The-papacy-its-history-dogmas-genius-and-prospects-wylie

INFLUENCE OF POPERY ON GOVERNMENT. 427CHAPTER III.INFLUENCE OF POPERY ON GOVERNMENT.To religion must we ever assign the foremost place amongthose beneficent agencies which the Creator has ordained tomould the character and determine the destinies of individualsand nations. She moves in her sphere on high, havingno companion to share her place, and no rivalto divideher influence. Nevertheless, there are secondary causes atwork in moulding individual and national character, andamongst the most important of these we are to class government.Government, as regards its substance, though notits form, is an ordinance of God, intended, and eminentlyfitted, toconserve the order and promote the happiness ofsociety. It is one of those things which must of necessitybe a great blessing or a great curse.the other, according to its character ;It will be the one orand its character willbe mainly dependent upon the action of religion upon it.Wherever Christianity exists, she creates a standard of publicmorals, and purifies the whole tone of opinion and feeling.These soon come to influence the acts of the national administration,and to be embodied in the laws of the state ;as theandstream can never rise higher than its source, so themorality of the law can never be higher than that to whichChristianity has already elevated public sentiment and opinion.As is the Christianity of a country, so will be its lawsand government. With a sound healthy Christianity, wo