Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

most solid arguments from reason and Scripture, and its tyranny and abominations exposed from the most authentic histories. But it stands up boldly, and repeats its dogmas, and denies its crimes. It continues to do so. Its infatuated adherents, and multitudes besides, are imposed upon by the sophism. In a country like ours, remote from the theatre of the ancient conflicts between truth and error, this sophism is particularly successful.

United with this is a readiness to cry, persecution! whenever the conflict becomes too warm. That inveterate system, which when clothed with power has met the faithful with the tortures of the Inquisition, with the sword and the faggot-to escape from which our fathers came to the American wildernesses-now cries out, persecution! when we dare to speak of it, the truths of history, and to hold up God's word before its face!

Such is the obstacle created by the arts and influences of the priesthood, to the action of our institutions upon the emigrant population.

There is another obstacle to be considered, created by the strife and competition of political parties and demagogues in our country. The perfect concentration of the Roman Catholic population, in the will of the spiritual power, must ever make it a powerful arm in those political struggles which are decided at the ballot-box. They thus, as an aggregation, acquire an importance in the state, which, as individuals, they could never attain to. The priesthood of such a church, too, must gain a political comspicuity and consequence, to which the isolated portions of Protestant churches can never aspire. The pride of a party, and the pride of a church are thus identified, and it becomes the mutual interest of priests and politicians to preserve the ascendancy of Romanism over the large body born and nurtured under its influences. The priest is doing this duty, and the politician is serving his party. The great aim of the demagogue is the triumph of his party, the success of his candidate and his own elevation; and all three are united in one movement. What cares he for his country, save as a rich and glorious spoil? What cares he for posterity? Posterity may take care of itself-the country will last during his day and generation. He uses the sacred names of the illustrious dead; he professes their lofty principles; he apostrophizes their shades; he denounces his opponents as traitors, aristrocrats, and monarchists; he expatiates upon liberty, truth, and justice; he scatters promises like the golden apples of the Hesperides; he speaks of religious freedom and toleration, and the rights of conscience; he deprecates persecution, and is full of charity; he hails Pius IX. as the Holy Father of Christendom, and the great Apostle of liberty; he brings a bishop of Rome to sit down at the table of the Puritans,

and the spirits of Washington and of Gregory VII. preside harmoniously over the sublime decision of the ballot-box. He accomplishes his end; and Rome, too, accomplishes her end. Who does not see here, a portentous power exerting itself for the spread and perpetuation of Romanism? Can we wonder that the Leopald Society should expend hundreds of thousands of dollars for sustaining Romish missions in our country? The power which prevails at the ballot-box governs the political destinies of the future.

But we have already exceeded the just limits of such an article, in this discussion. We must, therefore, hasten to inquire after the remedy. We are threatened with Barbarism in the West, through the natural tendencies of emigration from the old to the new states and territories-Barbarism preparing the way for infidelity and Romanism; and we have Romanism and Barbarism ready made, pouring into the West, and permeating the whole country.

The remedy is to be found in education, the circulation of the Scriptures, and in planting churches which hold the truth as it is in Jesus. In this great work, all the enlightened, benevolent associations of pure Christianity in our land must take a part. America has become a great missionary field, surpassing in interest and importance any foreign field which has yet been opened to us. We would not withdraw any missionaries already sent abroad; we would amply sustain, cherish, and aim to enlarge the spots of light which we have already scattered among the distant nations in Asia and Africa. But it is time that we see that our great work lies upon our own continent, and within our own borders. The world is coming in upon us, and as we receive the multitudes, we must baptize them with the spirit of our freedom, the spirit of our institutions. Above all and as including all, with the spirit of a pure Christianity, or we shall be overwhelmed with darkness.

If among the benevolent associations of our day it will be permitted us to name any, as more immediately connected with this work, we will begin by naming the Home Missionary Societies. These belong to different ecclesiastical organizations, but the work is one. The American Home Missionary Society, in behalf of which Dr. Bushnell delivered his admirable discourse mentioned at the beginning of this article, is one of the most perfect of its kind. Truly catholic in its organization, economical and efficient in its movements; enterprising in its designs; careful and cautious in the selection of its missionaries; spreading itself over a wide field, and yet falling into no confusion: its success seems to follow a law of providence as well of and grace, proves that wise laborers in the cause of truth and of God, are destined to prosper. The Home Missionary Society aims to

plant churches in all the destitute parts of our country, and in the West in particular. In it, we hail one of the most powerful instrumentalities for meeting that form of evil which Dr. Bushnell has so vividly portrayed. When churches are planted on the foundation of Christ and His Apostles, there schools arise, and the whole organization of society becomes complete. The men who have gone out as missionaries of this Society are men of education, men of high character, men who would do honor to any pulpit in the land. They have gone at the call of their Master, and have forsaken ease, competency and refinement. They have gone into the wilderness to perform a most sublime work for their country, for humanity, and for future generations. Such men are continually presenting themselves, volunteering in a nobler service than that which call tens of thousands to the valley of Mexico. It is to be hoped that the resources of this society will be so increased that not one of these laborers will need to be rejected. Indeed, we can conceive of no charity more inspiring and holy, or promising more stupenduous results, whether we look upon it as patriots or as Christians.

Another association that we would name, in connexion with our discussion, is the American Protestant Society. This Society contemplates directly the Roman Catholic emigrants to our country, from the different nations of Europe. Its great object is to give them a free conscience and a free Bible. It belongs to no one sect, but embraces as co-laborers all who will unite in this great and catholic design. The necessity for such an association is manifest from what has been said above. In this Society, we believe, we have the germ of a movement what may by way of distinction be called the movement of our age, or particularly the great movement of Christianity in our country. Perhaps we ought to say, it is one of the germs of this movement, and the principal one. When we think how Christianity has been corrupted for ages, and how the conversion of the world has been impeded by this corruption; when we think how the vast majority of nominal Christians are still under the power of Romanism, can we doubt that the first great work relates to this portion of our race? It is not Buddhism or Mohammedanism that we are so much interested to overthrow as Romanism. This a work nearer home, and truly initiatory to all that we have to do in the earth.

In addition to this Society we have two others closely allied to it. The Foreign Evangelical Society, which has France particularly as the scene of its operations, and the Christian Alliance which is universal in its character, but has hitherto operated particularly on the borders of Italy, with the view of introducing the Scriptures into that country. It has been proposed to unite the three into one, with a Home and Foreign Department, which we hope ere long to see accomplished. The object of the whole

movement will be to form a grand Christian alliance, for giving religious freedom and the Bible to the Romanists wherever we can reach them. As we believe that Protestants have a more perfect unity of principle and purpose than humanity has ever attained to since the age of the Apostles, we wish by this alliance to express it, and to do a work of the noblest benevolence, and most worthy of the Gospel which we alike profess as a Gospel of freedom, light, and salvation-of peace on earth and good will among men.

The widest field in which to operate, is the field at home; for here God in His providence is sending the Roman Catholics ready at our hand, and released from those impediments which meet us in the foreign field. They come here driven from be hind by the terrors of oppression, poverty and famine; and allured from before by freedom and plenty. They come to us, and we bid them welcome. We give them homes in our cities and towns, and in our broad and fruitful fields. But we shall do more; we shall teach them the secret of our prosperity and peace. We shall explain to them the dignity and blessedness of an untrammeled conscience; we shall give them the Bible; we shall point them to our schools for the education of the peopleand then say to them, "these have made us what we are, and enabled and disposed us to give you a home." By this rational, charitable, and peaceful action we shall feel our own oneness more perfectly, we shall raise up our degraded fellow-men, we shall discomfit priestcraft and political chicanery, we shall save our country, and lead on the regeneration of the nations.

This work at home will naturally connect itself with corresponding efforts abroad. The good spirits of England, Germany, and France, will unite with us, and we shall send the Bible into Spain, Portugal, and Italy, and the border of darkness around the Mediterranean, shall become a border of light.

Is it not plain then, that while the Home Missionary associations shall stay the barbarism of emigration, this Christian alliance shall stay the barbarism of Romanism?

Beautiful are all benevolent associations of Christianity. In speaking of these two we mean to imply the existence and cooperation of all the others. From the constellation of the Pleiads we wish no one sister to disappear.

ARTICLE IV.

REPUBLICAN TENDENCIES OF THE BIBLE.

By Rev. ENOCH POND, D. D., Prof. Theology, Bangor Theological Seminary.

REPUBLICAN tendencies are, of course, tendencies to freedom. When we say that the Bible is republican in its tendencies, we mean that it is favorable to the production and enjoyment of rational liberty.

But rational liberty is not perfect, unrestricted liberty. Such liberty cannot exist in a regular and well-ordered community. Rational liberty is liberty subjected to reasonable and necessary restraints, such as the best good of the community demands.

When we say, therefore, that the Bible is republican in its tendencies, we mean that it tends to liberty on the one hand, and that it furnishes the needful restraints on the other; so that liberty may not terminate in anarchy, or run out into unbridled licentiousness.

Let us now look at the Bible in both these points of view. And first, let us consider its tendencies to civil freedom, or to the production and enjoyment of rational liberty.

[ocr errors]

And here the first thing that strikes us is, the early and uniform representation of Scripture, that mankind constitute one universal brotherhood race. The Scriptures represent us as all of one race, the children of one common father and mother. "God hath made of one blood all nations of men, for to dwell on all the face of the earth." Now what is this but a declaration, on Divine authority, of the natural equality of men? In a family of children, born and educated under the same roof, all are supposed to be on an equality. One is no better by nature, than another. And if one or more of them should pretend that they were of better blood than the others-that they were born to rule, and the rest to serve; would there be any reason or right in such a pretence? Would it be tolerated a moment, by the head of the household, or by the family? And yet, according to a fundamental representation of the Bible, we are all, as I said, one family of children, born and educated under one widely extended roof, subject in general to the same regulations, and under the care and providence of the same Heavenly Father. Where then, I ask, is the natural hereditary right of kings? Where rests the authority of tyrants and despots? On what but the grossest usurpation, is founded the right of one man to invade the liberties of another, and trample his immunities in the dust? That memorable passage in the Declaration of American Inde

« AnteriorContinuar »