In South Carolina. 503 



and the state of sorrows makes the resolution actual and habitual, 

 permanent and persevering. For as the silk-worm eateth itself out 

 of a seed to become a little worm, and then feeding on the leaves 

 of mulberries, it grows till its coat be off, and then works itself into 

 a house of silk, then casting its pearly seeds for the young to breed, 

 it leaveth its silk for man, and dies all white and winged in the 

 shape of a flying creature — so is the progress of souls. When they 

 are regenerated and have cast off their first stains and the skein of 

 worldly vanities by feeding on the leaves of Scripture and the fruits 

 of the vine and the joys of the sacrament, they encircle themselves 

 in the rich garments of holy and virtuous habits, then by leaving 

 their blood, which is the Church's seed to raise up a new generation 

 to God, they leave a blessed memory and fair example, and are 

 themselves turned into angels, whose felicity is to do the will of 

 God, as their employment was in this world to suffer." 



But while the fifth article of our religion fixes for you an infal- 

 lible standard of Christian doctrine and morals, the twenty-third 

 article defines with great accuracy the political duties which you 

 owe to the government which under the providence of God has 

 been established over you. "The President, the Congress, the Gen- 

 eral Assemblies, the Governors, and the Councils of State, as the 

 delegates of the people, are the rulers of the United States of 

 America, according to the division of power made to them by the 

 Constitution of the United States and by the constitutions of their re- 

 spective States. And the said States are a sovereign and independ- 

 ent nation, and ought not to be subject to any foreign jurisdiction. 



"As far as it respects civil affairs, we believe it the duty of Chris- 

 tians, and especially of all Christian ministers, to be subject to the 

 supreme authority of the country where they may reside, and to 

 use all laudable means to enjoin obedience to the powers that be, 

 and therefore it is expected that all our preachers and people who 

 may be under the British or any other government will behave 

 themselves as peaceable and orderly subjects." 



Nowhere do we learn the qualifications of civil rulers or the du- 

 ties of subjects as we learn them from the Bible; nor should we 

 find these instructions there embodied if civil government were not 

 ordained of God. The doctrine of the New Testament is, that 

 "there is no power but of God;" that "the powers that be are or- 

 dained of God." God announces in his word: "By me kings reign, 

 and princes decree justice." All government in all the varied 

 social relations rests upon the same basis. It is of divine right, 



