RELIGIOUS LIBERTY IN AUSTRALIA.
By William Nelson Glenn
By reference to our "Outlook" department it will be seen that the contest for religious liberty is still being waged in Australia. We notice also in the secular papers that the advocates of a religious declaration in the proposed Federal Constitution, do not hesitate to use deception regarding the provisions of the Constitution of the United States. But in every country, every attempt to attach the Christian religion to the civil government is itself a deception. And it often happens that none are more deceived than those who labor to mingle politics and religion; their very honesty and earnestness, in the face of all history, betoken their self-deception. But there is another feature of this subject that it is well to consider, namely: While the Constitution is supposed to be the "supreme law of the land," the people of the United States have learned by experience that the Supreme Court can and does turn that instrument from the design of those who framed it and of those who ratified it. When the court has thus, by decision or dictum, established a "construction contrary both to the letter and spirit of the Constitution," the Federal Congress, State Legislatures, and lower courts may all act upon that precedent, the Constitution to the contrary notwithstanding. All history shows that the absolute separation of religion and civil government is the only safeguard of the liberties of the people in this sinful world; yet it also shows that there are always a large number of religionists who want the influence of the State to sustain their religion, and a large class of politicians who court the support of the churches. When these two classes, think they see a mutual interest, they do not hesitate to unite, no matter what becomes of the Constitution or of the liberties of the masses. The trend of the times is toward the union of Church and State, and toward the union of the State with that Church which first under the guise of Christianity united with the State, and demonstrated the evil of such union. The prophecy is plain: "And all the world wondered after the beast. . . . And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." Rev. 13:3-8. Just as long as worldly-minded people, whether professed Christians or not, think they see temporal or present advantage in uniting religion and politics, they will work to that end, even tho to do so they must needs walk over all the constitutions of the world. It is well to set forth before the people the true principles of government, that they may have opportunity to know the truth, and that the truth may set them free. A proper system of civil government may, in the providence of God, be a means of holding the winds of destruction until the servants of God are sealed. See Revelation 7. The people of God must "stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free;" for "if the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." Human constitutions can give only human guarantees of freedom, subject to all the variableness and fickleness that beset the carnal mind.