The Relation of Religion to Civil Government in the United States of America: A State Without a Church, but Not Without a Religion. E-book. Formato PDF - 9780243698011

The authority of civil government, when it interferes with the liberty of the individual, for the purpose of securing his own good, and not merely for the purpose of preventing his interference with the liberty of his fellowman, 1s pedagogic, fulfilling an o?ice like that of the freedman or slave who, in ancient times, was given authority to conduct the child from the home to the school. The authority of the pedagogue over the child was legitimate and proper for a time, but when he had delivered the child to the teacher his authority ceased. The fulfilment of the function of his Office was the very thing' which brought his authority to an end. Even the Mosaic law, the apostle Paul argues, was of this character. Therefore the law was our pedagogue (nazdaywyos, child-conductor, not school — master or teacher, as it is given in the A. V.) to bring us to Christ. Gal. Iii., 24. He affirms there fore that The law of the Spirit Of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law Of sin and death. Rom. Viii., I., and exhorts the Galatians to stand fast, therefore, in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free. Gal. V., I.