Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1841-02-10

nS oHOlutT IluStTdllOD. Men, IN the
exercise of their free agency, seize their
fellow-creatures, and compel them, con .
trary to all justice, to spend their lives in
unrequIted labor. God is constantly call
Ing upon them, both by his written word
and his living voice in their hearts, to
break the yoke and let the oppressed 90
Tree. Though they refuse to dothis, he
still loves them. pities them, and desires
10 recall them to himself And the next
means he adopts Of efecting this, is to
show them, by experience, that in break
ing his laws they injure themselves. He
suffers them to pursue their dangerous
experiment to the end, and thus shows
them that the evils Of slaveholdine meal
culably overbalance what they esteemed
its advantages; that in the gradual dete-
rloration of their lands, the corruption of
their morals, the insecurity of their lives
and properly, the constant fears of insur-
recllon and revenge, and the upbraidines
OF conscience, they actually lose very muc h
more than they gain by Withholding the
hire OF the laborer. And that he process
by which he designs to teach this impor-
tant lesson may not be violently interrupt
ed, he forbids the oppressed to avenge
their own wrongs, and force from their
masters by violence that liberty which is
their due. He requires of slaves par,ic-
ularly and emphalically, what is enjoined
10 general terms upon all men, the love of
enemies, the return Of good for evil, the
patlentenduranceo of oppression for Christ's
sake; he requires o! them submission,
obedience, and good service, while they
are forciby held in bondage; and thus,
strange as 1t may seem to the political
abolltlonst, he counienances and ordains
slavery in the same manner and to the
same extent that he countenances and
ordains civil government. Slaves are his
ministers, instruments ordained By him to
chasilse the avarice and cruelty of the
| STAKEHOLDER, just as kings and governors
are his ministers, instruments ordained by
him TO chastise the wickedness of those
who rebel against him by substituting
their own laws for his. --s. ! :
The particular attention of our readers
is requested 10 the following comparison
OF the New Testament precepts respecting
civil government, with those respecting
Serv;tude. Ii will be seer that Christians
are forbidden 10 participate In the author
uy claimed By human governments, by
expressions even more emphatic than those
which forbid slaveholding. To masters
It is said, Render unto your servants that
which is just and equal But if any are
found wicked enough to violate this COM
mand, they are left TO reap the fruits Of
their evil doings, and God then addresses
himself to the oppressed Servants, be
subject to your masters with all fear: not
only to The good and gentle, but also to
the froward. For this is thank worthy
if man for conscience toward God en-
dare grief, suffering wrongfully.' .. f..
! Hear now what Jesus says TO his disci-
pies, respecting the civil authority !: Ye
know that the princes Of the Gentiles ex.
erclse dominion over them, and they that
are great exercise authority upon them.
But II snail not be SO soih you; but who
soeVer will be great among you, let him
be your minister; and Whosoeyer will be
chlei among you, let him be your serv-
ant. II any bearing the name of Chris
tlans are found wicked enough, after this
command, to accept the Office of ruler or
governor, they must do ii, and must ac-
count to Col for il. Nothing further is
said TO them. No directions are given
them respecting the administration of an
offi:c which is IN Itself rebellion against
the supreme; but God then turns to the
subject, and forbds violent resistance TO
this usurped authority, giving at the same
] tltqe the assurance that he need not fear
the violence CT The ruler, since however
great his power may oe, it is within the
power of God and made subservicnt to
his designs. Let every soul be subject
unto the higher powers. For there is
no power but of God. The powers tha.
be are ordained of God. Whosoever
therefore resisteth tire power, resisteth the
ordinance Of God
We see, then. the nature of wha! is
falsely maintained to be Gods approba.
lion Of civil government and OF slavery.
He forbids violent interruption Of The
| former, as of the latter, not because either
| is in accordance with his will, but first
because such violence would BE- contrary
to the law Of love, and next that the VIC
laion Of his laws may be manifestly shown
TO produce evil and not good to those who
violate them, even under the most favora-
bic circumstances.
l. IS admitted by writer against nom
resis,ance, that, in establishing govern
ment by his providence, God dees moi
necessarily show his appreciation of all
lorms oil It. Yet this is The very truth,
me proclamation of which by non.resist-
ans mas caused SO much outcry and alarm
among an Inc advocates of our government.
Inc governments of the earth, like all its
other institutions. are undar The coo,ral sc