st 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 "def