The Jewish Republic is the first ancient government where the people exerted any proper influence in state affairs. It is worthy of special consideration that the Jewish laws were adapted to civil liberty in an age when human rights were so little understood. There is no one work so full of the great principles of civil wisdom as the Pentateuch and the history of Judah and Israel. They were free in choosing their form of government; free in the establishment of their laws; free in the fact that their laws governed and not men. Their form of government was republican, with healthy limitations. Twelve tribes were united in one great republic like so many confederated states bound together for purposes of defence. At first God was their king. After awhile they desired another king, and their form of government was changed to a limited monarchy upon their own request. Their kings did not enter upon their duties until they were accepted and crowned by the people, and then they were restricted in their power by sworn stipulations.
Bad men do not make good citizens. There never was a [pg 045] nation of infidels or idolaters, existing as such, in the enjoyment of freedom. Holland was free as long as she was virtuous. She flourished as a republic, produced great and learned statesmen; she became corrupt, and infidelity banished her glory.
When Perrier, of France, the successor of Lafayette in the office of Prime Minister to Louis Phillipe, was on his death bed he exclaimed, with much emphasis and zeal, “France must have religion”—man must be governed by moral truth or by despotic power. Liberty does not flourish without morality, nor morality without the religion of the Bible. The love of law, the love of wisdom, the love of benevolent institutions, and the love of virtue makes a people free. When these are absent tyrants are present. When a nation becomes corrupt, liberty degenerates into parties and factions until the stubborn necessity of the strong arm of despotism makes its appearance to control the passions of men. If pride, selfishness, love of gold, thirst for power and licentiousness, are not controlled liberty will die. It may be truthfully said that the high-toned principles of Bible morality are necessary to the good of all classes. These, and only these, will unite a people in one grand national brotherhood, wiping out its factions and hatred, extinguishing party spirit and bringing all the parts into one great whole. Many minds are so opposed to the Bible that they are inclined to oppose any government based upon its contents. This is a fearful current, and we should always watch against being carried away upon its turbid waters. Ours is a Christian land, and we shall be a free people as long as we remain a Christian people. While the Bible is loved and honored our freedom will continue; beyond this there is nothing to hinder us from degenerating into slavery. All great struggles in Christian lands have been great moral and political struggles.
Liberty Of Conscience.
This phase of the question rises very high in our estimation; for we have been taught to regard the rights of conscience and to esteem them above all other rights in a free country. There [pg 046] can be no civil liberty where the rights of conscience are ignored. The teachings of the Bible are opposed to all interference by law with man's religious faith and worship. Religious liberty asks for no laws meddling with the rights of conscience. Such laws, whether of tolerance or of intolerance, are always in conflict with the spirit of the religion of Christ; for it asks for the soul's free, voluntary service. As American citizens we ask, at the hands of our Government, to be protected, in common with all other citizens, in the free exercise of the rights of conscience. We ask no interference with religion by law, and we apprehend none in our country. If our religion cannot take care of itself, by the force of its own merits, it must perish.
Rivers of blood have been offered upon the altar of a blind intolerance. Look at Antiochus sacking the city of Jerusalem and laying the country waste. Look at the slaughter of the infants of Bethlehem under Herod's jurisdiction. In many ages of the world religious intolerance has been the fruitful source of misery and bloodshed.
The religion of the Bible does not rest itself upon the authority of man; much less is it responsible for the cruel results of wicked efforts to establish or overthrow it by law. Causes outside of Christianity in the hands of wicked men are responsible for every drop of blood that has been shed in the name of our holy religion. Christianity has nothing to fear in our country as long as our law-makers remember that their whole duty consists, not in making or unmaking rights or religion, but in making laws protecting all in the enjoyment of their rights. The principles of religious liberty set forth in the Bible are the following: First, the word of God is the only source of authority in religious matters. Neither tradition, nor remote antiquity, nor ecclesiastical decisions, nor statutes, but the Bible is supreme in our religion. Second, the Bible allows, and demands, the right of private judgment in all matters of faith and duty. This is based upon the well-defined principles of individual and personal responsibility. “Let every man prove his own work.”
The true and intelligent Christian has always been opposed to ecclesiastical establishments by law, and the authority of the state to produce unity of faith and worship. In all such matters we are responsible to God alone. His authority is all that is needed in order to the soul's own free service; and this is the only acceptable worship. The third great principle of religious liberty is this: the Bible contains the only infallible standard of faith and worship, and its author is the only infallible judge. The Bible gives to no man, or set of men, dominion over the human conscience, but on the contrary lays the solemn injunction upon each individual: “Prove all things and hold fast that which is good.” The direction of Christ is in these living lines: “Call no man master, for one is your master, even Christ.” Every man's own works are the only true expositor of his character, because they are the fruits of the affections which point him out as an enemy, or as a friend, of righteousness.
The man who abuses the right of private judgment has a fearful account to render—let him see to that. If he receives not the truth in the love of it that he may be saved, it is at his own peril. The field of investigation is the place where Christianity has won her most splendid victories. She has always lost when wicked men have called in the aid of the secular arm; for it is a very great error to suppose that you can deal successfully with a man's spiritual nature by such forces; it was not made for such government. By the secular arm you may force a wicked man to be a hypocrite, but you cannot make him a Christian in that way; for you cannot reach his understanding, nor give life to his conscience by any such means.