W. N. G by William N. Glenn

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Sep 9, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 35.

W. N. G

By William N. Glenn

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.

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GOVERNMENTAL RECOGNITION OF GOD.

A CONTRIBUTOR to the Melbourne Herald, discussing the merits of the proposed religious phase of the new Federal Constitution of Australia, asks: 'Was not Nebuchadnezzar deposed from his kingly throne because he did not recognize God?' It is pertinent to ask, Did not God raise Nebuchadnezzar to the secular rule of the whole earth when he was yet a pagan idolater? Did he not take the secular kingdom away from his own chosen people because they utterly failed in its administration, and give it to their enemies, on more than one occasion? Did he not overturn the kingdom of Israel three times from one pagan power to another, and declare that 'it shall be no more, until He come whose right it is; and I will give it Him?' Did not Israel formally recognize God in their government, and did he not directly give many of their laws? No kingdom ever made a more dismal failure in the matter of glorifying God than did the kingdom of Israel, altho that kingdom is continually held up as an example by the advocates of State rule in the name of religion. 'Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the Lord had destroyed before the children of Israel.' 2 Chron. 33:9.

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