PUBLIC men must be prudent, judicious and noble in their bearing, presenting the truth in the love of it. Men must not miscalculate their influence, their power, and time for presenting things. Preachers must know when and where things are to be said and done. Many men drive their audiences away, by their repulsive course, and think it the opposition of the people to the truth, that drives them away. We speak plainly on all the great issues between ourselves and the parties around us, in the pulpit, and yet seldom give offense, and never fail to have a good hearing from the parties around us, and seldom fail to gain some of them to the truth. And, what is better, when they are gained, they are gained indeed—not by persuading them that there is but little difference between us, but by making them both see and feel the difference, and convincing them of the truth. Any thing short of this is of no account.
Some men are for using a little Jesuitism. They would preach on common ground matters till they draw their hearers on and gain their attention. But we have nothing to do with any such policy. There is a vast amount of the most important and plain truth in the gospel, that the parties around us know comparatively nothing about, and consequently have no objection to it. They will hear it and be pleased with it. The main matter is to develop fully and largely, in the simplest style possible, with heart and solicitude for the happiness and salvation of the people, the whole scheme of redemption from the beginning, as if the people knew nothing at all about it. This must be done with power, and not in a prosing, indifferent and unfeeling manner. It will find way to honest hearts, in almost any community in this country.
[THE CAUSE OF CHRIST IS ABOVE
PARTISAN POLITICS.]
WE have done a noble work, and that work is not to be foiled, defeated and destroyed by men who know not our Master and love not his cause. We have been raised up by the Lord to be a mighty community. God has a mission for us, a great mission, and we are not to be defeated in it. That mission must be done. The Lord has put into our hands facilities for doing this great work, and he requires it at our hands. That work is simply to restore his own pure religion to the people of this generation, and build up the church as it was at the beginning. We have ascertained that the Lord laid but one foundation, reared but one building upon it, had but one temple, one body, one family, but one church. This one body had but one head, but one leader, and we are to keep our eye on him, follow him, love him and serve him for ever. We can not turn aside to the strifes of the world, from our legitimate work. We have preached union among the children of God, struggled for it and prayed for it long and ardently, and we now appreciate its value more than ever, since we feel its power and influence in time of trouble. An influence that can bind us in one body, in one fellowship, in the midst of such commotions and excitements, is not of this world. It is not an earthly influence, but above the earth. It is from God. We know each other as the children of God, the disciples of Christ, as christians, and not as political partisans. We know not a man because he belongs to this political party, or that; not because he lives on the one side of a geographical line, or the other; not because he holds to this political creed or that; but we know him because he is a child of God, an heir of the same inheritance, and redeemed by the same blood of the Covenant. The bond that binds us together is not an earthly bond, and it is not limited by time. It is the love of God. It is not limited to this world, but shall last co-existent with the years of God. It shall live and be fresh and vigorous when all worldly schemes and policies and their advocates, shall be forgotten. Those who enjoy it shall also live beyond all the turmoil of political strife, beyond all the struggles and trials that beset our faith in this life. May we not live in vain, but do good in our day and generation. Mercy and peace upon the Israel of God.