Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1837-10-27
For lhe Verinonl PhGnix.
BUTLER COUNTY, Ono,

N DEAR SIR - cioscu "iy "s' ""u
Oolicing the conduct oil 81 Paul IN
~ The slave, Onesimus, who had run
V %om his master, Philemon. My OBJ
" ~, to urovc from scripture that slave
,'ber commendable or to be justified by
y, usage; but my design is, as you
,,e IN prove that our Savior and his
F,Iss did not preach on politics-that,
n ,hey we're daily surrounded by bond
and bond-women, they never, in all
teaching and conversation, so far
;. can learn, uttered one syllable
y, tbe practice, as such, = but on
contrary they universally recommend
snce to servants, soldiers, children, and
: n ali subjects Of civil government
,'ors letter 10 Philemon ought iii there
No other evidence on the subject) TO
[ince the most thorough-going abolition
, Ebo are really honest in their opinions,
81 far as Christian duty and Christian
.nnleare concerned they cannot be- justified
5nytbiug contained in the New Testament,
wing or doing any thing which would be
s9a,ed 10 produce fear, or excitement,
general alarm, in this Christian commu-
nav farther, have shown by the few
kages have quoted or referred to,that the
he soul and spirit of the Christian relig-
i directly opposed to rebellions, revolu-
iusurrec,ions, or any civil commotions
atenr and still farther,--it is abundant
tyiden,, from both the precepts and exam
Of The Savior and all of the Apostles.
50 far as slavery is concerned, they
sr encouraged one single slave to run
kv; nor did they encourage masters to
Them free, by any other method or Ian
hoe than such is addressed to all other sin
Is-"To do Justice. love mercy, and to
lk humbly before God" To "love thy
ghbor as myself" To let the oppressed
free. Such, my dear Sir, is the mild,
ceable, unotiending, plain, simple, ration
convincing language of the Savior, and
first preachers. against slavery. We all
cw and admit that slavery is now, as il
5 then, inconsistent with "human rights
Christian benevolence. And this senti.
bot we have rightto publish and to preac b
ION the house-tops. But remember,-we
now considering slavery as CONNECTED
lhhe DUTY OF CHRISTIANS and TO lind
our duty we have been examining the
hguage Of the Savior, as well as his exam
We have also examined the langung,
example Of his Apostles. And now
|n.nd that though times and circumstances
BY change, the language and example o
gospel Christians cannot change-that |
DOW as much the duty of Christian min
ers and all other Christian men to speak
preach, to pray, and to act in the spirit o
Fesness and forbearance. and to avoid con
fiIon and giving offence, as it was in thu
N0l Christ and his Apostles.
Il the object Of Christians and Christian
e'chers is to do their whole duty
eaIn this duty, the take the gospel a
eI guide, as they profess to do, let then
9hne themselves to that guide in all thing
Fe them show by their example as well a
Their preaching that their object is 81
souls 10 Chris" let them let polite
I0'as did their great pattern-let ,her
Use "mlllng for railing"-let them no
aH the specious garb of benevolenc
aa pretended sympathy for human kline
talm asalns, the laws. the institution
e'he habits Of foreign States and comm,
s where they know that such condu'
~ powerfully 10 endanger the safety
Na!e If they are anxious to do goo
mankind, let them go and tell the mast'
zeal kindly with his servant; to forbea
sa'eOIng to let the oppressed go free, d
.a@ christian duty and benevolence ca
'0mpsh the object without violence, or
s'' injury TO others-let them say TO ID
'rtepentand believe the gospel be OBJ
NO the which are your masters, aceor'
% The flesh do not steal, cheat, swea
200 with all thy heart. and thy neigl
shyselC" Such, my dear Sir, | hun
t0nceve to be the duty Of Christians
saFeachlng | have often heard. during
residence al the South, and never did
any objection made to il on the score
rSper Interference with slaves. The 60
" christ general y exciles opposition
AsaIls OF such as are most strongly co
a'eu o. their own wickedness, but yet a
'sSOlved to reform their conduct but
opponents Of the gospel perceive that q
al sItueI Is mild and peaceable-if he MS
0s ~ una eoncilia,ory language, and II
' "Cs himself 10 his appropriate theme
~, oa''s' and his cross,p though some ms
~ W. and others blaspheme. yet in gene
,s y % not find any thing like popular
, "uS''e opposition TO the preaching Of d
'~l The most plain and pointed la
~ confined within the legitimate sphe
gospel subjects. is generally receiv
mo any serious opposition but the ,
~umen' preacher, or any other Chri
,y;'u;lesSor, under the garb of Christianil
',.'an duty, or Of the word of God,
N.Y. N.Y. preach, or TO teach on the policy, I
~~u'ency or the wisdom Of such and su
"'SSure Of government,-when they