Government and Rebellion A Sermon Delivered in the North Broad Street Presbyterian Church, Sunday Morning, April 28, 1861

Delivered on a Sunday morning in Philadelphia just weeks before the nation’s first battle, this sermon captures the urgency of a divided country grappling with the moral weight of rebellion. Drawing on Scripture, the speaker frames obedience to law as a divine duty while acknowledging that even God’s justice can demand correction when government becomes oppressive. The language is earnest and measured, reflecting the pastor’s attempt to guide a congregation caught between loyalty to the Union and the swelling tide of secession.

The address moves beyond simple exhortation, exploring how civil authority, personal conscience, and divine law intersect in moments of crisis. It weighs the legitimacy of resisting tyrants against the call for forgiveness, offering a nuanced view that still feels relevant to modern debates about civil disobedience. Listeners will hear a thoughtful, historically rooted meditation that invites reflection on the balance between order and conscience.