PART 2 obvious, it is indeed remarkable that the learned should endorse such an opinion. The stone could not symbolize Christianity, 1. Because it did not arise at the proper time for Christianity. In the days of these kings must refer to that plurality of kings last mentioned, the ten-toe kings or kingdoms; that arose from the Roman empire. The philosophy of our language demands this sense. But Christianity arose in the days of one king, Augustus Caesar. In point of fact, then, the truth of history for ever forbids any other interpretation. Our great nationality arose exactly in the days of that very plurality of kings or kingdoms that came out of the old Roman dynasty. 2. The stone kingdom did not arise in the proper place for Christianity. Rome arose where the Grecian empire had stood, the Grecian or Macedonian succeeded Mede-Persia, and Mede-Persia was successor to the Babylonian or Assyrian kingdom; but the stone kingdom had no previous connection with this corporate image of monarchy; did not grow up under its shadow, precincts, or presence, but comes from a distance, and strikes the image from without, and, at one dreadful stroke of external violence, breaks the colossal image to fragments; and its atoms, ground to infinitesimal dust, fly like chaff before the winds of the summer threshing-floors. But Christianity arose within the dominions of Rome: Judea was a Roman province where Christianity was born. 3. The stone kingdom could not have arisen at all at the time that Christianity arose, or it would have risen in the Roman empire also; for Rome at that time embraced the known world. At the birth of Christ, There went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. But there was a land, my countrymen, where the Roman cohorts were never marshaled -- a land that Heaven had concealed from the cupidity and ambition of her conquering armies. That land is our own beloved America, the only portion of the globe, beyond the limits of ancient Rome, where a great nationality, in its constitution, character, and mission, could possibly answer the true meaning of the fifth symbolic kingdom that the God of heaven would set up. As the political governments of monarchy were severally represented by a symbol taken from the mineral kingdom in one corporate connection, showing the uniformity of the genius that pervaded the whole, so the fifth government, being political also, is symbolized by a mineral type (a stone) likewise. But being entirely distinct from and unconnected with the image of monarchy, it is very clear that the fifth government is not only a political organization, but an anti-monarchical government; consequently, a political republican government, arising under the supervision of Almighty God. a stone cut out of the mountain without hands: brought into being and glorious nationality by a wonderful chain of Divine providences. The violent destruction of the monarchical image by the stone, necessarily implies political organization and military power. The mild and tranquil genius of Christianity offers no violence to any man, or any nation; but it wins its gradual conquests by moral persuasion. But here is a power dreadful as the enginery of battle, swift and destructive as the bolt of heaven. And did Christianity indeed break down and annihilate the Roman empire? What a failure! Was it not the barbarian hordes of Goths and Vandals from the North that overran imperial Rome? But how are we to account for the stone smiting the image on the feet? Why was the attack not made upon the head, or upon some vital part? Let it be remembered, the feet was the point of the union of Church and State; consequently, the mission of this great fifth nationality was the destruction of State and Church union, as well as the utter and ultimate extermination of ec¬clesiastical and political despotism from the face of the earth. Now, we appeal to the assembled wisdom before us, to profound statesmen, and venerable ministers of God, if the antagonism of the stone to the iron and clay is not fully answered in the genius of the American people? Are not the sentiment and feeling of this great nation more harmonious and universal in their hostility to Church and State union than on any other subject? Has not the Constitution of the United States, in devoting a whole chapter to the subject, raised an eternal barrier against it? And is not our nation the only enlightened government among the nations of the earth, where the illegitimate union of Church and State is most solemnly interdicted? thus leading our free people to Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesars and unto God the things that are Gods. While it is, therefore, conclusive that the stone kingdom is a providential political government, cut out of the mountain without hands, incompatible with, hostile to, and destined in its great mission to annihilate the last vestige of monarchy from the nations of the earth, it is equally evident that the mountain out of which the stone is cut is Christianity. So our great government is founded upon the Bible. Remove this indestructible basis that supports the fair fabric of our political institutions, and we have no government. The Declaration of American Independence evidently recognizes the obligations of the first, and fully embraces the principles of the second great commandment. The smiles of a Christian Sabbath inspire the devotion, and call from labor to rest our toiling millions; while the obligation of every officer of state, from the chief magistrate of the nation down to the humblest minister of justice, is rendered inviolate by a solemn averment upon Divine revelation. The history of the world confirms the fact, that a nations religion molds the character of its civic government. A despotic, superstitious, and blood-thirsty system of religion will form and fashion its political economy after the same model. So a pure, enlightened, and divinely authorized religion has ever been the maternal source of a pure, liberal, and happy civil government. As, therefore, the four great empires were to be succeeded by a fifth great government, altogether differing in its principles and character, and as the United States of America is the only great nation that ever has or ever can arise to answer the description and fill the mission of the fifth empire, the conclusion is inevitable, that our glorious republic is the stone kingdom that the God of heaven was to set up. A glimpse of this sublime reality inspired the good Bishop Berkeley, more than a hundred years ago, to declare what even now seems a wonderful consummation: Westward the star of empire makes its way; The first four acts already passed, The fifth shall close the drama with the day: Times noblest offspring is the last. The United States of America is symbolized by the man-child of the winged woman of the wilderness. And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars. And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. • . . And the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. And she brought forth a man-child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God, and to his throne ... And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place ... And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. And the dragon was wroth with the woman, etc. It is almost universally admitted that the true Church of God is represented by the woman in this symbol. And, without pausing to examine the many opinions which divines have entertained as to the true meaning of the man-child -- some supposing it refers to Christ, and others to Constantine -- we will demonstrate that the symbolic meaning of the man-child is that of a great nationality that was to arise under the superintending providence of Almighty God in the latter times; and that that great nationality is the United States of America. To this man-child a rod was given to rule -- always the ensign of political power; so that, while the mother represents a pure, enlightened religion, her offspring, a man-child, who is invested with political authority, must represent an enlightened nationality. This exposition we claim with great confidence to be legitimate. We shall now show that such is the testimony of the Holy Scriptures. Isaiah declares, Before she travailed, she brought forth, before her pain came, she was delivered of a man-child. Who hath heard such things? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth. In this passage, the term Zion meaning the Church of God, settles, beyond all doubt, the symbolic meaning of the woman clothed with the sun; and as the man-child in the one case is put in apposition with a nation born at once, he must be understood in the other instance to be the symbol of a nation also. We cannot deny the explanation without denying the interpretation the Holy Scriptures give of their own symbols. But is this nationality, arising from a true and enlightened religion, the United States of America? We shall see. In the first place, the man-child was the offspring of a true and enlightened religion. 2. Its destruction was determined upon, in its infancy, b~ a great red dragon. 3. It received a rod in its infancy, to rule, or to maintain political jurisdiction. 4. He and his mother were favored by the earth. 5. The child was caught up to the throne Of God. Now, how remarkably does our great nation answer to this description? Our nationality arose from and was the legitimate offspring of an enlightened liberal religion. Our honored ancestry, having fled from the storms of persecution in the old world, sought to find in the new, freedom to worship God; the founders and framers of our political fabric being, in the main, worshipers of the true God, and believers in his Son Jesus Christ. Our infancy was warily watched by the demon of despotism, and fearful were the efforts made by the dragon of autocracy to crush us in the cradle. But the earth helped the woman. The seat of the old Roman empire is termed, in the symbolic language of the Apocalypse, the earth. And did not several of the European powers come to our assistance in that dreadful conflict? Russia declared neutrality; Spain, and especially Holland, waged war against England, while the fleets of France came to our rescue in our Revolutionary struggle. The earth helped the woman, and the man-child was rescued. But we were specially protected and defended by the providence of Almighty God, which we understand the expression, caught up to the throne of God, to imply. How wonderful the eventful history of our new-born nation! Who can trace the special interventions of a Divine hand through all the stages of our infant existence, from our natal hour, without acknowledging that the God of Washington was on our side? The coincidences are so numerous, and the agreement of our great nationality with the symbolic description of the man-child so wonderfully accurate, that the conclusion is demonstration. For if perfect coincidence be perfect fulfillment, then the United States of America is symbolized by the man-child of the winged woman in the wilderness. The United States of America is the nationality that is promised in the prophetic Scriptures to arise in the latter times as Israel Restored. It has long been a favorite theory, both with Jewish and Christian writers, that the nationality to be gathered together in the latter days, was understood to mean the returned or restoration of the scattered sons of Abraham to the land of Palestine. We are not surprised at the confidence with which this opinion has been entertained from age to age, because it is a legitimate a priori interpretation, seeing this nationality is called Israel by the prophets. In a conversation had with a venerable Bishop of the Episcopal Church, he inquired of us: Sir, by what construction of language do you make the great nationality, promised to arise in the latter times, to mean the United States? That the Bible authorizes us to expect such a nationality there can be no doubt; but how do you make out that nationality to be the United States of America, as it was promised to be Israel? To which we replied: Beloved Bishop, the predictions of the prophets are put up in Hebrew dress; the regalia is Mosaic, the custom is Israelitish. They did not say, friends of civil and religious liberty, Americans, or even Christians; but they used the best terms they had on hand: they said Israel. Only doff the subject of its Jewish robes, and the symmetrical proportions and sublimity of Christian republicanism are as perfectly delineated as a Grecian pillar. But we will now show that what is reasonable and legitimate is a true principle of interpretation, being authorized by the great Teacher from heaven. Said the disciples to our Lord, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come? for it is written, Behold, I will send Elijah the prophet, before that great and notable day of the Lord. Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist. Now, suppose the difficulty of the pious Bishop were proposed to our Lord: Master, by what construction of language do you make out that John the Baptist, the son of Zacharias and Elizabeth, is indeed Elias the prophet, which was to come, seeing he is in reality another man altogether? Does not the same difficulty exist in both cases; and has not our Lord, by answering the objection in one case, removed it in the other? John was the Elias which was for to come; not because that was the name by which he was called in his generation among men, but because he came in the spirit and power of Elias, thereby answering the moral portrait that was drawn by the pencil of inspiration, and was, consequently, declared by the Savior to be indeed the Elias. If, therefore, a great nationality is promised to arise in the latter days, and the United States of America exhibits the character of such nationality, as delineated by the pen of prophecy, arising in the spirit and power of Israel to come, and no other nation under heaven ever has or ever can answer the description, then, perfect coincidence being perfect fulfillment, our glorious republic is the nationality which was to be gathered together in the latter times under the prophetic name of Israel. Let it be remembered, that the term Israel was a cognomen of honor, and not the natural right of a Jew. God gave the appellation to Jacob, because as a prince he prevailed with God. While the children of Jacob maintained their integrity, they enjoyed this high distinction; but St. Paul defends the application of the term to Gentiles who may possess the proper claims to this honor. But perhaps the most plausible bill of exceptions taken to our theory is presented here. It is suggested, with much apparent reason, that we are too wicked and unworthy a people to bear the honored title of Israel. Alas for us, my countrymen! Heaven knows full well that we are wicked enough; for when we consider the special providence of Almighty God, marvelously exercised over us from the very infancy of our organization, through every change of fortune -- what prosperity has crowned our cause -- how we have been guided and guarded by a Divine supervision, as virtually present as the holy Shekinah, in a cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night -- and then look at the abominations that pollute our national escutcheon, it is humiliating in the extreme. Look at the blasphemy that outrages the highest obligation of created beings, marring the purest language on earth, in desecrating the name of the holiest Being in the universe. Look at the violation of even heathen honest, discrediting character in almost all gradations of society. See the frenzy of political parties, disrupting the very bonds of brotherhood; while blood and debauchery infect the air and pollute the earth, bribery, homicide, and murder transpire in the very halls of our nations councils.
Posted on: Thu, 23 Jan 2014 01:06:38 +0000
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