The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1847-08-21

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formation ON other subjects than that of re.
ligion-make them restless, and render il
much more difficult to control them. The
first OF these objections is. no doubt, true,
but the Others deny. The best servants
| have ever known were capable of read
ing the Bible; and facts will sustain nv
position. But suppose what you affirm To
be tue. the question comes up: Have We
the right TO keep them in ignorance Of the
perfect law Of God-to involve them in
thick darkness--that We may the more east
ly control them for our own profit! If 50,
where is our authority! Who gave us the
high prerogative! Let the warrant be pro.
duced, for nothing less can Justify such a
procedure. "Look not every man on his
own things, but every man on the things of
others" Look upon the eternal interests
OF the slave, and labor to secure them. |
hesitate not to say, on the plainest principles
oil morals, that any system, which, for mere
secular purposes. for worldly gain, shuts
out the light Of Gods truth from any living
soul, is WRONG. You object, they have the
public ministry Of the word which is suffi.
cicnt to make them wise unto salvation
allow it--still the obligation to qualify them
to read the Bible is not diminished, since
God commands us to both hear and read his
word. You urge it will require the sacri-
fee of much time, and cost much labor
thus to instruct them. | admit it. Many
an hour now given to pleasure will be use
fully employed in giving sight to the blind,
and causing the sears Of the deaf to hear
the words of the book" But alterward,
there will spring up in the heart the purest
pleasures known TO earth--those which
arise from consciousness that we have full
filed our duty.
2. There ought to be established in
erery family system Of Catechetical in
struction. No form of instruction is better
adapted to children than this, and none Ie-
CURES less labor on the part OF the teacher
Any one who is capable Of reading. can,
with the catechism in his hand, be success
full teacher. Many who are not convinced
OF the propriety Of learning their servants
to read, are perfectly willing for them to re-
ceIve oral instruction in this form, if any
one sees proper to give i, to them. In this
| rejoice, bu, insist that every master ought
to see that this instruction is given. IL in
Structions are given TO them in the Church
let him see that they attend upon them !;
and when unable 10 avail himself Of this
MEANS let an hour each Sabbath morning,
or afternoon, as may best suit his conve-
nience, be set apart for catechising them al,
home. In this way they will obtain a
knowledge Of the most important truths and
may be saved from death This kind of
instruction is becoming very common in the
South. All the Churches are becoming
deeply interested in it and noticed recent
ly in a report on the subject. that the Rec.
tor of Charles City, County, Va, had bap-
Used about forty oolored persons in one
household, who were instructed in the doc
trines and duties of religion by THEN mis-
tress. What must have been the Joy Of
that mistress, when she saw forty of her
own servants under the influence of her in.
structions, present themselves al the baptis-
NAL font! How profound was her sa,isiac,
ton! as she saw that harvest being gathered
into the Church of the living God, II
you would know her bliss, initiate her ex.
ample.
3. Masters ought to see ha, their ser.
rdnts attend regularly the stated means Of
grace. "The Sabbath was made for man
fnr tho ,,bolo r,oo-onl IN .,,,.,,, ,ba
law, its privileges were benevolently secured
to servants by positive enactment. Exodus
Xxx. 9, IL. While this law is Of binding
obligation, and masters generally, so far
yield to it, as not to require Of their servants
upon this holy day any services, except
those necessary things which cannot be
omitted, they ought to go further, and see
that they attend upon those means of grace,
which the Sabbath is more especially de
signed to afford. The arrangements of the
family should be made with reference to
them, as well as yourselves all unneccs-
sary cooking, &C., should be scrupulously
avoided-every thing that infringes upon
their privileges should be dispensed with,
that they may have no excuse for absence
from the house Of God. They should be
taught the importance of hearing the gospel
for like the rest Of mankind, their foolish
hearts are, by nature, dark, ''deceitful above
all things and desperately wicked" in
clined to turn away from the paths Of peace
and forget God; and without instruction We
cannot expect them to either discharge the
duties or enjoy the privileges Of the Chris
tan Sabbath. II they are controlled 81,
days in the week for our good, surely we
have the right TO control them on the sew
enth for their own good. We cannot ex
pect to reap where we do not SOW, mol
gather where we have not scattered abroad
IL we fail to instruct them in their duty, i
is unreasonable tn expect them to conform
to the law Of God, and walk in the way o
his commandments. have observer
among them generally, a dissemination t.
attend upon services not specially designo'
Tor them why, / do no. know but believ'
that their objections, whatever they are
might be overcome, by suitable efforts OF
the part Of the masters. My own opinion
is, that they ought not to be allowed TO hol'
meetings among themselves, but that Away
when they conduct the services, some judi
cious white man should be present to super
intend them. ''Let all things be done di.
creetly and in order"
/ 4. Where the forms of social and d.
nestle scorship are observed By the master