s, who erected their political fabric as a temple in which to
worship God, and inscribed over its front the name of the one Master
whom they honored, even Christ. The place to which our legislators and
rulers have come upon entering on their official duties is the house
of prayer and Christian instruction. Every thing that distinguishes
the occasion seems to point out the course of remark in which he who
addresses this audience should invite his hearers to follow him. The
relation of religion to politics--the religion of political life--is
the subject to which he is unequivocally directed; and of which it is
my purpose to treat, at such length only as the limits of the occasion
will allow, but with such plainness of speech as should alone be used
before freemen by one as free as they when speaking on their common
duties.

There is however what may be called a political side to this subject,
on which it would be improper for me to introduce any remarks at this
time. The bare mention of religion and politics in connexion alarms
some minds, who fear lest the liberties of the people be invaded by
zealous religionists, or the public affairs of the time be handled by
honest or ambitious preachers--in either case wandering beyond their
appropriate limits. Let me at the outset disclaim all intention of
touching questions to which a temporary interest only can belong, or
of assailing the order of our civil state. It is higher ground which I
hope to occupy as I examine the religious aspects of citizenship. When
I speak of the religion of political life, I mean that religion should
control men in the exercise of their political rights as it should
control them in all their other relations and concerns. The religion
of politics is nothing else than the application of religious
principles to political action, whether it be the action of a
statesman or a private citizen, of an individual or of the community.
The politician should respect these principles as much as any other
man. Political opinion, political discussion, political life should be
brought under the influence of religious convictions. This is the
ground which I take, and which I shall endeavor to prove is the only
ground on which a Christian can consistently stand.

Religion should govern all political sentiment and action. Why not?
Why should such a claim on behalf of religion be accounted
extravagant, or meet with any other than a unanimous assent? Is not
religion th