IVI N E R EV E LA T I ON .

The PEN T A T EU CH i s certainly the m o st anci ent bo o k of

whi ch we have any kn o wledge , i n which can be found
94 L A W A N D G OV ERN M EN T .

pens e was fully rec o gni zed and e nfo rced We find i n t hi s
.

c o de , la w s also f o r the reli ef o f th e p o o r , and f o r the pro

t e c ti o n o f the public he alth , religi o n , and m o rals .The
man w h o , i n the face o f all th ese pr o visi o ns , is unwilling
t o admi t that w e are i ndebted t o the Bible f o r all o u r

knowled g e o f the rights and duties o f c ivil g o vernment ,

must confess himself t o b e either desti tute O f c o mm o n
h o nesty , o r else gr o ssly defici ent i n me ntal capacity .

I II CI VI L GOV ERNM EN T C ONS T I T U T ES O N E I M P O R T AN T

.

ELEMEN T I N GO D S MOR A L A D MI NI S T R A T I O N , and was de

’

vised by hi m as an e fficient i nstrume nt i n pr o m o ting the

du e O bservance o f hi s law This was i ts chi ef desi g n ;
.

and i t n o w c o nstit u tes the full m easure o f i ts duty .

A lthough this conclusion has been alre ady anti cipated

i n th e precedi ng pages , its ve ry great i mp o rtance will
j ustify a recapitulati o n Of the argume nts up o n which i t i s
based We are well aware that i ts bare ann o uncement
.

will be su ffici e nt to awake n the j eal o usy O f many readers ,

and t o i nduc e them , perhaps , to c o ndemn o u r re a s o nin g
wi th o ut even l o o ki ng at i ts fo rce The clamor of d ema
.

o u e s sh o uld n o t deter us h o wever from an h o nest and

g g , ,

faithful adv o cacy o f the truth If w e Sh o uld b e a ccused

.

o f an attempt t o bring ab o ut a uni o n o f Church a n d

”
S tate , w e can o nly say that we have n o such desire and
w e refer o u r readers , f o r a refutation o f all such accusa
ti o ns , to what w e i ntend t o say under the head of R e
li g i o us L i be r ty
.
” O ur present business i s w ith the s imple
questi o n , I S o u r c o n clusi o n j ust ?
We have sh o wn that
the n ecessity o f human g o vernments was laid i n the con
s t i tu ti o n o f thi ngs
-
that the h ist o ry o f o u r race , fro m the
creati o n o f our first pr o genit o r t o the present time , demon
s tr a te d thi s n ecessi ty bey o nd the p o ssibili ty o f cavil th a t
—

G o d has , at o n e peri o d o f the w o rld , under the J ewish

The o cracy , exhibi ted i ts n ecessity and practical utility ,
and reve a led f o r i ts guidance th e elements of an e ntire
 C I V I L G OVE RNMEN T ESSEN T I A L . 95

s yste m o f j urisprudenc e , whi ch the wisdom of a ges has n o t

essenti ally en l arged that this system was based u p o n hi s
—

m oral c o de , and p o i nted exclusi vely t o the enforcement o f

i ts pr o visi o ns that the authori ty o f human government i s
—

der i ved fr o m him , an d based up o n his prer o gativ e that —

“
He commands communiti es as well as i ndi vi duals to
obey the powers that b e ” and that He has expressly de
—

c l a r e d that civil g o vernments were o rdai ned by hi m are

—

h i s ministers f o r good , and revengers t o execute wrath

upon him that doeth evil .

I V God h o lds C OMMUNI T I ES AN D N A T I ON S C O L L Ec

.

T I V E L Y , A S W E LL A s TH EI R C ON S T I T UEN T S I N D I VI D UA L LY
,

RES P ON SI B LE FO R T H E D UE A D MI NI S T RA T I ON OF C I VI L
G OVERNMEN T S ,u p o n th o se eternal pri nciples o f ri ght which
He has made kn o wn t o us i n hi s W o rd .

I f g o vern ors are i ndeed H I S MI NI S T E RS , his charact e r as

a m o ral govern o r demands that He should hold them to a
stri ct acc o unt f o r every departure fr o m his will The
’

unifo rmi ty with whi ch He c o ntrols the animal kingd o m

and the material univers e , exhibi ts an unalterable d e te r m i,

nati o n to control everythi ng after the counsel o f hi s o w n

will and can I t b e supp o sed , f o r a si ngle moment , th a t
He w o uld su ff er s o terrible an engi ne Of moral p o wer , as
that O f civil g o vernment , t o swing o u t o f its place i n thi s
m oral system , with o ut exhibiti ng hi s displeasure ? H e
has taught us the accuracy o f this c o nclusi o n als o , by t h e
general course o f his pr o vidence Whe n the antediluvi an
.

nati o ns had give n themselves up to id o lat r y , He swept them

fr o m the earth as with the bes o m o f destructi o n and
when the Canaanites had corrupted their way befo re him ,
he gave them t o fire and the sw o rd He des o lat ed E gypt
.

with hi s plagu es , and afterwards engulfed their armi es i n

th e sea F o r nearly eighteen hundred years He has held
.

up befo re the nati o ns o f the earth the entire race o f the

Jews , as a livi ng monument o f his ex ecuted Wr a th f o r n a
96 L A W A N D G OVE RN M EN T .

ti o n a l sins A t o n e ti me He s ent fo rth the

. b l a c k d e a th ,”

and destr o yed n early o n e half o f th e enti re race A m o n g

-
.

the i d o latr o us n ati ons O f the eastern world , the pestilence

has be e n c o mmissioned , year after year , to walk i n dark
”
n ess , and the destructi o n to w aste a t n o o n day -
”
.

When the polished i nhabitants O f F rance had trampled

up o n his auth o ri ty , and declared themselves i ndependent o f
hi s c o ntrol , by a nati onal decre e , b e caused the m to dri nk ,
'

t o i ts v ery dregs , the cup o f national and i ndividual s u fi e r

i n g , until the land was deluged i n bl o od .

S O unifo rm have be en the dealings o f G o d s providence

’

wi th nati o ns whi ch have c o rrupted thei r way befo re hi m , ”

that i nfideli ty herself has be en c o mpelled t o ackn o wled g e ,

and she still ackn owledges , that n o nation can long pros
per with o ut a n adherenc e to virtue .

But God has taught us the sam e l esson i n hi s Word .

S peakin g t o the Church o f the o bligation of n a ti o n s to

c arry o u t and enforc e his law I sa 6 0: 1 2 H e says
— .
—

“
F o r the n ati on and kingdom that will n o t s erve the e
shall perish ye a , those n ations shall be utterly w asted ” .

He d o eth acc o rding to his will i n the army o f heaven ,

and among the i nhabi tants o f the earth and n o ne can stay
his hand , o r say u nt o him , What d o est th o u Dan 4 :
—
.

35 . S o n o f man , whe n the land si nneth agai nst me , by

transgressing gri ev o usly , the n will I stretch out my han d
up o n it , and wi ll break the sta ff o f the bread there o f, and
will s end fami ne upon i t , and will c ut o ff m a n and be a st
”
fr o m i t — E zek 1 4 : 1 3 .
. .
 P AR T I I .

R E L IG I OU S L I B ER T Y .

M AN Y o f the o pi ni o ns whi ch are prevalent i n the c o m m u

mity , i n regard to R eligi ous L ib erty , are n o t only crude
a n d i n d e fi n a bl e but abs o lutely uns o und and danger o us
, .

A large pr o p o rtion o f thos e writers w h o hav e dev o ted

their attenti o n to the s o cial and m o ral i nterests o f man
ki nd , have been led , fr o m s o me caus e or o ther , to shrink
from the duty o f basi ng their arguments upon the will o f
G o d as exhibit ed i n the nature and relations o f man . A
respect f o r the squeamishness o f I n fi d e l s o r D eists affo rds
but a very lam e apol o gy f o r s o gr o ss a departure fr o m the
pri nciples o f true phil o s o phy . The man who beli eves
t hat God is the Cre at o r and G o vern o r o f all things , i s
with o ut excuse , certai nly , if he does n o t als o b eli eve that
the happi ness o f the human family must depend entirely
up o n thei r c o nfo rmity t o hi s re quirements I f civil g o
.

v e r n m e n ts were i nst ituted by G o d f o r the pr o motion o f

human h a ppi ness and if thei r resul t cann o t b e expected

—

without a real and substantial c o nformity to his will h o w —

preposterous is that delicacy whi ch would bury up the

o nly true source o f o bligati on i n the dreamy and fictiti o us
“ ”
abstractions of social c o mpacts , and surrendered o r“

delegated rights .
” I n the fo llowi n g pages i t will be o u r
design to disinter some o f the m o re important pri nciples
o f personal and soci al responsibility ; and , th o ugh i n a v ery

desultory and s o mewhat repetiti ous manner , w h i ch th e '

ci rcu m st a nces o f the case , not necessary t o detail here ,

9
98 RELI G I OUS LI B ER T Y .

seem to j ustify , t o lay them o pen f o r the i nspection of all

w h o really desire to prom o te the happi ness o f th e com
m u n i ti e s i n which they dwell .

R ELI G I O US L I B E R T Y consists i n th e unrestri cted power

o f sayi ng and d o i ng whatever will c o nduce t o the gl o ry o f

G o d , and to the temp o ral and spiri tual welfare o f man .

I t d o es not , n o r will i t ever , c o nsist i n th e p o wer o f sayin g

o r d o i ng a n thi ng which t ends t o the i nj ury o f m an i n
y
any of his relati ons , social , m oral , o r religious , or to th e
dishon o r o f G o d .

P O LI T I C A L L I B ER T Y i s said to consist i n the p o we r o f

doi ng whatever does n o t i nj ure
CI VI L O R M UN I C I P A L L I B ER T Y i s said to c o nsist i n the
unrestri cted p o wer Of doing what ever is n o t prohibited by
laws imp o sed by th e c ivil g o vernment But i t must be
.
.

rem embered , that the m ere o mission o f th e ci vil govern

ment to pr o hibit an act that i s i n itself wrong , or o pp o sed
t o th e L aw o f G o d , can not c o nfer upon the subj ect the
right o f perfo rming i t We are required by the D ivin e
.

L aw , to deal justly , love m ercy , and walk humbly wi th

G od and th e fact that w e live under a g o vernm ent th a t
n eglects t o h o ld the same language , cann o t surely be r e

g a rded as abs o lvi n g us fr o m the o bligations which i t i m

poses E very man sustai ns certai n fixed relati ons to God
.

and to s o ci e ty , fr o m whi ch he cannot escape and hi s con

s eque nt obligati o ns are such that he can n ever hav e any
right , eith er n atural , m o ral , o r religi o us , t o d o o r to say
anythi ng which will i nj ure himself o r hi s fell o w men , or -

which i s o pp o sed to the w ill o f his Creat o r .

The human race c o nsists o f a single speci es , and hence

we derive the un iversali ty o f n atural j urisprudenc e What .

are kn o wn t o u s o f th e n atural duti es and rights o f man ,

fo rm the basis o f all l aws When appli ed exclusively t o
.

his relati o ns to G o d , they fo rm the subj ect o f N a tur a l L a w

S e e th e C onsti tuti onal C h art e r of F ran ce .
 P RE LIM I N A RY RE M A R ! S . 99

o r the L a w of N a tur e , w hi ch is the law of G o d ; w h en

they are applied t o hi s relati o ns t o vari o us and i n d e pe n
dent c o mmunities , they c o nstitute the subj ect o f N a ti o n a l
L a w o r the L a w of N a ti o n s ; and when appli ed to hi s r e
l a t i o n s t o s o me parti cular community , o f whi ch he i s a
constituent part , they bec o me the subj ect of M UNI C I P A L ,

L AW .

M an i s a religi o us being , a fre e agent S o ci ety , g o .

v e r n m e n t , religi o n , and kn o wledge , are co n gen ial t o him ,

and essenti al t o his happi ness .

A ll men stand up o n a natural e quality o f duty an d o f

right : and hen ce , n o o n e has a n atural right t o c o erce o r
c o ntr o l his fell o w But as G o d , w h o i s the abs o lute pr o
.

r i e t o r o f the race has established , by virtue o f his pr e r o

p ,

g a ti v e
,
the rights i nv o lved i n civ il g o vernment ,
each i ndi
vidual is necessari l y subj ected to such a degree o f restrai nt
as is , o n the wh o le , w isely adapted t o his conditi o n and
character I n every respe ct , h o wever , the e quality of
.

men is fixed and i nali enable .

R I GH T i s the p o wer o f d o i ng an a cti o n o r possessin g a

thi n g consistently w i th law N a tu r a l R ight i s the p o wer
.

o f d o ing and havi ng , c o nsistently wi th N a tu r a l L a w, o r

the L a w of G o d and C i vi l R ight is th e p o wer o f d o i ng

and having , c o nsistently with the C i vi l L a w .

R ights are divided i nt o tw o ki nds ,p erfec t and i mp erfe ct .

A n imperfect right i s o n e the exerci se o f which is pr o

h i bi te d
. R utherfo rd says , wh ere n o law restrains a
man from carryi ng his rights i nt o ex ecution , i t is called a
erfe c t right
” The pr o pri ety o f this division is d o ubted
p .

by s o me The y are by o thers divided i nto p r i ma r y and

.

s e c o n d a r y ; o r , d e te r mi n a te and i n d e te r mi n a te O B LI G A T I ON
.

and R ight are c o rrelative terms .

R ights are N A T U RA L o r AD VEN T I T I O US N atural R ights

.

are th o se whi ch bel o n g to man by the g ift o f G o d , and

whi c h p ertai n to hi m a s a n i ndividu a l r el a ted only to his
 1 0
0 RE LI G I OU S L I B ER T Y .

God A dventiti ous rights are such as arise fro m c ivil o r

.

p o litical ass o ciati o n , o r fr o m any state o f soci ety i n whi ch

agreements w o uld be made A ri st o tle calls them O RI G I
.

N A L and V O LU N T A RY ; B lackst o ne , AB S O LU T E and R E L A

T I VE .

The v ery basi s o f g o vernment a n d law is fo unded i n

o u r natural rights . A dventiti o us rights , as acquired c o n
s i s te n tl
y with the L aw o f N ature , are as much o u r o w n ,

and as i nvi o lable as if th ey had bee n di sti nctly and o ri g i

n ally give n by th e L aw o f N ature .

L I B ER T Y i s subj ect by N atural L aw t o thre e Speci es of

restrai nts , wh ich result , first , fr o m o u r duty to G o d s e —

c o n d l , from o u r duty t o m anki nd —

thirdly from o u r duty
y ,
“
to o u r sel v e s fi I t is v ery easy t o se e fr o m this definiti o n o f
L i be r ty , that m en have n o right t o contemn G o d , ridicul e
his w o rd ,o r i n any way to transgress his law S uch c o ndu c t .

w o uld be i nj uri o us to themselves and to the community .

F REN CH MEN , says their C o nsti tut i onal Charter and

” —

surely n o o n e wi ll accuse th e F rench o f i ndulging too

great a partiality fo r puritanism have a right to publish
and pri nt their O pinions , o n confo rming themselves to the
laws which o ught t o repress the abuses o f thi s l iberty ” .

The laws o f N ature , o f R eligi o n , and o f o u r country , a l l

combi n e to fo rbi d o u r d o ing o r saying anythi ng agai nst
God o r his g o vernment , or what i s calculated to oper a t e
against th e i nterests o f hi s subj ects even i n th e pres ent
life I f w e w ere t o ad o pt the F rench definiti o n o f R E
.

L I G I O U S T O LERA T I O N quoted ab o ve w e sh o uld find our

, ,

selves u nd er th e necessi ty o f pr o hibiti n g all blasphemy

and c o ntumeli o us repr o ach es o f the n ame and character o f
the S upreme Being , o r o f his h o ly w o rd , as w ell as every
speci es o f i mm o ral c o nduct , whether i n w o rd o r i n act .

“ ” “
The law , says the sam e Charter , o ught to pr o hibi t
s o m e o f th e p r”e ce d in g t h ou g h ts
F or , we are in d e b t e d t o H off
m an s
’
L eg al Ou tli n es .
10
2 REL I GI OU S L I B E R T Y .

“
shr i nk fro m the resp o nsibility o f contendi n g e a rnestly
f o r the faith o nce delivered to the s ai n ts ” S ome o f her
.

m o st distin g uished champi o ns , as w ell am o ng the clergy

as laity , hav e already g o ne s o far a s to yi eld up the wh o le
gr o und They seem t o have fo rg o tte n that the G o d o f
.

Heaven still Sits up o n the thr o n e o f un iversal e mpire

that C I VI L G OV ERNMEN T S A RE H I S MI NI S T ERS F O R G O OD ,”

and that they are held responsibl e by hi m as c o nstitutin g

“
an important link i n hi s m o ral admi nistration . F or
rules are n o t a terror t o good works , but t o th e evil ; for
he i s th e mi nister o f G o d , a revenger , t o execute wrath
upon hi m that doeth evil ; f o r thi s caus e pay ye t ribut e
als o , f o r they are God s mi nisters , attending continually
’

upon this very thi n g .

” I t i s high time that C hristians
sh o uld understand this subj ect , and plant themselves , i m
m o vably , upo n th e r o ck o f eternal truth S entiments like
.

the fo l lowi ng , are s o metimes seen t o emanate , n o t o nly

from the skepti c , and fr o m the m o st virul ent Opp o sers o f
Christianity , but als o from some o f i ts ackn owledg ed
champi o ns Tri nitari ans , as w ell as U nitarians , and
-

The o l o gians as well as Civili ans .

P ROFESS O R S O P I N I ON
’
. We mean , said a disti nguish
ed and E vangeli cal Pr o fess o r ,i n 1 8 3 0 ,
as quoted by an i n
fi d e l , that the M o hammedan even , and the J ew , a n d the
Deist , as well as the Chri stian , should hav e the l i b e r ty o f ’

w o rshiping i n hi s o w n way am o ng us , s o l o ng a s they

demean themselves peaceably , and d o n o t i nvade the
rights o f o thers ” But i s n o t the idolatry o f the o n e , and
.

the rej ecti o n O f Christian ity by the o thers , always i nj ur i

o u s t o the c o mmuni ty We kn o w o f n o excepti o n to
9

parti cipati o n i n civi l and s o ci al ri g hts , and the ri ght of

w o rshiping i n o u r o w n way , o r o f even n o t w o rshi ping i n
any way , under a government that i s free i n the sense
that w e w o uld have i t and all this wi th o ut any abridge
m ent o f the rights o f ci tizens , w ithout any ci vi l disabili
 D AN G E RO U S C ON C E S S I ONS . 0
1 3

ties.
”
I t i s t r ue that civi l g o v e rnments c a n not c o mp e l
me n t o worship G o d ; but d o es it thence foll o w ,that they ,

have a right , publi cly , t o se t up and w o rship id o ls P Can

civil g o vernments li cens e men t o n egl e ct the w o rship o f
the true G o d P Can they o verrul e the M o st High P
S upp o s e A bn er Kn eeland had set up , as was d o n e i n
F rance , the godd e ss o f hu m an reas o n , and publi cly w o r
s h i e d at her shrin e w ould it have been right P W uld
p o

n o t its i nflue nce have been inj uri o us P

“ ”
We n o t o nly beli eve , c o nti nues the sam e writer ,
that all m en should be left fre e t o fo rm their religi o us
o pi nions with o ut any ci vil penalti es o r disabiliti es but
, ;
we mai ntai n , m o st fully , that when the religi o us s enti
m ents o f any o n e are fo rmed , h e has a right t o pr o pagate
them , t o defe nd them , and t o support them , by his e ffo rts ,
his pen , his pr o perty , o r hi s i nfluence .
” There hav e been
pagans who believed i t to b e their duty to O ff er human
sacrifices to their i d o ls I f we t o lerate their religi o n , and
.

s u ff e r them t o pr o mulgate it , w e must als o tolerate i ts

rites and cerem o ni es M ust w e then stand qui etly by ,

.

and witn ess the imm o lati o n o f human v i ctims , i n sacrifice

to devils P O r , m u st w e qui etly listen t o the defenc e o f
su ch a practi ce P But i t may b e sai d that w e can preven t
it by punishi ng them f o r murder S upp o se , then , that
.
.

they should slaughter their vi ctims i n s o me o ther country ,

i n Canada , f o r i nstance that would b e a cri me f o r whi ch
—

we c o uld n o t punish M ust we su ff er them , i n such a

.

case , t o c o me here , and consummat e their horrible rite P

S hall they hav e th e liberty , publi cly , t o justify and de
fend i t P
” “
I n all this , he adds , w e understand ,o f cours e , that
i n s o d o ing , he does not slander o r abus e his neighbor , n o r
deny hi m any civi l o r s o cial right as a member o f th e
c o mmunity , n o r hi nder him i n the lawful exerci s e of i t .

O f the fo r mer o f these faults the ci vi l law j ustly m a y t a k e

 0
1 4 R EL I G I OU S L I B ER T r .

c o g ni z ance . A gainst the latter , the law

of love a n d o f
d o i ng as we would be done by , pr o tests ” I s i t of n o
.

c o nsequenc e that a m an sh o uld slander God P

A gai n , We b elieve m o st fully , that m e n have a
r ight t o p ropag ate their religious sentiments , if they con
fin e themselves t o argument and persuas i on , a n d d o n o t
appeal t o abuse , which i s a crime i n th e eye o f the civi l
law , i t being manifestly against the peace o f the c o m m u
nit
y
. We are well aware ,
i nde ed ,
o f the mi schi efs whi ch

may result fr o m a fre e right t o pr o pagat e religious , or r a

t h er i rreligi ous s entiments o f any kind We kn o w , too .

w ell , wh at i ncalculable evi l the p u bli cati o n o f such books

as the A g e of R e a s on , th e w o rks o f B o w l i n g e r , of V o ltaire ,
and o f L a M e ttr i e have occasion ed We shudder at i t , as
.

one o f the m o st dreadful o f evils ,i nasmuch as it takes hold

o n eternity , and n o t merely o n ti me . But dreadful a s i t
i s , we regard , as a still g reater evil , th e p o wer O f c ivi l
government , or of any eccl esi asti cal tribunal , t o suppress
the publi cati on o f books at its o pti on To day i t may .
-

cho o se , as F rederi ck the Great did , and th e F re nch Di

r ect o ry after hi m , t o circulate widely V oltaire , and De
A lembert , and R ousseau ; o r t o m o rr o w , i t may spread
-

wi de the p o ison o f some heresy lurking u nder a C hristi an

n ame whi le , at the same time , i t i nhibi ts all antidotes t o
these tremend o us evils The liberty o f the press , the u n
.

'

r e s tr a i n e d l i be r t is i n u r vi ew , fundamental t o r e
y f
o i t , ,
o

l i g i o u s liberty There i s a v ery wide di fference betwe en

the fre e us e o f the press , f o r the discussi o n of the clai ms
and d o ctri nes o f the Bible and i ts religion , and i ts use for
the purp o s e o f ridi culing o r denyi ng i t But we pr o ceed .

w i th o u r extracts I f the press be , as i t d o ubtless some

t imes i s , a m o st terrible i nstrumen t o f d o ing evi l : i t is
als o o n e o f the m o st e ffi ci ent o f all i nst rume nts i n d o ing
g o o d We w o uld f o r e ver leave i t o pe n and fre e t o do
.

g o od ; a n d i f th e liberty to do evi l m ust co m e along wi th

 0
1 6 R EL I GI O U S L I B E R T Y .

fea r the powers of a despot , shall we therefore r un heed

lessly i nto the whirlpo o l o f anarchy P We have alread y
alluded to th o se s enti me nts c o ntained i n these extracts t o
which we cann o t subscribe ; but they are alt o gether to o
i mportant t o b e passed by wi th s o slight a n o tic e .

I n the first place h e claims that men have a right t o

w orship anything o r n o thing and to embrace and pr Opa
—

gate falseho o d a s w ell as truth , provi ded they d o i t de

“
c e n tl y and wi thout slanderi ng the ir n eighb o rs I f the .

power of doing an acti on , o r possessin g a thing c o nsistently

”
wi th law , be a true definition o f the term r i g ht , i t becomes
ne cessary , i n order to test the accuracy o f these Opi ni o ns ,
to enquire whether the acts , here referred to , h a ve bee n
pr o hibited What s ays the L aw o f God o n t h is subj ect P
.

“
Th o u shall w orship th e L o rd thy God , and him o nly
shalt th o u serve .
” M att 4 1 0
—
. S peak ye every man
”
the truth to his n eighbor Z e ch 8 : 1 6
.
—
N o m an h a s
. .

th e power , therefore , t o perform thos e acti ons consistently

wi th the law O f G o d Will i t b e c o ntended , the n , that
.

the law or n ature authori z e s any such thi ng ? Will the

L aw o f N ature s u fle r me n t o bre ak away fr o m their all e
'

g i a n c e t o n ature s G o d
’ P What i s n ature ?
I t i s a mere
a bstracti o n o f A theism But let her as cend the thron e
.

and what will sh e the n say P Will she permi t h erself t o

be vi lified P Will sh e su ff er me n to slander her character
and perv ert h er designs ? The truth o f thi s matter i s per
f e c tl y plai n. M e n have n o right , e ither natural o r moral ,
t o w o rship anything but the livi ng G o d , o r t o beli e ve or
pr o pagate anythi ng but the truth E ve n if there we re n o .

G o d , the i nflue nc e O f i mm o ral c o nduct and athei sti c O pi n

i o ns upon the virtue and happi ness o f the co m munity i s
such , that they w o uld have a right , and i t w o uld be thei r
duty , on the pri nciple o f self preservati o n , t o i nsist that
-

they sh o uld be abandoned Whe n the i n fi d e l s o f F ranc e

.

fi rst be g an to p ro mulgate thei r bl a sphe m ous a n d li c entious

 D AN G EROU S C ON C ES S I ON S . 0
1 7

o p i n ion s , by the publi cati on a n d circulati on of tr a cts a t an

a nnual expense O f and to v o te aw a y her S ab
baths and burn her B ibles , can any o n e d o ubt , i n vi ew o f
the tremend o us s cen es whi ch immediately fo ll o wed ; that
i t was the duty o f that g o vernment t o suppress those e f
forts by the str o ng arm o f physi cal power P Dare any o n e
i nsult o u r commo n sens e s o far , as gravely t o i nsist that
th o s e i n fi d e l s had a right thus to deluge that unhappy
land o f their nativity i n the bl o o d o f its slaughtered citi
z ens P But it i s said that every man has a right to abstai n
from worshiping G o d Who then c a n doubt , if this b e
.

”
s o , tha t the fo o l , who has said i n hi s heart there i s “

”
n o G o d , was , i n that act , renderi ng as acceptable servi ce
t o his M aker as Th o mas was , when he exclaimed , M y
L ord and my G o d P ” I f such rights are suitable to finite
i ntellige nces ,what right had G o d to punish L ucifer , either
f o r his reb elli on or f o r seduci n g o u r first parents P
I t may b e said , however , that the learned A uthor o f
these e xtracts did n o t i ntend t o c o ncede the question o f
either natural o r m o ral right , and we sh o uld certainly b e
v ery glad to beli eve i t But his language has been f r e
.

que ntly quoted by the enemi es o f religi o n , i n the s ens e ii i

whi ch we have hithert o t reat ed i t ; and i t m u st be very
Obvi ous that i t is j ustly liable to that c o nstructi o n F o r ,
.

if w e are correctly i nfo rmed , the en emi es o f truth , i n hi s

immediate vi ci nity , hav e already ere cted the standard of
moral i ndependence , and declared w i th u nbl u shi n g e ff ron
t e r y , that all law i s us eless , government tyranni cal , and
g o od advi ce o mnip o te nt S uppose w e should admi t that
.

h e m erely i ntended t o claim that m en had a c i vi l r i g ht

thus t o do i t would still appear that eve n i n this us e o f
the t erm r i g h t, he has exp o sed hi ms elf am o ng comm o n
readers w h o u nderstand terms i n their o rdinary , rather
than i n the learned s ense , to an i n te r pr e ta ti o n w hi ch i s
' ’

e q u a ll y unfo r tun a te
. The y might very n a tu r a lly i nfer ,
 0
1 8 RE L I G I OU S LI B ER T Y .

from his l a n g uage , that the civil gov e r nment h a d actually

c onferred o n me n a p o w e r , the e xercise of w hi ch w a s
alike pr o hibi ted by N ature and by God whereas he could
o nly have meant that , i n the abs enc e o f ci vi l legislati on
,

m e n had the power thus to do , wi th o ut vi o lati n g any ci vi l

law But i n this als o , he i s equally mistake n the civil
.

law does pr o hibi t th e publi cati on of all Opi nions that are
c alculated to endanger the publi c morals ; and i t als o pr o
h i b i ts blasphemy , o bsce nity , and idolatry . The tru e ques
t i o ns , then , are , O ught these laws to be conti nued P o r , i n
—

the language o f Je fferson , I s i t wi se to execute the m P”

O n these questi o ns the wri ter , quoted ab o ve ,i s understood
t o stand disti nctly i n the n egative O ur a nswer t o these
.

questions will be give n under a subs e quent and general head .

I n the n ext plac e , w e a r e pre sented by the same writer

w ith the sti l l further questio n, O ught the press to be left
—

a s fre e t o d o evi l as i t i s t o d o g d
o o P
Here he takes his
stand i n the a ffirmati ve O ur answer must b e p o stponed ,
.

however , until w e have permitted some of his co a dj utors

t o speak .

J U D I C I A L C H A R G E O ur n ext qu o tati o n i s from a di s

—

t i n g u i s h e d civi li an , being P A R T O F A J U D G E S C I VI L C H AR G E
’

delivered t o a Grand Jury , as c o pi ed by an I nfidel

“
The preambl e o f o u r S tate C o nsti tuti o n decl a res , WE ,
TH E P EO P LE o f the S tate o f N ew Y o rk , do establish this
consti tuti on Th e c onsti tuti o n thus established , ordai ns
.

that every c itizen may fre ely speak , w ri te , and publish

his s entiments o n all subj ects , being resp o nsi ble f o r the
abuse o f that right and n o law shall b e passed to restrai n
o r abridge the l iberty o f spee ch o r o f the press The
’
, .

constitutio n explai ns what i t m eans by the ci ti zens being

r es on s i b l e f o r th e abus e o f this m o st i nesti m a ble right by
p ,

pr o viding that n o man shall be c o nvi cted by a Jury f o r a

libel i n thus speaking , writing , and publi shing hi s senti
ments on a n y subj ect , p r ovided the J u ry sh a ll be s a tisfied
 11 0 R E LI G I O US LI B ER T Y .

while i t pr o hibi ts any abri dgeme nt o f that ri g ht by legi s

lati o n , i t expressly declares that m en shall be held r e s po n
sible f o r its abuse But as there might be some c o ntra
.

ri et o f Opi ni o n , as t o what sh o uld c o nstitute an abuse of

y
that right , i t g o es o n t o de clare that n o man should b e
c onvi cted f o r publishi ng the truth w ith g o o d motives , and
f o r a j ustifiabl e end . I t i s manifest that this d o es n o t pr o
bibit the punishm ent o f me n f o r th e abuse o f their n atural
rights i n publishing that which is fals e , or even i n publish
i ng that whi ch i s true , pr o vided th e m o tives are malev o
lent It c o uld n o t have been the i ntenti o n of thi s pro
.

v isi o n to j ustify a man i n publi shing scandal o us fals eh o o ds ,

merely b ecause he b eli eved them —
n o j ury c o uld p o ssibl y
determine e ither as to th e sinceri ty o r h o n esty o f that
b eli ef I t was i nt ended t o qualify the character o f the
.

publi cati o n , and n o t the si ncerity o r h o nesty o f th e pub

l i sh e r Wh en the Judge claim ed that l n fi d e l s and A theists
.

have the sam e right t o publi sh their O pi ni o ns , and to

ende avor to m ake c o nverts t o them , that Christians have ,
b e was guilty o f a great o missi o n , therefo re , in n o t adding ,
that either o f them might , n evertheless , be punish ed f o r
the publ icati o n o f that whi ch is false and licenti o us The .

people d o n ot pledge the m selves to permi t th e publi cati o n

of i nfidelity and athe ism , unless i t i s tru e ; and as n o u n
prej udiced mi nd can doubt that they are b o th false and
licenti o us , i t i s evi dent that this clai m i s abs o lutely pre
p o s te r o u s
. M e n hav e n o natural right either t o slander

G o d , o r t o dis o bey hi s law .

A N O TH E R J U DG E l n fi d e l s have als o quoted another

.
—

J ud g e , f o r a similar purp o se , w h o se language , a s rep o rted

by them , i s still m o re i naccurate , and abs o lutely l i c e n
t ious
“
The C o nstituti o n says to all me n w h o c o me here
behav e civilly and dec ently w o rship as y o u ple as e , and
—

when y o u pl eas e o r stay a t h o me , and n o t worship at

—
 D A N G ERO U S C ON C ESSI O N S . i l l

all a r g ue d i s pr o v e the d o ctri nes o f others b e a s

— — a —

z eal o us as y o u please i n y o ur o w n c a us e a l l we ask i s ,

that y o u sh o uld n o t h o ld up t o ridi cule and repr o ach the
religi o n we have been t au ght , and whi ch w e desire o u r
children to reverence Y o u may advance y o ur se nti
.

ments and say what y o u ple as e , but d o i t decently ; d o

n o t repr o ach us and make an o bscen e j est o f religi o us
,

faith I admit that the A theist , as well as a n y o ther man ,

.

has a right to h o ld and pr o mulgate hi s O p i n i o ns , and to

make o thers believe them , if he can d o s o by de cent dis
c u ssi o n b u t he has n o right to h o ld up the G o d we w o r
ship to c o ntempt and ridi cule .
”

This lan g uage i s n o t the language o f a c o nstitution : i t

i s a mere c o mmentary , and like s o me other c o mmentari es ,
i t is an entire departure fr o m the t ext The great o bj e ct
.

o f all constituti o ns i s , t o prot e ct i ndivi duals i n the fre e

ex ercis e o f their natural and m o ral rights , and n o t to e n

l arge the field , either o f natural o r moral liberty But n o .

men i n their s ense s w o uld ever say , i n framing such an

i nstrument , that me n hav e a natural o r moral right t o do
“

wrong i t w o uld carry an absurdity o n its v ery fac e and

surely n o civi l co n stituti o n ever yet undertook t o endors e
the d o ctri nes o f athei sm , as e ither natural o r holy I t .

may n o t pr o hibit atheism ; but d o es it therefo re li c ense

i t P I f s o , then all w h o were privy t o i ts fo rmation , and
all w h o v o luntarily li ve unde r it , are practi cally answer
able f o r the c o nsequences o f d o w n right p e rsonal atheism .

A pledge that the freed o m o f spe ech and o f the press

should b e preserved , i s , i n fact , n o thi ng m o re than a si m
ple declarati o n that n o man sh o uld b e disturbed o r pun
i sh e d , f or utteri ng , i n any way , what h e had a natural
and m o ral right t o Speak and publish .

A DI S T I N G UI S H E D C LER GYM A N I he fo llo wing i s fr o m

.
—
' ‘

a disti nguished Clergyman , and although i t relates parti

c ul a rl y t o the S a bb a th , i t may h a ve been i ntende d a s a
1 12 RELI G I OU S LI B ER T Y .

c o m m ent the rights or duti es of c ivi l gove r n m e nts , to

on

co m pel an O bservance o f the laws O f m o rali ty

We had n o power , n or d id we desire i t , to compel a
steam b o a t t o st o p But the power of principle must d o
-
.

i t o r we might as well employ a million of g rave diggers -

to bury our n ati o n s h o pes , as the army o f l a b orers on our

’

lines o f publi c c o nveyance , e xi led from the conserv ative

i nfluence of the S abbath , and the knowledg e of the W o rd
of God ”
.

This writer , if we understand him , takes the g round ,

e ither that civi l governments have not th e right to arrest
the e vils o f S abbath breaking , by c o mpelli ng their sub
-

j e c ts
,
o n that day t o abstai n fr o m secular lab o r
,
or ,
else
that , havi ng the power , i t i s n o t expedi ent that th ey sh o uld
ex ert i t He ad o pts , i t would s eem , substanti ally the
.

s ame pri n ciple that was adopted by those fr o m wh o m w e

have previ ously quoted , w ith the si ngle excepti o n that he
has n o t , like them , set up the claim that men have a right
to do w r o ng They all u nite i n sancti oni ng the clai m that
.

i t fo rms n o part of the duty of ci vil g o vernments t o e n

force the precepts O f morality T o us i t i s a matter o f
.

a stonishment , that me n o f i ntelligence an d pi ety sh o uld s o

f a r fo rget themselves , as t o sancti o n a pri nciple o f thi s n a

ture Human s o ci ety , at best , embraces a most m elan
.

ch o l admi xture o f evi l elements and even wh i le G od is

y
bi nding down these elements wi th the chai ns Of m o ral
precept and physical restrai nt , w e still have o ccas i o n t o
we ep o ver i ts multi plyi ng c o rrupti o ns , with unce a si ng
sorr o w A l a s while i nfidelity i s attempti ng to s erve the
.

one , and atheism the o th er , s o m e O f o u r fri ends A b e —

friends o f puri ty and vi rtue even are Se e n t o stand with

—

uplifted hatchet , pro ff eri n g thei r aid to the latter Wi th .

such auxili ari es , w e n eed n ot the gift o f pr o phecy t o de

termin e , that they must ultimately succ eed N o t hi ng has .

t e nded so m uch to strengthen the hopes of i nfidelity , as

 1 14 REL I G I OU S LI B E R T Y .
‘

m a ke n o l a w respecting an est a blish ment of R eligi on ,

or prohibiti ng the free exercise thereof, or abridgi ng
the freed o m o f S peech , or o f the press ” The o b v i
.

ous meani ng of thi s clause , i s , to guard a gai nst any

attempt to ere ct a spiri tual p o wer i n allianc e wi th that
of the state , like the Church E stabli shme n t o f Great Bri
tai n . I t s ecures t o all th e C hr i s ti a n den o minati o ns a
erfe c t e quality o f rights , both civi l and religi o us N O
p .

pow ers are given t o C ongress to m eddle wi th the subj ects

o f morali ty o r R eligi on , or wi th the F re ed o m of S peech , o r

wi th the press ; and as that b o dy i s purely a representa

tive o n e , all power o ver these subj ects i s n ecessarily r e
s erved i n the hands o f the S t a te Gov ernm en ts , ex cept s o
far a s m a y relate to the Distri ct o f Columbia , or other
ceded Territori es .

A R T I C LE X. The pow e r s not dele g a ted t o the U nit

e d S tates by th e C onstituti o n , nor pr o hibi ted by i t to the
S tates , a r e reserved t o the S tates respectively , or to the
Pe o ple ”
. I t contains n o pr o visi on limi ting the rights of
the S tate G overnme nts ; but they are perfectly fre e to
legislate o n thes e subj ects accordi ng to their own dis e re
ti on . The U n ited S tates shall guaranty to every S tate
of this U ni o n a R epublican F o rm of G o vernment ; and
” S A
shal l protect , St e —
( ect. 4 ,
rt . By this claus e
the several S tates are secured all th e p o wers o f i n d e pe n d
ent S overeignti es , except i n th o s e matters wh ich are ex
pressly yi elded to C o ngress ; and am o ng th ese reserved
p o wers , are the right o f c o ntr o ling thei r o w n a ffairs , whe
ther p o li tical , m o ral , o r religi o us .

M A SSA CH USE T T S B I LL O F R I G I I T S . I t i s th e right , a s

w ell as the duty o f all m en , i n s o ci ety , publicly , and at
stated seas o ns , t o worship the S U P REME B EI N G , the great
Creator and Preserver o f th e U ni ve rse A nd n o subj ect .

S hall be hurt , m o lested , o r restrai ned , i n his person , liber

ty , or estate , for w o rshipi ng G O D , i n the m a nner and s e a

 TH E T RUE G ROUN D . 1 15

son m ost agre eable t o the di ct a tes of his own c o n sci ence ,
o r o f hi s religi o us professi o n o r sentiments , pr o vided he

d o th n o t disturb the publi c peace , o r o bstruct o thers i n

.
”
their religi o us worship — A rt 2 . .

J U D G E WI L D , i n commenting up o n thi s passage , says ,

I t is manifest that the denial o f the exi sten ce o f G o d
is not a religi ous pr o fessi o n or sentiment , but i s wh o lly
irreligi o us and impi o us The fo undati o n o f all religi ous
.

s entiments , is the b eli ef i n the existence o f a D eity , or

s o me Controling P o w er over human aff airs , and the desti
ni es o f men He might als o have added , that a b eli ef
that G o d is a moral G o vernor , and that me n are acc o unt
able to him f o r their c o nduct i s e qually essential ; w ith
out such a beli ef th ere c o uld b e n o such thi ng as a reli
g i ou s or moral s entiment. This arti cle relates t o the
”
S uprem e B eing , and de cl a res it to b e the duty o f men
to w o rship the G o d o f the Bible , and n o t the Pagan s g o d ’
.

T H E C O NS T I T U T I ON O F O H I O , S e et 3 , says ,
. That all
m e n have a n atural and i ndefeasible right t o w o rship Al
m ighty G o d acc o rding to the di ctates o f c o nsci ence that
n o human authori ty can i n any case whatever c o ntr o l or
“

”
i nterfere wi th the rights o f c o nsci ence , & c The right
.

”
is limited t o the w o rship o f A lmighty G o d , and d o es n o t
“
extend to an i d o l I t must be ,t o o , acc o rdi ng t o the d i e
.

tates o f c o nsci ence .

” C o nsci ence unc o ntaminated n ever
di ctates the w o rship o f an id o l ,n o r that i t i s immateri al whe
ther w e w o rship at all I f no human authori ty can i n
.

any cas e i nt erfere with the rights o f c o nsci ence , whi ch

i s alm o st a s elf evident pr o p o siti o n , let n o disbeli ever i n
-

th e S criptures attempt to i nterfere wi th that right i n th o s e

who desire t o w o rship their D ivi n e Creat o r I t cann o t.

b e t o o o ften repeated , that a pure , enlightened c o nsci ence

is always o n the side o f the true G o d , and o f the Bible .

I t is n ever o n the side o f id o l a try , i nfidelity ,o r i mm o ral ity .

I t is a he a venly m onito r which God ha s p l a ced i n every

 1 16 REL I G I O U S L I B ER T Y .

man s b o s o m , t o urge him to d o right , and to dete r hi m

’

from doi ng wr o n g . I t i s the v o i ce of God i n man , and

unless hushed by prej udice o r passion , is ever reiteratin g
the c o mmand , Th o u shalt w o rship the L o rd thy God ,
and him only shalt thou serve .
”

S ect 6
. E very Citize n has an i ndisputable
right to speak , write , o r print , up o n any subj ect , as he
”
thi nks pr o per , be i ng liable f o r the abus e o f th a t l i b e r ty
‘

”
S o me o f the abuses o f that l iberty , as defined by sta
t u te s , a r e , the writing o r speaking against G o d , and hi s
w o rd , and li centi o us language and pri nts , whi ch t end t o
c o rrupt the publi c morals .

J udge Wild , Speaki ng of the Bill o f R ights o f M a ss a

c h u s e tt s , says , I t d o es pr o hibit blasphemous libels , de
nyi ng the existen ce o f the D eity , his creati o n , govern
ment , and final j udgi ng o f the w o rld ; and th e exposin g
the Holy S criptures t o c o ntempt and ridicule , which can
n o t fail t o Shock all pi ous , well disp o sed Christi ans , and
-

to p o ison the mi nds and c o rrupt the m o rals o f the yo ung ,

the ign o rant , and the th o ughtless . A nd what reas o n
abl e man w ill say that such pr o hibiti o n i s unreasonable ,
”
unc o nsti tuti o nal , o r unnecessary .

C I I A N C E L L O R K EN T , o f N ew Y o rk , speaking of the
C o nstituti o n o f that S tate , says , that c o ntum eli o us r e
r o a c h e s and pr o fan e ridi cul e o f Christ , and the S acred
p
S criptures , (whi ch are treated as blasphemy ), are o ffences
punishable at c o mm o n law A nd to scandalize the
A uth o r o f the d o ctri n es o f Christianity i s n o t o nly , i n a r e
l i g i o u s p o i nt o f V i ew , extremely i mpi o us , but e ven , i n re
spect to the o bligati o n due to s o ciety , i s a gr o ss v i o lati on
o f decency and g o o d o rder The C o nsti tuti o n does no t
fo rbid j udi ci al c o gni zance o f th o se o ffences against religi o n
and m o rali ty , b u t they are punishabl e , becaus e
they strike at the r o o t o f m o ral o bligati on , and w eaken
t he securi ty of soci al ti es . A re w e not a Christian
 1 18 RELI G I O U S LI B ER T Y .

be en held indictable , and shall we fo rm an exception i n

these particulars t o the rest o f the c ivilized world P N o
g o vernment am o ng any o f the p o lished nati o ns o f anti quity ,
and n o ne o f the instituti o ns o f m o dern E ur o pe (a single
and m o nit o ry case excepted ), e ver hazarded such a bol d
experiment up o n th e s o lidity O f the publi c m o rals , as to
permi t with impunity , and under the sancti o n o f thei r tri
b u n a l s , the general religi o n o f the c o mmunity t o b e o penly
i nsulted and defamed .
!A nd i t might have bee n added ,

e ve n He athen , Pagan , and M o hammedan c o untri es have

n ever allowed i t ] The very ide a o f j uri sprudence , w ith
.

the anci ent lawgivers and phi l o s o phers , embraced the r e

l i g i o n o f the c o u ntry. We are a Chri sti an people , and
the maj o rity o f the c o untry is de eply engrafted up o n
Christianity . Th o u g h the C o nstituti on has dis carded
religious establi shme nts , i t d o es n ot fo rbid j udicial c o gui
z a n c e o f th o se o fl e n c e s against religi o n and m o rality whi ch

have no reference to such establishments , but are punish

able , be cause they strike a t the r o o t Of moral o bligati on ,
” T he l i be r ty
and w e aken the s e curity of the soci al ti es .

“
of the c o n sc i e n c e , as i n the C o nstituti on , he says , sh o uld
n o t be s o c o nstrued as t o excuse acts o f lice nti o usness , o r

j ustify practices i n consistent with the peace and safety of

this S tat e T h e s ta t ute f or p r e ve n ti n g i mmo r a l i ty
c o nsecrates the first day o f the we ek as h o ly ti me , and
c o nsiders the vi olati o n o f i t as i mm o ral Thi s was o nly
.

the conti nuati o n , i n substance , o f a law O f the c o l o ny ,

whi ch declares that the pr o fanati o n o f th e L o rd s day , ’

w as the great s candal o f the Christian faith .

’

T H E S U P REM E CO U R T o r P EN N SY LV A NI A , i n the case o f

the C o mmonwealth vs U pd e g r a fl, says , Christiani ty ,
'

general Christi ani ty is , and always has be en , a part o f the

c o mm o n law o f Pennsylvania N o s o ci ety can t o le
rate a wilful and despi teful attempt t o subve rt its religion ,
any m o re th a n it would to break d o wn its laws that is ,
 TH E TRUE G R O UN D . 1 19

a
g en eral ,
malici o us , and deliberate i ntent t o o verthr o w

Christianity , general Christi anity ” The speci es o f

.

o ffences m ay be classed under the fo ll o wing h eads : l s t ,

denying the bei ng and pr o vidence o f G o d ; 2 u d , c o ntume

li o us repr o aches o f Jesus Chri st , pr o fane and malev o lent
s c o ffi n
g at the S criptures ,
o r exp o sing an
y part o f them t o
c o n tempt and ridi cule 8 r d , certain i mm o ral i ti es t ending to
subver t all religi o n and m o rality , which are the fo undati o n
o f all g o v ernments . Wi thout these restrai nts , n o free g o v
e r n m e n t c o uld l o ng ex ist. I t i s liberty run mad , t o declai m
agai nst the p unishment o f thes e o ff ences , o r t o assert that
the punishm ent is h o stile t o the Spirit and genius o f o u r g o v
ern m en t . They are far fr o m being the fri ends o f liberty ,
w h o supp o rt this d o ctri n e , and the pr o m ulgati o n o f such
O pi ni o ns , and general re ceipt o f them am o ng the p e o ple ,
w o uld b e the sure fo rerunner o f anarchy , and finally o f
desp o tism N 0 free g o vernment n o w exists unless
i t b e where Christianity is ackn o w l edged , and i s the reli
gi o n o f the c o untry I t is i mp o ssible t o admi nister
the laws with o ut taking th e religi o n which the defendant
i n err o r has sc o ff ed at ,that S cripture whi ch he has reviled ,
as their basis . A n o ath i n the c o mm o n fo rm o n a
discredited b o o k , w o uld be a m o st i dle c erem o ny
I t i s o nly the malicious reviler o f Christi anity w h o i s
p u nished .

J U D G E T H A TCH ER ,o f M assachusetts , is equally expli cit .

I f an i ndividual may b e severely pu nished f or publishi ng

a base and inj uri o us slander against a fell o w ci ti zen , i t -

w o uld seem t o be a great defect i n the law o f a w ell

regulated S tate , if there w ere n o punishment f o r hi m who
sh o uld mali ci o usly slander A lmighty G o d . There i s
n o thing i n the C o nstituti o n o r laws o f this C o mm o nwealth
whi ch permi ts any o n e , with impunity , t o publish an o b
scen e and impious libel , reflecting o n the S upreme B eing
a n d th e Chri stian R eligion T o t olerat e the fre e
12 0 RELI G I OUS LI B ER T Y .

circulati o n o f such pr o ductions , w o uld prove th a t they

! th o se w h o fo rmed such laws ,]
were n o t si ncere men .

A nd wh o w o uld n o t s ay the same P If we beli eve o u r r e

l i g i o n t o be true , we cannot tolerate such things any m o re
than we w o uld similar attacks up o n o u r laws relating to
fo rnicati on , o bscenity i n any o f its fo rms , o r theft , o r rob
bery , o r perj ury D o w e kn o w o u r religi o n t o b e tru e P
.

Why , then , should we su ff er I n fi d e l s , A the ists , and s c o f

fers to pervert , and lab o r to bring i t int o disrepute P Truth
cann o t be made m or e tr ue by utterin g fals eh o o ds a gai nst it ;
n o r can silver be made brighter by coveri ng i t with filth

an d smoke The c o urs e o f i nfidelity , like that o f the 10

.

cust , i s marked with rui n , and fo llowed by death .

T o repr o ach the Christian R eligion , i s t o spe a k i n

” H T C
subversi o n o f the law ( C . I EF J U S I E HA LE ) .

Christian ity i n general , is part o f the c o mm o n law ” .

(L O R D R AYMON D ) .

Pri or to the statutes , blasphemy w a s an o ff enc e a t

”
com mo n law .
(LO R D C H AN C E LL O R O F E N G L AN D ) .

J U D G E P A R K E R , o f M assachusetts , says , R eligio n i s

part o f th e comm o n law \ Vha te v e r is against R eligi o n
.

i s against th e c o mm o n law Blasphemy i s punishable

.

by comm o n law . Chri sti anity as well as the law o f

n ature have ever b een considered as parts of th e c o mmon

S i nce our C o nsti tuti on and g o vernment are based up o n

gen eral Christi anity , i t i s O bvi o us that every attempt t o
l o o sen its h o ld up o n the publi c c o nsci ence may be j ustly
characteri zed as an attempt t o undermine and rev o lution
i z e the S tate I t is a spe ci es o f High Treas o n , and o ught
.

t o be prohibited .N o man has a right , either natural or

moral , t o publish any o pi ni ons o r arguments that are cal
c u l a t e d t o unsettle the public faith o r to weaken the m o ral

p o wer of the G o spel and havi ng n o right thus to d o , he

F r fu rt h e r au t h o riti es t t h es e p o ints s e c
o o . ! in g s b u r y on t h e
S a b b a th.
122 RELI G I O U S LI B ER T Y .

V ivin g their i nfluence and ,

of wrapping the entire r a ce

a gai n i n s ackcl o th and m o urning ! S hall such i nfluences

b e t o lerated by law P R eason , cons ci ence , humanity , se l f
respe ct , self preservation , the L aw o f N ature , o f God , all
-

uni te i n pr On o u n c i n g the e mph a ti c N 0 .

Will i t be published t o the univers e i n the day o f fi n a l

a djudi c ati o n that Hume V o ltaire R o usseau R obespierre
, , , , ,

Diderot , D A l e m b e r t , and others , their c o adj ut o rs , were

’

doing what they had a right to d o wh en they undermi ned ,

by their un chri sti an se ntiments , the publi c m o r a ls and r e
l i g i o u s bel ief o f their c o untrymen —
o r that i t was right i n

the m to d o wh a t resulted i n the exile o r utter exting u i sh

m ent o f the pi o us and l a w abiding
- —
t o declare that i t w a s
right to say there is n o God but reason that death w a s —

an eternal sle ep , and i n burning the B ible , abrogati n g the

S abbath , and enthr o ni ng the g o ddess o f reason , they vi o
l a ted n o law ? Can they plead wi th the hope of success
i n that day , that they were m e r ely exerci sing a ri g ht
the liberty o f spee ch or o f the press ? Will i t n o t be
pr o ved rath er , that they were j ustly charge able wi th all
the evils felt by themselves o r others , which have result
ed from their u nh o ly and i nhuman c o nduct ?
Had G o d a right to i nstitute civil governme nts ? and
whe n He h a d done so , had He a right to require them , a s
He did the J ews , t o punish men , wi th physical penalties ,
f o r the bre a ch o f e ither o f the c o mmands contained i n the
first table o f his law ? Had He a right to place every
member o f the human family under the c o mmands , Th o u
shal t have n o o ther G o d befo re me Th o u shalt n o t take
.

the name o f the L o rd thy God i n vai n Th o u shalt

.

n o t m ake u nt o the e any grav en image R emember the

.

S abbath day t o keep i t holy P” I f God possessed the right

t o m ake thes e laws , i t i s ce r tai nly wrong f o r any on e to
vi o late them They a r e a ssoci a ted wi th ou r rel a ti ons to
.

him a s i ndividuals , and as long a s the rel a ti onship c on

 TH E T RUE G RO UN D . 123

ti n u e s , s o l o ng w il l thes e laws c o ntinue t o be i n fo rce and

binding up o n the c o nsci ence G o d has d o ne all that He
.

can c o nsistently d o , by the exhibiti o n o f m o tives , by de

el a r i n the c o nsequen ces o f their vi o lati o n , and by the
g
i nsti tuti o n o f civi l governments to secure their entire
—

“
observance ; and if ci vil governments are , i ndeed , hi s
”
mi n i s te r s f or g oo d , i t i s u nquesti o nably their duty to d o
all they can f o r the accomplishment o f the same end The .

sw o rd o f civil j usti ce under th e J ewish The o cracy , was

wi elded by men w h o acted under his i mmedi ate auth o rity ,
as the temporal as well as Spiri tu al Head o f th eir nation ,
i n pursuanc e o f L aw whi ch H e had enacted ; and whe n
any cas e aros e i nv o lvi ng any d o ubt as to the appr o pri at e
penalty , the Jewish leaders were i n the habit o f appeali ng
t o him f o r specific i nstructi o ns , whi ch were unifo rmly

imparted S i nce that peri o d , the sw o rd of t emp o ral

.

m agistracy has b een c o mmitted t o c o mmuniti es acti n g

through their representati ves , bu t under the li ce ns e and
auth o ri ty o f G o d , and under laws o f their o w n creati o n
fo unded up o n the legislat i on o f the B ible , and up o n th e
examples whi ch i t exhibits I ts chi ef d esign at the pre
.

sent day i s pre cisely what i t was under the Jewish dis
e n s a ti o n — t o i nfluence m e n t o d o right and prevent them
p
from d o i n g wr o ng I f civil governments have n o right , at
.

the prese nt day , t o prev e nt men fr o m pr o fani n g the nam e

of G o d , o r from contemni ng him or his w o rd , why did H e
s et us th e exampl e o f s o doi ng , by causi ng i t to be don e
under l a ws o f his o w n enactment , by the J ews ? Was He
then unj ust ? A re we under a slighter degre e o f obli g a
tion t o him than that under whi ch th ey lived ? N early
all the S tates o f the U ni on have laws already whi ch relat e
t o the first table o f the D e cal o gue , and whi ch pr o hibi t
blasphemy , profanity , S abbath breaking , etc , but if G o d
-
.

had no right t o require the J ews t o set us the example , it

may b e true that thes e l a ws a r e o p pressive a n d wron g ;
 124 REL I G I OUS L I B E R T Y .

and that w e hav e n o ri ght t o pun ish many i m m o raliti es

which are declare d t o be such b o th by G o d and man .

But if me n have a r i g ht to bec o me l n fi d e l s , and w o rship

i d o ls , and blasphem e the G o d o f heaven , a n d c o ntemn his
w o rd and o rdi nances , what right has G o d t o e nact the law
“
Th o u shalt l o ve the L o rd thy G o d with all thy heart ,
”
etc P This d o ctrin e if carri ed o u t w o uld upset the wh o le
.

o f m o ral g o vernment , whether human o r D ivi ne : and w e

should have nothi ng left bu t g oo d a d v i c e B u t why should

.

w e be troubled wi th advi ce eve n ? I s n o t the thing which

men hav e a right t o d o , right i n i tself ?

A re n o t the acti o ns o f which w e are speaking i nj uri o us

t o th e best i nterests o f s o ci ety P I s i t n o t inj uri ous to public
m o rals f o r a man to say and t each publicly , that h e d o es
n o t beli eve i n G o d , o r i n the Bible , o r i n Christ ? D o es i t
n o t t end to lesse n the weight o f personal o bligati o n P In
flu e n c e s o f this ki nd are expressly pr o hibited by G o d , and
they are the oretically prohibited by all men A ll n ati o ns
.

have had laws pr o tecti ng the ir religi o n and thei r sacred

b o o ks Does the M ohammedan ever complai n o f the l a ws
.

whi c h pr o tect the K o ran P C omplai nts o f thi s n ature

c o me o nly fr o m th o s e who desire t o d o th at w hi ch they
kn o w to be wr o ng , and to escap e fr o m their resp o nsibi lity
as subj ects of G o d s m o ral g o vernment
’
G o d has , there
.

fore , hel d u p the J ewi sh muni cipal code t o the world , a s

an example , from which other n ati o ns , as we hav e s een i n
the preceding chapter , have already gath ered all th ey
kn o w o f l egisla tion , whether civi l o r cri minal I n that .

c o de there were vari o us enactme nts , design ed , as w ell f o r

the pr o tecti o n o f the first table o f the De cal ogu e as the
sec o nd as w ell t o preven t me n fr o m o penly vi o lati n g
—

th ei r duty t o G o d , as to keep th em fr o m trespassing Up o n

the rights o f thei r fell o w men I t h a d bee n fully dem o n
-
.

s t r a t e d by the previ o us hist o ry o f the w o rld , that u n be l i ef

a n d c onse q ue nt id o l a tr y were the r a nd p r o e nito r s o f a l l

g g
12 6 REL I G I OU S L I B E R T Y .

a law , which i s the o nly perfect rule o f right a n d whe n

they refused t o yi eld t o its re quirements , He i nstituted th e
ph y sical penalti es o f muni cipal law , that He might , as far
as possible , c ounteract th e i nfluence o f unbeli ef, and arrest
the progress o f its accumulati ng seducti o ns .

D OMES T I C CON S T I T U T I O N G 0d has secured ,by means of

.
—

the D omestic C o nstitution , th e administrati o n o f a system

o f parental g o vernment e mpl o yi ng the preceptiv e i n s tr u c
,

tions o f law , enfo rced by physi cal penalti es ; and He r e '

quires parents by th e us e o f both these i nfluences to re

strain their children fro m all vi o lati ons of m o ral o r s oci al
duty Civil g o vernments , n ot less than pare ntal , se em to
.

stand as h i s repres entatives f o r the purp o se o f e nfo rcing

s o much o f his law as relates to all th o se acti ons whi c h

a r e calculated t o prom o te the prevale nc e of general

”
Christianity , and t o hi nder and o bstruct the progress or
perpetuati on of sin and they are required , o f c o urs e , i n
s o me shape , t o take cogni zance o f e very evil i nflue nce ,
whether devel o ped i n actual cri me , o r consistin g s imply
o f i nducements t o unbeli ef, or t o vi ce They are b Ou n d ,
.

n o t less than pare nts (f o r they s eem t o stand i n relati o n

t o c o mmuniti es s o mewhat si milar t o them ), to r e s tr a i '

that liberty , fals ely so called , w hi ch tends to th e d e s tr u c

ti on o f g o o d m o rals , o r to impair the influence of o u r h o ly
religi o n and they may e m ploy f o r that purp o s e , b o th
good advi ce and preceptive law but they cann o t declin e
th e use o f appr o priate , physical penalti es , w ith o ut placing
themselves i n the attitude o f denyi ng the ir allegi anc e and
obligati o ns to G o d The necessity o f ci vi l g o vernments
.

resulted fr o m human deprav ity . S upp o s e they w ere

aband o ned , and G o d sh o uld undertake t o g o vern th e
w o rld w ith o ut them , w hat would be the consequence ?

I f there were n o o th er punishments than those whi ch are

reserved f o r the great day o f final acc o u nt , i t i s n eedl ess
t o say that the world would give itself up to work out a l l
 TH E T R U E G RO U N D . 12 7

m a nne r o f a bomi nati o ns This experi ment h a s b een suf

.

fi c i e n tl y illustrated i n the hist o ry o f the antediluvi ans ;

and they became s o unmanageable and vile ,that G o d fo und
i t necessary t o c o m e o u t i n his fury , and cast them down
t o Hell .
” But supp o s e that He sh o uld n o w fo llow up
every transgressi o n o f his law with the i nflicti o n , by hi s
own hand , o f i mmediate death The earth w o uld b e as
.

e ff ectually depopulated as i t was by the flo o d f or there

i s none that d o eth g o o d , n o , n o t o n e.
” But if this i n fli c
ti o n were only o ccasi o nal , o r were reserved f o r parti cular
transgressi o n s , h o w clearly certai n it is , from past e x pe
r i e n c e , that men i n their unbeli ef, w o uld refus e t o recog
,

n iz e the hand o f G o d They w o uld acc o unt f o r these

-

things as they n o w d o , by hi ding themselves i n the mys

t e r i o u s labyrinths o f physi cal causation G o d was there
.

fo re under a m o ral n ecessity o f calli n g t o his aid s o me

other element o f m oral p o wer and having sele cted that
“
o f ci vil g o vernment i t i s p erfectly clear that the p o wers
,

that b e , are” “
his mi nisters and that they were d e
signed to act as his c o adj ut o rs i n carrying o u t the grand
purp o ses o f hi s m o ral administrati o n .

CI VI L GOV E RNME N T S , then , w ere designed t o c o o perate

w i t h and aid the D ivine A dmini strat o r t o ke ep wi cke d
men , a n d m o ral o utlaws , fr o m destr o yi ng the m selves and
o thers , and t o make them happy and useful here , and

happy hereafter N 0 o n e o f the ten commandments can

.

b e vi o lated , with o ut i nv o lvi ng inj ury t o the transgress o r

and t o o thers , n o r with o u t c o unteracting i n some degre e
th e chi ef design o f civi l g o v ernment .

B U T I N FI D EL S SAY that the pe o ple have no right t o mak e

laws , i n reference t o religi o n , bi nding upon th o se w h o d o
n o t beli eve i n i t
. The auth o rity o f y o ur religi o n , and
”
th e morality which y o u acknowledge , say they , fo rbi d
i dolatry , pr o fanity , S abbath breaking , etc But w e h a ve a
-
.

right t o wo r ship a thous a nd gods , o r n on e a t all , to us e

128 RE LI G I OUS LI B ER T Y .

wh a t languag e w e ple a se , to have a s m a ny wives , a n d co

habit with as m a ny w o men as we pl e a se and t o ke ep or
b reak the S abbath , f o r n one o f thes e things are i n co n s i s t
ent wi th o ur religi o n We have as good a ri g ht t o our
.

religion , as you have to yours and o u r morality i s a s

good a s your morality But a l l wi se legislators and
God himself are agai nst such s entiments The pri nciple.

o f benev o l ence alon e i ndicates the n ecessity that thes e

evils should be prevented ; and if g ood advi c e will not do
i t , He then demands the appli cati on o f physi cal for c e I t i s
.

n ot pretended that ci vil governments can take c ogni z a nce

of th e heart they can n o t compel men to beli eve i n G o d ,
o r hi s word , o r t o exercis e faith i n the S avi or .N either
c a n th ey fo rce men to love G o d , o r holy things , or to h a te ,

or repent o f si n These thin g s are spiri tual , and they must

.

b e spiritually discern ed We cann o t c o ntrol mi nd by phys i

.

cal forc e as w ell might w e u ndertake t o c o ntrol th e pla

nets by persuasi o n , o r by the t err o rs O f a future j udg
m ent . M ind is m o ved by motive and hence moral i n flu
o n c e is the o nly me a ns whi ch we are permitted t o use , i n

o rder t o bring i t i nt o a stat e o f re conciliati o n wi th G o d .

Y et , whe n this i nfluence doe s n o t keep m en fr o m d oi n g

a n d sa i n things against Christ a n d his G ospel from
y g ,
o r
,

blasphe mi ng o r perverti ng i ts truths , w e are b o und to r e

s o rt t o the civil law and i ts penalti es as the o nly remai ni ng
means o f preventing the c o nsequences wh i ch naturally
result fr o m such c o nduct The g o vernment o f the heart
.

must be l eft t o G o d ; yet we are t o e ndeav o r to purify

i t by th e i n fluence o f truth , and preceptive law and mo
t ive But i n refer e nc e to the utterance of false and dan
.

e r o u s O pini o ns , and i n reference t o all external c o ndu c t

g
whose tendency i s e vil , w e have a right to res o rt t o the
p o wer o f c ivi l legislati o n sancti o n ed by civi l penalti es .

I n th e latte r c a se , both are to be e m p loyed Thus a fathe r

.
13 0 RE LI G I OU S LI B ER T Y .

the r e r e m a ins on e who refu ses to turn , the i nterests of the

whole w o rld unite i n demanding that there should be n o
exempti o n from the restraints o f civil g o vernments The .

entire human family were ruined by the seducti ons o f a

s ingle fallen spiri t , and o n the same pri nciple the conduct
of a single human sinn er , if unrestrai ned , might cloth e
the world anew i n s ackcloth .

S o me may arg ue , perhaps , that i nasmuch as God h a s

c ondes c ended to expostulate and entreat ,He i ntends ,there
fo re , to c ease to command . Cho o se ye thi s d a y whom
ye will serve .
” C o me let us reason t o g ether ”
.

“ ”
Tes tify a g ainst m e , etc , are m ere expostulati ons a d
.

dressed t o men a s fr e e a g en ts If a father should say t o a

.

“
rebelli o us child , my s o n , your conduct i s ungrateful .

Have I don e anything t o des erve thi s at you r hand P Come

testify agai nst me , and the n disow n m e no one but a
madm a n o r a fo o l could thi nk of accusing hi m o f sur
r e nderi ng his lawful right t o c o ntr o l the cond u ct of his
chi ld S O alth o ugh G o d sometim es addresses men , as free
agents , i n the l a ngua g e o f expostulati o n , yet He n ever
l o ses sight o f th e fact , that they are u nder law , and are
j ustly ame nabl e to i ts pe nalty He all o ws them a freedom
.

of choi ce , but when they have ch o s en , and ch o se n wron g

l y , and will n o t return t o their allegi anc e , H e p o urs up o n
them the full me a sure o f punishme nt which thei r i ni quiti es
h a ve deserved .

A ll me n w h o beli eve i n th e B ible hav e a n a tural and

m oral right , whi ch sh o uld be s ecured t o them , reverently
a n d fre ely t o discuss i ts d o ctrines and precepts with a
,

vi ew of arri vi ng at a legiti mate i nterpretati o n o f i ts c on

t ents S o unbeli evers e ve n may h o nestly state o bj e cti o ns ,
.

with the vi ew o f h avi ng their mi nds enlightened , and o f

bei ng c o nvi nced o f the truth A m o ng the m o st i ntelligent
.

readers of the Bi ble , w h o have settled the all i mportant

-

fa ct i n their ow n m inds , th a t i t i s a R E V EL A T I O N F RO M
 TH E T R UE G R O U N D . 13 1

G O D , there i s often a considerable di v ersity of Opi ni o n i n

r egard t o s om e of i ts less im portant features , a n d he nc e
the Christian Church , even , is divided i nt o sects I t i s .

obvi o us , then , that i n regard t o all su ch matters , i t is pro

p er that m e n should have the liberty o f speaking ,wri ti ng ,
and publishing their sentiments , and by all h o nest and
pr o p e r means O f pr o s elyting others t o their peculiar beli ef ,
for I n thi s there I s n o t , when pr o perly conduct ed , any t en
den e y to i mmorality But as t o the gre at facts a n d d o c
.

tri n es o f gen eral Christi anity , the case i s very diffe re nt .

There n ever has been any di fficulty ,and n e v er can be any ,

i n regard t o the tru e meani ng o f the leading pri nciples o f
B ible religion , any m o re than there is about Bible moral
i ty
. E ve n infidelity herself has n ever att em pted to deny
that they are taught by the Bible , i n the same s ense , i n
whi ch they are received by all Christi an d e nominations .

They d o n o t deny that the Bible teaches , f o r i nstance , that

G o d is the moral G o vernor o f the U niverse that He re —

quires men to l o v e , fear ,serve , a n d o bey him , i n Spiri t and

i n truth n o r that i t professes t o b e a rule o f acti o n f o r
—

o u r g o vernment . N o m a n ,w h e th e r a pr o fessed Christi an ,

I nfidel , D eist , o r A theist , has a right i n any way t o blas
h e m e the name , attributes , o r character o f G o d , o r pub
p
l i c l y to call i n questi o n o r attempt t o disprove the i nspir a
t i o n o f his Word ; o r ridicule o r make light o f i t , or to
attempt by any m o de o f reas o ning whatever ,to dissemi nat e
o r pr o mulgate O pini o ns that are O pp o sed t o the great fact

o f man s acc o untabi lity to G o d as a m o ral Govern o r , o r

’

that are calculated to lo o sen the m o ral basis o f o u r free i n

s ti tu ti o n s A ll such conduct i s hostile b o th t o gener a l Chris
.

t i a n i ty and mor a lity ,as well as t o the well b eing o f human

-

s o ci ety ; and i t sh o uld b e pr o hibit ed by the str o ng arm o f

physi cal restrai nt M en will form their o w n o pi ni ons and
.

we cannot prevent it B u t we can and s h ould p r ev en t

.
13 2 R EL I G I OU S L I B E R T Y .

the dissemin a ti on of opi ni o ns a n d pri nciples whi c h w oul d

i nvolve us i n r ui n
.

S o me very go o d people have feared , th a t if l a ws were

constructed and c a rri ed i nto e ff e ct upon the pri nciples
here suggested , w e sh o uld create such a state o f thi ngs a s
would result i n a pers ecuti on o f the Christi an Church .

“ ”
I f w e set th e e xample , say they , o f i mposi n g such
restrai nts , when I n fi d e l s and A theists become s o numer o us
a s t o c o nstitute a numeri cal maj ority , they will make laws

deprivi ng u s o f o u r dearest privileges ” To this w e

.

have several answers I n the first place , if the day ever

.

arri ves whe n these men have the po wer i n their o w n hands ,
they will never stop t o look f o r examples Persecution .

i s the very highest element o f the ir creed They n ever .

ye t had the ascendency i n any c o untry , wi thout sh o wing

the bitterest hostility t o the religi o n o f the B ible , and they
pr o bably , never will w e might as well say o f a ro a ming ,
hungry tiger , that w e w ill n o t chai n hi m , lest he sh o uld
by and by , get lo o se and dev o ur us I n the n ext pl a ce ,
.

w e are i n search o f duty and whatever G o d requires o f

us , w e must d o , and leav e wi th him the c o nsequenc es .

But w e i nsist that th o se fears are altogether idle Y e t if .

they w er e real , w e might still ask , under w hat i n s tru m e n

t a lity sh o uld we be most likely t o av o id s o c alami tous a
result ? W o uld i t be whe n i n th e us e o f every means
whi ch G o d has put i nto o u r hands f o r the very purp o se of
preventing i t , o r when w e s i t d o wn i nacti vely , and s uff er
them t o g o 011 wi th their w o rk w ith o ut impedi me nt P
We have said that learned and g o o d me n differ i n regard
t o many o f the mi n o r p o i nts o f The o l o gy , although they
all agre e up o n the general pri nciples , both o f R eligi o n and .

m o rality ; and that the di fferent sects O f Christians are

built up o n some o f th o se points that are the subj ects o f
h o nest , th o ugh o ften of trifli ng c ontroversy N o on e of .

these diffe r en t deno m i n a tions o f Ch r isti a n s then , should

 13 4 RELI G I OUS LI B ER T Y .

The first arg um ent i s , that every man , if he can m ake

m on ey by i t , has a ri g ht to sell as much ardent spirits , t o
be used as a dri nk ,as he pl eas es and Of c o urs e that all laws
which prohibi t pers o ns fr o m d o i ng this , when and wh ere
they pl eas e , are un constituti o nal .

“
The premise , i n thi s cas e i s an error , a n d o f cours e ,
th e con clusion which i s draw n fr o m i t i s false Th e argu.

m ent t a kes i t for gr a nted , th at a m an has a r ight t o s ell

a nythin by whi ch h e can make m on ey o r els e , that hi s
g
s elling ardent spirits , t o be used as a dri nk , i s n o t inj uri o us
t o th e publi c n eith er o f whi ch i s true Has a man a right
.

t o sell LI C EN T I OU S P I CT U RES , if h e can make m o n ey by i t P

Has h e a ri g ht to sell L O TT E R Y T I C K E T S , if he can make
mon ey by i t P Has h e a right to s ell C OUN T ERFEI T C OI N , i f
h e can make m o ney by i t ? Has he a right t o s ell CO N
T A G I O N and D EA TH , and i ncreas e , all around hi m , nuisanc es

to the communi ty , if he can make money by i t ? N O m o re

has he a right to s ell , i ndiscri m inately , ardent spi rit , t o be
used as a dri nk , i f his doi ng i t i s i nj urious t o the public .

E very man i s bound , by obligati o ns whi ch n o l egislati on

‘
c a n can cel , s o t o use his o w n as n o t t o i nj ure o thers ’
.

The i ndiscri mi nate sal e o f ardent spirits , t o b e used as a

dri nk , does i nj ure the communi ty A ll pres ent and a ll
.

past legislati o n o n this subj e ct admits th e p o siti on and al l

the facts with regard t o i t prove th a t the posi ti o n is true .

Th e i ndiscri minate s elli ng O f arden t spiri t , t o b e used a s

dri nk , by all persons w h o ch o o s e to do i t , i s i nj uri o us to
the community ; and o f c o urse , pers o ns , f o r the sake o f
money , or f o r any o th er reas o ns have n o right t o pursue i t .

The publi c g o o d fo rbids i t , and i t i s n o t unc o nstituti onal

fo r the laws o f th e land t o fo rbid i t The preamble to
.

y ou r supp o sed repeal o f a l l laws o n this subj ect , M r E di .

tor , admits , and str o ngly a sserts , th e truth that the publi c
good forbids this tra ffi c T h is may be a re a s on and a g o od
.

r eas on , why the l a w should n o t li c e n se i t : but i s i t an y

 F U R T H ER I LLUS T R A T I ON S . 13 5

go o d re a son why i t should n o t forbid i t P N u m erous

legislatures , i n vi ew of facts , h a ve com e to the con clusi on
that the sale o f lottery t ickets is inj uri o us to the c o mmun i
ty and that the li censing o f the tra ffi c i n the m i s wro n g .

But did they repeal all laws , and say , publi c O pi nion will
regulate the trade P O r did they say , as i t is wr o ng , and
’

highly inj uri o us t o the community , & c , & c ,therefo re a l l

. .

laws are repealed P N 0, S ir ,they acted more as if they w e r e

’

guardians of the public w elfare and as if whe n wi cked ,

men , for the s ake o f money , would i n violati on of al l right

i nj ure the community , the y , a s g o o d m e n and fai thful to
their trust , would defend that communi ty A nd may they .

n o t and o ught they no t to defend it from the still greater

evils of the i ndiscri mi nate tra ffi c i n ardent spiri t , when the

facts sh o w that this tra ffi c i s v a s tly m o re i njuri ous tha n
the other to the great i nterests o f m e n ? A nd may w e
n o t suppose that an e nlighte ned publi c s entim e nt and a
,

due regard to the good of thei r c o nstitu ents , will le a d a l l

legislat o rs to this result P ”

A fter enumerati ng m any of the evils whi ch result to the

community from this tr a ffic , the s a me writer conti nues as
f o llows
“
A ll thi s i s s o m uch i nj ury d o n e t o the community
'
.

O f c ou r s e n o man has a moral right t o pursue the busi

n ess which produces i t , and n o o n e can d o thi s without
vi olating that fu ndamental principle of c o mm o n law , to
whi ch I referred a n d s o using hi s own a s tends to i nj ur e
the community N or is the i nj ury l e sse ned or the g uil t
.

o f i t di minished , by the c o nsiderati o n that this inj ury is n o t

e ffected w ithout the v o luntary agen cy o f o ther persons .

Thi s i s true when a man sells l otter y ti cke ts , keeps a

g a m b l i n
g h o us e , o r a br o the l ; o r when he manufacture s

c o un terfei t mon ey f o r the purp o se o f getting others know

i n g l y t o circulate it . B u t this doe s n o t l e ssen the i nj ury
o r di m i nish the guilt . When a m a n O ffers a s u m of m one y
13 6 RE LI G I O US LI B E R T Y .

fo r the purpose o f pr o curi ng a RO B B E RY to be c o m mitted ,

the evi l to the person o r to the community will not be
e ff e cted without the v o luntary agency of an o ther but
that d o es n ot dimi nish the i nj ury o r lessen the guilt o f
hi m who i s i nstrumental i n produci ng i t But i t i s sai d
.

that the R U M SE LLE R does not m ean t o i nj u re th e buyer ,

-

but only to get his mon ey S o i t may be said o f the high

.

way robber i n many cases , that he does n o t mean to i n

j ure the person whom h e robs , but o nly to g e t his m o ney .

B u t the fa ct i s , that i t i s an i nj ury , b o th to the m and th e

c ommunity The di ff ere nc e i n th e cases i s t h i s : i n o n e
.

c a s e i t i s gotten accordin g to human laws ; i n the o ther

c a se , i n Vi olati on o f law B u t i n both cases the i nj ury i s
.

don e A nd i n both , i t is don e i n vi olati on of th e l a ws of

.

G od . A nd i n o n e respect the rum seller does a g reate r

-

inj ury th a n the robbe r The robber le aves u nharmed th e

.

c hara c te r Of his V i cti m , and the rum seller i s O ften i n s tr u

-

m ental i n destroyi ng it , and i n brin g i n g upon the family

a n d con necti o ns of hi s vi cti m woes from whi ch the hi h
g
way robb er l e a ves them free .

I t exce edingly deteri orates the m o rals of the c o m m u

n i ty , and counteracts to a g reat extent the i nfluen ce O f all

m eans f o r the i ntellectual elev a tion , the moral purity and

t h e soci al , c i vil , a n d religious ben efits o f m en and i s th e
c a use o f a g reat portion of all the si n a n d m i sery w h i ch
a fflict s oci ety . O f course , the tra ffi c i n ardent spiri t to
b e used as a dri nk ought n e ve r t o b e licensed n o r o ught
the c o mmunity t o be left u n pr o t ected by l egislati o n , from
the numerous and a g gravated evils which thi s I MM O R A L
tra ffi c i s adapted to bri ng , and i f continued , i nevita bly will
brin g up o n i t A nd i t i s respectfully and earnestly c o m
.

m ended to the seri ous and candid considerati o n o f all , whe

ther th o se pers ons who still conti nue to pr o s ecute it , and
thus to i nj u r e the c o m m unity , o ught n o t , i n j usti ce , to r e
m une ra te th a t c o m m unity f o r the evils whi ch they a r e
13 8 RELI G I O US LI B E R T Y .

fro m an
y p a rt of the world , where pestilenti
a a l diseas e i s

prev a iling , i t i s the u niform practi ce of a l l governme nts to

arrest i t whi le ye t o ff their coast , and to prevent all c o m
m u n i c a ti o n betwe en i t and the shore Th ey send o n board
.

a vi ilant health o fficer w h o , i n case o f any dan er to the

g g
public he a lth , subj ects all on board to a rigid quara ntine ,
perhaps o f m onths , b efore th ey are permitted to have a c
cess to any p ers o n o n shore H e also c o mpels a g eneral
.

p urific a tion O f th e ship and c a rg o .

Take anoth er case A man u nder ordin a ry circum

.

s t a n c es , whe n travel ing , ha s a right to use any part of a

p ubli c r o ad but if he mee t the v ehi cle o f an o ther travel
ler , the law compels hi m to T U RN T O TH E RI GH T , and yi eld
u a t le a st o n e half o f the highway The law a lso pro
p .

h i b i ts m e n from RUNN I N G C A R RI A G E S o r H ORSES i n our

c iti es and villag es , or on a n y publi c r oad They a r e also .

pr evente d by s evere pe nalti es fro m RI D I N G or D RI VI N G

upon SI D E W A L K S , e ven whe n n e cessary to personal c o m
fort S o a m a n i s prohibit ed from ri din g o r dri vi n g rapidly
.

over P U B LI C B RI D G ES He is often comp elled , to o , t o pay

'

T O L L for the right o f passin g o n parti cular r o ads and bridges .

Thes e provi si ons are ad o pted , simply because the publi c

good requires i t Dr E dwards conti nues as follows :
. .

Take another case A man keeps a large quantity of

.

G U N P O WD ER si tuated i n a ci ty o r vill a ge Thi s i s als o a

.

m isdem eanor punishabl e by o u r laws ; n o t that there i s

anything abstr a ctly i mm o ral i n a traffi c i n gunpowder
n ot that the maki ng o f i t a subj e ct O f m erchandis e i s c o n
t r a r y to any rule of publi c poli cy —
n o t that i t i s cri m i nal t o

keep i t i n small quantiti es i n his shop or store , eve n i n the

m ost publi c o r p o pulous places b u t becaus e the a cc u m u
—

lation o f i t i n large quantiti es , i n localiti es o f m uch res o rt ,

exposes th e publi c to danger ; and disqui ets the publi c
m i nd by exciting apprehensi o ns . This i s the reas o n why
our law h a s given i t th e character o f a pu bli c o ffen c e .
 F U R TH E R I L L U S T R A T I ON S . 13 9

A gai n — a S H AMELESS FE LL OW , disre g arding publi c

man n ers , runs naked thr o ugh ou r streets This act o f i n .

decency i s a criminal o ff ence , punishabl e b v o u r comm o n

law The laws do n o t , i ndeed , assume t o prescrib e the
.

parti cular form or c o lor o f his garments ; their materi al ,

o r the fineness o f their texture But they d o re quire that
.

he shall be decently dressed They d o h o t assum e t o

.

control him i n thi s respect , when beyon d the range o f hu

man observati o n but they rightfully clai m to protect th e
publi c morals from corrupti o n , by punishi ng an act whi ch
outrages the comm on decenc i es o f life The act , i n this
'

case , i t will be obs erved , w o rks n o physi cal inj ury to any
one I t i nj ures n o man s h ealth it affects n o m an s pr o
.
’ ’

p er ty , i t touches no man s liberty I t i s a cas e i n whi ch

’
.

the law exercises a pure moral ce ns o rship over the actions

of men a c ase i n whi ch i t acts si mply as the guardian and
prote ctor o f moral virtue ; and where , t o acc o mplish i ts
purpos e , i t restrai ns the n atural liberty o f the citi zen I t .

is a cas e i n w hi ch I o ff er as a pr o of, that legislati on , with

the sol e vi ew to preserv e the purity of publi c m o rals , is
on e of the legiti mate functi o ns o f the law making p o wer -

and that i t i s someti mes expedi ent t o abridge the natural

liberty o f men to effe ct that important an d salutary end .

“
The ke epi ng o f HO U SE S F O R VI C I OUS P RA C T I C ES , are
high mi sdemeanors , punishable by fin e and impris o n
m ent . O ff ences agai nst mere m o rality constitute , i ndeed ,
a numer o us class and the infli cti on o f punishment f o r
them serves t o illustrate , i n the most satisfact o ry manner ,
the supervisory and conservatory power o f the govern
ment over the publi c morals .

Take an o ther ex a m ple A n i nd i vidual sells UN SO U N D

.

P ROVI SI ON S , knowin g them to be such .

Though this is stri ctly a private i nj ury , and the laws

therefo re have provided for i t a priv a te remedy by a c i vi l .

a ction , yet i t i s also an i ndi c t a bl e O ff en c e I n this i n .

1 40 R E L I G I OU S L I B E R T Y .

stance , the law a sserts the p o wer o f guardianship ove r t h e

publi c health ; and punishes , as a m isdemeanor , the act
whi ch has a tendency to i nj ure i t If i t be the n the a p
.

r o r i a te O ffice o f the laws t o pr tect the publi c health

p p ,
o

why sh o uld n ot pr o te ction be extended to e ve ry cas e i n

whi ch that health i s seri ously i nj ured ? I appeal to the
cand o r O f all , i f the tra ffic i n ardent spirits be n o t a more
pr o lific cause o f i nj ury to health ,than the selling o f unsound
provisions a n act s o seld o m done , be cause so e a s ily de
—

t e c te d ? Whence , then , the pr o pri ety Of the disti ncti on

be twe en the causes whi ch produce i t P Why make one
a misdemeanor and n ot the other also P

“
The H EA L TH L A W S a ff o rd an o ther example O f the
same power exercised f o r the pr o te cti on o f the publi c
health A nd i t i s remarkable wi th what vi g o r these laws
.

are required to be e nfo rced The busi ness th e property

.
—

—
and even the health o f i ndivi duals are abs o lutely s a c ri
fi c e d to the publi c security . Y et n o o n e Obj ects to the
propri ety and expedi ency o f thos e laws N o o n e c o m .

plai ns that the legislature has exce eded i ts powers , and u n

consti tuti o nally i nvaded the rights o f the ci ti ze n I ndi .

vidual rights , i n all such cases , must n ecessarily yi eld to

the paramount rights o f the public The publi c g o o d
.

m ust be pr o m o ted , though i n d o ing i t i ndividuals may

su ff er .

“
I will menti o n but o n e cas e more that of L O T T E
—

RI ES The l o ttery system was not a n e w evi l L ike th e

. .

tra ffic i n ardent spiri ts i t had existed f o r a l o ng peri od .

L ike that tra ffi c , als o , i t e xisted under the authori ty and

countenance o f law Th e tra ffi c to w hi ch i t gave ris e ,
.

like the tra ffi c i n spirituous li qu o rs , amounted annually to

s eve ral m illi ons o f d o llars i n this S tate al o ne The c om .

muni ty i n ge neral ha d l o ng l o oked up o n this tr a f fic , as

they have l o o ked u p o n that i n ardent spiri ts , as a lawful
and virtu o us employm ent They vi ewed i t , however , a s
.
1 42 RE L I G I O U S LI B ER T Y .

might have been urged a g ainst the pr o hibiti o n o f the lot

t e r y traffic . A numer o us class o f me n were eng a g ed i n
i t ye t i t was decided by th e high est authori ty i n the land
— decided , t o o , w ith almost un i versal appr o bati o n , that
this was no obj ecti o n t o the aboli ti o n o f the wh o l e lotte ry
system N o o n e has any ri ght to carry on a n y busi ness
.

o r empl o yment whi ch i s i nj uri o us to the publi c Private .

right t erminates where publi c i nj ury begi ns Thi s pri nci .

ple i s fully i llustrated and sustai ned by the cases whi ch I

h a ve already br o ught fo rward I t is o n this principle ,
.

al o ne , that legislati o n can be j ustified to punish h ighway

r o bbery The busi ness o f a highwayman i s unlawful o nly
.

be caus e it i s i nj u r o u s
.

A ll o u r laws constitute but a SYS T EM O F RES T R AI N T S .

Thes e restrain ts are the me ans by whi ch g overnment pro

m otes the pr o speri ty and moral welfare o f the people .

A nd th ese results are Obtai ned by restrai nts imposed upon

the business and conduct O f m en , whi ch serve to prote ct
the citi ze n i n h i s pr o perty , health , and m orals I f g overn.

ment could n o t do this , i t would be without its m o st use

ful and e fficient p o wers i t would be sh o r n o f i ts best
e n ergies i ts highest and m o st valuable prer o gatives N O .

e xerci se O f power i s more be nignant , none more salutary ,

non e more u nquesti o nable , than that which is empl o yed
i n defending publi c m o rals That by whi ch a S tate repels
.

an i nvas i o n o f her s o il by h o stile armi es , may be m o re

grand and striki ng t o the senses ; but i t i s n o t m o re n e ce s
s ary , m o re legitimate , o r m o re useful ”
.

TI I E O x DI S C O URS E The fo ll o wi ng extracts are fr o m a

.
—

T e mp e r a n c e S er m o n , b y the R E V S AM UE L T S P E A R :
. .

But if the o x w a s w o nt t o push wi th his h o rn i n ti me

past , and i t hat h bee n testified to h i s o w ner and he hath
n o t kept hi m i n , b u t that he hath killed a man o r a w o m a n

the o x shall be st o ned and h i s o wn er also shall be put to

d eath — E x o dus , chap 2 1 vers e 2 9
. . .
 F U R TH ER I LLUS T RA T I ON S . 1 43

The t ext is o n e o f th e statutes which compos ed th e

civil j urisprudence o f the Jewish nati o n I t came to them
.

fr o m G o d by the mediati o n o f M o ses By th e rule o f

.

esti mating cri me fr o m the penalty a ffi xed to i t , a man i s

here adjudged a mur d er er , and therefo re punishable with
d e a th , upon fo ur c o nditi o ns
The fir s t i s , that he is the owner o f an ox that hath
b een accustom ed i n time past , t o push o r h o o k with his
horns that he has i n his p o ssessi o n a danger o us animal .

The s e con d i s , t h at he hath b e en duly i nform ed o f thi s

fact , either by his o w n o b s e r v a t i o n o r the testi m o ny o f
o th ers . A kn o wledge o f this general habit o f the ani mal
must b e traced h o me t o the mi nd of the o w n er .

The thi r d c o ndi ti o n i s , that having this kn o wledge ,

h e h a s omitted t o secure th e ani mal , he hath n o t kept
‘

him Y o u will o bs erve , i t i s n o t that h e hath turned

the animal o u t , with th e design o r desire that he may kill
some specific pers o n There i s i mpli ed n o ma l i c e p r ep en se ,
.

as th e lawyers say I t i s n o t that he hath turned the o x

.

o u t wi th the kn o wledge pr o bable o r certain , that he

,

w o uld , i n fa ct , kill any o n e I t is n o t that he hath turn ed

.

him l o o se , at all . It i s si mply an e m i s s i o n to secure the

animal , with a kn o wl edge o f his general habits .

“
T h e l a s t c o nditi o n is , that the o x n o t thus s ecured
hath i n fact killed a human b ei n g U pon t h es e fo ur c o n
.

d i ti o n s , the owner was de emed a mur d e r e r o n th e gr o u n d

o f negligence and was punisha bl e with death . These are
,

the features o f this law which G o d gave t o M o ses , f o r the

government o f the Jewish people I ts A uthor i s an ample
.

pledge f o r i ts equity
‘

What I pr o pose o n the present occasion i s , to appro

i a te the pri nciples o f this t e x t t o the purp o ses o f a t em
p r ,

e r a n c e discussi o n
p .

. 1 I n the first place , I o b s e r v e that i nt o xi cating li quor

has be en wo n t t o destroy i n ti m e past ; i t hath been a
1 44 RE L I GI OU S LI B ER T Y .

m o st destructive i nstru m ent I t is a poi son I t is to o . .

late i n the day , t o doubt whe ther alc o h o li c li qu o r has b een

Then the p o i nt i s c o n cl u s i v e l y
'

w o nt t o destroy .

clear to all I t destroys everythin g i n m a n o n whi ch the

.

hand o f death can be fi x e d hea l th , ha pp i n ess , r ep u ta ti on ,

—

c on s c i en ce i n te l l e c t mo r a l a n d s o c i a l fe e l i n s l ife i ts e f
, , g , l
and the s ou l after de ath The el o qu ent R obert Hall a p
.

’
r o r i a te l styled i t d i ti l l d d th d l i i d d mn a ti on
p p y s e e a a n
qu a .

The title o f the untutored I ndi an i s n o t less s i g n i fi c a n t

e .
g ,f
. i r e w a t-
e r i t hath
—
a liquid form ,
but i t is a fiery ele

m en t .

II I n the se c o nd place , I observe , then , that thi s

.

ch a r a cter o f alcoh o li c li quor , hath been duly testified to

P“
m anki nd .

III I n the third pla c e , w e are p r ep a red to i nquire

.

hath i ntoxi cating liquor been kept i n o r hath i t been per

m i tte d to r oa m abroad and do its work o f death a mon g
m en P

“
Here als o the n ecessi ty of discussi o n is supersede d by
the Obvi o usn ess o f truth .

Wh a t m ean th o se S MO ! I N G B R E W ER I E S , out o f which

issue thousands o f gallons O f thi s deadly poi s o n e ver y
y e a r P What me a n the D I S T I LLERI ES that a r e sc a ttered
like pest h ouses , over this land P What mean the WH OLE
-

SA LE AN D RE T A I L D E A LERS i n this article , wh o se very

busi ness i t is to spre ad i t far and wide ov r this nati ne o P

What m ean the O P EN I N G G R AV ES AN D TO LLIN G B ELLS of

the drunkards every year P What mean the bac
c h a n a l i a n cri es , th e stag eri ng m o vements , the palsied
g
limbs , th e bl o tched countenances , th e rui ned reputation
a n d prostrated hopes o f the from wh o m these
unhappy vi ctims are selected P What mean o u r SYS T EM AN D
B O A R D S O F EX C I SE ,t o give the supp o rt and pr o tecti o n o f l a w
t o this w o rk of death P N o b e a r e r , thi s animal hath n o t
b een kept i n N o t a chai n i s U p o n i t ; n o t a b o lt o r bar
.
-
 1 46 R E L I GI O U S L I B ER T Y .

hast destr o yed thyself He knew that de a th w a s i n the

.
’

cup— with this kn o wledge he drank by dr i n king he di ed —

—
his childre n became o rphans and hi s w ife a widow , at
an early peri o d O f what cri me i s he then gui lty P Of
.

p r o tr a c te d f
, y e t a t a l s e lf m ur d er O n hi s marble m o nument
-
.

write , he killed hi mse l f ; he fell by the vi o lenc e o f h i s

o w n hand A sk n o t ab o ut his s o ul I ns ulted and
abused , i t retires fr o m these m o rtal shores eter n i ty blazes
up o n i t the pains o f the s ec o nd death become i ts d o leful
portion . A v o i ce that might have charmed seraphi c
ears , helps to swell the dismal mon o t o ny o f hell .

“
2. I n the sec o nd place , the MANU F A CT URER AN D VE N
D ER are dir e c tly acc ess o ry t o this rui n o f the drunkard ,
and e qu a lly g uilty The drunkard does the deed , thes e
.

a ccomplices aid o r a ssent to it a n d are guilty befo re God

, ,

on acc o unt of i t .

“
But let us be silent f o r a m oment and hear others spe ak .

C H AN C ELLO R WA L W OR TH says , The time wi ll come ,

when reflecting men would n o more thi nk o f making and
vending ardent spirits , or o f erecting and renting gr o g
sh o ps as a m e a n s o f gai n , than they w o uld n o w thi nk of
oi s o n i n w l l fr m which a neighbor obtai ns water for
p g a e ,
o

his family ; o r of arming a mani ac t o destr o y his o w n life ,

o r the lives o f o thers
’
J U D G E D A G G E T says
. T o make
o r sell ardent spiri ts f o r common us e i s as wi cked as to
,

m ake o r sell poisons f o r the same purp o se ’

S peak i ng of
.

those who make or sell , he s ays , The bl o o d o f mur

dered souls and bodi es will be requi red at thei r hands ’
.

O ver every gr o g sh o p sh o uld b e wri tten i n great capi

-

tals , T he wa y to he l l , g oi n g d o wn to the c h a mbe rs of d e a th .

J U DG E CR AN CH says I know that the c u P is p o is o ned I .

kn o w that i t may cause death that i t may caus e m o re th a n

—

death that i t may lead to c rime , to si n , t o the tortures of

—

everlasting rem o rse A m I not , then , i f I deal i n i t , a m ur

.
-

derer P worse than a m u r de r er P as m u c h wo r se a s the sou l

 T H E ox D I S C OU RS E . 147

i s bette r than the body P D R B EE CH E R says

’
. I ch a llenge
any man w h o understands the nature o f ardent spirits , and
yet fo r the sake o f gai n c o ntinues t o be engaged i n the traffi c ,
t o Sh o w that he is n o t i nv o lved i n the guilt o f murder The ’
.

R E V J O H N WESLEY said
. That the men w h o traffi c i n
ardent spirits and s ell t o all w h o will buy , are p oi s on e r s
g en er a l that
—
they m ur d e r his m aj esty s subj ects by the
’

wholesale n either does their eye pity o r spare ’

.

This is the testim o ny Of others T o s o me , th ese ex

.

pressions may s eem harsh and cens o ri o us But let me .

ask tw o questions D O n o t these men put the communi ty

.

i n possessi o n of th at whi ch kills human bei ngs i n

this land every year P D O they not kn ow the certai n r e
sult o f their business P Thes e questi ons admit of but o n e
answer ; that answer places blo o d guilti ness upon them
-

i“
I t cannot be o the rw is e .

4 I n the fourth place , those who l eg a li z e and LI C ENSE

.

TH E T RA FFI C are i nvolved i n thi s guilt .

I t i s n o t my i ntenti o n to exami ne the e x ci se sys tem

but I cannot omit t o say , that a greater fallacy n ever was
committed i n any system Of human legislati o n What .

give th e c o untenan c e o f law t o that which is without a

'

parallel i n i ts producti o n of evil A ckn o wledge with o n e

breath th a t the use o f i nt o xicating li q u o r i s a n evil , and
the nin the n ext , make th e sale o f i t lawful ! Hang a
m a n f o r murder , when w e li cens e an o ther to prepare him
t o d o this deed of death ! How absurd ! A trembling
convi ct exclaimed , when j us t re a dy t o expiate hi s crime
by death I sh o uld n o t have d o n e it but f or rum ’
.

But with the nature o f thi s system I h a ve nothin g to

do my prese nt c o n cern is with th o se w h o cr e a te a n d ease
c u te i t . These are o u r l eg i s l a tor s and the ofi i c er s o f the
e xcise b o a rd .Here w e ask — what i s truth o n this p o i nt
?
-
What d o th e y say to the v e n d e r P They s ay to him ,
s e l l , w he r e a n d to who m y ou c a n sell a s m uch a s y ou
—
148 RELI G I OU S LI B ER T Y .

pleas e .
’
C o nsci enc e may upbraid y o u se l l Thi rty .
’

thousand men may fall ar o und y o u every year se l l .

’

Wid o ws a n d o rphans ma y m o urn at y o ur feet , ye t s e l l ‘ ’

.

The land may gr o an under the cri mes c o ns equent upon

i ntemperance heavy taxes may be levi ed t o supp o rt i ts
vi ctims ; they may rage i n th e mad h o use , o r be hurled -

‘
i nto hell ye t s e l l
— ’
Drunken husbands and fathers
.

may murder thei r w ives and childr en y e t c on t i n ue to

’
sel l ; o u h a ve a l e a l r i ht to d o s o Thi s is the lan
y g g .

guage they speak They le g aliz e drunkenn ess wi th a l l

.

i ts w o es I n e e d n ot say that they cover the v ender s

.
’

consci e nce wi th an alm o st i mpenetrable c o a t o f mail .

N o w , a r e th e y altogether i nn o cent of the drunka r d s

‘
’

ruin P D O they ce a s e t o be m o ral and resp o nsible bei ngs ,

be caus e they ar e entrusted with certai n functi ons by the i r
c o nstituents P A re they n o t still resp o nsible t o hi m who
i s the King o f kings ? What then d o they do ? They
make and ex ecute a law , every feature o f whi ch i s san
uina r and marked wi th death They kn w the r ui n to
g y . o

whi ch i t will give birth , and ov er which i t w ill extend i ts

pr o tection I f i t be asked , wh a t s ha l l th e l eg i s l a to r d o ?
.

I reply make the tra ffi c a cri me , as i s d o ne i n the c as e

o f gambling , h o rse racing , or the sale of l o ttery tickets
-
He .
_

i s c o nstituti o nally c o mpetent to d o this , as really a s to

grant a charter f o r a railr o ad .

I n respect t o the ofl i ce r of a n ex ci se bo a r d , I w o u l d
say if the law requires y o u t o grant a l icense ,then refu s e
t o fill the o ffi ce This y o u can d o , and by d o ing i t y o u
.

escape a m o st fearful resp o ns ibility Wash y o ur hands .

clean O f the e vil have n o participati o n i n i t i f i t mu st

— —

e xist , le t the guilt li e at the d o o r o f o ther hearts A s a .

Christian o r an acc o untable bei ng y o u can n o t say to th e

,

v e n d or o on , o u have the law o n y o ur side sell t all

, g y , o

w h o m a y wish to b uy o u c a nnot b e ignorant of th e

y
15 0 R ELI G I O US LI B ER T Y .

The n o ble l o rd (he went o n to rem a rk ) ha s bee n

kindly pleased t o i nfo rm us , that th e trade o f distilling i s
very extensi ve that i t empl o ys great numbers , and that
they have arrived at exqui site skill , and therefore n o t e —

well the c o nsequence the trade o f distilli ng i s n o t to b e

—

discouraged O nce m o re , my l o rds , allow me to w onde r

.

at the di ff erent c o ncepti o ns o f di ff erent understandings I t

.

appears t o me , si nce the spirits whi ch the di still ers

pr o duce are allowed to enfeeble the limbs , and vi ti ate the
bl o o d , t o pervert the heart , and o bscure the i ntellect , that
the number o f distillers shoul d be n o argument i n thei r
fav o r , f o r I n e v e r heard that a law agai nst theft w a s r e
pealed or delayed because thi eves were n umerous I t .

appears to me , my l o rds , that if s o formidable a body a r e

c o nfede r at ed against the virtue o r th e liv es o f thei r fe l low
citi zens , i t i s time to put an end to the hav o c , and t o i n
t e r po s e , while i t i s yet i n our power , to stop the d e s tr u c
ti o n S o li ttle , m y lords , am I a ff ected with the meri ts of
.

the wonderful skill whi ch the distillers are said to have

attained , that i t i s i n my Opi n ion n o facility o f great use to
mankind , to prepare palatable p o is o n , n o r shall I ever c o n
tribute my i nterest f o r the repri eve o f a murderer , because
he has by l o ng practi ce o btai ned great dext erity i n hi s trade .

If their liqu o rs are s o deli ci ous that the people a r e tempted

t o their o w n ruin , let us at length , my lords , secure them
from this fatal draught , by bursting the vials that c o nt a i n
them L e t us crush at o nce these artists i n slaughter ,
.

w h o have rec o nciled thei r c o untrym en to si ckn ess and to

ruin , and spread o ver the pit falls o f debauchery such b a i ts
-

a s cann o t be resisted . I am v ery far , my l o rds , fro m

thinking that there are this year any peculiar reasons f o r
tolerating murder n o r can I conceive why the m a n u fa c
—

t o ry sh o uld b e held s a cred now , if i t i s to be destroyed

hereafter .
”

M A N N O T H I S O WN — I r r eligious a n d unprin c ipled m e n

 M AN N O T H I S O W N . 1 51

have been , hithe r to , uniformly o pposed to a l l ci vil laws

relati ng t o human conduct as connected with the rel a ti o ns
whi ch men sustain t o G o d , and with the obli g ations whi ch
He has imp o sed up o n them ; and many o f them have de
nounced with e qual bitterness , all thos e laws whi ch c o n
s ti tu te the chi ef basis o f soci ety They are heard pr o
.

claiming i n every gro g shop , at every gambling table , and

-

i n every brothel , tha t M an has a right t o d o with hi s

own , as he pleases His time , hi s t alents , hi s pr o perty ,
.

hi s i nfluenc e , his reputati o n , hi s health , mental and phy

s i c a l , and even his life , are abs o lut ely his o w n . He has
a right , i n a single w o rd , to disp o se o f himself and every
thi n g that pertai ns t o h i m acc o rding to his o wn pleasure ,
regardless o f the rights o f the c o mmunity , o r o f the will
of his M aker F r o m what has been already said , i t is
’

p erfectly evi dent that thi s claim i s e ntirely unfo u n ded .

Whatever we are , and whatever we possess , are held by

us , subj ect to two distinct modificati ons : w e can never
rightfully employ ourselves or o u r pr o perty , talents , o r i n
flu e n ce , c o ntrary t o the will o f G o d , or i n oppositi on to
the general well b ei ng o f others They are held also
-
.

up o n the con diti on a ffixed by G o d i n his original grant ,

that w e should i n all things o b ey hi s will , eve n i n d o ing
many things a ffirm at ively t o pr o m o t e the best i nterests o f
s o ci ety and these thi ngs are a s much o u r duty as is s elf
pres ervati o n We h ave n o ri ght t o n eglect them , eve n
.

for an h our A ll that w e are ,and have , bel o ng absolut ely

.

to G o d , and He has given soci ety a disti nct clai m up o n us ,

that all should b e used , subordinately to his will , f o r pr o
m o ti n g the welfare and happi ness of the co m munity and
nati on i n whi ch we dwell M an i s not his own Whe
. .

“
ther he acknowledg es i t o r not , he has been b o ught with
a pri ce.
” J esus Christ has paid f or him the pri ce o f hi s
o w n blood , and by thi s act , as well as by creation he
,

and everythin g th a t pe r t a ins to hi m be c a m e , a n d still is the

1 52 R E L I G I O U S L I B ER T Y .

absolute p r ope r ty o f G o d his S avi o r He ha s no r ight ,

.

therefo re , ei ther to i nj ure the o n e o r w a ste the other , o r

t o w ithh o ld from G od o r the c o mmuni ty hi s best s er v i ces .

That a man has n o right to commit suicide , i s a s e v i

dent from his r elation to soci ety as i t i s fr o m his relati on
‘

to God S o ciety has a clai m t o his support and protecti o n

. .

O n the same principle , he has n o right to wast e what h a s

'

b e e n c o m m i tte d t o hi m as a steward He may n ot ri g ht

.

fully expend his property i n buyi ng and dri nki ng alcohol

a s a b e v e r a e , though i n ever s o small a quantity ; for
g
that w ould b e robbing his family ,his fri ends , and hi s coun
try , O f that whi ch constitutes ,i n part at least , their we alth .

I t might a lso be deprivi n g the m o f hi s aff ecti o ns , r eason ,

j udgment , his providential c are ,his ti me , his i nfluen ce , his
sympathy , his reputati o n , a n d his physical powers He .

could n ot , whi le thus expending his m oney , and d e b i l i

t ating hi s powers , r ender his best servi ces e ither to hi s
c o untry o r t o his G o d His vari o us capaciti es and a c
.

u i r e m e n ts , and the capaciti es and acquirements of others ,

q
c o nstitut e th e health , the wealth , the i nfluence , the
strength , and the wi sdom o f the nati o n ; and every m a n ,
woman , and child ow e s to the common treasury a fu ll
and adequate proporti on of each , that i t may be filled to
overfl o wi ng .

The man who employs his time i n labor or amusement

o n the S abbath withholds fro m th e communi ty his quota

o f moral and religi ous i nfluence , and everyt hing valuable

whi ch pertains t o him ; and throws i t all i nto the scale of

i mm o rality S uch conduct n o t o nly d i s qu a l i fi e s hi m fro m
.

perfo rming those dev o tional servi ces to the L ord of th e

S abbath , which are his due , but also fr o m the perform
ance o f th o se relative duties which are due to hi s fell o w
m en .

A c a n not v i ol a te a si ngle law o f the Decalogue

man
without , i n so m e w a y , wit hholdi n g fro m the c o mm u ni ty a
1 54 R EL I G I O U S LIB ER T Y .

the whiskey m a ker and seller and the drunk a rd wi l l not

-

yi eld t o the influence o f good ad vi c e ” M en that will

.

n ot be i nfluenced by the tears o f famishin g wives and chil

dren , or by a we epin g country , cannot , i n ordin a r y ci r
c u m s ta n c e s , be i nfluenced by anything that i s good o r

holy ; and they ought to be dealt wi th ei th er as lun a ti cs

or outl a ws The community could n o t s ave i tself i n an y
.

other w ay , a n d t h ey are bound , i n s elf defence , to resort

-

i n such cases to the power of the ci vil arm The man .

whose heart i s bound i n the avari ci ous pursuit of wealth ,

a n d who has i mpi ously abstracted the S abbath from the

D ec a l o gue , wi ll n o t s u ff er either his workmen or hi s

be a sts t o enj o y the rest whi ch that day w a s designed to
a ff ord them , eve n though he knows that by so doing he i s

a ctually i nflictin upon them a slow and lingerin death

g g .

S uch men care more for the gr a tification Of a low and gro
velling love O f mon ey , than they do for the lives of their
fellow men , o r for the welfare o f the commun ity , or for
-

the kingdom of Christ i n th e world , o r f o r Heaven o r

Hell S O l o n g a s the LO C ! S U P ON OU R C AN A LS are per
.

m i tt e d to be opened on the S abbath , and other vi o lati ons

of that day are allowed , w e m ust expect the w ork of
death to go on wi th i nc r e asin g V i olenc e u ntil the wrath of
an o ff ending God sh a ll be r evealed i n desol a ti ng j udg
m e nts .

Can su c h m e n be r estrain ed by a rgumen t o r entre a ty ?

The i dea is perfectly absurd A s well might we expe c t
.

t o dam up the N ile wi th a cob w eb -

. S o l o ng a s Chr i s
t ians can be beguiled wi th the foolish n o tion that me n
cannot be restrai ned by the ci vil arm fr o m the outward
vi olati on o f T H E FI RS T T A B LE o f the Decal o gue , w e
m a y b e perfectly sure that the devil , while he laughs at
thei r timidity , will find n o great di ffi culty i n c o nvi n cing
the rest o f the world that there i s n o si n i n v i olating TH E
S E CO N D B u t t h ese ou tw a r d v i ol a ti ons of the fir st t a bl e
.
 C O P A R T N ER S HI P . 1 55

are a s m uch a sin agai nst s o ci ety , a s a r e the sins of steal

i ng o r mu rder ; and as men w ill n o t b e restrai ned fr o m
such si ns b y a law whose p enalti es relate mainly to a
-

future world , they must b e met by o n e that can be b o th

s een and felt i n th e present life L et i t n o t b e said that
.

we clai m that civil g o vernments have a right t o c o ntr o l

the c on s ci en ce we say n o such thi n g We cannot c o mpel
.

m e n t o l o ve G o d , o r t o hate sin : and we must therefore

l eave them as fre e as G o d has left them , either t o l o v e
him , and g o to Heave n , o r hate him , and g o t o Hell A ll .

w e say is , that men w h o cho o s e t o hate G o d and e n c o u n

ter his eternal v engeance , must be restrained from drag
g i n g o thers w i th th e m We must prevent them fr o m a l l
'

su ch O pe n vi o lati o ns o f Christian and publi c duty as are

calculated t o inj ure o thers , either as t o their temp o ral
rights and duti es , or as t o th o s e t h ings that are purely
spiritual Wi th o ut this , the ci vi l arm i s compar a ti vely
.

wort hless .

CO P A R T N ERS H I P T H E SO C I A L SYS T EM is , i n some r e

—.

s e c ts , a ki nd o f i nv o luntary c o partnership F altho u gh

p o r .

n o t based o n c o ntract , it i s n evertheless a syst em o f mutu

, ,

ality o f right and i nterest E ach o f its members c o nstitutes

.

an important element o f the whole , and contributes to the

full extent o f hi s influence to the formati o n o f i ts character
and i nstituti ons The i nterests o f all are , o f c o urs e ,
.

great er than the i nterests o f o n e and the general rights are

obvi o usly superi o r t o th o se whi ch ar e merely pers o n a l .

Wh en pers o nal rights o r i nterests are fo und to c o nfli ct

wi th those whi ch bel o ng c ollectively t o the whole , the
former are required t o yi eld t o the latter Partnerships .

are based , it is true , entirely upon c o ntract yet when o nc e

formed they c o mpose a social relati o nship i n which the
r ights a n d i nterests o f the firm are regarded as alt o gether
superi o r t o thos e o f its i n di v idual constituents When a .

nu m ber of i ndi vidu a ls a r e a bout t o unite i n a partn ershi p

1 56 REL I GI OUS L I B ER T Y .

for s o m e parti cular purp o se , the very first thin g whi ch

they undertake to acc o mplish i s t o define specifically the
r ules by which i t is to be conducted They provi de i n
.

their contract o r a rticles o f ass o ciati o n f o r st o cki ng a c ertai n

degree o f i ndividual right and i nterest , and f o r the mode
of ascertai ning the preci se character o f the ass o ciated
rights and i nterests which are t o c o ntr o l th o se that are
m erely i n d ividual and pers o nal The n ext essential ele
.

ments of su ch ass o ciati o ns are , that each o f the i ndividuals

c omp o sing i t must contribute t o the general stock his a p
r O r i a t e share ; and that the i ndividual benefi ts o f each
p p
are t o b e exactly app o rti o ned t o his original c o ntributi ons
as compared wi th the contributi o ns of his fellows S up .

p o se that o n e o f th e p a rtners had money , a nother g o o ds ,

another skill , and another the power to labor : if the part
n e r s hi was to b e equal then the man w h o had money
p ,

m ust c o ntribute s o much as w o uld be a fair equivalent f o r

the g o o ds , o r skill , o r lab o r o f the others S o he that h a s
.

th e g o o ds must c o ntribute there o f suf fi ci ent to balance the

m o ney , skill , and labor o f hi s fell ows and those that h a ve
only skill o r lab o r must each devote s o much thereof a s to
c o nstitute a like equivalent Th e contract o r article of
.

associati o n constitutes the rule o f acti o n f o r each member

of the firm , and i s i n fact a m ere expressi o n on that sub
j c e t o f the united o r aggregate will o f all the members .

When the arrangements are fully c o mpleted , the busi ness

commences under the expe ctati o n that each o f the part
n ers w ill d o as he has agreed , o r i n o ther w o rds , that he
will o bey the gen eral will o f all that are ass o ci ated wi th
him , as expressed i n the arti cles o f ass o ciati o n N ow .

suppose that o n e had already c o ntributed his m o ney , a n

other hi s g o o ds , and an o ther his skill , and that the o n e
w h o agreed t o give to the c o mm o n st o ck his tim e and his
lab o r should spend a part o f that time i n gambling , dri nk
i ng , r evelling , o r debauchery s o a s to unfit him for the
,
1 58 RELI G I OU S LI B ER T Y .

membe r s o f a copartnership N o matter whether it b e

.

the land o f his ad o pti o n o r o f hi s nati vity , he h a s the sam e

mutuali ty o f right , o f int erest , and o f resp o nsibili ty He .

is bound to c o ntribute to the general st o ck a v irtuous cha

r a c te r , a healthful , moral , and religi o us i n flu e n c e — useful
i ndustry , economy , frugality , and an appropriate share of
we a lth He is als o b o und t o aid i n the supp o rt and de
.

fence o f civil government and o f a rati onal ci vi l li berty .

A lthough there may be g reat i n equ ali ties of character a n d

c apacity among the c iti zens , and alth o ugh i t can n o t b e
expected , i n such circumstances , that the contributi o ns of
all should be pre cisely e qual , ye t they are all b o und to
contribute s o m ethi ng to the m o ral w ell being and h a ppi
-

n ess of the w h ol e , and what they d o contribute sh o uld be

of the best quality all they hav e E very i ndivi dual must
—
.

o f necessi ty do s o mething , whether willi ngly o r unwilli ng

l y , toward the formati o n o f nati on al character . The pro

fane sco ff er helps t o fo rm a national character for A theism .

The S abbath breaker , the drunkard , th e libertin e , and the

-

debauche e do all they can to stamp their o w n impuri ti es

upon the character o f the nation , and t o call d o wn up o n i t
the vengeance of h e av en O ur i nstituti o ns are C H RI S T I A N
.

a s we l l as R E P U B LI C A N and all w h o live under them a r e

b o und t o pr o tect and cheri sh them as th e safegu a rd o f
ci vil and religi ous fre edom If n o partner can h o n estly
.

w i thhold from th e firm o f wh ich he i s a member , hi s sti

u l a t e d quota o f capital , i n flue nce , o r labor , h o w can that
p
man b e h o nest w h o refuses to d o anything which he can
d o f o r the pr o m o ti o n o f the i nterests o f that larger fir m
hi s c o un tr y A man w h o enj o ys the pr o tecti o n and be ne
fits o f our fre e i nstitutions , and d o es nothing to prom o te
their permanence and purity , and nothing t o enlarge the
general welfare , i s n o less guilty than a partner w ould be
who ri ot ed up o n the comm o n stock o f a firm to whi ch he
has n ot contributed But the man w ho , while n eglecting
.
 CO P A R T N ERS H I P . 1 59

these duti es , i s lab o ri ng , either by his pen , his w ords , or

his example , t o impede the pr o gress o f truth and virtue ,
i s pos itively dish o nest and highly crimi nal He c o uld n o t .

complai n , therefo re , even th o ugh he w ere entirely cut o ff

fr o m all s o cial pri vileges What we claim , and above all
.

what G o d clai ms , o f every citi zen , then , i s pr e c i s e l y simi ‘

lar i n pri nciple t o what eve ry successful busi ness man -

claims o f hi s partners whe n he exacts o f them an entire -

c o nfo rmity t o the general will o f the firm an d the right

whi ch we claim f o r C ivil g o vernments i s precisely anal o
g o us t o that which every i ntellige nt business man would -

res o rt to f o r the pr o tection o f himself and his pr o perty ,

a n d his character fi o m the depredati o ns o f an unfai thful
,

o r vi ci o us partner .

I f i t be asked , h o w the D RUN K A R D W OU L D T RA NS G RESS the

laws o f such a c o mpact , o r s o aff ect the i nterests o f his
a ss o ci ates as to j ustify them i n demandi ng o f him o n pai n
,

o f his expulsi o n , that he sh o uld n either dri nk m a n u fa c

,

ture , n o r s ell i nt o xi cating drinks as a b e v e r a g e w e reply fi

that his O ff ence c o nsists as well i n w i thholding from hi s

firm hi s tim e , his han d , his i ntellect , his i nfluence , and hi s
heart , as i n wasting their money , disturbi ng their peace ,
blasting their reputati o ns and endangeri ng the virtu e and
,

happi ness o f their famili es by the weight and power o f

his example The same e ff ects and consequences are
.

s een and felt i n the c o m muni ty at large S uch c o nduc t .

i s an i mmorality , and all imm o rality i s i nj uri ous t o the

community and ought t o be pu n ished A n inebriate will .

n o t labor t o pr o m o te that whi ch is go o d Whatever may

.

be the character o f his impulses , he can neither reas o n

clearly n o r j udge W isely The m o ney whi ch he spends
.

f o r alc o h o l is n o t give n f or an equ ivalent received , but is

a bs o lutely thr o wn away and squandered His boi sterous
.

c ri es are like the midnight w a r whoops o f i nfuriated b ar

-

h a r l ans startli ng the e a r O f slumbe r ing i nnocence with

,
1 60 R EL I G I OU S L I B ER T Y .

s o unds of ter r o r and alarm and disturbing a wh o le neigh

—

b o r h o o d o f qui et and pe a ceable citi zens S h o uld a whole

.

co m muni ty bec o me i ntemperate , i t w o uld be a fit emblem

o f hell. I t would i nv o lv e an utter destructi on o f health ,
i ntellig ence , character , pr o perty , morali ty , religi o n , and
ulti mately o f itse l f Drunkenness i s a voluntary madness
.

a n d were i t t o become general , the wh o l e w o rld would b e

converted i nt o a lunati c asylum , attended by lunati c par

s ons , lunati c physi ci ans , and lunati c grave di g gers ; and -

every wo m an and chi ld w o uld become an i ncarnat e fiend .

The m a n , then , who makes o r sells alcoh o l for a b everage ,

i s engaged i n the business o f manufacturing devils , and if
he escapes wi th i mpunity , i t must be be caus e the i r grand
pri nce , who i s also th e Princ e o f th e power of the air ,
has thr o wn aroun d hi m such a scorching shi eld of fire and
bri m ston e that n o on e but a ki ndred sp iri t c oul d approach

TH E S U ICIDE — A man i n a n eighbori ng villag e has j us t

co m pl eted his c ours e o f sui ci dal i n ebri ati on , at the peri od
of middle life H e began life i n p o verty became ri ch
.
—

a n d di ed a bankrupt The communi ty and hi s family have

.

been deprived o f his s ervi c es f o r m any years and now , at

hi s death , many o f his acqu ai ntances are compelled to lose
a large amount o f mon ey whi ch h e owed the m but which
they cannot rec o ver be c ause it had bee n spe n t f o r alcohol .

I t w a s but yesterday , comparatively , that w e saw hi m r e

s pe c te d , prosperous , and happy but , to day , he i s to fill
-

the dish o n o red grave o f a drunkard Th e community i n

.

whi ch he lived kn ew his habits and w ere aware of hi s

danger but alas , they would n o t o r did n o t restrai n hi m .

S o me s o ld h i m liquor ,and so m e drank i t with him N ow .

the questi o n will c o me up at the final Judgment , Wh o

slew him What must be th e answer ? I t was himse l f .

But the further questi o n m ust be prop o unded , Who we r e

his a betto r s and a c co m p li c es L e t those a nswe r it who
1 62 R EL I G I OU S LI BE RTY .

a r ri ve at the b a r of God , y o u will find that your license is

u tterly worthless He do e s not license m e n to do wr o ng
.

— a nd
your trade is a trade of blood The livi ng o f whi ch
.

y o u bo a s t w ill then appear i n i ts true li ht

g I t i
. s feed i ng

upo n the carc a sses of the slai n I t i s a speci es of canni

.

b a l i s m whi ch n either G o d nor man will j ustify I t i s the

.

duty of the government at once to arrest your tra ffi c , by

laws with such severe penalti es that you will n o t dare to
en counter them .

S E L L I N G A P ES T I LEN C E — S uppose that a physici an , b e

.

co m i n g i mpoveri shed by w a nt o f busin ess ,and dissatisfied at

the universal prevalenc e o f health among his n eighbors and
f r i e n d s ,sh o u l d undertake to help h i m s e lf t o a better living by
th e i ntroducti o n a n d propagati on o f some deadly pestilence ,
such as the sm a ll pox or the pl a g ue would such a cour s e
be tolerated by the c o mmunity Ce r t a i nly n o t But if,
?
.

when i nterrogat ed as to the reason s o f hi s conduct , h e

sh o uld reply that he w a s destitute o f m o ney , and as hi s
o nly means of livi ng co n sisted i n the rewards o f his i ndustry

i n atte nding and h eali ng the sick , he c o uld n ot live u n less

s omebody w a s si ck eno u g h to demand hi s s ervi ces th a t
i t was a time o f general health , and that i n o rder t o ge t
busi ness a n d to reli eve hi mself fr o m want , he had hired an
i nfected man to c o me i nto the n eighborh o od f o r the purpos e
of i nfecti ng others Hi s countrymen would i ndignantly hurl
.

h i m fr o m the ir presence as a c o ld hearted and villain o us as

-

sassin B u t suppose he sh o uld go t o the publ i c auth o riti es

.

a n d procure a l i c e n se f o r s o d o ing , w o uld that impr o ve the

matter P W o uld th e co mmunity rec o gni ze th e right o f i ts

r ulers to scatter pestilence , fi r e b r a n d s , arrows , and death P
B ut , says th e Doctor , I have paid f o r my license a large
amount o f m o ney whi ch has g o n e i nt o the publi c treasury .

W o uld such an excuse be a ccepted ? W o uld n o t the

whole com m uni ty u nite , rather , i n the i ndignant rebuke ,
L e t those who sold the l i c e ns e , and the man th a t bought
 c n x r ur r o us EX H I B I TI ON . 1 68

i t , be alike condemne d they all deserve a place either i n

the m a d h o use o r i n the peni tentiary P N o t a soli tary v o i ce
-

w o uld be heard t o dissent fr o m the righteous sentence .

But why would such a course be wr o ng ? I t i s be caus e

such me n vi o late the mutuality o f i nterest and o f right ,
a n d disturb the peace and happiness o f communi ty The .

on e has as g o od a right to his health as th e o ther has t o

hi s livi ng ; and the man who s ets u p an extensive and
s elfish i nterest at the expens e o f the general welfare , has
br o ken entirely l o o se from the chain o f s o cial o bligati o n ,
and i s utterly u nworthy o f pers o nal freedom He i s more .

dangerous than a madman ,a n d must b e confined by the civi l

pow er , i n a positi o n where he can do n o mischi ef Y et .

the D octor has as g o o d a right t o generate dis e a ses i n thi s

w a y , f or his o w n support , as the manufacturer o r vender of
alcoh o l has , f o r his suppo r t o r f or the supp o r t o f his family .

N or h a s e ither of them a better right than the o ther t o the

privilege o f a publi c li cense .

GRA T UI T O US E X H I B I T I ON L et us m a ke another suppo

.
—

s iti o u A number o f i ndividuals , actuated by a l o v e o f

.

m ischief, hav e erected a magnificent amphitheatre , cap

able o f c o ntai ning the entir e community ; and after pr o cur
i ng a large numb er o f rare and cur i o us animals , they
publi cly advertis e a gratuit o us exhibi ti o n o f them at the
amphitheatre ,and i nvi te the citi zens to attend O n the day .

app o i nted , thousands o f m e n , w o men , and chi ldren are

s een t o throng t h e place o f exhibiti on , filled with the ex
e c t a ti o n o f anti cipated pleasure But the gates are sud
p .

d e n l y closed and barred to prevent all escape , when thes e

unfeeling monsters let l o ose upon the unsuspectin g and
defenceless multitude a large number o f starvi ng tigers ,
li o n s , panthers ,w o lves ,venom o us reptiles , etc ,t o bite and .

devour them W o uld the suggesti o n , that these wretched

.

m urderers were simply doing as they pleased with their

own , a rr est the te rr ible d e a th p a n g s of the dyin g m ulti
-
1 64 R B L I c ro u s LI B ER T Y .

tude , and hush them i nto a calm a n d submissive a cqu i e s

cence i n the diab lical act
o P But why is it n o t right P These
me n ere cted their amphitheatre and pr o cu r ed the an im a ls
at their own expense , and they o nly let them loose b e
cause they pleased to d o so and I n fi d e l s , s c o ff ers , and bl a s
p h e m e r s ,hold that every man has a right t o do what h e wi ll

w ith his own . But these pr o fessed sh o wmen have d o ne

an act which has cl o thed the nati o n i n mourning , o u t
rag ed the right and happiness of their fell o w citi z ens , and -

vi o lated the laws o f G o d and man The wh o le uni vers e

.

w ould gladly unite i n executing upon them the fea r ful

“
s entence , Whoso sheddeth man s blo o d , by man shall
’

his blo o d be shed .

” These m en o wed t o th e c o mmunity
their best e ffo rts for its preservati on and w elfare , and the
c o mmunity had a right t o demand that they sh o uld put
forth th o se e ff o rts with untirin g vi gilance I nstead of
.

complying with this demand , h o w ever , they have chosen

t o vi o late the fundame ntal laws o f social i ntercour se ,

and are j ustly obnox i o us to th e severest penalti es Y et .

the A theist , the blasphemer , the sc o ffer , and the revi ler of
God , are d o ing i nfinitely w o rs e They are murderi ng
.

s o uls S o the maker and vender o f alc o hol , when tri ed b y

.

the same rule , will be fo und t o hold am o ng thes e classes

a very lofty pre emi nence I t i s by them that th e work
.

o f t emp o ral and eternal death recei ve their chi efest i m

pulse Her e , i n all these cases , the aid o f ci vi l g o vern

.

ment i s abs o lutely i ndispensable and the man w h o would

hi nder its applicati o n is an enemy o f b o th G o d and man .

L I C B N T I OU S N B s s
.
—A gain , if o n e o f the members of a
copartnership should c o ntract habits o f l i ce n ti o usn ess , and
w a ste hi s time , and health , and m o ney , i n the g r a ti fi ca
ti o n o f his lusts , c o mm o n prudence and self pr o tecti on -

w o uld require that he sh o uld be at o nce ej ected fr o m the

firm The same i s true i n regard to the rights of c o m
.

m u n i ti e s and nati ons .The course of licenti ousness i s

166 R EL l G I O U S LI B E R T Y .

de a th break upon us and defile the fo untains of morality ,

that w ill arrest such me n i n thei r mad care er , and dry up
their widely diffused streams o f i nfluence O ur c o untry ,
.

as well as the voi ce o f G o d , demands i t o f us , and unless

we o bey , the time is n o t distant when o u r n ati onal hist o ry
will also be writte n i n bl o o d .

T I I R S A B B A TH , als o , n eeds the pr o tecti o n o f ci vi l law

—
.

I t i s alt o gether t o o late i n the day f o r men t o deny

that the necessi ty o f a S abbath i s laid i n the consti tuti on
o f things —
that i t is essential to the well bei ng o f b o th -

m a n and beasts o f burden While l abor i s exhausting t o

.

the physi cal c o nstituti o n , r e st i s refreshing and i n v i g o r a t

i ng and i t has be en alre ady dem o nstrated , by actual ex
e r i m e n t , that both will acc o mplish m o re lab o r by o b s e r v
p
i ng the rest o f o n e day i n seven , than they c o uld by
laboring i ncessantly ; and als o , that by disregarding this
principle the S abbath breaker i s abs o lutely abbre v i atin g
,
-

the peri o d o f human life I t i s als o esse nti al to moral and

.

i ntelle ctual d evel o pme nt N o man w h o habitually n eg

.

le cts the cult i vati o n o f hi s i ntellectual and m o ral p o wers ,

can e ither be a g o od ci ti ze n o r a j udicious man o f busi
ness A disregard o f th e S abbath tends t o debase the
.

m o ral faculti es and to stifle the sense o f o bligati o n E ve n .

i n a c o mmon partnershi p , then , th e firm have a ri g ht t o

requi re o f i ts m e mbers , on pai n o f expulsi on , that they
should reverence this sacred day and i f any o n e o f thei r
numbe r should habitually vi o late i t , hi s ass o ci ates w o uld
have a right , o n the clearest pri nciples o f equi ty and pru
dence , t o ej e ct hi m A si milar right i s n ecessarily l o dged
.

i n the hands o f the ci vi l g o vernment Has any man a .

right t o abbrevi ate human life P S upp o s e a physician

sh o uld disc o ver an article o f fo o d o f such exquisite flav o r
that m o st m en w o uld use i t whenever i t c o uld be pr o
cured , w o uld he hav e a right , kn o wing i t to be a SLO W
P O I SON and calcul a ted t o sh o rten the life o f every o n e
,
 TH E SA B B A TH . 1 67

wh o part o o k o f it , t o enter upon the business o f prepari n g

and vending i t P The wh o le c o mmun ity w o uld denounce
him as a murderer But the man w h o habi tually requires
.

lab o r up o n the S abbath is doing still w o rse f o r he d o es

n o t even extend t o them the m o mentary gratificati o n o f a

luxuri o us appetite He perverts and debases the mi nds

.

o f his lab o rers depraves thei r hearts and wi thdraws them

, ,

fr o m their allegi ance to G o d A s a civil i nstituti on , the

.

S abbath is abs o lutely essential to temp o ral pr o sperity , and

the F rench A theists manifested a p erfect c o nsci o usness of
i t when they established their D ecade but as a m o ral and
religi o us i nstituti o n i t c o nstitutes the very c o rner stone o f
-

civi l and religi o us liberty O ur p o litical i nstituti o ns are

.

based u p o n and derive their chi ef supp o rt fr o m the princi

ples o f the Chri sti an religi o n I n the language o f C H AN
.

“
C E L L O R KEN T we are a Christian pe o ple and it i s
,

essen tial t o o u r pr o sperity as a nati o n that w e sh o uld

n ou r ish the s entiments which have hithert o pr o ved t o be

the o nly basis o f rati o nal freed o m But Christi anity with
.

o u t the S abbath w o uld be c o me a dead letter , with o ut

either b eau ty o r life We have already r ec o gni zed the

.

S abbath i n nearly all o f the S tates o f the U ni o n by law ,

as a religi o us instituti o n ,and pr o hibited its vi o lati o n A ll
.

o u r citiz ens th en i ncl u ding a l l o u r publi c o ffi cers are

, , ,

pledg ed t o its o bservance ; and every man w h o neglects

this duty , whether he b e a pri vat e citi zen o r a publi c o th
cer , i s casting his i nfluence i nt o the s cale o f i mm o rality
and vi ce , and ought t o b e regarded as n either a fri end to
G o d n o r man . He is doing all he can to blast the tree o f
civil liberty , and sh o uld be de clared a public en emy .

S h o uld the nati o n exhibit less wisd o m i n thi s respect , than

i s exhibited by all j udici o us busi ness men P What sh o uld
we think o f men pr o fessing t o s eek happiness , and life , and
health , i n th o s e v ery places where they are sure to e u
c o unter a decrease o f wealth , a n d certai n misery , and
 1 68 REL I G I O U S LI B ER T Y .

death But unless o u r S tate governments mai ntai n their

.

i ntegrity i n regard t o the S abbath , w e n eed n o t the gift o f

pr o phecy t o determin e that th e day o f thei r diss o luti o n is
fixed and unav o idable . R emember the S abbath day t o -

keep i t holy i n i t th o u sh a lt do no w o rk si x days

— —

shalt th o u lab or .
”

P R O P A N E S W EA RI N G i s an o ther vi ce wh o s e tendency i s
alt o gether advers e to the general w elfare A s G o d i s the .

only s o urce o f obligati o n , i t i s obvi ous that every attempt

t o destr o y our s ense o f accountability to him , is a dire ct
attack upon o u r vi rtu e and i ntegrity Can any man retai n
.

a consci enti o us sense o f h is o bligati ons , while he i s h o urly

profaning and outraging th e rights and defying the p o wer
o f the G o d who imp o sed them ? S urely n o t Profane
.

n ess is as much a vi olation o f s o ci al duty , as i t is o f duty

t o G o d ; and ci vil g o v ernments hav e as much right t o
restrai n i t as they have t o restrai n steali ng , o r r o bbery , or
“
murder . Th o u shalt n o t take th e name o f the L ord
thy G o d i n vain ” S wear n o t at all ”
.

T H E P U B LI C A T I ON o r I N FI D E L , I RRELI G I OUS , O R A TH E
I S T I C S EN T I MEN T S i s likewise an o ff ence against publi c

m o rals , o f a very hei nous and danger o us t endency L ike .

pr o fan i ty , i t i nsults th e F o untai n o f obligati o n I f the .

G o d of the B ible be the true G o d , and if his religi o n be

th e true religi on , men have n o natural o r m o ral right to
become i nfidel , o r i rreligi o us , o r atheistical ; they are
b o und , o n the contrary , to cherish , and love , and o bey the
truth . We are a w are that s o me go o d m en entertai n
false n o ti ons o f th e rights o f c o nsci ence , and claim f o r
m en the right t o ad o pt and che rish falseh o o d as well as
truth A nd many are o ften misled by an o ver esti mate
.
-

o f the di ffi culti es which attend the belief o f the truth

,

and l o o k wi th u ndue c o mpas si o n up o n the frailty o f u n

belief : and , as o n e st ep i n the paths o f si n or err o r
always lea d s to anothe r the y then c o ntend that men have
,
 17 0 RELI G I OUS LI B E R T Y .

I nj ur i ous to the commun ity th a n almost any other for the

i nfluence o f an i nsulated crime i s far l ess extensive , than
its publi c j ustificati o n w o uld be , and a destruction o f th e
publi c c o nsci e nce w o uld result i n a universal licens e for
the c o mmissi o n o f every speci es o f crime .

E NEMI ES O F TH E L A W M oral obligati o n resul ts from

—

our bei ng placed under the restrai ning i nfluence of moral

law , whi ch i s TH E L A W O F G O D . N o w i f that law
w ere to be repealed , i t i s cle a r that there c o uld be n o such
thing as obligati o n . S o if In fi d e l s and A theists a r e
p ermitted to persuade men to believe that i t has be en r e
pealed , o r that i t n ever existed , i t i s equally clear that the
restrai nts o f law would be ent i rely abr o gated a n d hence
it has always been th e chi ef handiwork o f i nfidelity and
atheism , i n every age o f the w o rld , to spread over the
face of the c o m m u n i tv the plague sp o ts o f vic e a n d c rime
-
.

They have ever be en true to their pr o fession ; and they

a r e now as they ever have been the prolific pr o genit o rs
, ,

of all the abomi nati ons whi ch a fflict and disgrace the
world S hall w e then licens e these ab o mi nations
.
P If
“
G o d has never said Th o u shalt n o t c o mmi t adultery , and ”

were not an o utrage upon co m munity , then m en hav e n o

right t o say s o ; and w e may a t o n c e , and with perfect
propri ety license publi c br o thels , i nvite the seducer i nto
o u r h o uses , and abandon o u r w ives and our daughters to

the shameless and open practice o f every species o f l ewd

a bomi nati o ns. But G o d underst o od this matter di ff erently .

He permitted i nfidelity and atheism , i n the e arly ag es of

the w o rld , t o exhi bi t thei r true nature and i nfluence unde r
“
a milder dispensation ; and whe n i t w a s seen that be
caus e sentenc e ag ainst an evil work is not ex e cuted speed
ily , therefo re the heart of the sons of men is fully set i n
”
them to d o e vil , He c a lled to his aid the powers of ci vi l
g o vernment , and dire cted that the pre c epts of his l a w
sh o uld have th e a ddi ti o nal sancti o n o f pen a lties , th a t
 FREE D OM O F TH E P RESS . 17 1

should be , i n this life , b o th seen and felt I n reference t o .

some o f the precepts o f natural law , which i s a part o f

the m o ral law , there i s als o a physi cal penalty Thus G o d .

has enacted a law that r e quires i ndustry I n the sweat

o f thy face shalt thou eat bread
” N o w alth o ugh the
.
!

commun ity has a direct interest i n the lab o r o f every o n e

o f i ts c o nstituents yet the evils whi ch flo w dire ctly t o the
,

i ndividual w h o vi o late s thi s l a w are , p erhaps ,greater than

those whi ch relate to the general welfare F o r a vi o lati o n .

of this law , a man i s made t o su ff er physi cal evils , gr o w

i ng o u t o f his an i mal constituti o n ; a n d if he sh o uld cut
O ff his hands and his fe et , i n o rder t o disqualify him fr o m

lab o r , while he alone must suff er the c o nstituti o nal pen

alty , the wh o l e c o mm u nity i s defrauded They have a .

right , t h en , t o prohibi t all acts whi ch w o uld dis qualify

m en fr o m d o i ng their wh o le duty I t cann o t b e pretended
.

f o r a single moment , that th e stat e o f mi nd and m o tives

of acti o n pe culiar to i nfidelity and atheism , are n o t h o stile
to i ndividual happiness The lives o f these men give the
.

l i e to all such pr e t e n ce si Y et the inj ury whi ch results to

the community i s still greater and hence , they are b o und ,
-

on the principles o f self defence , to reli eve themsel v es

-

from the actual su fferi ng , as well as m o ral degradati o n ,

which thes e men o ccasi o n The civil penalti es whi ch are
.

i nfli cted upon transgressors ar e n o t i n any sense a sub

s ti tu t e f o r those Spiritual penalties , the admi nistratio n o f

whi ch belongs exclusively t o G o d .

F RE E DO M OF TH E P R E ss — T
he clamor whi ch wi cked
.

men have raised about the fre ed o m o f the press and the
freed o m o f c o nsci ence i s a l to g e th e r i dle , as will b e shown
.

m o re clearly hereafter We w o uld c o ncede t o them j ust

.

as mu ch liberty as G o d has left them , and n o m o re and

the man w h o asks for m o re than this , c o nvi cts himself o f
i ndulgi ng purp o s es o f m ischi ef ; f or n o on e who d o es n o t
i ntend t o d o evil , will eve r co m pl a i n o f the r estr a int whi ch
17 2 RE LI G I O U S LI B ER T Y .

g o o d and wholeso m e law imp o ses t o prevent hi m fro m

d o i ng i t
.

HUMAN C H A TT E LS —~S LAV E RY als o strikes at the root o f

.

s o ci ety , and i s an o ff ence against b o th G o d and man I t i s .

a system that i nj ures both the mas ter and the slave To .

th e master i t brings i ndole nce , sl o th , a n d a disregard o f

the rights o f others ; and these , i n their turn , beget e ffe m i
n acy and li centi o usness o f m o rals N o w if o n e o f a num
.

ber o f partners should i n tr o duce such a system , h e w o uld

o bvi o usly bri ng himself wi thi n the rul e heretofo re laid

d o wn , that if by any practi ce he sh o uld disqualify hims e l f

fr o m re nderi ng t o his firm the best o f hi s servi ces , th ey
wo uld have a right t o ej e ct him B u t i t i s n o t the mas ter
.

and his associ ates al o n e who su ffer The slave i s the

.

pri ncipal su ff erer , and through hi m the entire community .

He i s deni ed rights whi ch were bestowed upon hi m by hi s

Creator d efrauded o f his liberty degraded , b o th phys i
— —

c ally and m orally debas ed by ign o rance sundered fr o m

— —

th e d o mesti c constituti o n , c o mpelled to act th e part o f a

m ere aut o m a ton , and controled by the arbi trary voli tions of
his master , he i s s o on taught t o feel that if he i s m o re tha n
brute , h e still is l ess than man Wherever S lavery i s
.

t o lerated , w e always find a c o mmunity p o ssessing but lit

tle enterprise They are luxuri o us , extravagant , lic e nti o u s ,
.

pr o fane , and regardless o f the S abbath We say not that .

every i ndividual i s thus p o lluted ; but these are the l e g i ti

m ate results o f the system , and t o a great extent they wi ll
ever adhere to i t Th e wh o le syste m rests upon vi o lated
.

relati o ns , an d n o thi ng g o o d can c o me o f i t N o r i s i t at

.

all c o nsiste nt wi th the law o f l o ve B eing O pp o sed to the

.

l aw o f G o d and to the rights o f m a n , i t i s th e duty o f

every c o mmuni ty t o pr o hibi t i t I t i s a m o ral nui sance ,
.

and eve ry g o ve rnment i s resp o nsible f o r i ts ab o liti o n ,

when ever and unde r whatever circumstances i t may e xist .

Fr o m wh a t h a s bee n here s a id , i t c a nnot but b e s ee n

17 4 R EL I GI O U S L I B ER T Y .

u nexe c uted , beco m ing envi o us o f th e ch a ra cte r o f the m a n

w h o was t o succeed him , he conti nued yet the m o re t o
rebel against G o d , until , as a punishment f o r his si ns , his
people met with a most signal o verthr o w upon the moun
tai ns o f G ilb o a His ar m y w as routed i n battle , and the
.

flower o f the nati on was d e s to r y e d S aul and his sons

.

perish ed with them O n an o ther o ccasi o n , s eventy thou

.

sand men were destroyed by pestilence f o r the si n whi ch

David had c o mmitted i n numberi ng the people T he entire .

hist o ry o f the ki ngd o m o f I srael , after the death of S o lom o n ,

m a y be cited as furnishi ng i ndubitable evidence that , when
ever the wi cked b o re rule , the pe o pl e m o urn ed under the
pressure o f the heavi est calamiti es but under their p i o us
kings , they were generally pr o s pe r o us a n d happy T hi s
'

feature o f G o d s m o ral administrati o n has n ot be en c o n

’

fined , h o wever , to the J ews i t has been extended to a l l

the nati ons o f the earth , both anci ent and m o dern I f .

G o d deals i n thi s m an n e r w ith hereditary governments ,

what should we expect h i m t o d o wi th a nati on like our
o w n , where th e power o f selecting i ts rulers i s lodg ed i n

the hands o f the people P Will He aband o n the plan o f hi s

government i n the very case i n which i ts j ustice would be
m ost clearly vi ndicated ? M o st assuredly H e would n o t .

I f this pri n ciple be c o rrect , i t i s evidently the duty of

all w h o have a v o ice i n the s election of publi c o ff i cers to
select such men as fear G o d . Take ye w is e men , and
underst anding , and known am o ng y o ur tribe and I will
” M o re over
m ake them rulers o ver y o u .
—
D eut 1 1 3
.

th o u shalt provide o u t o f all th e pe o ple , able m e n , such a s

fear G o d , m e n o f truth , hating c o vet o usness ; and place
such o ver the m to be rulers o f thousands , and rulers o f
hundreds , rulers o f fifties , and rulers o f tens ”—
Ex 1 8
. .

21 . N o thi ng can b e m o re specific than these declarati ons

and n o thing can be more certai n than that the rights of
su ff rage i n the U nited S tates ha s been , i n t h is respect ,
 L C ING
E E T R U L ER s . 17 5

m ost sadly a bu s ed I f the p e o ple are to be held responsi

.

ble f o r the charact e r o f their rulers , and if G o d commands

them to elect wi s e men , a bl e men , s uch a s fe a r hi m , men of
tr u th , h a ti n g c ove tous n e ss , how c ertai n is it th a t every m a n

w h o casts hi s vote i n fav o r o f a man who m he kn o w s t o be

imm o ral and lawless , is guilty o f direct rebelli o n agai ns t
God , a n d o f deliberately exposi ng hims elf and his c o untry
to the curse of Heaven This is a pr i nciple that i s t o o
.

often o verlo o ked by professi ng Christians even and it m a y

not b e amiss to be a little more spe cific .

N 0 man has a right t o v o t e f o r the elev a ti on to o ffi c e

of a gambler , a S abbath breaker , a drunkard , a profan e
-

sw earer , a sc o ffer at seri ous thi ngs , an id o lat o r , an adul

t e r e r , a forni cator , a duelist , an o ppressor , a murderer , or
even o f a dishonest man i n any o ther particular The .

e levati o n O f such m e n t o o ffi c e n ot only i nv o lves a direct

v iolati on o f the D ivi ne command , but i t tends also to di
mi nish , i n the publ i c mi nd , the turpitude o f their crimes ,
and to render their i ni quitous c o urses , i n the estimati o n o f
many e specially o f the you n g b o th popular and harm
— —

less I t places them i n a situati on which greatly i n creases

.

their p o wer t o do mischi ef But i t i s not eno u gh that we

.

should withhold fr o m such me n o u r v o te we should re

m o nstrate against their vi ces , an d endeav o r by every suit
abl e means , to diss uade them fr o m pursuing a line o f c o n
duct that renders them unw o rthy members o f soci ety , and
obj ects o f the Divi ne displeasure But if they refuse t o
.

refo rm , we are bound to se e that they are brought t o j us

tice and appropriately punished , and if ne ed b e , that they
are discarded and impris o ned s o as to prevent all i nj uri es
that might otherwise result from thei r e xample The .

publi c welfare requires it .

Wi cked , s ensu a l , and worldly m e n m a y obj ect t o this

c o urse very clam o r o usly ; but as they adopt the s ame
pri nciple i n m a tte r s of p r iv a te business , they h a ve no ri g ht
17 6 RELI G I OU S LI B ER T Y .

to find fault with i t They will n o t trust their priv a te for

.

tunes t o the management o f the diss o lute and the imm o ral .

We d o n o t say ,th a t w e are to le t the di ff ere nt christian tenets

of me n contr o l our v o tes w e can n o t j udge the heart B u t .

when a man openly pr ofess es t o rej e ct the H o ly S criptures ,

we know that his i nfluence will be decidedly i rreligi ous and
i mm o ral ; and we cann o t vote f o r hi m wi thout a sacrifice
of m o ral pri nciple , n o r wi th o ut endangering the general
welfare We must , at le ast , b e as consistent as me n o f
.

business are A man w h o w o uld make an u nfit partne r

.

i n busi ness transact ions , i s certainly unfit for publi c o ffi ce .

NO j udi ci o us man would sele ct , as partne rs , the irreligi o us ,

the i mmoral , th e dissolute , the unprincipled , the idle , or
the u ntrust wo rthy F rom such ass o ci ati o ns he would
.

expe ct nothing better than bankruptcy and rui n He .

would n o t place o r retai n at the head o f his a ff ai rs , a man

that he knew w ould be unpr o fitable to him How , then .

c a n he vot e f o r a man that he kn o ws w o uld b e n either

profitabl e n o r safe P Y et men have be e n fre que ntly ele

v a t e d to o ffi ce , i n thi s c o untry , and retai ned there f o r a

long ti me , by the aid o f Christians , wh o s e chi ef r e co m

m e n d a ti o n s consisted i n a heartless aband o nment of reli
i o u s pri nciple , a warm advocacy of s o me popular vi c e a n d
g
party predilecti o ns . O h shame , where i s thy blush P”

E very busin ess man w o uld put away an unpr o fi table

-

partner at o nce and shall a Christi an patri o t be less pru

dent and wise , and that , t o o , i n refere nc e to questi o ns
whi ch i nv o lve the m o ral puri ty and happi ness o f hi s
c o untry P Can h e aid , wi th o ut si n , i n the j ustificati on of
S abbath breaking , and atheism , and debauch ery
-
? But i f
he v o te f o r men w h o are S abbath breakers , atheists , or
-

debauchees , h e tenders to the c o mmunity an end o rs eme nt

o f their crimes . We may preach against such thi ngs to
the end of our days ; b u t if we c o nti nue t o vote thus , o u r
practi ce becomes a libel upon o u r professi on , a n d a ff e c t s
17 8 RELI G I O US LI B ER T Y .

Opini on , a s they are i n this cou ntry , he i s d o ubly a c urse.

H e n o t o nly exhibits the seducti ons o f hi s indi vi dual e x

ample , but he opens wide the d o o r o f p o lluti o n and
r o fli a c , and i nvites the wh o le communi ty t o enter
p g y .

“
He drinks i n i niqui ty like water ” . Wo e unt o t h e m
that draw i niqui ty wi th cords o f vanity , and si n as it
were wi th a cart r o pe
-
.
”

HUMAN G O VERNMEN T S A RE EI TH E R CI VI L O R ECC LESI A S

T I C A L F o rmerly the disti nction between the civi l and
.
—

ecclesi a sti cal polity o f a S tate was not well defined ; and
hence , i n many c o untri es , they still have a uni on betwe e n
the civi l and e cclesiastical p o wers , whi ch i s alt o gether
advers e to the g eneral w elfare A ll the evils which hav e
.

resulted fro m this conne cti o n may b e traced t o a n e g le ct

of the true pri nciples o f church government w h i ch are
contai ned i n the N ew Testam ent O ur S avi or h a s t a ught
.

us that hi s ki ngdom is not o f this world and that He

n ever designed to give to the Christian Church any p ower
over its me mbers other than that o f a dm o niti o n , and the
ri g ht of excluding th o se who had proved themselves to b e
unworthy o f Christian fellowship When the Church
.

u ndertake s to exert any higher power , as i t s o metimes

does , it i s a mere usurpati o n ; and , if tolerated , its ten
de n e y i s t o spiri tual despotism I t i s not t o be supposed ,
.

then , that i t can deri ve a n y moral benefit from being c o n

n e c te d with the S tate as a co o rdi nate branch o f th e
,

government ; but i t i s o bvi o us that all such ass o ci ati o ns

must b e extremely prej udi cial t o i ts spiritual we l fare .

B oth civil and church g o vernments , o f any value , are

based up o n the broad pri ncipl es o f Christiani ty but w h ile
the fo rmer was designed to aid the m o ral admi nist r ation
of G o d , by the i ntr o ducti o n o f a syste m o f immediate and
s e nsible penalties f o r the restraint o f me n fr o m o pe n acts

o f transgression , the latter was i ntended o nly f o r th e

m o r al and religious p r otecti on o f the ass o ci a ted body of
 G O V ERNMEN T S . 17 9

t ru e beli evers , by the intr o ducti on among them o f a sys

t em o f i nfluences peculi arly adapted t o thei r spiritual
relati o ns , and n o t intended , i n any event , t o extend
bey o nd the li mi ts o f th e vi sible Church F r o m this dif
.

ference i n their design , i t is easy t o se e that they hav e

nothing i n comm o n t o serve , either as a b o nd o f uni o n , o r
a s a me a ns of attai ning their separate obj ects They .

sh o uld n ever b e united , then , i n any c i r c u m s ta n c e s w h a t

‘

ever ; but the o n e sh o uld always be left entirely fre e and

i ndependent o f the o ther The results o f each are de
.

signed , thr o ugh diff erent means , and distin ct and s eparat e
chann els o f i nfluence , t o pr o m o te the peace and happiness
o f the race : yet thi s cannot b e e ffected when they are

united u nder the same o r kindred principles o f admi nistra

ti on. Whil e the civil g o vernment is b o und t o c o ntr o l th e
external c o nduct , and make i t subser vi ent t o th e p eace ,
virtue , and happin ess o f the community , the o ther i s t o
s eek a higher end , havi n g a similar i nfluence up o n the
commun ity , that i s , the purity and ben ev o lence o f thos e
who come o u t fr o m the rest o f the w o rld by pr o fessi o n ,
as a disti nct and peculiar people , engag ed i n the busi n ess
o f persuading all men t o turn u nt o G o d , and b eli eve i n th e

G o spel o f hi s S O N. Wh i le they are each left entirely fre e

o f the o ther , they may pr o ve i n d i r e c t l mutual helps bu t
y
if uni ted , they would l o se their distinctive features , an d
end i n civil o r spiritual tyranny When they are disti nct
.

and correctly administered , there will be no room for e n

cr o a ch m e n t o r j e al o usy they may travel o n as mutual
fri ends , and as o ccasi o nal c o laborers f o r the general g o o d
-

a n d s everally answer th e ends o f their s eparate o rganiza

tions When G o d was the di rect admi nistrator o f th e

.

J ewish T h e o cr a cy , they were i n a certai n s ens e un ited

a n d s o l o ng as they were b o th wi thi n th e i mmedi at e c o n

trol o f I nfi nit e Wisd o m ,n o i nj ury resulted from such

u n i o n Bu t such uni on o f ch u r c h a n d st a t e as exists i n
.
18 0 RE L I G I O U S L I B ER T Y .

s o me p a r ts o f E urope i s dan g erous , a n d de c i dedly a dv e rs e

to human happiness , and the peac e and puri ty o f the
G o spel . L et i t n o t be said , then , that Christians i n
this country are i n fav o r o f a uni o n of church and state ” .

I t i s n o t tr u e th ey a r e u tte r ly oppos e d to i t, a n d th e c ha r g e

i s both u nj us t a n d s l a n d e r o us
.

CI VI L L E G I SLA T I O N The questi o n n o w presents i tself,

.
—

what i s the extent and limi t o f the right o f ci v i l legisla

tion ? We have already alluded t o the fact that all
Christi an n ations have punished , by c ivi l penalti es , parti
c u l a r i nfracti o ns o f the law o f G o d . E ach o f these U nited
S tates , and the E nglish c o mmon law , hav e pr o vided fo r
th e punishment o f blasphemy , S abbath breaki ng , and -

some o f th e gr o sser kinds o f licenti ousn ess , as w ell as

stealing , perj ury , maimi n g , murder , etc But as many .

i ndividuals have contended that c ivi l legislati o n has no

thing to do w ith th e fir s t tabl e of the De cal o g ue , the
qu esti o n has b een raised , hitherto , whether existing laws
o n that subj ect should b e retai ned and executed , o r r e

peal ed I n a n sw ering these questions ,we shall take a still

.

wider range , and endeav o r to sh o w that , i n s o me resp ects

at least , n o civil go v ernment o f a m o dern date h a s ye t
gon e far en o ugh I n th e fo rm er chapter , w e have shown
.

c o nclusively , unless w e are dec eived as to the fo rce of o u r

o w n reas o ning , that civil governme nts were i nstituted by

G o d , as a part o f hi s m oral administrati o n , and designed

chi efly , by the aid o f temp o ral penalties , to restrai n me n
fr o m th o s e external Vi o lati o ns o f the law Of G o d , whi ch
are calculated to inj ure the community , e ither physi cally
or morally ; and t o c o mpel m en to perfo rm thos e external
duties which are design ed to promote the general welfare .

N o dispute has ever exi sted as t o th e right and duty o f ci vi l

g o vernment t o c o mp el i ts subj ects t o support the publi c
i nsti tuti o ns o f the country to build r o ads and bridges
—

t o feed and educate the p o or— to e r e c t j ails a n d p r i sons ,

1 82 R E LI G I OU S LI B ER T Y .

The fi rst two c o mma n d men ts o f the D ecalo g ue relate t o

the si n o f i d o latry , and pr o hibi t the w o rship o f anythi ng
but the true G o d , and the maki ng o f any g raven i mage f o r
th e purpose o f w o rshipi ng it .N o w alth o ugh a man may
l o ve and s ecretly worship a th o usand fals e gods wi th o ut
exposi ng hims elf directly t o th e detection o f any o ther h u
m a n being — and although c ivil g o vernments have n o t th e
a bility t o reach si ns whi ch they cann o t detect , yet i t i s

obvi o us that they can prohibi t publi c ac ts o f id o l wor -

sh ip They can pr o hibi t the erecti o n o f id o l temples , a n d

.
-

th e maki ng o f id o ls ; and they can punish f o r thes e acts .

The prohibiti o n Of these thi ngs by the civil m a gistrate i s

n o t limited by the l a w o f G o d but He has tau g ht , o n the
other hand , that i t i s the duty o f civil g o vernments thus to
do , by directing that i t sh o uld b e d o n e am o ng the Jews .

He h a s set them an example o f punishing f o r these sins ,

by causing the law fo rbidding them to be ad o pted i n t o the
civil code o f th e The ocracy , and by ann exi ng theret o th e
penalty o f death The thi r d c o mm a n d relat es t o the ir
.

reverent use o f the name o f G o d Civil governm ents.

have the ability to prohibit publi c blasph emy , and pr o fan e

sweari ng a n d cursing ; and f o r s o d o i ng they have th e
direct ex a mple o f G o d i n the J ewish C o de where He
placed these si ns am o ng th e list o f capital o ff enc es S o .

there i s n o want o f p o wer to enfo rce the ext ernal o b s e r v

ance o f th e fo ur th c o mm a n d me n t , relati ng t o th e S abbath
n o r has God wi thheld fr o m us th e sancti o n o f h i s exam

ple. S abbath breaki ng u nder the The o cracy was als o

-

punished wi th death I t i s very e vident , the n , that civil

.

governments have th e ability and th e right t o pr o hibi t th e

perfo rmance o f e ve ry e x ter n a l a c t that i s o ppos ed to the
c o mmand o f G o d .

Hum a n legis l atures h a ve no right to make any law that

i s repugnant to the law o f G o d L aws of this ki nd have
.

s o metimes bee n e nacted even i n Chri stian nati ons ; but

 C I VI L LE G I SL A T I O N 183

hithert o the courts o f E ngland and o f the U nited S t a tes

have n o t hesitated to pr o n o unce them t o be utterly v o id .

E very such law i s n o t only a V i o lati on o f the rights o f

c ons cience , and inj uri o us to c o mmunity , but a publi c and
m o st daring and insulting i nfringement o f the D ivi ne P r e
r o gative Ci vi l legislati o n must always be based upon the
.

Divi ne and everythi ng o pp o sed , either to the n a tu r a l o r

r e ve a l e d l a w i s w o r s e than u seless
, i t i s si n
—
. N either the
T e n C o mmandments , re corded i n E x o dus , n o r the law o f
n ature i s i n any respect defective they are i n themselves
,

c ertai n , perfect , and unimpr o vable Whenever they are

.

fully obe yed there will b e p e rfect and unalloyed hap

i a n d every O pp o sing i nflue n ce i s always in uri ous
p n e ss
j
a n d hurtful .

We have already seen the estim ate whi ch God set upo n
the Ten C o mmandme nts , i n th e penalt i es whi ch He a fi i x e d
t o them . E very i ndivi dual o f the camp o f I srael who v i o
lated o penly any o f thes e h o ly pre cepts , w a s punishe d
w ith temp o ral death But besides this punishment , whi ch
;

re lated o nly t o the pre sent life , there was an o ther , stil l
reater t o be i nflicte d up o n the transgressor w h o di ed i m ~
g ,

p e nitent , i n an o ther and spiri tual w o rld ; he was to be

s ubj e cted t o th e gnawi ngs o f the undyi ng worm , and the

burning o f the unquenchable fire E v e ry v i o lati on o f thes e

.

c omma n ds is an o ff ence against b o th w o rlds , the pre s e nt

a nd the future against man , angels , and G od

— . Civil
g o vernments were , therefo re , dire cted to punish them i n
this life and G o d reserved t o himself the exclusive right
o f p u nishing them i n the w orld t o c o me . M e n are some
times punished by G Od f o r the transgressi o n o f his L a w
i n the present life , but i n the w o rld t o c o me they are a l
ways punished i n an e ndless hell , unless they have pre
v i o u s l y secure d his pard o n by repentance , and faith i n his

S on . Whe n ever we transgress the physi cal l a ws o f o u r -

be ing , we unifo r mly experi ence thei r pen a lties i n the p r e

184 RELI G I OU S LI B ER T Y .

s en t li fe They see m to be , i n fact , a part o f o u r c o nsti

.

tu ti o n . A m a n who habitually Vi olates the seventh c o m

m andment , transgresses o n e o f th e physical laws o f his
c o nsti tuti on , and becomes debauched and i nfected , per
haps , with a loaths o me an d painful disease , undermi ni ng
h i s health and hurryi ng hi m t o a premature grave . So
the drunka rd and the S abbath breaker , by si nning against
-

the physical laws o f thei r animal nature , are c o mpelled to

endure the penalty of mental and b o dily su ff erin g , and o f
c onsequ ent imbecility These penalti es are i mmediat e ,
.

a n d to s o me extent , unifo rm ; the delin quent n ei th er ex

e r i e n c e s leni ty n o r forbearance The parts i nj ured o r

p .
,

the i nj ured functi on , demands an i mmediate r eparati o n .

I t seizes up o n the body and spi ri t o f its V i cti m , and levi es

an i nexorable tax , whi ch must be paid for thwi th , of pains ,
and groans , and blood : i t exacts weakness , trembling ,
pal eness , ti me , money , and disgra c e I t i s an exorbitant
.

tax gathered by a m ost summary pr o cess But this i s .

n ot all .The culprit i s n o t yet rel eased .The ci vi l

g o vern m ent n ext puts i n i ts clai m i n behalf o f its i nj u red
l a ws A nd what are the clai ms o f the ci vi l magistrat e P
.

A puni shment s evere en ough t o awaken i n the c o m m u

n i ty a fear to c o mmit the l ike o ff en ce , and to c o erce the

deli nquent i nto a resoluti on to become an obedient sub

j c e t I t i s because there are s o me i ndividuals i n every
.

c ommun ity w h o n either fear th e threateni ngs of f u

ture retributi on o r the penalti es whi ch n a tur a l ly result
from the vi olati o ns o f physi cal law , that civi l laws
are fo und t o be i ndispensably n ecessary t o the general
welfare C ivi l laws were designed f o r th e restrai n t o f
.

those w h o , r ather than fo rego a m o mentary gratificati o n

of the ir unhall o wed and lustful pr o pensiti es , w i ll run the
risk of the fo r mer , and rashly enc o unter th e latter S uch .

me n cann o t be cont r o led wi th o ut the aid o f civil law ;

a n d the sword Of c ivil m a istracy sh o uld always be sus
g
 1 86 RE LI G I O US LI B ER T Y .

distin g uished m e n but w e will h o pe that th ey m eant o ther

wi se f o r such a liberty would b e the v ery climax o f a b
surdity O ne m an can acc o mpli sh mor e e vi l thro u gh the
.

i nfluen c e o f a li cen ti o us press , than o n e hundred o thers ,

backed by the civil government i tself, can c o unteract N 0 .

man has a right t o empl o y th e press as an i nstrument o f

evil N o governm ent sh o uld permi t i t t o b e employed i n
.

sp r eading the blasphemi es o f men , and the c o ntumely o f

I n fi d e l s , agai nst th e A uthor o f o u r bei ng and the Giver o f
a l l o u r m erci es
. O ur religi o n i s n o t on l y true , but i t c o n
duces a ls o t o temporal and e ternal happiness ; and every
a ttack upon i t inflicts a w o und u p o n the communi ty o f

deep mali g nancy I ts A uthor i s w o rthy o f all o u r love and

.

r eve r ence , and of o u r best servi ces o f o b edi ence R ather .

than all o w such a li c ense to the us e o f the press , i t

would be far better f o r us , and i nfinite l y better f o r th e
world , to license every physi cian t o i ncrease h i s business
a t hi s pleasure , b scatteri ng am o ng th e c o mmun i ty the
y
s eeds o f pe stilence and death The ravages o f the s m all
.

pox , the cholera , o r the plague , c o mpared with the results

o f blasphemy , i nfidel ity , and atheism , would pr o ve t o b e

abs o lute blessi ngs The vi ctims o f the fo r m er are less

.

numer ous , and su ffer l ess than th o s e o f the latter VVi t .

n ess the su ff eri ngs o f th e thre e milli o ns o f F renchmen

w h o o ff ered u p thei r h e art s blo o d upon the altar o f F rench
’

i n fideli ty Th e truth i s , that a man has n o right , and

.

should n ever b e permi tted t o d o any act , w h o s e t e ndency

is to i n j ure th e s o uls o r b o di es o f hi s fo ll o w men N o r
-
.
!

may he d o anythi ng calculated t o inj ure any o f t he i nter

ests o f c o mmunity . The law o f n ature , the Bible ,
and th e law o f o u r c o untry , clearly i ndicate what acti o ns
being o f an i nj uri o us tendenc y o ught t o b e preve nted by
th e strong hand o f th e magistracy .

T h e I nfidel may well be pr o hibi ted fr o m slandering the

Christian religi o n , f o r i t i s th e R E L I G I O N O F TH E CO U N T RY ;
 F R E E DO M OR TH E P R Es s . 187

i t i s th e fo undati on o f the R epubli c , and th e basis o f all

o u r i nsti tuti o ns and laws N in e tenths o f all i ts i n h a b
.
-

i ta n ts have ad o pted i t , n o mi n a l l y , a t l e a s t , as th e i r religi o n .

M o re than this : i ts salutary i nfluence up o n i ndividuals

and c o mmuniti es aff o rds dem o nstrati ve evidence o f its
superi o ri ty o v er all o ther systems o f ethi cs it pr o ves that
i t was fr o m Heav en , and that i t sh o uld n o t be left t o the
fel o n i o us and sui cidal hand o f th o s e w h o wish t o destr o y
i t , and to bri ng its A uth o r i nt o c o ntempt and ridicule I t .

contains th e best system o f m o rals , a n d the m o st wi s e ,

j ust , and equal system o f laws f o r the g o vernment o f h u
man c o nduct that has ever been presented f or hum a n
i nspecti on ; and , i n truth , human reas o n has n ever yet
disc o vered a single pri n ciple o f law o r m o rali ty o f any
value , that has n o t been derive d directly fr o m the Bi bl e ,
o r i ts A uth o r . I t c o ntains the o nly chart o f Heaven , and
the o nly charter o f eternal life S hall it ,then , b e giv en up
.

t o ridi cule P I n the 1 3 th chapter o f D euter o n o my , befo re

referre d t o , w e m a y see the vi ews o f G o d o n this subj ect ,
and we can then j udge whether He mean t that Christi an
nati o ns sh o uld t o lerate such thi n gs The pr o phet , and the
.

t eacher , and th e pr o pagat o r o f id o latry , th o s e w h o sp o ke

t o turn aw ay the pe o ple fr o m the servi ce and fear o f the true
G o d ,wer e t o be instantly put t o death N o o n e might c o n
.

ceal such an o ffence N 0eye might pity ,o r spar e The wife

. .

might n o t pi ty o r spare the husband o f her y o uth , n o r th e

husband the W ife o f his b o s o m , n o r the father h i s s o n , n o r
the m o ther her daughter all , all must be put t o death
— .

D o es the I nfidel ask why ? We answer : Because such

o ff e n ders w ere c o nsidered , as they really are , unsafe and

dan ger o us memb ers o f s o ci ety ; and i n the j u dgment o f

the G o d o f all the earth , i t was b etter that they sh o uld be
put ~~ t o death than that they sh o uld live t o destr o y o thers .

The l aw whi ch w e thus qu o te was o n e o f th e municipal

laws o f the Theo c racy I t w a s then found , a s it n ow i s ,
.
1 88 RE LI G I O U S LI B ER T Y .

that there are me n i n e very c o mmunity w h o w ill n o t be

lieve i n G o d , a n d w ho wi ll try t o seduce o thers fr o m thei r
allegiance t o th e G o d w h o made them I t was therefo re
.

treated as H I G H T RE ASON N o w , alth o ugh we do n ot

.

contend that we are required t o punish , capitally , e very

man who under ta kes t o seduce o thers fr o m the beli ef o f
the truth , yet w e say firmly and c o nsci enti o usly , that eve ry
attempt t o seduce o thers fr o m thei r allegiance t o the G o d o f
Heaven i s d o wnright high treas o n against the moral g o v
e r n m e n t o f Jeh o vah and against the happiness o f the h u

man race G o d says t o c ivil g o vernme nts concerning such

.

men , D o n o t su ff er them t o lead my pe o ple astray su ff er —

them n o t t o tra m ple up o n my Wo rd and o rdinances S t o p

’
.

th eir m o ut hs and their pens by adequate laws and penal

ties If they are deaf t o the voice of reason and pe r s u a
.

si o n , try the a r m o f the civi l magistrat e ; tha t can and

m us t prevent them from s educi ng o thers N 0 pe o ple .

have e ver s u fle r e d their religi o n t o be ridi culed and blas

’

h e m e d , but th o se who were pr o fessedly Christi an Have

p .

I n fi d e l s ever bee n s o liberal P L o o k a gai n at the b u tc h e

ri es of F rance N 0 such thi ng L e t the right o f private
. .

j udgment remai n i nvi o late but let n o t i nfidelity have

licens e any l o n ger t o wi eld the weap o ns o f her infernal
warfare L et her be disarmed , as y o u w o uld disarm a
.

madman What d o I n fi d e l s want ? D o they pr o p o se any

.

better system , or any g o od and useful result ? D o they

ask the li berty o f pr o m o ting th eir o w n happin ess o r the
happiness o f their fellow men P D o they ask f o r the
—

privilege o f relieving the sick o r o f c o mfo rting the a f

fli c t e d P By n o means They a s k fo r the l iberty o f add
.

i ng t o the cup o f human misery , by mingling w ith i t the

i ngredi ent o f h o peless despai r They ask f o r the privilege
.

o f letting lo o se lust rapi ne and murder They beg f o r

, ,
.

the liberty o f playing wi th fi r e brands , arrows , and

-

”
death and o f setting t h e w o rld o n fi r e A re n o t such
, .
 19 0 RELI G I OU S LI B E R T Y .

poor and deluded fanatic There i s n o progression o f

.

knowledge o r sci enc e e ach generati o n m ust begi n at the

.

p o int o f absolute n o thingness , and leave th e w o rld u nde r

the i mpenetrable v e i l o f universal disbelief I f s u ch me n
.

c ould convert the w o rld t o their O pi ni o ns , they would

banish hope , and j o y , and happi ness , and i n t r o duce i n
their place gloom , despair , and death .

We che erfu lly a d mit that all candid i nquiri es after truth
sh o uld be left fre e t o th e e ntire ra n ge o f human th o ught
and study ; and that there should be n o abridg me nt of
the right o f fre e disc u ssi on , calculated i n any way t o
hi nder o r impede the rati o nal i nvestigati on o f truth But .

when a man has deliberately s tu l ti fi e d hi mself wi th the

doctri nes o f atheism , o r even o f i nfidelity , i t c an not b e
n ecessar y that he should be permitted t o stultify others .

He has n o n atural o r moral right to beli eve anythi ng that

i s not true ye t , i nasmuch as c ivi l g o vernments have not
th e ability o f regulating the beli ef o f their constituents ,they
are o bliged to let every man b eli eve as he will , a n d to
leave h i m in thi s respect acc o untable only to God This .

surely i s liberty en o ugh for any reas o n a ble man to enj o y .

I t can ne ither be expedi ent n o r right that a man who r e

j e c ts the governme nt of G o d ,
sh o uld be permitted ,
from a
mere love o f mischi ef, to s educ e others from their alle
i a n ce His o bj ect i n s o doing cann o t be e ither b e n e v o
g .

lent o r honest for h e d o es n o t propos e to accompli sh by

i t any benefici al purp o s e whateve r Why ,then , should he
.

be permi tted t o d o that which , while i t cann o t p o ssibly do

any g o o d , i s sure t o ge nerate th e v e ry w orst evi ls that
have ever a fflicted the race P G o d h o lds every man to an
i ndividual resp o nsibility f o r the accuracy o f his beli ef ; but
He has directed that n o o n e sh o uld b e permitted t o c o rrupt
others H o w the n can atheists and i n fi d e l s be permitted
.

t o ridicule and c o ntemn God P Will i t d o them any good P

Will i t n o t , rather , plunge them a n d o thers i nto the gulf
 F R EE D I S C USSI O N . 19 1

Of endless darkn ess P N o thi n g can be safely all o w ed that

t ends t o undermi ne a n d bring i nt o disrepute the doctrin es
and writi ngs o f the Pr o p h ets and A p o stles I s i t safe to
.

let men preach and pri nt what we kn o w to be false and

inj uri o us , and W hat we w o uld n o t f o r th e w o rld have o u r
children eithe r beli eve o r hear P I f the d o ctri n e , that I n fi
‘

dels and A theists have a right t o u n dermi n e and o ver

thr o w o u r religi o n , if they can , ei ther by scorn , blasphemy ,
falseh o od , o r argument , b e c o rrect , then is it evident that
G o d was unrighte o us i n punishing men f o r s u ch thi n gs i n
the days o f M o ses and Joshua U nless i t can b e sh o wn
.

that such o ff ences are inj uri o us t o s o ci ety , there can b e n o

prin ciple o f justice that will auth o ri ze thei r punishme n t by
the civil magistrate S ins against G o d that are n o t at all
.

prejudi ci al t o s o ci ety , if there are any such , can b e kn o wn

o nly unt o G o d w h o s earches th e heart and o f c o urs e He
; , ,

alone can punish them But all o ffen ces agai nst the law
.

of G o d whi ch t end t o the i nj ury o r unhappi n ess o f

c o mm u nity are pr o perly c o gni zable at the bar o f human
legislati o n But the fact , that G o d directed the g o vern
.

m ent o f the J ewish nati o n t o i nfli ct temp o ral penalti es

u p o n th o s e w h o vi o lated any o n e o f th e Ten C o mmand

ments , as well as th o se i n the first as thos e i n th e s ec o nd

table , sho ws c o nclusiv ely , that such s ins were regarded by
hi m as injuri o u s t o the c o mmunity and that He c o nsidered
them as proper subj ects f o r the chast i sements o f the ci vil
magistrate . Why sh o uld we punish h ere f o r th o s e sins
that are ex clusively sins against G o d ? He cann o t b e i n
jured by any s uch transgressi o ns ”
. But any si n that is cal
cu l a t e d t o i n j ure his kingd o m among men , o r t o defeat his

revealed plans and purp o ses , with reference t o the human

race , o r any porti o n o f them , are n ecessarily inj uri o us to
men and are pr o perly c o gnizabl e by hu m an auth o rity
'

Civil governments cannot , therefore , t o lerat e the practi ce

o f seduci ng men i nt o a rebellion a ai nst the moral g o ve r n
g
 1 92 RE L I G I O US LI B ER T Y .

ment o f G od E very child o f A dam has a deep i nterest

.

i n that g o vernment , and must b e m o re o r less d i rectly

aff e cted by every act whi ch t ends t o i ts derangeme nt .

M en o ught , then , t o be punished i n this life f o r every o vert

act o f transgressi o n , publi cly c o mmi tted agai nst the g o v
e r n m e nt o f G od
. I t i s plai n that the pr o mulgati o n o f i n
fi d e l and athe isti c senti me nts i s calculated t o scatter wide
the seeds o f rebelli o n against G o d , and bitt er h o stility to
his g o vernment and i t should o f c o urse be prevented by
th e i nterference o f the ci vi l magistrate .

SWO R D o r T II E S P I RI T S o me go o d men have claimed

.
-

that w e ne ed n o c ivi l la w s agai nst any acts t o uchi ng th e

fir s t table o f the D ecalogu e , becaus e i n their o pi n i o n o u r
religi o n doe s n ot n eed any s uch p r op s The sw o rd o f
.

”
the S pirit , i n G o spel days , they think t o be quite su ffi
ci ent But let i t be remembered that statutes pr o hibi ting
.

such o ff ences are n ot created t o s u stai n o r pr o p u p

religion They are designed t o prev ent m en fr o m inj uring
.

o thers by adopti ng any c o urs e o f acti o n at war w i th it and

,

calculated to i mpai r the gen eral welfare and i t has be en

already shown that such laws , n o twi thstandi n g th e i n
flu e n c e s o f o u r religi o n , and n o t w i thstanding the i n flu
e n c e s o f th e Holy S pi ri t are as necessary eve n n o w as are
,

the laws agai nst theft , robbery , and murder B o th classes .

o f thes e laws are found i n the same c o de yet n o o n e has

;
ever dared to say that , because religi o n d o es n o t n eed any
pr o p , n o la w s are n ecessary agai nst the latter class o f
o ff ences . The fact is that G o d has given us laws and
penalti es t o prev ent a l l th o se acts w hich a r e calculated to
l o o se n i n the publi c mind th e b o nds o f morality and religi o n ,
as well as t o prevent th o se whi ch tend to i nj ure o u r civi l
rights and w ho will dare t o c o ntemn th e gift o f G o d as
unnecessary and valueless P Wha tever tends to w eake n the
fo rce o f o bligati o n must als o tend i n the prese nt state o f
s o c i e tv directly and e ffici ently to th e destructi o n o f i ndi
 1 94 R ELI G I OU S LI B E R T Y .

and pr o speri ty ,required i t G o d pun ished a s severely f o r the

.

si n o f r e b e l l i o n a g a i n s t hi m ,a s h e did f o r sins a g a i n s t a f e l l o w
creature pr o ving c o nclusi vely that He had a right , as ci vi l
—

Governor , t o require o f hi s subj ects th o se m o ral and reli

g i o u s services whi ch were due t o his m o ral admi ni strati on .

I n fi d e l s and A theists clai m n o t only the right t o wi th

ho ld their services fr o m G o d , but als o the right to ridicul e
and abuse hi m and hi s w o rd , and t o se t hi m and his peo
ple at open defianc e . Wherever this claim has be en
all o wed , they have unifo rmly o verturned everythin g that
w a s pure and h o ly , and o f g o od rep o rt .T hi s d o es n o t
t h t i m we rfu l t h t r th I t
p r o ve a e r r or s o re
p o a n u .

only sh o ws that i t has many adv o cates , i s always dan g er

o u s and more agre eable t o o u r c o rrupt prope nsiti es and
, ;
that i t urges me n to e mbrac e i t i n despit e o f truth , and o f
all the obligati o ns w hi ch they o w e o n e t o an o ther , o r to
G o d I t i s from thi s cause , that thes e debasin g and damn
.

i ng pr i nci ples which hurry me n o n t o perditi o n , re ceive

the i r chief i mpulse and hence , i f t o lerated , they are
always fo und to i n crease with great rapidity I n v i e w o f .

all such consequenc es , He , as the civi l L egi slator o f th e

J e w s , pr o hibi ted th e pr o mulgati o n o f all irreligi o us s e nti
ments , and punished w i th death , all w h o attempted to
draw away o thers fr o m th e worship o f the true God .

He c o uld n o t o therwis e have s ecured the pre valenc e o f

th e t r u e w o rship , eve n am o n g his o w n pe o ple A lth o ugh .

He was himself their I nstructor , their L awgi ver , and their

c ivi l and m o ral G o v ern o r , and although He w a s almost
dai ly exhi bi ting to th em h i s miraculous p o we r and hi s
o mnisci enc e , c t He fo und that He c o uld n ot , while t o l e r a t
y
i ng the f r e e pr o mulgati o n o f i nfidel and i d o latrous O pini ons
and practi c es , s ecure hi s o w n peculiar pe o ple eve n f no m
o penly dis o wning his w o rd and o rdinances , o r from direct

and o pe n rebelli o n agai nst h i s auth o ri ty . H a s G o d eve r

taught t h at Chri stian nati o ns must tole r at e o u t o f respect ,
 S W OR D or T I I E SP I R I T . 1 95

to the right o f free discussi o n , the practi ce and promulga

ti o n o f i nfidel o r atheisti c O pi ni o ns P Has H e taught , that
i n o rder that the p o te ncy o f truth , i n o pp o si ng i nfidel ity ,
may b e apparent , we must giv e t o th e li ce nti ous creed o f
i n fi d e l s , deists , and atheists , the same fre ed o m t o do m i s
chi ef, which the Christi an has t o d o g o o d P Did He le ave
i t f o r T H OMA S JEFFERS O N to di sc o ver t h at i t wo uld be safe
t o t o lerate err o r , s o l o ng as truth was left fre e t o combat
i t ? O h ! h o w fallaci o us are all such reas o nings , th e o pin
i ons o f J e ff ers o n , t o the c o ntrary n o twithstandi ng A s .

well might we say t o the LI C EN T I O US M A N ; vi o late , as

'

o fte n as o u please , the pre cept o f the seventh c o mmand

y
ment exh o rt all y o u meet wi th , b o th publi cly and pri
—

v a t e l y , t o d o the same —
c o llect all the o bscene pri nts that
have been i nvented si nce the fl o o d , and put them i nt o the
s ecret chamber , and i nto the hands o f every child , i nt o
every family drawi ng r o o m , every publi c hall , and place
-

of res o rt proclai m c o nstantly , from the h o use top , and

— -

i n the e ar o f every man , w o man , and child , that the

s eventh c o mmandment is a cruel , unkind ,and superstiti o us
restri cti on o f o n e o f their n atural , i nn o cent , a n d dearest
rights Y es , let hi m pr o clai m that if there w ere a G o d
.

He w o uld n ever hav e given a c o mmand s o Oppressive

an d tyrann i cal N o w , w h o d o es n o t kn o w that such pr o
.

c l a m ati o n s and exhibiti o ns , even though m e t by th e tr u th

at every c o rn er , w o uld un av o idably p o llute the publi c c o n

sci ence and debase the publi c m rals o P T h e v ery first
eff ect o f such i nflue nces , is , t o shut the publi c c a r against
th e truth and if she had a th o usand t o ngu es , and t o every
t o ngue a trumpet l o uder than ten th o u sand thunders , she
c o uld n e ver awake th e de ad o r slumberi ng c o nsci e nce , o r
q u ench the fires o f lust I f such a system c o uld n o t be
.

t o lerated , h o w then can w e t o lerate breaking up the chi ef

fountai n o f o bligati on protected by the first table o f the
D ecal o gue P I t would not o nl y open the door o f lust , b u t
196 RELI G I OU S LI B E R T Y .

it w o uld fan the v ery flames which w o uld end i n the un

quenchable fires .

Who c an beli eve that G o d either was willing , o r

expe ct ed , wh en H e uttered amidst the thunderi ngs of
“
S i nai , th e c ommand Th o u shalt have n o o ther G o ds
”
befo re m e , that l n fi d e l s and A theists should have the
libe rty o f rising up and proclai ming i n his v ery face
“
and i n th e fac e o f th e w orld , There i s n o God there —

are a th o usand G o ds all the w orld i s G o d and n o on e

— —

thi ng a l o n e , i s God ; that c o mmand , purporting t o c o me

fr o m o n e as S uprem e , i s arbitrary , s elfish , and u n r e a s o n a
ble , and I w ill hav e n o thing to d o wi th i t i t o ugh t t o b e
—

” “
O r after de claring , Th o u
sc o uted fr o m the w orld P

”
shal t n o t make unto the e any graven i mage , etc , would .

God be pleased w ith , or allo w the gross est i dol a try , simply
bec aus e he c o uld preach his truth ag ainst i t ? E ve n
admi tti ng that his truth c o uld be brought t o b ear up o n the
o ffender , and up o n c o mmunity , i s i t probable that God
w o uld su ff er th e I nfidel , satan like , t o ri s e up among his
-

si n c ere a n d faithful w o rshipers , an d pr o clai m that the

G o d they worshiped was a selfish , cruel , tyrant ? Would
He su ff er himself t o be slandered , w ith impun ity , i n the
midst o f hi s fri ends , i n the very h o use wh ere his h o n o r
dwelleth P ” Would i t be easi er to ro o t o u t and destr o y
error , after i t had l o ng been s o wn by a thousand hands ,
and be e n n o uri shed f o r ages by th e genial s o il o f unbeli ef
and reb elli o n , than to pluck i t up w hen i t firs t began to
germinate , o r to stifle i t i n i nfancy , and thus exclude i t
fr o m all places w here i t c o uld take r o o t and revi ve P O r
will i t be claimed that the p o wer and g o o dness o f G o d
wi ll be m o re clearly manifested i n su ff ering the I nfidel t o
destr o y himself and o thers , by publishing his blasphe mi es
and the n be defeated , than they w o uld be by the i nfli cti o n
o f i nstant death or b calling i n the aid of the c ivi l o vern
, y g
1 98 RELI G I O U S L I B E R T Y

i s c r uel , and the ir te nder mercy , which is t emporal and

eternal death .
0

I t sh o uld be ever remembered that M O R A L SUASI ON

( meanin g g o od advic e m erely ), will never keep the high
way r o bber fr o m o u r purse , o r the incendiary s t o rch fr o m
-
’

our d w ellings , o r the dru n kard s b o wl from poisonin g o u r

’

comforts , wasting o u r g o o ds , and e ndangering o u r li ves .

I t w ill n o t make the avari ci o us man give t o his servants

the physi cal rest and m o ral trai ning o f the S abbath I t .

will n o t create a sober , qui et , and h a ppy co m m u n i ty , a n y

’

m ore than i t will preserve in the m a reverence and respect

f or the attribut es and character o f G o d ; and sin ce we
find men as they are , pr o n e t o wi ckedn ess as the sparks
”
t o fly upward , w e should throw ar o und them all th o se
restrai nts b o th ci vil and reli g i o us , whi ch we have a right
t o use , els e many o f them will n o t o nly g o down
t o th e pi t themselves , but they wi ll i n all pr o bability
drag th o usands and millions along w ith them . Civil
laws , as w e have befo re remarked , that are designed
t o s ecure such a n e nd , d o n o t fo rce the c on s c i en c e
o f any man . Has the I nfidel a c o nsci enc e which pr o mpts
hi m t o destr o y his s o ul , o r to drag the unwary and the
u nsuspecti ng down to the chambers o f the s econ d death P

I s i t the c o nsci ence of the highwayman that prompts hi m

to r ob P D o es a pure c o nsci enc e ever i nci te to lewdness ,
pr o fani ty , o r murder ? The supp o siti o n i s prep o ster o us .

The c o nsci en ce o f an i nfidel , if such he has left , i s always

o n the side o f truth and o f God A ll the force which
.

w e ask f o r i s , t o aid the c o nsci e nc e and th e Holy S piri t

“
i n pulli ng wi cked me n o u t o f th e fire We kn o w that
.

this gr o und has been a band o n ed by s o me g o o d men to the

c o mm o n enemy yet we beli eve i t to be te nable , and a o
c o rding t o the w o rd and mi nd o f G od We sh o uld h a s ten
.

t o the help o f the wi cked m an s c o nsci enc e ; w e sh o uld

’

nei ther listen t o the doctrin e that go o d a dvi c e i s the only

 S W OR D or TH E SP I RI T . 199

i nst r ument whi ch we have a r ight to use , i n preventin g

m e n from acting and speaking against G o d and his holy
“
religi on , n o r t o the cry o f Church and S tate , which ”

has bec o m e the watchword o f i nfidelity and licenti ous

n ess , but pr o clai m with all boldness , that all men , as well
I n fi d e l s and A theists , as Christians , are b o un d t o l o ve , w o r
ship , and obey G o d to attend upon his ordi nances , and
—

“
walk i n the way o f his statutes .
”

We have s e en al ready , that l n fi d e l s and A theists by

denying the o nly true s o urce o f obligati o n , h ave under
taken to cut themselves l o o s e fr o m duty and fr o m G o d ,
and that we have n o means o f restrai ni ng them left , but
that o f force S o l o ng as they retai n thei r pri nciples o f
.

disbeli ef, s o l o ng , whether i n this world , o r i n the next ,

they can only b e kept from O pen and vigor o us h o stility t o
all that is called g o o d , by dire ct force , o r by a system o f
law wh o s e penalti es are d r e c t and irrefragable Thes e .

a r e the o nly i nfluences which can reach them If w e

.

would keep them fr o m mis chi ef i n the present life , i f we

would prevent them fr o m draggi ng t o perditi on all with
wh o m they c o m e i n c o ntact , w e must arrest thei r mad
purp o ses o f diss emi nating their poisonous sentiments , by
laws wh o se penalti es relat e to their present s tate o f exist
e nce , and whi ch are severe e n o ugh t o excite their appr o
h e ns i o n s and their fear . When a nati o n has bec o me s o
c o rrupt that it will n o t make o r execut e such laws , and
als o laws t o prohi bit all o utward v i o lati o ns o f the Divin e
law , it stands up o n the very bri nk o f destructi o n These .

m e n , as well as o thers , are , i n a most i mportant sense , the

p r operty o f the nati on and they have n o ri g ht , either s o
ci a l p o liti cal , civil o r m o ral , t o lessen the value o f that
,

pr o perty , by corrupti ng themselves , o r by p o lluting the

publi c consci en ce They are n o t their o w n , and they
.

should n o t be p ermitted to say and d o whatever they please ,

irrespe c tive of the rights of thei r fellow m e n ; but those -
£20
0 R E LI G I OU S LI B ER T Y .

who a re e ntrusted w ith the busin ess o f making a n d exe

cuting civil laws , are b o und t o se e that th ey are kept
withi n the rule o f doing whatever the gen eral happi ness
and i nterests o f c o mmunity re quire They must n o t
.

b e permitted , outwardly , to dis o bey G o d N o good ci ti .

z e n will o bj e ct to any such restrai nt .

I t would se em , fr o m what has be e n said relatin g t o the

character and c o nduct o f the antediluvi ans ,that G o d c o uld
n ot c o ntr o l the i nfluences o f i nfidel and irreligi o us prin ciples ,
until after He had i ntroduced the method o f i nflicting th e
m ost s evere penalti es i n the pres ent life ,as well up o n th o s e
w h o si nned against hi ms e lf,as upon thos e w h o sinned agai nst
their fe l l ow me n The antediluvi ans , f o r aught we know ,
-
.

f o r the want o f such restraints ,persi sted i n corrupti ng them

s elves , until th ey becam e to o wi cked to live and , then , by
a n act o f t errible and vi ndictive j ustic e , they were swe pt
”
from the earth and cast down to hell L ike many o f later
.

times , they w ere guilty o f destroying themselves Oh .

I srael , thou hast destroyed thys elf ” . Had n o t th e arm o f

civil government be e n called t o the aid o f God s moral ’

a dmi nistrati o n , w e hav e n o reas o n t o dou b t that gener a

t i o n after gen erati on would h ave fo llowed i n their fo o t

steps , u ntil th e entire rac e w o uld have be en swall o we d
up i n o n e comm o n rui n We s e e , then , that there i s a
.
-

n ecessity for law s whos e penalti es , relating to the present

life , can be b o th SEEN A N D F E L T .

WA S I T RI GH T I N GOD T o C RE A T E TH E M A T E RI A L UNI VE RSE ,

and t o subj e ct all i ts parts t o certai n fix ed and i mmutabl e
P H YSI C A L L A W S ? Was i t right that He sh ould give to the
brute creation a law o f i nstinct , whi ch w o uld pr o ve e qual
ly certai n and equally eff i ci ent P A w i se , benev o le nt , an d
O mniscient Being c o uld n o t d o o therwi se G o d has thus .

d o n e and si nc e the ti me o f thei r creati o n , they have all

m o ved al o ng i n their o rder i n perfe ct o bedi e nce to his wi ll .

S uppose , n ow , that th e sun should break l o ose from i ts

 0
2 2 R EL I G I OUS LI B ER T Y .

be ca m e the enemies o f G o d , and have bee n lab o ring , eve r

s inc e thei r fall , to thwart his purp o ses and o verturn hi s
government A m o ral a gent i s g o verned , s o far as h i s
.

heart o r servi ce t o G o d i s c o ncerned , o nly by motive ;

force , stri ctly spe aki ng , has n o thi ng t o d o wi th i t I f such
.

a n agent does n o t wish t o l o v e G o d , there i s n othi ng i n

the universe that can c o mpel hi m t o d o i t I f it were .

otherwise , he could n o t be a fre e agent .

What , then , was to be don e wi th man P

S h o uld h e b e
left , n ot o nly to w ithhold h is heart , and his a ff ecti o ns from
God , but to do everything he pleased f o r th e purp o s e o f
misleading and debasing others P
O ught he t o be left free
n o t only to destr o y hi ms elf, but als o , t o call down the
u d m e n ts o f heave n up o n o th ers , as w ell as up o n him
j g
'

self P While h e is left e ntirely fre e , t o love o r hate

whi chever h e pleases , n o law whi ch affli cts h i m f o r his
m isconduct can b e regarded as changing h i s positi o n as a
free age nt , o r as i nfri ngi ng his liberty i n any proper sens e
of that term he i s a fre e agent under law , and i t w ould ‘

b e v ery strange , when he had vi o lated th e law , if he had

bee n left fre e to choos e whether he w o uld su ffer i ts penal
ty . H is ch o i c e i s made i n the act o f transgressi o n By.

the i nstitution o f human g o ve rnments , G o d designed t o

plac e hi m under a syst e m o f law , by whi ch th e penalty
due to a wrong choice , should i mmediately fo ll o w i ts e x
h i b i ti o n i n his conduct , and by whi ch h e might b e deterred
fr o m d o ing those thi ngs that w ere calculated to i nj ure
o thers . The admi nistrati o n o f civi l g o vernm e nts was de
sign e d to c o ncur wi th , and aid the D ivi ne admi nistrati o n .

We have already s e e n that G o d c o uld n o t c o ntr o l th e

external c o nd u ct o f wi cked me n by persuasi o n al o n e , but
only thr o ugh a system o f laws havi ng civil o r physical
penalti es addressed to thei r senses , to be admi nistered by
human tribunals and n o t by a tribunal that i s i nvisible .

He could n o t , i n vi ew o f the p erversi ty o f thei r u nbeli ef,

 EF F E G r or I N FI D EL LE C T URES . 2 3 0
r ely either upon th e r e tributi ons o f eternity o r up o n any
penalty which was t o b e i nflicted by an unseen hand .

S ince G o d cann o t , f o r this re as o n , c o ntrol wi cked men o r

prevent them fr o m inj uri ng and p o lluti ng their fellow
beings , with o ut either destroyi ng thei r fre e d o m o r resort
i ng t o the agency o f human g o vernment , a n d si nce He has
ch o s en the latt er alternati ve , i t is as much the duty o f civi l
'

l egi sl atures and commu niti es t o lend their aid , as i t is the

s elf imp o sed duty o f G o d t o regulate and keep i n their
-

courses th e o therwise u nruly o bj ects and agents o f h i s ma

t e r i a l system : f o r wi cked m e n , unless they w ere i n flu
en ced and c o ntr o lled by human i n strumentality i n the
manner here p o i nted o u t , w o uld i ntr o duce as much c o n f u
si o n and dis o rder i nt o the m o ral w o rld , as th e things i n
nature , when o u t o f place , w o uld i n the natural S uch .

men may be made t o fear the arm o f p o wer that i s seen ,

alth o ugh less p o tent than the o n e that i s unseen ; while
th ey would unhesitatingly abuse and defy every speci es o f
p o w er that was i nvi sible I t i s true that G o d can i nfli ct
.

penalties o f a physi cal nature up o n the transgress o rs o f hi s

law without h u man assistance He can b o th kill an d make
alive But if He w ere t o strike dead every murderer by
.

a thunderb o lt o r by a n y hidden means , o r i f He w ere to

lay every fel o n up o n a si ck b ed o r hide hi m i n s o me deep
-

cavern o f th e earth , i t i s n o t di fficult t o se e that they

w o uld deny his hand i n all thes e i n fli cti o n s They would
.

all b e attribut ed , as they ever have b een , t o s o me o c

cult pr o cess o f n ature , and b e supp o s ed t o have n o c o n
n e c ti o n with th e cri me which pr o v o ked them But thi s
.

is n o t a state o f retributi o n f or i ndivi duals , and such a sys

t em w o uld , therefo re , seem t o o ff er s o me excuse f o r at
tributing results o f this kin d to anything el s e , o r t o chanc e
e ven , rather than t o him .

E F FE CT S OF I N FI D E L L E CT URE S But i t may n o t b e un

'

fi ta b l e to lo o k at so m e o f th e e ff e cts o f I nfidel O pini ons and

 0
2 4 RELI G I OU S LI B ER T Y .

lectur es I t has fallen t o o u r l o t t o witn ess some o f these

.

e ff ects i n the n ewly gathered and beautiful vi llage o f

I t was settled by i ntelligent , industri ous , enterpri sing , and
m o ral i mmigrants fr o m N ew E ngland , and c ontain ed , at
the time o f wh ich w e speak , s everal churches and other
publi c b u i l d i n g s ,,w i th a population o f ab o ut o n e tho u sand
s o uls , enj o ying pe culi ar advantages F o r many years after
.

i ts settlement was comm enced , i ts i nhabitants were unu

s u a l l y prosperous and happy . They w ere n o t less di s
t i n g u i s h e d f o r their m o rality and reli g i o n than f o r their
i ndustry and enterpris e N either S abbath breaking , pr o
.
-

f a n i ty , n o r i ntemperance had , t o any great exte nt , as yet ,

appeared among them ; and open and av o wed i nfideli ty
w a s absolutely unkn o wn . But befo re many years had
elapsed , an ap o state from Christianity visited the plac e , and
like the great leader o f all apostates , c o mmenced an ex
termi nati ng war agai nst the Christi an religi o n and religi o u s
i nsti tuti ons , both i n private c o nversati o ns and by publi c
lectures His gen eral man n ers and address were easy an d
.

prep o ssessin g , and he had that pe culiar tact which enables

some men , at a si ngl e b o und , t o di ve int o the b o s o m of
any soci ety which they may happen t o chose He w as a .

p r ofessional man , a p o pular and highly gifted spe aker , an d

i ntelligent i n c o nversati o n Possessi ng a g o o d degre e o f
.

refinement , h e could n o t , at first , descend to th e low and

vulgar habits s o co m mon t o men o f his life ; but he was
well fitted to arrest th e attenti o n , gain the ear , and per
vert th e c o nscience o f an educated and qui et commu ni ty .

His first e ff orts were rather noiseless , and befo re the com
mun ity were really aware of his true character , he had
gai ned m any admirers , and the leaven o f his pestilential
i nfluenc e had s o pois o ned th e mass , that great numbers
gathered to listen t o his i nsinuating disc o urses , and to h ear
what he had to say a g ainst the religion of the bible an d
i ts Di vi ne A u thor . A s s o o n a s h i s true char a cte r a n d
2 0
6 RELI G I OU S LI B ER T Y .

beco m e well nigh bankrupt , i n c onseque nce o f the m is

management o f i ndividuals bel o nging to this v ery class .

I n s o me o f their ta v erns may still b e s een , n ight a fte r

night , th e G AM B LI N G T A B LE surrounded by s o me o f thei r
lawyers , grocers , m echani cs , and o ther young m e n of the
v illag e , burning th e mi dnight lamp , dri nki ng fr o m the i n
t o x i c a t i n g bowl , and by their o aths , and curses , and quar
rels , disturbing th e qui et and peaceable traveler at a s ea
son when all nature se ems to b e i nvi ting to repos e A t th e
.

s a me table y o u may also see T H E Y O UN G MA N o f excellent

t alents , o f respectabl e P R O FESSI O N , and o f g o o d parentage ,
w h o , i n a distant ci ty n o t l o ng befo re w ept as he kn elt with
,

a pi o us br o ther and si sters befo re th e altar of prayer , whil e

they poured fo rth their un ited suppli cati ons to th e G o d
of heav en f o r hi s salvation Whilst kn eeling i n that holy
.

place he s eemed t o be i n the very gateway o f heaven , an d

high h o pes were entertained that hi s fu ture life would b e
b o th h o n o rable and useful I t was then hoped als o that
.

h e had be en truly c o nverted to G o d , but , alas ! h aving

bee n hurri ed onward by th e rapi d and deceitful currents
of skepticism , he i s si nking i nt o the v o rte x o f that m a el
str o m o f death .

A N O TH E R Y O UN G M A N may be s een as a daily vi s itan t

“ ”
I S T II E S O N O F A W I DOW , and f o r
o f these h o uses , who

aught w e kn o w , the only s o n o f his moth er ” He o ften

.

c alls f o r admi ttance i nt o th es e gateways o f death i n the

coldest mornings o f a n o rthern w inter , l o n g befo re day
break , from w hence , o n th e previ o us even ing , perhaps ,
h e had been turned a way , drunken , quarrels o me , and i n
disgrace , to l o dge i n th e stre ets , o r to stagger h o me t o th e
miserable ab o de o f his disc o ns o late and br o ke n hearted -

m other , wh o m his ex travagance and dissip a ti o n had r e

d u c e d alm o st t o beggary . A t night , whilst reveling amid
the fumes o f al c o h o l , and j o ini ng i n th e ch o rus o f drunken
r evelry , h e i s visited with witheri n g fr o wns and sc o rchi ng
 V I CT IMS O F IN T EM P ERA N C E . 0
2 7

a nathemas , and plunged headl o n g fr o m the d o or by th e

very man w h o will be ready , o n his return i n the m o rning ,
to gre et him with smiles , i nvite hi m t o be seated as an
h o n o rable and liberal guest , and extend t o hi m the b est
that his h o use a ffo rds , n o t fo rgetting even the b o wl o f
mad n ess and o f death He still has a little m o ney , and
.

alth o ugh i t is supp o sed to have been s t o l e n , i t is current

and as good as any w i th the c o mplacent landl o rd , who ,
vampyre like , stands i n his bar and smilingly deals o u t to
-

“
the y o ung man his morning d o s e o f distilled damnati o n , ”

a n d then seats hi m at his table half drunk as he i s to i n

, ,

sult th o se w h o are s o ber , by his awkward attempts to

fo rce i nt o his l o athing stomach the fo o d whi ch it ne eds ,
.

but rarely o btai ns Has this young man , acc o rding to the
.

r ule laid dow n , D eut 2 1 1 8 2 1 , a right t o be a drunkard

.
—

o r a glutt o n P N 0, he sh o uld be restrai ned His m o ther .

i s b o und t o info rm agai nst him , and i t is the duty o f the

publi c authorities to take care o f hi m '

We also find at thes e g r og g e ri es A C ONS T AN T V I SI T AN T ,

w h o is past th e meridian o f life , and wh o se appeti te f o r
s tr o ng dri nk has been s o often enti ced and flattered by

these rum selli ng gambl e rs i n human misery , that he is no

-

l o nger able t o c o ntr o l i t L ik e the y o ung man whom we

.

last menti o ned , he t o o i s daily led like an o x t o the

slaughter and is rapidly hasten ing t o a drunkard s grave ’
.

He was once a m a n o f we alth and a respected member of

s o ci ety
. His family i s quit e large and som e o f hi s
children are still y o un g But he i s n o w embarrassed with
.

a n a c cumulati ng debt , f or the payment o f which h e has

b e e n c o mp e lled t o pledge his pr o perty ; yet he h a s bee n

daily spending the m o ney f o r gr o g whi ch might have been
appli ed t o its redempti o n , until the day o f payment has
passed ; h i s e ngagements have n o t be en met , and h e has
n o t the ability t o meet them Hi s m o ney has g o n e i nto the
.

hands o f the merce n ary gr o g vender , and his estate i s now

fo rfeited a n d li es at the m ercy o f his c r editors , wh ile hi s
 0
2 8 RE LI G I OU S L I B ER T Y .

h e a lth , hi s i ndustr y , and his e c o n o my , have all been sacri

fi ced for the gr a tificati o n o f his debased appetite By .

these and other m eans , equally n efari o us , these death deal -

i ng sci ons o f i nfideli ty , a r e c o nstantly destr o ying th e pr o

perty , and health , and happin ess o f th eir n eighbors , pl u n
deri ng their famili es , and r o bbi ng their credit o rs , as w ell as
c o untry , S tate , and o u r wh o le w o rld , o f their m o rality
a n d their w ealth . N ay , m o re : they are lab o ri ng i n c e s
s a n tl to murder the souls and bodi es o f all w h o c om e
y
wi thi n their reach .

A MI DD L E A G E D M AN traveling W I TH H I S W I FE and
-

children , o n fo o t , t o th e far west , lately sp ent a day i n this

sa m e vi llage , i n lab o r , f o r th e purp o s e o f pr o curing m o ney
t o defray their expenses o nward His appearanc e w a s
.

such as to i n di cat e respectability and i nt elligence but n o

soon er was his m o ney earned than h e was enti ced i nt o
one o f thes e h o use s f o r the purp o se o f dri nki ng B efo re .

sunset he had be c o me drunk and n o i sy ; and s eparated

fr o m his wife and children , they knew n o t where t o find
him , n o r what was hi s conditi o n A s s o o n a s i t grew dark ,
.

thes e breeders o f mischi ef, after draini ng his p o ckets and

ni s purse , and after brutali zing h i s i ntellect , and dryi ng up
the s o urces o f d o mesti c a ff ecti o n , turn ed hi m i nt o the
stre ets where he w a s s o on disc o vered by the wri ter i n a
state o f be astly i nt o x icati o n H e w a s lyi ng up o n his back
.

o n the side walk , surr o unded by s o me fifte en o r twe nty

-

boys who were prepari ng to g iv e hi m what they called a

trai ning .
” A fter besmeari ng hi m w ith mud , and sn o w ,
and water , and while h e was mutteri ng i n their ears the
half—arti culated o aths and curses o f drunken i mp o t enc e and
r evenge , they dragged hi m o ff i n to th e m u d , and there l eft
him t o dream away the j o ys o f i n ebriati o n Whether he .

lived until m o rning th e wri ter cann o t state bu t if h e was

agai n permitted t o m ee t his wife and children , h o w bi tter
a n d h u m ili a ti ng m ust have been thei r tears h o w a r ti cu
—
 2 10 R EL I G I O U S LI B ER T Y .

t e a ches them to expect impun ity f o r other o ff ences .

.

N othing can hinder s u ch m en fr o m p o lluting the ear o f

purity , unless i t b e death the arm o f civi l magistracy
—

or the p o we r o f Di vi ne Grace but against the latter i n flu

:

ence , they hav e encased themselves i n the mantle o f bi t

ter s c o fii n g. I f the d o o rs o f the everlasti ng pi t sh o uld be
unbarred , w o uld they n o t gather up th e wailings and blas
ph emi es o f damned spirits , and hurl them w i th i nfuriate
z eal at the very throne o f G o d ? A nd as the light o f the
S abbath dawns up o n this once be autiful and qui et village ,
i nvi ti ng i ts i nhabitants to the h o us e o f G o d , we are c o m
l l e d t o hear the ru mbling o f carriages , and stages , the
p e

blowi ng o f horns ; and se e the gatheri ng i n taverns and

dram sh o ps , o f drunk a rds and sc o ff ers The post o ffice i s
'

-
.

opened and thr o nged wi th citi zens , many o f wh o m are

Church members and e ve n c o unty o ffi cers have be en
see n g o ing there dire ctly fr o m the h o us e o f G o d , and fr o m
their seats i n the choi r S o me o f this pe o ple may be se en o n
.

the S abbath , riding fr o m t o wn to t o w n i n parti es o f pleas

ure and o thers , roami ng i n the fields and forests bu t f e w
are i n the habi t o f attendi ng up o n the o rd inances o f Jeh o
vah There are fo ur o r five Christi an den o mi nati o ns i n the
.

village , t w o o f whi ch have recently dismissed the i r m i n i s

t ers , o n th e alleged gr o und , that they are unable t o sup
p o rt them A s a general thing , the church m embers se em
.
_

t o be twi ce dead and plucked up by the r o o ts S o me of

.

them , i t i s said , make and attend large fashi o n able parti es ,

play cards am o ng themselves and with pers o ns o u t o f the
church , drink w in e , and break the S abbath .

N o w , why i s a l l thi s listless apathy and sl o th i n the

Church , and why s o much o pen i nfidelity and i mm o rali ty
wi th o ut ? I t can n o t be i n c o nse qu enc e o f n o t havi ng a
su ffi ci ent number o f c o nv eni ent h o us es f o r publi c w o rship ;
f o r these are already pr o vided N either i s i t becaus e
.

the r e a r e fe w who profess to be followers o f Christ N or .

 I N F I D ELS M US T B E RES T RA I N E D . 211

ca n i t be f o r the want o f M ini sters , f o r there are settled

p ast o rs , scho o ls , and reverend gentlem e n teachi ng , editing ,
pleading at the bar , and o thers superannuated But th e .

descripti o ns whi ch we have given are n o t ficti o n ; they

are s o ber and living realiti es w e can g i ve b o th names
—

a n d dates . N o r are the results o f i nfidelity , as here ex

h i bi t e d , i n a n y respect peculiar t o this village Wherever .

i nfidelity i s thus pr o pagated and re cei ved , its i nfluence

'

must pr o ve e qu a l l y d e m o r a l i z i n g and inj uri o us .

I n vi ew o f this sh o rt hist o ry , we ask , W hether it i s bes t

t o let such thi ngs al o ne P M ust we suff er I n fi d e l s t o p ub
lish their senti ments h o w ever and wherever they ch o o s e ?
’

S upp o s e w e sh o uld put thes e questi o ns to the very man

w h o produced the results o f whi ch we have j ust been
speaking He still survi ves , and we h o p e i s a c o nverted
.

man and he cann o t hav e fo rg o tten the success o f hi s lec

tures What w o uld b e hi s answe r P He pr o bably w o ul d
.

t ell us that i t w o uld be neither safe n o r right t o su ff er I n

dels t o d o as he h a s d o ne ; that i t w o uld hav e been far
bett er f o r that c o unty , and f o r hi mself and family , t o o , if
he had been shut up i n the c o unty j ail , and kept there at
the publi c expens e He might g o still farther , and c o n
'
.

f e s s th a t i t w o uld have b een b etter if he had been sunk

t o the b o tt o m o f the lake .

I n the village just described , this thi n g was let al o n e

except s o far as i t may hav e been checked by the i n flu
ence o f g o o d advi ce , a n d that al o ne , i n such c a s e s , h as
rarely effected anythi ng w o rth m ent i o n i ng What has been .

the result ? Withi n the last six o r e ight years , i ni qui ty

has i ncreas ed i n that place at least a th o usand fo ld and -

if it sh o uld i ncrease as rapidly f o r a quarter o f a century

t o c o me , i t w o uld b e as unsafe and unc o mfo rtabl e a resi
den ce f o r a Chri stian , as was S o d o m o r G o m o rrah i n th e “

days o f L o t S hall this c o mmuni ty g o o n as they have

.

begun P L et them g o on but a little longe r i n this c o urse ,

2 12 RE LI G I OU S LI B ER T Y .

and their destructi o n , and the destructi o n of all a round

them , will be sure They o ccupy a h i mp o rtant place
.
-
.

M any othe r s will c o py their example and that example

i s b o th see n and felt , wherever these m en are permi tted
t o lodge , eve n f o r a night . N o ; t h ey should n o t be suf
f e r e d thus to go o n ; these i nflue nces sh o uld be checked .

The citizens o f that pl ace hav e n o right to ke ep am o ng

themselves , muc h less t o su ff er to g o abr o ad , among o ther
communiti es , m en who habitually curse , and swear , and
get drunk , and pr o fan e th e S abbath c o ntemn and blas
—

h e m e the G o d o f He aven , and ridicule his W o rd and o r

p
d i n a n ces
. E very family i s under o bligati on , s o t o trai n
its members that they shall n ei ther p o llute themselves n o r
their n eighbors ; and o n the same pri nciple , th e c o mma
ni t
y of which we are n ow Speakin g, are bound t o prevent
the ir i mmorali ti es , and put a st o p to the c o ntaminatin g
i nfluence whi ch i s spreading widely ar o und them The .

traveler w h o spends i n t h eir v il l age a day o r a we ek , or

a m o nth , has a right t o be pr o tected fr o m the i nsulting
and dem o rali zi ng c o nduct o f these w icked men , and from
th e ruden ess , incivility , and blackguardism o f thes e rowdi es
and b o ys O ther c o mmuni ti es have a right als o t o clai m
.

p r o tecti o n fr o m the e ff ect o f thei r polluti ng example and

this clai m sh o uld be pr o mptly recogni zed and met .

What right have this pe o ple to su ffer any o f their number

s o t o c o nduct , that w h e n they g o to Buffal o , Columbus ,
N ew Y ork , or B o st o n , the law abiding i nhabitants o f
-

those citi es will be disturbed and p o lluted by their h o rrid

blasphemi es and vices P I f they have su ch a right , the n
“
any wi cked man may s o train , o r su ff er t o c o m e up , ”

his child that , w hen he cr o sses the threshold o f his neigh

b o r , he w ill , b o th by example and precept , teach his
children t o blasphem e their G o d , and abuse his Word and
o rdi nan ces . This c o mmunity has a c o mm o n i nterest with
every o ther co m m uni ty in the nati on ; and l ike the di ffe r
2 14 RE LI G I O US LI B E R T Y .

pr o fessi o nal man from the path o f virtuous ambi ti on , a n d

fr o m the ways o f re ctitude and peace ? Had they a right
by his sed u cti o n to place a th o rn i n the breasts o f hi s
friends and relatives , whi ch can ne ver be ex tracted u ntil
he i s re claimed P 0what a curse are such m en t o s o cie
ty l I t w o uld be better for c o mmunity if they were
e ntirely exscinded I f such men will n o t cease t o pervert
.

others , is i t n o t b etter that they sh o uld su ff er , than that

o thers sho u ld be c o rrupted and su ff er i n their s tead P If
G o d h ad directed us t o punish , capitally , all w h o sh o uld
b e guilty o f e nticing others t o i nfidelity o r to vi ce , w o uld
n ot the j ustice o f that direction be m o re disti nctly appa
re nt than i t was i n the sentence i nfli cted o n the man who
gathered sticks up o n the S abbath ? E very commun ity
o ught t o kn o w and fe el that s o l o ng as they have laws
,

that are su ffi ci e nt , and neglect o r refuse to e xe cute them ,

f o r the exterminati o n o f influences o f this nature , G o d
w ill curse them more and m o re , until thei r cup o f i ni quity
is fa ll , and then destroy them
_ .

S UN D AY M a I L s B ut th e c o mmunity o f whi ch w e hav e

.
—

been speaking i s n o t the o nly o n e i n o u r nati o n , by many

th o usands , that i s thus a ffli cted n o r i s i t the only o n e i n
whi ch I n fi d e l s are d eliberately plann ing t o undermine the
Christian religion The ir plans are exte nsi ve and well
.

digested , and th ey exte nd t o every p o rti o n o f o u r country .

O ne o f the ir m o st t errible engines i s that o f S unday mai ls

yet there are but few o f the fri ends o f religi o n that seem
t o care mu ch ab o ut i t I t carri es wi th i t an i nflue nce ,
.

h o wever , whi ch , u nless spe edily checked , must deluge

the wh o l e land wi th vic e and crim e I t sh o uld be kn o wn
.

and felt , n o t o nly that m e n have n o right t o be c o me I n fi

d els , but that they are b o und to yi eld the ir hearts to the
h o ly i nfluences o f the G o spel , and t o e mbrace the h o pes
o f salvati o n which J esus Christ hath purchased with his

bl o o d N o i mm o ral o r i rreligi o us m a n c a n be as good a

.
 SUN D AY MA I LS . 15

citi zen as i s the consistent Christian and every c o m m u

n it has theref o re a right t o claim that each f its
y , o con

s t i tu e n ts sh o uld bec o me a c o nsistent fo ll o wer o f th e bl ess

ed S avi o r .

Why are n o t civil laws j ust a s n ecessary n o w as they

were i n th e days o f M o ses P A re n o t pr o fane swearin g ,
S abbath breaking , and s c o ffi n g , as ru i n o us t o th e t emp o
-

ral and eternal i nterests o f men n o w , as they were then ?

S i nce men cann o t b e restrai ned fr o m embraci ng i nfidelity ,
fr o m pr o fane sweari n g , s c o ffi n g , licenti o usn ess , i n t e m pe r
anc e , and S abbath breaki n g , unless by th e force o f civil
-

g o v ernments admi nisteri n g penalti es addressed t o their

se n ses why sh o uld we n o t have adequate law s f o r the
—

preventi o n o f thes e and o ther vi ces , and r i gidly e n fo rce

them P We have n o d o ubt that such a c o urse o f legislati o n
w o uld be highly o ff ensive b o th to wi cked m en and t o devils .

Th ey hav e , f o r a l o n g time , take n i taf o r granted , that the

gr o und which we h ave here taken , has been qui etly sur
rendered and if, when an att e mpt is made t o rec o ver i t ,
the devil should rage , and excite the passi o ns o f his ser
vants , even t o a l o ud and clam o r o us tumul t, w e n eed n o t
b e either surpris ed o r dishearten ed But th ese ar e rights
.

whi ch n ever have been surrendered and , as th ey i nv o lv e

di rect and p o sitive d u ty , they cann o t b e yi elded o r r e l i n
u i s h e d with o ut an O pen aband o nment o f th e cause o f vir
q
tue and o f G o d S o me w ill say , perhaps , i n answer to
.

all this , that the c o urs e whi ch w e rec o mmend i s fraught

w ith danger B ut i s i t n o t still m o re da n ger o us t o let i t
.

alo n e P Why sh o uld w e n o t fo llow the di ctates o f duty ,

then , and leave the c o nsequences wi th G o d P O ur o nly
safety i n this life c o nsi sts i n th e pr o tecti o n o f D i vi ne P r o
v i d e n c e ; and hence w e s h all always find that o u r real

happin ess as w el l a s o u r t emporal i nterests , are best pr o

,

m e te d by a rigid adherence to the rules o f duty . But th e

2 16 REL I G I O US LI B ER T Y .

danger o f this c o urse is m o stly imagi nary L et us l o o k at

.

a few fact s
I N A S M A LL V I L L A G E , situated i n the heart o f a rich and
p o pul o us c o untry , and c o ntaining about seven hundred
i nhabitants , m o stly e nte rprising and m o ral , there were ,
many years a g o , ab o ut twenty i ndividual resi dents , whos e
habits , pri nciples , and character were altogether adverse
t o the ge neral welfare . Th ey were , m o re o r less , i n te m
perate , profane , and str o ngly addicted t o G AM B LI N G A b o ut
.

half o f them were well educated , and , as they th o ught ,

st ood at the h ead o f s o ci ety , c o nstituti ng i ts aristocracy
o f wealth and gentility and regarding themselves as a s e
,

l e c t band o f exclusives They c o nsti tuted a club o f fashi o n

.

able gamblers and fashi o n able dri nkers , w ho l o o ked d o wn

wi th profo und contempt up o n their more humble im itat o rs ,
swore at th eir crimes , and despis ed their meanness The .

other club were scarcely bel o w them i n p o i nt o f i n te l l i

gence , bu t they w ere n o isy , and had added to thei r c o m
m o n st o ck o f v i ces , the busi ness o f C O UN T ERFEI TI N G .

E ach o f these clubs had numer o us ass o ciates fr o m the sur

r o unding country , w h o made a practice o f v isiting them o n
the S abbath and o ther days , and o f spending their time i n
gambli ng , dri nki ng , and re velry A lth o ugh th e fo rmer
.

class did n o t partake with the o th ers i n their extended

system o f swi ndli ng and counterfeiti ng , there seemed to
b e am o ng them all a c o mmunity o f e ffo rt i n r o lling o nward
the wave o f blasphemy , s c o ffi n g , and drunkenness , as
w ell as gambling , until n o t o nly the wh o le village , but
the c o untry ar o und , t o the extent o f many leagues , gave
fearful evide nce that the w o rk o f m o ral and spi ritual death
had well n igh be c o me u ni versal .

A t l ength , b o th o f these gambling fraterniti es becam e s o

n o isy , b o ld , and pr o fan e , s o dish o nest and diss o l u te , that
their existence was int o lerable . A t this stage o f the
busi ness s o me o f th e c o unty o fficers u n d ert o o k thei r pr o
,
2 18 RELI G I OUS LI B ER T Y .

for the deliveranc e o f his pe o ple , and thi s g a n g o f de

s e r a d o e s was punished and r o uted
p N early a l l of th e
.

m embers o f b o th clubs , and m o re e spe cially o f the fir st ,

have been called i nt o eternity , t o render up thei r acc o unts
t o God while n early all o f th o se that remai n have
been stripped O f their pr o perty , and drive n from the place .

S ome w ent to the penit enti ary , s o me di ed O f drunk enn ess ,

s o me o f consumpti o n , and others by sudde n j udgm ents
fr o m he a ve n A few still remai n they are the v ery
.
—

dregs of s o ciety Y et , s o far as we can learn , n o t a si n g le

.

i ndividual o f those w h o c o mbi n ed togeth er under the

wi ng O f the civil law f o r the purpose Of ab ating these evils ,
has either failed i n busin ess o r i n character ; n o r h a s any
o n e o f them that w e know Of died The path o f duty
, ,
.

i s th e path o f safety *
F a cts like these are c alculat ed to
.

en c o ur a ge the l o vers Of purity and g o o d order i n their e f

fo rts to pr o m o te the gen eral w elfare , and they should e n
c ourage all wis e men to rest o re the civil power to its
origi nal O ffi ce O f preventi ng the lawless fr o m p erve rtin g
and seduci ng the obedi ent True , there was a mighty
.

conflict , b u t righte o usn ess prevailed Had human govern .

m ents u nifo rmly acted upon this pri nciple , w e cann ot

d o ubt that many w h o have g o ne d o w n to a dish o nored
grave , might hav e been saved , an d liv ed to ad o rn , by thei r
vi rtu es , the v ery c o mmu ni ty whic h were c o mpell ed t o
cast o u t thei r names as evil
'

S I N s P R O VO K E N A T I O N A L J u D G M E N T s N ati o nal sins

.
—

and th e sins o f i ndi viduals are O ften the o ccasi o n Of n a

t i o n a l j udgme n ts t . ile they always s erve to lo o se n the
bonds O f s o ci ety , and t o deprive i t of th e chi ef s o urces of

Will th e r ea d e r turn to t h e f a cts i n th e r ep ort o f t h e N ati onal

S ab b at h C o n v e nti o n r e ce ntl y h e l d at B alti m o r e M d p ub lis h e d
, , ,

1 8 45 p r es e nt e d by J ud g e H all o f D e lawar e
—
, I n a l l t h e c as es
.

c i t e d by h i m , t o s u pp r e ss S ab b at h d es e c rati o n t h e law g l o ,

r i o u sl
y trium ph e d an d th e com m uni t y j u sti fi ed its e n f o r ce m ent
,
.
 N A T I ON A L J U D G MEN T S . 2 19

happi ness , i t i s e qually certai n , that they alw a ys pr o v o ke

the displeasure o f G o d . D id n o t thy father eat and
dri nk , and n o J US T I C E ? Then i t was well with him .

A s G o d can o nly manifest that displeasure again st nati o nal

s ins , i n the present life , i t must b e o bvi o us to every o n e ,
that He w ill rebuke them by nati o nal chastisements ,o r by
'

the i nflicti on o f nati o nal suffering Has a partn er a right ,

.

by his misc o nduct , t o wreck th e h o pes and destr o y the

happin ess and prosperity o f hi s ass o ci ates P Certai nly n o t .

What right , then , has an i ndi v idual , o r any number O f i n

d i v i d u a l s by any acts o f transgressi o n, t o exp o s e the c o m
"

m unity i n whi ch he lives t o the j udgments o f G o d ?

N O A H was a g o o d man , and , previ o usly t o the flo o d , he
d oubtless had large p o ssessions The w o rld was at that
.

p eri od full o f inhabitants , and much m o re p o pul o us , i t is

supp o sed , than i t ever has been since Y et , as all flesh
.

”
had corrupted hi s way befo re the L o rd , an d bec o me ex
c e e d i n l y id o latr o u s and vile , G o d cam e o u t upon them i n
g
hi s wrath , and swept them all away , wi th the excepti o n
of N o ah and his family buryi ng them , w i th all th eir po s
s essi o ns , i n o n e comm o n grave Had thes e antediluvi ans
.

a right s o to c o nduct themselves t o ward the family o f N o ah

a n d t o ward G o d , as t o render i t n ecessary f o r him , as m o

ral G o vern o r , to destr o y them ? I n c o nsequence o f their

sins , N o ah was obliged t o suspend his usual o ccupati o ns ,
giv e up all hi s earthly plans , a n d c o mme nce the building
O f an ark When the fl o o d came , he a n d his family were
.

rescued that they mi g ht r e p e o ple the earth ; but we d o

-

n o t learn that any o f hi s p o ss essi o ns were preserved t o

him , except the ark itself, and that , after the drying u p o f
the waters , must have been entirely useless Was n o t the .

wi ckedness o f that generati o n a direct i nfringement o f the

rights o f N oah P Had he n o t a right , while he was pre ach
i ng righteousness t o them , t o require that they sh o uld so
live , as that neither hi m self n or his family should , i n ( my
22 0 RE LI G I OUS L I B ER T Y .

r es
p ec t ,
be i nv o lved i n th e c o nse quences O f their t ra n s r es
g
si o ns ? I f he had p o ssessed the ability , w o uld i t n o t have
bee n right f o r hi m t o have restrain ed the m by physical
fo rce , fr o m d o i ng th o s e things whi ch called d o wn the ven
e a n ce o f Heaven P
g
L O T was als o a g o o d man and he had a right t o expe ct
and r e qui r e O f the S o d o mites , am o ng wh o m he had dwel t
and bec o me distin g uished f o r his pi ety , such a c o urs e of
c o nduct as sh o uld ensure his and thei r present and fu ture
happi n ess They had n o g reater right , i n d i r e c tly , t o de
.

str o y his pr o perty and his domesti c c o mfo rt , by pr o v o king

G o d t o rain fire and brimst o n e up o n them ,than th ey w o uld
have had , d i r e c t ly , t o acc o mplish the s ame e nd wi th thei r
own hands Y et this servant O f G o d was c o mpelled , i n c o n
.

s equen ce o f their si ns , t o leav e his p o ssessi ons and a part

o f his ki ndred and aged as h e was and pen niless , to flee to
, , ,

the m o u ntains f o r safety There o ught t o hav e be en ten

.

righte o us pers o ns i n the ci ti es o f the Plai n t o save hi m fr o m

such l o sses and privati o ns , and fr o m th e de ath o f his Wi fe ,
as w ell as fr o m th e Shame which was br o ught upon him
by s o great a change i n the circumstances O f hi mself a n d
family Y es , there o ught to have be en n o t o nly ten , fifty ,
.

a hundred , o r a th o usand righteous pers o ns among them ,

but th o usands E very i nhabitant o f these citi es w a s u n
.

der as s o lem n O bligati o n t o be righte o us as was L ot

and i n the day i u d g m e n t they will be called t o an ac
coun t f o r their inj usti ce to him , as well as f o r their bl a s
phemi es aga i nst G o d The same principle will h o ld tru e
.

i n all cases where wi cked me n si n agai nst G o d , by d i s r e

garding his claims and the claims o f their fell o w men -
.

Had the polluted i nhabitants o f these citi es bee n pr o perly

restrain ed by a j udici o us and well admi nistered system O f
-

c ivi l law , they might have bee n saved fr o m thei r terrible

o verthr o w
,
and many O f them might have be en saved fr o m
etern a l death E ve ry m a n i n this n ation ha s a r igh t to
.
222 RE L I GI O U S L I B ER T Y .

the people He should have rebuked the people fo r the i r

.

request , and the n refused t o c o mply with i t If thi s .

c o urse had be en ad o pt ed , the thr e e th o usand wh o m G o d

caused t o b e put t o death o n that acc o unt might hav e
be e n spared The fact that the pe o ple s o licit their rule r s
.

t o sin , cann o t j ustify the m i n yi elding to i t They are .

”
the m inisters O f G o d f o r g o o d , and they are b o und to
rebuke and disc o untenance every speci es o f si n , whether
i n themselves o r i n the pe o ple .

D AVI D had n o right t o disre g ard th e claims of J ehovah ,

and the rights of h i s subj ects ,as he did when he numbered
hi s pe o ple , and i n th e matt er o f U ri ah The bl o o d of the
.

s eve nty thousand and o f U riah might be j ustly required at

his hand ; and were i t n ot f o r his deep repentance , h e
w o uld hav e b een sent to the perditio n O f ung o dly men , ”

as a j ust reward f o r hi s crimes G o o d me n h ave no .

greater li cens e t o sin than have th e w i cked B o th a r e .

e qually resp o nsibl e t o G o d f o r the ir c o nduct , and e qually

resp onsible t o the c o mmu ni ty .

I S S A B B A TH B REA K I N G A C RIM E P N O on e can deny i t

- —

t o be crimi nal , e xcept the I nfidel o r the lawless the me

c ess i t o f such an i nsti tuti o n has be en writte n i n the c on
y
s ti tu t i o n O f things , and the law which pr o tects i t was wri t

te n by the finger o f G o d I t i s n ot a law f o r i ndividuals

.

merely , but a law f o r the race N e ither i ndividuals n o r

.

nati o ns can vi olate i t , w i thout an o pen defiance o f the U ni

versal G o vern o r I t cann o t be right , the refo re , that the
.

U nited S tates G o vernment Should encourage its M AI LS to

’

be carri ed o n the S abbath , o r that i t sh o uld c o mpel i ts

P OS T MA S T ERS t o o pen o n that day their O ffices , ei ther for
-

facilitating the tr a n s m i s s s i o n o f letters and papers , o r f o r

their recepti o n o r delivery S uch a c ourse o f c o nduct
.

i s as Sinful as i t w o uld be f o r an i ndividual to engage

o penly i n the pursuit O f his secular business to perver t
—

enti rely the S abbath fro m a sa cr ed to a secular use ; and

 sU N D A r MA I L s . 23

i n so m e respe c ts the si n i s sti ll greater , f or the example o f

men i n p o wer i s much m o re e ffi caci ous than that o f i ndi
vi d ua l s
. F or this , and o ther sins , i t is evident that G o d
has already begun t o deal i n j udgment with thi s nati o n ,
and it bec o mes every i ndividual s o lemnly to paus e and
i nquire , What hath G o d wr o ught ? What mean th o se
revulsi o ns i n trade , and that derangement i n the finances
o f this great nati on which have paralyzed her i ndustry
,

and dried up her res o urces ? What means the fact that
the P o st O ffi c e department has bec o me bankrupt , and has
'

i ncurred a debt o f half a m illi o n o f d o llars ? Why has i t

- -

been fo rced to g o a begging ? Why has the spiri t o f dis

-

c o rd been s o long permitted t o reign i n o u r nati o nal Capi

tal ? Why a r e w e disgraced by the vi o lence o f facti on
even i n the halls o f legislati o n ? Why are w e thus f r e
quently threatened with war ? What m ean the sudden
and un expected deaths , withi n a p eri o d o f six months , o f
three o f the highest o ffi cers o f the g o vernment ?
S uch
things do n o t spring o u t o f the gr o und : they c o me fr o m
the hand o f G o d , and if w e refuse t o give heed to th e se
s olemn warnings , we may rest assured that the day is n o t
distant when , as a nati o n , we shall b e c o mpelled to reap a
still m o re bi tter har v est o f nati o nal j udgments .

What right has the P O S T M A S T E R GENERA L , O R TH E

- -

C O N G RE SS OF TH E U NI T E D S T A T ES , t o pour c o ntempt up o n
the L aw o f G o d ? When remi nded o f their sin , what
right have they t o make the matter still w o rs e by claim
i ng that th ey may j ustly dispens e with the c o mmands o f
Jeh o vah , w henever they b eli ev e that they can , by s o d o
ing , s ecure an advantage that is m erely temp o rary P What
right have these high fun cti o nari es to endanger the na
t i on a l prosperi ty and happi ness , by ad o pti ng and c o nti nu
i ng a system o f nati o nal p o li cy that i nv o lves a flagrant
v i olation o f the Divin e law , R emember the S abbath day -

to keep it h oly ? ” Wh a t r ight h a ve they to c a ll down

224 RE LI G I OU S LI B ER T Y .

upon the nati on the j udgments of G o d P When God co m es

out i n his anger t o chastise a nati on for nati onal si ns , is i t
n o t evident that the righ te o us must n ecessarily su ff er wi th

the wi cked ? The fr ie nds o f the S abbath hav e a right t o

clai m , therefore , that the poli cy of the governmen t i n thi s
respect should be changed O ur rulers are b o und to keep
.

the S abbath day h o ly , and to see that they d o n o t , by an

-

ung o dly example , c o ntamin ate th e m o rals o f th e nati o n ,

and call dow n up o n th e ir constitu ents th e j udgments o f
He aven I f this b e the d u ty o f o u r rulers , h o w clearly i s
.

i t the duty o f every ci ti z e n t o empl o y hi s utmost i n flu

e nc e f o r the purpose o f s ecuri ng a g en er a l Observance of
the L aw of G o d ? E very i nd ividual has s o m e i nfluence ,
and i t sh o uld be dire cted to the i mm ediate purpose of
s ecuri ng the st o ppage of the S unday mails F or , so long as
.

these are conti nued , the si n o f S abbath bre aking w ill r o ll

-

o nward , like a mighty t o rrent , unti l i t Shall finally engulf

o u r civil and religi o us liberti es and leave us as an endur

,

i n g m o nument o f the righteous i ndignati o n of J eh o vah .

When the L aw o f G o d shall be rec o gn ized as the only

basis o f human governm ent when the great O ffic e O f the
—

civil code Shall b e t o enfo rc e , as far as practicable , the

wh o le o f the m o r a l and when civil governments shall
—

rec o gni ze , and li ve up t o th e o bligati o ns resulti ng from

their posi ti o n as c o nstituting a branch o f th e m o ral admin
i s tr a ti on o f G o d , w e may b e prepared t o exp ect that all
m en will be l ed , thr o ugh th e grac e o f o u r L o rd J esu s
Christ , t o worship and O bey th e l iving G o d Whe n such .

systems o f g o vernment are established and o bey e d through

o u t the w o rld , the i ntelligent univers e will be bound t o

gether i n a g o lde n chai n o f pr o sperity , benev o l en ce , and

peace B ut w h e n e v e r th e s e pri nciples of g o vernment a r e
.

negl ected , and wh erever the pe o ple are su ff ered habitu

ally t o di sregard any o f the laws o f J eh o vah , there w e
shall a lw a ys find igno r a n c e , w r et c hedness , an a rchy , a n d
226 RE LI G I OU S LI B ER T Y .

civil pe nalt i e s , can expect exempti on from the dire calam

iti es o f v i o lence , rapine , and murder o r fr o m the sunder
i ng o f every s oci al ti e . L i centi o usness , e ncouraged by
pampered appeti tes , and strengthened by i ndulgence , h a s
always built , i n such circumstances , her br o thels and she
wi ll ever h a ve her gateways o f death , her chambers of
hell , and her i mplements o f temp o ral and eternal ruin ,
unless restrai n ed by the ci vi l p o we r .

L et any o n e read the hi st o ri es o f M UN G O P A R K , o f M .

D B RI SSO N , and o ther travelers among the A rabs and

.

other heathe n tribes ; and especi ally th e hist ory O f M is

si o ns am o ng the i slands o f the sea , and he wi ll readily dis
c o ver what are the n atural effe cts o f l eg a l i z e d p l un d er , of
e o ve to us n ess , and o f fa l s e ho o d B u t let u s c om e ne are r
.

h o me . L o o k at o u r multitudi n o us dram sh o ps , whos e -

m en , under the sancti o n and prote cti o n o f law , are dealing

out p o is o ns , fi r e brands , arr o ws , and death
-
” bri nging t o
—

a premature and dishon o red grav e i nnumerable v i ct ims ,

drawn fr o m every rank i n life , dashi ng the mighti est i ntel
lects , and des o lati n g everything that i s fair and beautiful .

I s n o t thi s the fo rbidde n frui t o f whi ch if a man eat , h e,

shall di e ? L ike F rance w e have v o ted away o u r S ab

baths and we , t o o , are rapidly becomi ng like her an i nfidel
pe ople , preparin g to act o ver i n this land o f fre ed o m the
scen es whi ch filled her house s wi th we epin g her streets —

w ith bl o o d and her grave yards wi th the mangled bodi es

— -

O f the g o o d and the virtuous The e vidence o f the truth O f

.

this remark may be seen i n the pre val ent c ontempt o f s eri
o u s thin g s , O pp o si ti o n t o the S abbath , and t o the sacred
'

mi nistry , i n m o bs , ri o ts , and dissensi o ns , b o th civi l and

religi o us , and i n the fearful i ncrease o f crime Who c a n .

d o ubt that such thi ngs o ught t o be pr o hibi ted P

L A W S R E ! UI RI N G R I GH T AC T I O N But what O bj ecti o n
.
—

can there be to laws CO M P E LLI N G M EN T o D O GOOD , as w ell

'

as prohibi ting the m fro m d o i ng evil G o d h a s s a id ,

 RE ! UI RI N G RI G I I T A CT I ON
—

.
22 7

F orsake n ot the assembling o f y o urselves t o ge ther , as

”
the manner o f s o me is , and F ear G o d and keep his
”
c o mmandments , and w hy may n o t o u r civi l legislatures
say the same ? We have see n that i t w o uld be f o r the
best , if all men w o uld d o s o and that n o m a n w h o wi th
h o ld s such s ervi ce , can be as go o d a partner , o r as g o o d a
'

citi z en as he w o uld b e , if he were i n this respect c o nsci

enti o n s and faithful I s i t n o t clear that , inasmuch as
.

G o d has c o mmanded all men t o s erve him i n acts o f beni

fi c e n c e , and as such s ervi ces are calculated t o make them
b etter citiz ens , and better husbands and fathers , they are
bo und t o enter up o n a cours e o f uni versal benev o lence ?
I t i s n o t en o ugh that men sh o uld refrai n fr o m d o i ng wr o ng
that i s merely a n egativ e duty ; they are required t o d o
right A state o f passivity is a stat e o f idleness ; but G o d
.

requires virtu o u s acti o n Civi l g o vernm ents clai m th e

.

right t o I M P O SE T AXES and this i s o n e way o f compelling

i ndividuals , i ndire ctly , t o aid i n th e a cc o mplishment o f
som e particu l ar duty , o f whi ch the general w elfare
deman ds the perfo rman ce . Y et this right i s alm o st uni
v ersa l l conceded N o w ,s u pp o se the man O f vi ci o us ro
y .
p
e n s i ti e s o r an actual C U L P RI T , sh o uld s et up a clai m f o r
p ,

e m pti o n .
“ ”
What , says the culprit , take my pr o perty
t o build c o urt h o uses where I may be tri ed f o r my liberty ,
-

or even my life to erect j ails , w h e r e I may b e i n c a r

—

cerated to aw ait my trial penitenti ari es , where I may be

—

punished f o r my si ns agai nst the publi c P VJhat tax me t o

pay f o r th e services o f the sheri ff w h o i s t o arrest me
o f the j udge and j ur o rs who are t o try and se n tence me

O f the j ail o r w h o i s t o b o l t the d o o rs o f th e pri son h o use

-

up o n me o r o f the hangman w h o i s t o execute u p o n

—

m e the p e n alty o f vi o lated law ? What arr o gant i nt e le

ran ce .
” But all this i s d o n e , n o twi thstanding these
O bj e c ti o n s , b e c a u s e th e publi c safety and th e publi c go o d

req u ire i t I f all this b e right and who will dispute i t

— P
.
22 8 R E L I G I OU S L I B ER T Y .

the n i t i s c e r tainly right ,o n the sam e p r i nciple , t o c o mpel

men t o aid each other i n the ere cti o n o f s ch o o l h o uses ,-

academi es , and churches , and i n the support of appr o pri

a t e mi nisters and t eachers f o r these thi ngs are absolutely
,

essenti al to the general welfare . Thi s c o urse of legisla

t i o n would n o t i nv o lv e a vi o lati o n o f the rights o f c o n
s ci ence , s o l o ng as e ach i ndi vidu al was left entirely fre e
t o attach hi mself to any Chri stian den o m i nati o n whi ch
appe a red to hi m to b e the right o n e ; a n d s o lon g as h e
was n o t compelled t o aid a di ff erent s e ct from that which
he has thus preferred We say C hr i s ti a n denomin a ti ons ,
.

becaus e this i s a Chri sti an n ati o n , and becaus e no other

religio n is adapt ed to o u r i nstituti o ns . M en o ught to b e
willing t o d o these thi ngs both b ecaus e the publi c
—

safety requires i t , and because i t i s f o r the gl o ry of G o d .

E very g o vernm ent , w heth er T h e o cr a ti c a l , Patriarchal ,

M o n a rchi c a l , A rist o crati c , D em o crati c , o r mi xed , i s based
on s o me religi o n w hich , though unj ust and corrupt
i n some i nstances , i ts subj ects are n evertheless requi red
t o respect and Obey A nd why sh o uld w e , whos e r e
.

l i g i o n i s from above , be all o wed t o repudiate and c on

t e m n i t P
A R EFRA CT O RY HORS E If G o d i s o u r Creat or and
—

kn o ws what i s b est f o r us , and if He i s o mnip o tent , and

m erciful , and g o o d , then He has surely a right t o o u r best
s ervi ces O ur eye has j ust been attracted by a ba d hor s e
. .

Harn essed ,t o a n o t u nre asonable l o ad , and treated ki ndly ,

e t he o bstin ately refuses t o draw When left t o himself
y .
,

w i th o ut any urging o r c o axing , he remains perfe ctly qui et ,

b u t th e m o m ent his o wn er attempts t o induce h i m t o g o
fo rward , he begi ns to rear , and plunge , and g o backwards ,
as i f determi ned to break aw ay fr o m all p o ssi ble restrai nt .

H e i s perfectly c o n te nted to s tand sti ll , but rather

than w o rk , h e casts himself up o n th e gr o und , o r against
a nythi n that h a ppens t o be wi thi n hi s r e a c h t o th e immi
g ,
23 0 RE LI G I O US LI B ER T Y .

pa r tnershi p si mply bec a us e he might a g re e do

ton o hurt t o
hi s firm S O God did n ot create men and plac e th em i n
.

soci ety m erely that they Should d o n o hurt He require s

them t o ac c omplish much that i s g o o d We must n ot .

”
only ceas e t o d o evil , but we are to learn to d o “

well .
” I f g ood advi ce , and go o d ex a mpl e , and ki nd treat
m e nt , can not i nduc e m e n t o take a c o urse that i s i n itself
s o reasonable , i t i s ti me t o resort t o the ci vi l law ,
and to adequate ci vil penalti es L et it b e distinctly u n
.

d e r s t o o d and remembered , the n , that no m a n has a right t o

i nj ure the body i ntellect , soul , reputati o n , i n fluenc e ,
.

property , comfort , p eace , and happi ness of a n y o ther i ndi

vidual , o r o f the community i n w hi ch he dwells N O man .

h a s a right to sp eak or write agai nst G o d , hi s w orks , hi s

Word , o r hi s fri e nds ; or t o drink alcoh o l , t o curse and
swear , to vi o late the S abbath , o r to d o anything whi ch
tends , i n the least , t o i nj ure eith er hi ms elf o r o thers ,o r t o
o
pp o s e anything that i s g o o d .A man has n o right t o stand

i dle i n the vi n eyard o f th e L ord He h a s many d u ti es

.

'

owi ng to hi mself, his country , and t o G od , wh ich he i s

not at liberty t o put o ff or n eglect Th ey sh o uld be do n e
.

we l l a n d p r o mp t ly , and th e i nterests o f t h e communi ty r e

qui re that the man w h o will n o t act thus , after suitabl e
i nstructi o n and admoniti on , sh o uld be exsci nded , o r
placed i n ci rcu m tan ces where he cann o t pervert o th ers
s

by hi s ex ample G eneral Chri sti ani ty , as disti ngui shed

.

from all o ther form s of religi o n , i s the ackn o wledged reli

gi on o f o u r c o untry ; and whateve r i s said agai nst the
Bible , o r again st the G o d , and Chri st , and S pi rit o f the
Bible , o r agai nst Christian i nsti tuti o ns , i s i nj uri o us to .

public m o rals and agai nst the C o mmon L aw S uch a c .

ti o ns o ught , therefo re , to be pr o hi bited by statute ; and

they should be visited w i th a ppr o pri ate physi cal penalti es .

The standard o f morality , and c o nsequ ently the m o rality

itse l f, of a p a g a n i s alto g ether di ff ere nt fro m th a t of a
Ch r i s ti a n a n d thi s i s o w i n g to the di ff e r e n c e in thei r r e li
 L Aw As W E LL As P RE C E P T . 23 1

gio n I n every nati o n the standard o f religi o n , n o t less

.

than that o f m o rals , is i nti m ately c o nnected with nati on a l

h a ppi ness t hey are , i n truth , alt o gether i nsepar a ble .

Th o se w h o claim that we ought to repeal o u r civil laws

against S abbath bre aki ng , pr o fanity , and bl a sphemy , might
-

a s w ell o o n e step fu rther and demand that w e Sh uld

g o

g ive up the wh o le Decal o gue F

. o r i t i s n o t easy t o see

why a man may n o t , wi th as much pr o pri ety ,be prevented

from blaspheming o r slanderi ng his G o d , as fr o m slander
i ng o r murderi ng his neighb o r , w h o bears th e i m a ge a n d
i s the pr o perty o f G o d I s the relati o nship w hich subsists
.

b etween a man and his Creator less i mportant than that

which exi sts betwe en him and his br o ther P S ome pretend
that it is n o t o nly u nnecessary , but wr o ng , f o r a parent t o
whip a S T U B BO RN and RE B EL LI OUS CH I L D They seem t o .

have bec o me m o re wise than eve n the Wi se m a n hi mse lf .

He declares that , he that spareth the r o d , h ateth hi s

s on.
” F o o lishness i s b o und up i n the heart o f a child ,
but the r o d o f c o rrecti o n shall drive i t far fr o m him ” .

Withh o ld n o t c o rrecti o n from the child , f o r i f thou

b eatest him wi th the r o d he shall not di e ” Th o u shalt
.

be a t hi m w ith the r o d , a n d shalt deli ver his s o ul from

hell .
”

Whatever c ourse o f human c o nduct i s best calculated to

pr o mote the happi ness and purity o f the race , will most
dire ctly t end t o pr o mote the glory o f G o d F p r that .

whi ch secures human happin ess will best acc o rd wi th the

O bj ects o f the Divi ne administrati o n G o d being perfectly
.

wise and ben ev o lent must necessarily have given t o his

i ntelligent and acc o u n table subj ects a most perfect rule of
right action f o r their g o vernment , as well i n reference to
their duti es , o n e t o an o ther , as i n referenc e to the duties
w h i c h th e y o w e t o hi m , as their Creat o r and M oral G o v
'

c r u o r and as that rule has be en clearly revealed to u s i n

h i s W o rd , no o n e c a n err i n adopting it , either as a rule of
i ndividu a l conduct , o r a s a r ule Of govern m ent for com
‘
 32 RELI G I OUS LI B E R T Y .

m u n i ti e s a nd n ati ons Th a t rule i s c o nt a i ned i n the m o r a l

.

l a w revealed on M ount S i nai , and i t i s as sui table a n d

n ecessary n ow as i t was fo ur th o usand years a g o , and a s
n eedful t o th e present gen erati o n as i t w a s t o th e Hebrews .

T o w o rship and Obey th e G o d o f the Bible will m ost

essentially contribute t o individual and nati o nal prosperity .

B u t to w o rship many g o ds , or n o g o d , is to thr o w aside

the i nstructi o ns o f I nfinite Wi sdom , t o defy the p o wer o f
O mnip o tence , and t o enthr o ne the goddess o f hum a n re a
son That such c o nduct wi ll ev er be attended by unhap
.

p i n e s s , and by i ndividual a n d n ati o nal calamiti es ,

i s so
e v ide nt that the way fari ng m a n , though a fo ol , cannot
-
”

m isj udge i n the pre m ises .

P EO P L E SU FFERI N G FR OM U N J US T L A W S The people o f

.
-

the U nited S tates a r e n o w su ff ering under the operati o n of

se ver a l l a ws that are u n u s t and wh o s e t endenci es are de
j ,

c i d e d l y i mm o r a l
. S uch are the laws w hi ch relate t o the
d i s tr i bu ti n g o f the m a i l s on S unday , the li censi ng th e sal e
o f i nt o x i cating dri nks and t o the rights a n d c o nditi o n of
,

o u r C O L O RE D B RE TH R EN . A ll such laws , and all others , if

any there be , that are repugnant to the L aw o f G o d , o ught
fo rthwi th t o be repe a l ed . G o d will n ever s u flb r any
nati o n l o ng to pr o sper , that coerces i ts subj e cts t o d i s r e
gard hi s law N o r can that pe o ple prosper who t o lerate
.

i mpiety a n d irreligi on ; or who refuse to acknowledge

their o bligati ons t o God , a s the S upreme G o vernor The .

enemies t o our religi o n a n d t o o u r liberti es are already

c oming i n upon us like a fl o od They are b o th num erous
.

and strong and they seem very n early to h a ve escaped

fr o m the vigilance o f our spi ritual l Va tchm e n M any i n .

d i v i d u a l s , w h o have b o th se en and felt o u r danger , h a ve

bec o me ti mid and dishe a rtened , unti l scarcely any one
dares c o ntend o penly , that laws should be e nacted t o pre
v e n t the c o vetous and th e unfe eli ng from selli ng alc o h o li c
p o isons , o r fr o m b r eaking the S abbath ,or fro m pr o fanity ,
o r fr o m bl a sph e m y . Why do not wi c k e d m e n cry ou t
23 4 RELI G I OU S LI B ER T Y .

of the i mmut a ble J ehovah P N o t the virtuous or the b e

n e v o l e n t : n o t those wh o love either G o d o r m a n .T he
enforci ng o f such laws d o es n o i nj ury t o any o n e ; it
n ei ther vi olates the consci e nce n o r restrains , unj ustly , per
sonal liberty I t m ay w o und th e fe eli ngs o f the high w ay
.

robber and the gambler , w h o c o ve t the ir n eighbor s purs e , ’

o r o f the r u m seller thirsting f o r g o ld o r o f the I nfidel

-

w h o wi shes t o drive G o d fr o m his d o mi ni ons and t o de

str o y m o rality and religi on ; and als o o f the debau che e ,
th e drunkard , and the pr o fan e swe arer He nce , w e may
.

a lways expect to find such m en uniti n g i n the cry of

Church and S tate , ” i ntolerance , pr e s c r i pti o n , and
”
tyranny , t o the v ery to p o f the ir v o ice But the m a n.

wh o w o uld do as he wi sh es to b e d o ne by , i s always w i ll
i ng to be kept under g o o d and wholesome restrai nt , and
he i s n ever desirous o f uniting i n any such unreasonable
clam o r The wi cked man s c o ns ci ence , if n o t wh o lly per
.
’

verted , i s e qually submissi ve ; i t makes n o complai nt o f

any such law I t takes a firm stand on th e Side of G o d
.

and o f g o o d order , o f peace , ben evolence , and puri ty ;

and eve n sc o urges the transgress o r wi th a whip o f sc o rpi ons ,
if all o w ed to act at all G o d i ntended that th es e disturbers
.

o f the publ ic tranquillity sh o uld be restrai ned and hence ,

has given us as well the v o ice o f consci e nce as the exa m
ple o f civil legislati o n L et the civil g o vernment demand ,
.

therefore , o f m o ral outlaws , all that G o d demands o f

them L et the m be required to d o j ust what He h a s c o m
.

m a n d e d , and n o m o re. Whi le this c o urse w as pursued by

o u r puritan ancest o rs , everythi ng was pr o sper o us men—

did n o t then dare t o c o ntem n G o d , o r publicly t o dis o bey

his laws but S ince wicked m e n have found their way i nt o
o u r c o unc ils , there has be en a sad falling away . We have
c o urted l n fi d e l s and wicked men , and have availed o u r

selves o f their servi ces i n stati o ns o f h o n o r and pr o fit , even

while w e kn ew that the whole fo rc e of thei r i n fluenc eand
e x a mple w a s l e veled a g a i nst a l m ost e verythi ng th a t w a s
 FE A RL ESS O B E D I EN C E . 35

ei ther l o vely o r o f go o d rep o rt .

”
But , i n this thi n g ,w e
have be en gui lty o f a gr o ss mistake and o f positive crim e .

What fell o wship has light with darkness , o r Christ wi th

?
Belial We h a v e n o right t o make any such compr o mise
with i nfidelity o r vice We have n o right t o a dvance a
.

si n gl e step i n that directi o n : we are requir e d t o separat

ours elves fr o m si n , a n d t o av o i d the very appearance o f
evil But wi cked men and In fi d e l s are t o be c o mpelled to
.

take many steps , outwardly at least , t o ward the way o f

truth and righte o usness : they a r e to appr o ach and a c
kn o wledge the standard o f m o rality and religi o n taught
us i n the Word o f G o d They must b e t o ld that here is
.

the truth o f G o d , a n d i n V i ew o f a Thus saith the L ord , ”

they must be made t o feel that wh o s o ever will n o t ad o pt

i t as a standard o f his life and o f his conduct , i s altogether
unw o rthy o f the confidence o r respect o f hi s fell o w m en , -

and a bad memb e r o f so ci ety His c o nduct is i n such

.

cas es directly o pp o sed t o th e general welfare Christi ans .

may fear G o d with greater i ntensity ; but they must n o t

be deterred fr o m th e perfo rmanc e o f any duty by the fear
o f man . They sh o uld ad o pt mu ch m o re frequently than
they n o w d o , the prayer , L o rd , what wi lt th o u have me
to d o P” .
They have n o right t o i nquire what wi ll be po pu
lar ,o r what will please wicked me n While they resort .

m o re fre quently to the civi l g o vernment f o r th e protecti o n

o f religi o n an d morali ty they m u st be careful to use FA R
,

M O RE A B UN D AN T LY G O OD A D VI C E We must seek m o re
'

earnestly the i nfluences o f the H o ly S piri t , and then we

may h o pe that G o d w ill appear and bless us , and that o u r
labor wi ll n o t be i n vai n i n the L ord .

I t may be th o ught by s o m e readers , perhaps , that i n

claiming f o r the civil government the right , and charging
i t with the duty , O f pr o hibiti ng the publicati o n o f i nfidel
and athei sti c o pi ni o ns , w e have g o n e t o o far I t m ay be
.

ur g ed by the m , th a t if what w e have s a id on this subj ect i s

tru e , w e m ust ab a n don the right of goi n g a m ong the
23 6 R E LI G I OU S LI B E R T Y .

heathe n t o c onvert the m to G o d : f o r w e cannot do s o

Wi thout overturni n g the i r insti tuti ons To thi s , w e h a v e
.

tw o a nswers . F i r s t , A ll laws , or r a ther pre cepts , c o n

tr a r y to th e L aw o f G o d o u g ht t o be o pposed , and the right
which we cl aim i s n ot either wholly o r pr i n c i pa l l y d e o

d u c e d from th e fact that we a r e a Chri sti an n ati on : but

mai nly from the fact that the Christi an R eligion i s true ,
while all o thers are fals e I nfidelity and atheism are there
.

fore si ns a gai nst the only tru e G o d , as w ell as i nj uri o us to

men . S e c on d ly , I f i t were false , i t i s still i n fi d e l i ty h er
—

s elf being j udg e more conduciv e t o human happi n ess

—

th a n any o ther system yet discovered and the law of b e

n e v o l e n c e requi res that w e should e nde av or t o persu a de

a l l m e n t o embrace i t I n o u r e ff ort s to dissuade the

.

h eathen from pursui n g a syste m t hat is inj uri ous a n d false ,

w e do not propose to leav e them w ithout a n y religi on but ,

t o give them a be tter I n fi d e l s and atheists , h o wever , dire c t

.

their e ffo rts sol ely to th e breaki ng up o f exi sti ng systems

w ithout eve n o ff eri ng a substitut e The an alogy betwe en
-
.

th e two c a s es is alt o gether delusi ve The O bj ecti o n i s .

o u n d l e ss .

Le t w i cked and la w less m e n remember that ,whi le th ey

madly persist i n thei r wi cked courses , all the attri butes of
J ehovah , and all that is i n ear th , i n heaven , and hell , con
Spire t o make the m wretched S uch m en a r e engaged i n
.

a bi tte r warfare agai nst thems elves , agai ns t communi ty ,

a n d agai nst G o d By his m oral admi n istrati on , G od is do
.

i n g all He consi ste ntly c a n t o make the uni verse o f mind

h a ppy , by maki n g it holy but the i ndividual wh o will not
Obey G o d , i s doing what he can , by maki ng himself and
o the rs si nful , to make i t miserable both here and hereafter .

Will G o d su ff er such m en to prevai l against hi m P

Will
He regard , as si nl ess , a publi c senti m ent whi ch c a n look
”
up o n men w h o thus r ob G o d , o r commun ity , with a n y
de g r e e o f compla c en cy P Will e not r a the r ch a stise
s u c h peopl e w i th hi s j ud g m ents