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 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.
There are two extremes, however, which we must carefully avoid: First,
that it is a matter of total indifference what religious principles a man
adopts and what form of worship he prefers. The Bible contains essential
principles—principles which constitute the essence of the gospel of Christ
which must be received, loved and obeyed, in order to the enjoyment of the
promises of salvation. The sentiment that it matters not what a man
believes, is no part of the religious liberty which the Bible inculcates.
Such a sentiment is everywhere discouraged and denounced. A forcible
writer said: Keep clear of uncommon pretensions to charity. Believe the
love of God, and be satisfied with his charity, and never dream of making
an improvement upon his character.
The other extreme is to have no charity at all. There are many things
about which men may safely differ, but they are neither precepts to be
obeyed, nor facts to be believed. Differences may exist in opinions, but
not in facts to be believed, nor in commands to be obeyed. Christians are
such in virtue of faith in Christ and obedience to his commandments.
Wherever the minds of men have been brought under the power of the
Christian religion, there they have been the devoted friends of such
liberty. Such were the adherents of Luther in Germany, the Lollards in
England, and the adherents of Knox in Scotland. Such was the case with
Holland when her republican virtues, learning and piety, moral and
literary institutions made her famous throughout the earth. “Where the
spirit of the Lord is there is liberty.” One of the most erroneous
objections to Christianity is that it is calculated to subject the many to
the few, but its spirit and tendency is to bring all, both the rich and
poor, on one common level. It pronounces temporal circumstances matters of
no consequence, all men creatures of God, made of one blood, having a
common nature, subject to common sufferings, common dependence and
responsibilities. It teaches us to “defraud no man,” to “corrupt no man,”
to “love our enemies,” to “pray for those who despitefully use us,” to
“disregard external distinctions.” In Christ there is neither Jew nor
Greek, bond nor free, male nor female, but all are one. The poor are
exalted and the rich are humbled. Tholuck says: “The cultivated heathen
were offended at Christianity because the higher classes could no longer
have precedence of the common people.” A religion which teaches that all
are upon one grand level under its influences will certainly teach us that
all are equal in the presence of the law. Christianity is not only a
stranger to despotism, but denounces it in the plainest terms. Its great
founder said: “Whosoever will be great among you let him be your servant,
and whosoever will be chief let him be your minister.” What greater
calamity could we experience than the loss of the last copy of the New
Testament? Who would bring over the world once more the darkness of
Paganism? Who would have our Government put on Roman character? Who would
have us foster the basest passions of men? Who would throw the human
intellect back into a state of uncertainty respecting a future existence
and the manner of securing its blessedness? Who would dry up the living
fountains of joy which have been opened to us in the gospel? Who would
destroy the motive power of our religion and wither its fruits of
righteousness? Who would rob the bereaved heart of its consolations and
provoke anew the tears of the mourner which have been wiped away? Who
would go to the widow and say: Go and visit the grave of your loved one
and weep without hope! Yes, weep with the terrible thought that this
parting is to last forever! Weep with trembling, and at last step into the
grave with awful uncertainty, to learn all there, and never bring back the
secret. Who are they who would restore to death its sting and to the grave
its victory? What victories have they ever achieved for our humanity? No
calculations could measure the sacrifice it would cost to part with the
Bible forever. Wicked men would toll its funeral, while the innocent ones
of earth would bathe in tears and turn away in sorrow. Let us never
persecute those unfortunate men who are opposing the truth of our religion
on account of the errors of the creeds of our fathers. Let us always avoid
a spirit of despotism and persecution, because it is dishonorable. If
there must be persecution, let truth be the victim. Error is not worthy of
the honor that martyrs bear.
It is better that we “suffer for well-doing than for ill-doing,” therefore
let us criticise ourselves severely, but deal with others in love. The
Bible is our authority in religion, and the civil arm is our protection in
the state. Religious freedom is ours—may it long remain the glory of our
country. In comparison with this freedom all else is mere illusion. You
may enjoy all the freedom that this world can give, and if you are slaves
to sin you are miserable slaves to a cruel master. The intellectual and
moral condition of the soul, constituting its highest glory, is a liberty
worthy of the name. Such an one, in a very important sense, is free
indeed, free in solitude, free in poverty, free in abundance, free in
life, free in death, free everywhere, and forever free.