State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-08-30

ton of the great law of love, moral evil,
md offensive in the sight of holy God.
Ii is also admitted, that God has the hearts
of men in his hand, and can turn them as
the rivers of water are turned and that
prayer is the grand means, by which tavors
are TO be obtained from the God Of heaven.
1t would then seem, that every christian
would heartily engage in praying, that the
sin of slavery may be put away from a.
mongst us. But is this the fact? Do
christians generally, in their closets and in
their social worship, offer one petition to
God that he would hear the cry of the OPP
pressed, and remove from us the sin of
slavery? Do the ministers of the gospel in
their public addresses, advert to the sin of
slavery, which rests upon our nation, and
pray that we may be delivered from this
land-defling and God-provoking evil? 1t
is painful truth, we believe, that in gene
raj, this is not the case. They know that
the evil exists, that sin rests upon the ma
ton, but do not offer one prayer, that it
may be removed.
How can this state of feeling, this crimi-
nal neglect OF duty be accounted for? Has
the church no bowels nor mercies for the
oppressed? Has the church ceased to "re
member those that are in bonds as bound
with them? Is this the way Christians
follow the example of Christ the way in
which they love their neighbors as them
selves? Do they not believe in their hearts
that slavery is a fearful sin !? that God can
turn the hearts of those, by whom this sys-
tenn of inquity is upheld, and that he is a
God hearing prayer? They can pray that
other sins may be suppressed. Why spare
this accursed thing, wink at this abomina-
ton, and neglect to pray that it may be
wholly suppressed There must be rea-
son, though it may be strange one, for
such conduct.
Surely no Christian can say, that prayer
can have no good effect in this case. An
infdel may ask with sheer, what profit
there is in such prayers, but Christian
can ask no such question. 1t is profitable
for all things. The Christian, who weeps
in secret over this national sin, and prays
that God would convince the nation of the |
danger that hangs over their guilty heads,
md incline them to break every oppressive
yoke, will enjoy the peace of God in his
own soul, and may be instrumental in the |
turning away Gods anger from our guilty |
land. And the minister, who prays in pub
lie that the sin of slavery may be seen in J
all its turpitude, and that we may, as ma
ton, be delivered from its baneful effects,
may excite the attention Of others to this
subject, awaken their sleepy consciences
and. lead them TO unite in all christian eff
forts to put away this evil from among us.
But if Christians have no feeling on this
subject; if churches CAN hold in fellowship
those, who are supporting slavery, and
ministers forget the slave in bondage, or
are unwilling to pray that his chains may
be broken, no wonder that statesmen should
publicly approve of slavery, and enact gag
la,ps to prevent all discussion on the sub
ject.
Is this the liberty wherewith Christ has
made his people free? Shame, where is
Thy blush? The children of God, redeem
ed by the blood of Christ, and sanctifed by
he eternal Spirit, held in cruel bondage,
snd yet the church, as a body, feels no
compassion for them, offers for them no
public prayers, but readily extends to their
oppressors the right hand of fellowship!
Is this christianity, or depilism? And must
this reproach remain upon the church
Will she cover slavery with her mantle as
she has done the vile institution of mason
ry? Is there none among all her sons who !
will sound the alarm? no Phineas among
her priests to execute judgment against the
bold transgrcssor? no Elijah that dares to
rebuke her sins, and to plead against Baal ?
1t is Notifying, it is sickening to hear
the protested friends of Christ pray for
everything they can think of, and always
remember TO. forget the poor slaves to read
the resolves passed by ecclesiastical bodies, ,
and see how carefully they avoid condem-
ming the wickedness of the whole slave
system, if they do not even justify thore, ,
who practise it Why would not such
ecclesiastics make good Jesuts? And why
should not those who uphold slavery in
America shake hands with those who up
hold slavery at Rome? 80 my soul, come
thou not into their secrets; with their as
Hemhlies mine honor hn thn,, ,,nt ,,n;tnd !,