| 470 the shaking down of a few tiles, bricks, &c. All the accounts which we have collected from various parts of the island differ as to the apparent direction of the shock, and the time of its occurrence. we are inclined to believe, that the shock must have taken various directions, guided either by the fissures of the earth, or by other causes acting on the electric field. The shock, we believe, took place simultaneously throughout the whole island, and we are the more inclined to this opinion from having learnt [learned]from Jersey that the shock was felt at that place precisely at the time it occurred at this town-namely, seven minutes before four o'clock. We learn from Sark, that the shock was felt in that island at about the same time, and in the same manner as in Guernsey.
TIMES AND SEASONS.
CITY OF NAUVOO,
FRIDAY MARCH 15, 1844
FOR PRESIDENT,
GEN. JOSEPH SMITH,
NAUVOO, ILLINOIS.
RELIGION AND POLITICS.
There are peculiar notions extant in relation to propriety or impropriety of mixing religion with politics, many of which we consider to be wild and visionary. Having witnessed in the proceedings of some of our old European nations a policy that was dangerous, hurtful, and oppressive in the union of church and state, and seem [seen] in them an overgrown oligarchy, proud and arrogant, with a disposition to crush every thing that opposed its mandate, or will. We have looked with abhorence [abhorrence] upon the monster, and shrink from the idea of introducing any thing that would in the least deprive us of our freedom, or reduce us to a state of religious vassalage. Living under a free republican form of government; sheltered by the rich foliage of the tree of liberty; breathing a pure atmosphere of religious toleration; and basking in the sunbeams of prosperity, we have felt jealous of our rights, and have been always fearful, lest some of those eastern blasts should cross the great Atlantic, wither our brightest hopes, nip the tree of liberty in the bud, and that our youthful republic should be prostrated and the funeral dirge be chanted in the "Land of the free, and the home of the brave," in consequence of a union between church and state.
No one can be more opposed to an unhallowed alliance of this kind than ourselves; but while we would depreciate any having a tendency to deprive the sons of liberty of their rights, we cannot but think that the course taken by many of our politicians is altogether culpable, that the division is extending too far, and that in our jealousy lest a union of this kind should take place, we have thrust out God from all of our political movements, and seem to regard the affairs of the nation as that over the great Jehovah's; providence, has no control, about which his direction or interposition, never should be sought, and as a thing conducted and directed by human wisdom alone.
Either God has something to do in our national affairs, or he has not. If he has the oversight and charge of them, if "he raises one king and puts down another, according to the counsel of his own will;" if "the powers that be, are ordained of God;" then it becomes necessary for us, in all our political movements, to look to God for his benediction and blessing. But if God has nothing to do with them, we will act consistently, we will cease to pray for our president, or our legislators, or any of our own rulers, and each one will pursue his own course, and "God shall not be in all our thoughts," so far as politics are concerned.
By a careful perusal of the scriptures, however, we shall find that God in ancient days had as much to do with governments, kings and kingdoms, as he ever had to do with religion. The Jews, as a nation, were under the direct government of heaven, and not only had they judges and kings anointed of God, and set apart by him; but their laws were given them of God; hence says the prophet: "The Lord is our king; the Lord is our judge; the Lord is our law-giver, and he shall reign over us;" and in the history of the kings of Israel, we find the Lord and his prophets interfering as much in their civil, as their religious affairs, as the book of Kings abundantly testify. Hence, Saul, David, Solomon, Hezekiah, Jehu, and all the rest of their kings, were anointed of God and set apart especially to fulfil [fulfill] that office; and in regard to their policy, their war, their deliverance, they sought wisdom and protection from God, and ascribed their victories to him.
Nor was this the case with the Israelites alone; but other nations also, acknowledged his supremacy and sought his aid.
Abimelech, king of the Philistines, captivated by the beauty of Sarah, took her for the purpose of making her his wife, when the Lord
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