Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-08-23

number of the Biblical Repertory conducted
bu an ASSOCIATION of Gentlemen IN Prince
tom, y. j.
We do not intend to enter upon any
minute or extended examination OF Scriptu-
raj passages, because all thatw wish to as.
sumo, as to the meaning OF the word OF
God is SO generally admitted as to render
the laboured proof of it unnecessary.
Its on all hands acknowledged that, at
the time of the advent of Jesus Christ,
slavery in its worst forms prevailed over
the whole world. The Saviour found it
around him in Judea; the apostles met
with it in Asia, Greece and Italy. How
did thew treat it? Not by the denunciation
of slaveholding as necessarily and unlver-
sallv sinful. Not by declaring that all
shareholders were men-stealers and robbers
and consequently 10 be excluded from the
church and the kingdom of heaven. Not
by insisting on immediate emancipation.
Not BY appeals to the passions of men on
the evils of slavery, or by the adoption OF
a system of universal agitation. On the
contrary, i, was by teaching the true ma
ture, dignity, equality and destiny OF men;
by including the principles of justice and
love; and by leaving these principles to
produce their legitimate effects in amelI-
or,ing the condition of all classes OF soc'ety.
We need not stop to prove that such was
the course pursued by our Saviour and his
APOSTLES, because the fact is generally ac-
knowledged, and various reasons are as
signed, bv the abolitionist and others, to
account for it. The subject is hardly al
luded to by Christ in any of his personal
instructions. The apostles refer to it, not
to pronounce upon it as question OF NOR
ais. but to prescribe the relative duties OF
masters and slaves. They caution those
slaves who have believing Christian mas
tiers. not to despise them because they were
on perfect religious equality with them
but to consider the fact that their masters
were there brethren, as an additional reason
for obedience. 1t is remarkable that there
is not even an exhortation to masters 70
Iberate their slaves, much less is 1t urged
as an imperative and immediate duty
Thew are commanded to be kind, mercliul
and lust; and to remember that they have
Master in heaven. Paul represents this
relation as of comparatively little account,
Let every man abide in the same calling
wherein he was called. Art thou called
being servant (or slave care not tor 1t;
though, should the opportunity OF freedom
be presented, embrace it. These eSter-
nal relations, however, are Of little lmpor-
tance, for every Christian is freeman IN
the highest and best sense Of the word,
and at the same time is under the strong
es, bonds to Christ Cor. Vii. 2O-22.
1t is not worth while to shut our eyes to
these facts. They will remain, whether
we refuse TO see them and be Instructed
By them or not. If We are wiser, better,
more courageous than Christ and his apos-
ties, let US say so; but it will do no good
under. paroxysm of benevolence, to at
tempt to tear the bible to pieces or to exort
by violent exegesis, meaning foreign to
its obvious sense. Whatever infcrenceS
may be fairly deducible from the fact the
fact itself cannot be denied that Christ and
his inspired followers did treat the sub
iect of slavery in the manner stated above
This being the case, we ought carefully to
consider their conduc, in this respect, and
INQUIRE what lessons that conduct should
teach US.
We think no one will deny that the plan
adopted by the Saviour and his Immediate
followers must be the correct plan. and
therefore obligatory upon us, unless 1t can
be shown that their circumstances were
so different from ours, as to make the rule
of duty different in the twb cases. The
obligation to point out and establish this
difference, rests of course upon those who
have sadopted course diametrica!ly the
reverse Of that which Christ pursued
They have not acquitted themselves OF this
obligation. They do not seem to have
felt it necessary to reconcile their conduct
with his; nor doesit appear to have occur
red to them, that their violent denuncia-
tons of slaveholding and of shareholders
is an indirect reflection on his wisdom, vir-
tue, or courage. If the present course Of
the abolitionsists is right, then the course Of
Christ and the apostles was wrong. For
the circumstances of the two cases are, as
far as we can see, in all essential psrtlcu-
lars, the same. They appeared as teach
ers of morality and religion, not as poll
ticians. The same is the fact with ou'
abolitionsts. They found slavery author
lied by the laws of the land. So do we
They were called upon to receive into the
communion of the Christian Church, 9th
sIayeovners and slaves. So are We
Ill.,, ;.>-.-,etnd fhnse different classes o1