Thoughts from THE TWO REPUBLICS (a book byA.T.Jones
ROME, in its different phases, occupies the largest place of any national name in history. Rome, considered with reference to government, is interesting and important. Considered with reference to religion, it is yet more in- teresting and more important. But when considered with reference to the interrelationship of government and re- ligion, it is most interesting and most important.
As in this particular Rome occupies one extreme and the United States of America the other.
The principle of Rome in all its phases is that religion and government are inseparable. The principle of the gov- ernment of the United States is that religion is essentially distinct arid totally separate from civil government, and entirely exempt from its cognizance. p.5
Rome was once a republic.
WITH the exception of Britain, all the permanent con- quests of Rome were made by the arms of the repub- lic, which, though "sometimes vanquished in battle," were " always victorious in war." But as Roman power increased, Roman virtue declined ; and of all forms of government, the stability of the republican depends most upon the integrity of the individual. The immortal Lincoln's definition of a republic is the best that can ever be given : "A government of the people, by the people, and for the people." A repub- lic is a government " of the people " — the people compose the government. The people are governed by " the people " — by themselves. They are governed by the people, "for the people " — they are governed by themselves, for them- selves. Such a government is but self-government; each citizen governs himself, by himself,— by his own powers of self-restraint,— and he does this for himself, for his own good, for his own best interests. In proportion as this con- ception is not fulfilled, in proportion as the people lose the power of governing themselves, in the same proportion the true idea of a republic will fail of realization. (17)
It is said of the early Romans that " they possessed the faculty of self-government beyond any people of whom we have historical knowledge. And by virtue of this they became the most powerful nation of all ancient times.
Successful conquest accompanied by a steady influx of wealth brought changes.
Senatorial power was the sure road to wealth. The way to this was through the paetorship and the consul- ship. These offices were, the gift of the populace through election by popular vote. The votes of the great body of the populace were for sale ; and as only those who could con- trol sufficient wealth were able to buy enough votes to elect, the sure result was, of course, that all the real powers of the government were held by the aristocracy of wealth.
And as these two classes were constantly growing far- ther apart,— the rich growing richer and the poor, poorer, — there ceased to be any middle class to maintain order in government and society by holding the balance of power. (23)
Rome did not remain a republic! It was NOT a republic throughout the whole of the Christian era. And Roman christianity has no love for a republic! From the time of Christ's birth, through to the end of the 1260 years, Rome, in each of its phases persecuted Christ's true followers.
The USA is a REPUBLIC
As A.T.Jones compares the TWO REPUBLICS
"This government (United States) is the only one that has ever been on earth, which, by its fundamental principles and its supreme law, has been in harmony with the word of God as it respects earthly government; the only one that was ever pledged to a distinct and positive separation from religion ; and therefore the only government since the papacy arose, that was ever fully separated from the principles of the papacy. Against this the papacy and those who held to her principles, have always protested. They have always insisted that it was an experiment that never could be made to succeed. Yet in spite of it all and in the face of the hoary principles of the mother of harlots, this nation in liberty and enlightenment has been the admiration of all nations, and in progress has been the wonder of the world. And the influence which by these tilings, and above all by its absolutely free exercise of religious right, this government has exerted upon other nations, has surely and steadily weakened the hold of the papal principles upon them, till even Spain, the home of the Inquisition, has been led to grant toleration.
Now if this government of such glorious principles, shall be subverted, and shall be joined to the religion, and put under the feet, of an imperious hierarchy, and its hitherto splendid powers shall be prostituted to the vile uses of re- ligious oppression and persecution, the reactionary influence upon the other nations will be such as to lift the papacy to such a position of prominence and power as it never before possessed : as much greater than that which it possessed in the midnight of the Dark Ages, as the world is larger now than it was then. In short, this reaction would lift the papacy to the place where the prophecy would be fulfilled that, " Power was given him over all kindreds and tongues and nations." Rev. xiii, 7.
As surely as this thing shall ever be done, so surely will there be universal persecution. p. 871
