CONTENTS. WHAT IS DUE to God, and WHAT TO CÆSAR? - Moral Law and C Law Compared-Sin and Crime Defined God the only M CHRISTIANITY AND THE ROMAN EMPIRE. - The Gospel of Liberty- THE RELIGIOUS ATTACK UPON THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTI AND THOSE WHO ARE MAKING IT. - Proposed Amendment to Constitution, respecting the Establishments of Religion and Free RELIGIOUS LEGISLATION.-The Proposed National Sunday Law- THE SUNDAY-LAW MOVEMENT IN THE FOUrth Century, AND ITS F allel in the Nineteenth. —The Development of the Papac The Papacy a false Theocracy - Constantine's Sunday Law- Church secures the Aid of the State to enforce It - Resulted in Inquisition - The Present Demand for a Theocracy - The Powe the State sought for the Support of Religion - What will be sacri CIVIL GOVERNMENT AND RELIGION. CHAPTER I. WHAT IS DUE TO GOD, AND WHAT TO CÆSAR? "THEN went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth; neither carest thou for any man, for thou regardest not the person of men. Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Cæsar, or not? But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? Show me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Cæsar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar's, and unto God the things that are God's." In these words Christ has established a clear distinction between Cæsar and God, between that which is Cæsar's and that which is God's; that is, between the civil and the religious power, and between what we owe to the civil power and what we owe to the religious power. That which is Cæsar's is to be rendered to Cæsar; that which is God's is to be rendered to God alone. With that which is God's, Cæsar can have nothing to do. To say that we are to render to Cæsar that which is God's, or that we are to render to God, by Cæsar, that which is God's, is to pervert the words of Christ, and make them meaningless. Such an interpre would be but to entangle him in his talk, — the thing that the Pharisees sought to do. As the word Cæsar refers to civil government apparent at once that the duties which we owe to are civil duties, while the duties which we owe t are wholly moral or religious duties. Webster's tion of religion is, "The recognition of God as an object of worship and obedience." Another definition, equally good, is as follows: "Man's personal relation of faith and obedie God." It is evident, therefore, that religion and re duties pertain solely to God; and as that which is is to be rendered to him and not to Cæsar, it i inevitably that according to the words of Christ government can never of right have anything to d religion, with a man's personal relation of fait obedience to God. Another definition which may help in makiı distinction appear, is that of morality, as follows Morality: The relation of conformity or non-co ity to the true moral standard or rule. As morality, therefore, is the conformity of an the divine law, it is plain that morality also pertains to God, and with that, civil government can have ing to do. This may appear at first sight to extreme position, if not a false one; but it is not. I correct position, as we think any one can see w give the subject a little careful thought. The first the definition already given, says that morality is " lation of conformity or non-conformity to the true standard or rule," and the latter part of the de shows that this true moral standard is the divine law. Again Moral law is defined as "The will of God, as the supreme moral ruler, concerning the character and conduct of all responsible beings; the rule of action as obligatory on the conscience or moral nature." "The moral law is summarily contained in the decalogue, written by the finger of God on two tables of stone, and delivered to Moses on Mount Sinai." These definitions are evidently according to Scripture. The Scriptures show that the ten commandments are the law of God; that they express the will of God; that they pertain to the conscience, and take cognizance of the thoughts and intents of the heart; and that obedience to these commandments is the duty that man owes to God. Says the Scripture, - "Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man." Eccl. 12: 13. And the Saviour says,— "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment; but I say unto you that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause, shall be in danger of the judgment; and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca [vain fellow, margin], shall be in danger of the council; but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire." Matt. 5:21, 22. The apostle John, referring to the same thing, says, "Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer." 1 John 3:15. Again, the Saviour says, "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery; but I say unto you that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." Matt. 5:27, 28. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. WHAT IS DUE TO GOD, AND WHAT TO CÆSAR? — Moral Law and Civil CHAPTER II. 5-18 THE POWERS THAT BE. -An Exposition of Romans 13: 1 by Examples from Holy Writ - How earthly Governments are ordained of God — The Power of Rulers limited by the Will of the People CHAPTER III. 19-33 CHRISTIANITY And the Roman EMPIRE. - The Gospel of Liberty - The CHAPTER IV. 34-42 THE RELIGIOUS ATTACK UPON THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, AND THOSE WHO ARE MAKING IT. — Proposed Amendment to the Constitution, respecting the Establishments of Religion and Free Public Schools - Its Fallacy Exposed — Quotations from National Reformers - What they want to see in our Government 43-64 CHAPTER V. RELIGIOUS LEGISLATION.-The Proposed National Sunday Law - The Bill Arraigned-The Amendment Unconstitutional and anti-Christian CHAPTER VI. 65-77 THE SUNDAY-LAW MOVEMENT IN THE FOURTH Century, and its ParALLEL IN THE NINETEENTH. - The Development of the Papacy – The Papacy a false Theocracy — Constantine's Sunday Law - The Church secures the Aid of the State to enforce It - Resulted in the Inquisition - The Present Demand for a Theocracy — The Power of the State sought for the Support of Religion — What will be sacrified to secure It 78-110 CHAPTER VII. THE WORKINGS OF A SUNDAY LAW.-The Arkansas Cases- The Supreme Court Decision-Repeal of the Law Some Facts worthy of Notice in the Arkansas Indictments . APPENDIXES A, B, C, D. III-150 151-176 |