January 27, 1861 (Sunday--b)

American Citizenship brings moral responsibility

Sermon given by Rev. William Rudder at his church in Albany, New York, Sunday evening January 13, 1861.  Excerpts follow....  'hat tip to The Long Recall'

"Who does not feel and know that today we are hanging on the brink of a thousand perils, dark and unfathomable indeed?  Are civil war, and anarchy, and ruin...to be our inevitable lot?  What has brought us to this condition?  What are the causes of decay and death that have been so secretly, but so terribly at work?

First of all, the American people, as a general thing, do not think -- think, that is, carefully and conscientiously, by and for, themselves...The great masses of the Nation have, done more honest and serious and conscientious political thinking within the last sixty days than in as many years before.  And this is the first step always toward the discovery of Truth and agreement.  We have the Divine authority in regard to Israel of old, that the secret cause of their sin was that they did not consider:  'My people doth not consider.'  Honest, serious thought is the first step necessary to the perception of responsibility and duty. 

The second truth is that there are other laws than those of Profit and Loss.  There is an inordinate arrogance and reliance upon ourselves.  We say 'my power, and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.'  The idea of God as the necessary sustainer and preserver of Nations, has been well-nigh blotted from our minds.  We have grown up into a temper arrogant and overbearing which distinguishes us alike both at home and abroad.  Now God, as it seems to us, is endeavoring, through the present troubles, to press home upon our minds and hearts this Truth:  that material resources alone can afford no surety of the permanence of a nation's strength and prosperity, but that only 'blessed is that nation whose God is the Lord.'  Surely it behooves us to learn God's lesson, and lay it to our hearts.  Let us, in sincere penitence for our sins, confess them at His feet; and let us beseech Him, in mercy, even now, to deliver us from shame.

The third lesson...touches on what we may call, the moral obligations inherent in American citizenship.  There are three Divine Institutions established in the world -- the Family, the Church, and the State.  As people of the government we give character to its acts and it rests upon us, in the exercise of this privilege, a great moral responsibility.  We cannot neglect it.  It is to be feared that no small portion of our people have been habitually forgetful of this fact and often, perhaps, knowingly indifferent to it.  We are greatly guilty in this matter.  The purification of the State must begin in the purification of the consciences of the individuals composing the State.  Here, therefore, must begin the cure of our evils.

The fourth lesson is the peril of separating Religion and Politics...God has been thrust out from the government of the Nation.  His Law has been treated with neglect, if not with contempt.  The fact that 'the Glory of God is the ultimate purpose of the State,' has been entirely disregarded.  No more pressing necessity than has always existed, exists now for the dissolution of this Union, but it holds true now, as always, that the decay of Nations begins in the hearts of the People. 

We are unwilling to believe there is no Future for this People.  We cannot bring ourselves to believe that this great Government -- to which so many tear-filled eyes have been turned, with fond hope, from the down-trodden millions of the Earth;...that this Government is even now at an end, and that already the finger of Judgment hath written upon its walls -- 'Ichabod, the glory is departed.'  There may indeed be division for a time; but let us hope, -- certainly let us pray, that God is only leading this People through these present trials, in order to fit them for a yet larger usefulness, and a higher glory.  But let us remember that this cannot be unless we so repent us of our sins and turn to Him, that He may indeed be our God, and we His People.  He only can bless, and preserve us."