If they want instruction in other sciences or arts, they apply
to other instructers; and this is generally the business of early life.
But I suppose there is not an instance of a single congregation which
has employed their preacher for the mixt purpose of lecturing them
from the pulpit, in Chemistry, in Medicine, in Law, in the science and
principles of Government, or in any thing but Religion exclusively.
Whenever, therefore, preachers, instead of a lesson in religion,
put them off with a discourse on the Copernican system, on chemical
affinities, on the construction of government, or the characters or
conduct of those administering it, it is a breach of contract, depriving
their audience of the kind of service for which they are salaried, and
giving them, instead it, what they did not want, or if wanted, would
rather seek from better sources in that particular art or science. In
choosing our pastor we look to his religious qualifications, without
inquiring into his physical or political dogmas, with which we mean to
have nothing to do. I am aware that arguments may be found, which may
twist a thread of politics into the cord of religious duties. So may
they for every other branch of human art or science. Thus, for example,
it is a religious duty to obey the laws of our country: the teacher of
religion, therefore, must instruct us in those laws, that we may know
how to obey them.
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