Religious Liberty under the Proposed Amendment.
By C. O. TAYLOR
It is very true that from the earliest existence of the life of Jesus on this earth, there was hatred in the heart of some toward him. They might not have known it at first. They might not have intended him any harm, when first they heard his name. Yet he had not left his mother’s arms, before a cruel decree went forth calling for his blood to be spilt. At the first, Judas might not have thought that he would be the betrayer of Jesus. It might have been very far from him to think he would ever be the leader of a band of soldiers to the quiet, retired place of his Master, and there with a kiss of deceit, betray him into the hands of wicked men. He had no thought that these steps would lead to the condemning of Jesus; and only saw it and repented when it was too late. As the noble form and bearing of the Son of God stood before Pilate, who was caused to marvel greatly at the steady deportment of one so fully in his power, because he answered not a word to the many false charges against him, the thought was probably very distant from his mind that he would ever sentence him to the death of the cross. When the nation of the Jews first heard the fame of Him who spoke as never man spake, who wrought miracles as none before him had ever done, they might not have thought that they would ever say, “Let him be crucified.” Knowing he was one of their nation, they would be inclined to look favorably upon him. Had it been told them that the time would come that they would desire that a murderer, one that they knew to be such, should be released unto them, they would have been very apt to say, “Thinkest thou that we are dogs, to do such things?” Such, and many others are the thoughts that passed through my mind as I read the article headed, “Religious Liberty under the Proposed Christian Amendment.” How little we know of the future, unless guided by the wise counsel of God, as revealed in his word. His eyes are upon the earth beholding the works of men. Knowing what men would do, he has foretold the same, for the good of all that will be benefited.