Sermon on the Seven Pillars of the Baptists

5 element in them, are, from the principle of hereditary faith they cherish, naturally opposed to this principle of perfect freedom of conscience. They have yielded to it only under the pressure of events. To hold up this great, divinely-bestowed pillar of truth, therefore, this principle, so essential to the Christian republic and the peace of mankind, has been, still is, and ever should be, a part of the mission of the Baptists. 2. Second Pillar. Observe it. Separateness of churches and states. No church and state unions. No marriage of civil and ecclesiastical powers. No wefd- ing the sword to the gospel. States administer only civil affairs. Churches are charged only with religious affairs. Said Christ, “ My kingdom is not of this world.” “ Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God .the things which are God’s.” This is a great principle, essential to the integrity of Christianity and the success of the Christian republic. God never ordained but one theocracy—the Hebrew ; that was local and temporary ; a school system for an early, preparatory age; a kind of educational plan to bring in ideas of law, and of the divine character, and to hold up types and symbols. Nothing of the kind preceded it. Nothing of the kind followed it. It was for one people only, and for one season only. Having performed its office, it was abolished. Then came the Christian republic, the era of freedom, of which John the Baptist sounded the call, and the principles of which—the pillars—were set up by Christ and his chosen legates. Antichrist, as foretold, gathering up old theocratic precedents, heathen usages, and philosophical theories, gradually corrupted the divine republic, and married it to Rome, creating and combining episcopal, papal, and

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