Religious Establishments

Book Id: WPLBN0000706228
Format Type: PDF eBook
File Size: 227.18 KB.
Reproduction Date: 2005

Title:	Religious Establishments
Author:
Volume:
Language:	English
Subject:	Religion, Christianity, Literature
Collections:
Historic Publication Date:
Publisher:


Citation APA MLA Chicago Religious Establishments. (n.d.). Religious Establishments. Retrieved from http://gutenberg.cc/

Description
Religion and Christian Theology Collection

Excerpt
Excerpt: Before presenting our readers with a full and able article on this subject, we deem it necessary, to prevent misconception, to prefix a brief statement of our views on the Magistrate's province in the things of religion, and on the proper character of a Religious Establishment under the Christian dispensation. In the former articles on Magistracy that appeared in our miscellany, we firmly believe that nothing has been testified different from what the Apostles and Prophets declared, or from the truth which our fathers sealed with their blood. Aware, however, how unpalatable self-denying principles must ever be to worldly and time serving men, and how liable the best views are to be misunderstood by those who will not examine, we bespeak a patient hearing, and we doubt not to make it appear that the views of the Church whose testimony we have espoused, relative to the Magistrate's office and to Religious Establishments, are not only Scriptural, but that they alone are consistent with the universal prevalence of genuine liberty and vital godliness. To a sincere believer in the Bible, there can be no question that the Lord Jesus Christ, in his Mediatorial character, has been exalted by the Father to the sovereignty of all worlds, and that the princes and potentates of the earth, being placed in subjection under him, are bound to yield him an unreserved obedience. Messiah is the rightful Governor among the nations - King of kings and Lord of lords - the Prince of the kings of the earth. If this simple statement is admitted, and we see not now it can be refused, it must irresistibly follow, that the nations, as such, are bound to submit to Christ the Lord, and their rulers are indispensably required to frame their legislation on the basis of his Word, and to regulate their lives according to its infallible directions. Especially are a people professedly Christian solemnly required to act from a far higher principle than a mere worldly expediency, and to set the Saviour's glory before them in all their public deeds - in choosing their rulers, in devising or executing laws, and in regulating the measure of subjection. Should they overlook these fundamental maxims, and act in opposition to them, they will inevitably incur the Divine displeasure, and must bear the fearful consequences of rebellion against the Lord's Anointed. The nation that will not serve him will perish. (Is. lx. 12.) The rulers that regard not his honour in their administration, and whose lives are not conformable to his law, are they that make war with the Lamb, and of whom it is said - The Lamb shall overcome them, &c. (Rev. xvii. 14.) The duty of the true followers of Christ, in relation to the authorities set over them, when they thus oppose the Redeemer, is sufficiently obvious. They are to demean themselves peaceably in the community, waiting with patience the Lord's time of vengeance - enter into no associations for political purposes with infidel or ungodly men - contribute their proportion of the public burdens under which, in Divine Providence, they are placed; but never are they to take part in conducting an immoral administration, or render the least conscientious approval of what derogated from their Master's glory, lest peradventure they be found fighting against God. Let but the Messiah's unlimited mediatorial headship over the nations be admitted, and all this undeniably follows, and his faithful subjects have no other way in which they ought to walk. The same conclusion may be reached in another, but equally satisfactory manner. It will be readily conceded, that every person is bound, in his individual capacity, to take the Divine Word as the rule of his life, and by it he is to bring into subjection all his thought, words, and deportment. If he is regarded in his social character as the head of a family, a citizen or ruler in the commonwealth, the case is not altered. The Bible, which prescribes the appropriate duties of these relations, is the measuring reed by which he is to be tried, the balance in which his character and actions must be weighed. Should he be found wanting here, in the measures to which he lends his authority or influence, or in his public character, the fearer of the Lord is left no alternative; he must withhold a conscientious approval, warn the ruler of his danger, and stand aloof from all participation in his iniquity.