The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1847-12-04
COMMUNICATIONS.
The Distinguishing Traits of the Mosaic
Law OF servttudes-No. 6.


We have sometimes used the terms Stare and
slarerg in the preceding discussion, bat any one
can See that the Mosaic servitlde had none Of
The characteristics of modern slavery. The
English transators were entirely exact in avoid
ing the word slaUs and using the more general
term servant. la bringing our remarks TO a
close, we Affirm
Finally. that even il the ancient Hebrew ser
vituGe and the modern negro slavery were ex-
sctv alike the former could not with any con-
sstency be CITED an excuse for the latter.
Many things which were permitted and even
required by the Mosaic law, every Christian ad-
mits even Shareholders as well as Others, il
would be wrong 10 do now. Because God, for
special reasons, permits ons nation TO do GER
tain act at particular time, does that authorize
all nations at all times to do the same thing J
The very fact Of special permission being given
rather implies that without such permission the
act would not be lawful. Because a rich man
on q cold winters day gives special permission
10 poor neighbOr 70 take little woOc TO keep
his family from perishing, does that make his
EOOa-pie common Plunoer for ali people at all
ssasouEof the year. '--''
Coo commanded the Isrselites to exterminste
seven nations Of the Csnanites, 10 kill without
mercy every man, every male child, and every
woman who had ever had connection with man.
III. Joshua IL IA. If the Mosaic servitude
justihes christians in holding negro slaves, much
more would this express injunction justify the
members Of our Southern Protestant Churches
for going into Mexico, and without mercy msssa-
creing every man, every boy, and every married
woman Of the MeKicans.
COD permitted the Hebrews under, certain re-
strictiOns, 10 make temporary wiUss Of women
taken captive in war Deut. 81: l0-l7.
Should members Of our Southern churches
practice on this precept in the Mexican war,
would they, OF would they not, be subject to dis
clpiinel
COD permitted Hebrew, who already had
one wife, to take another also, provided he still
continued 10 treat the first one kindly, and still
continued his intercourse with her as husband.
EKOd. p: Ill Would this he a disciplinable
offence in slaVeholding church, OF would il
not2
God commanded ths Hebrew, even though a
married man with wife and children living, TO
take the childless widow Of his brother and beget
children with her. Deut. %: 5--l0. Is this
custom still observed in slsvehOlding churchesl
By the Mosaic law divorce was allowed for
other causes than adultery. Dsut %: IA.
Bat what says cur Saviour 10 this7 Mark To-;
7-l2 Mstth. l9: 3-Il. 5: 81, -.
In the Hebrew commonwealth, God permit
ted the nearest relative Of a murdered Hebrew to
al the murderer, if he could overtake him be-
fore he reached a city Of refuge; and this per-
mission was extended to cases where the killing
was merely accidental, and the homicide was
entirely innocent Of the crime of murder
Nun. IS: 9-34. Would such a practice be
now tolerated even in slaveho.ding churohes7
Il not, why plead the Mosaic law 10 Justify
siavery2 A little intellectual honesty in pious
people, the members Of Christian churches,
would DO them no harm; it would rather be a
benefit than otherwise.
As we stated in the outset, The Mosaic law
Goes not propose nor pretend 10 enioin what is
absolutely the best for all times and for all cir
cumstances; bot only what was best for the
Times and the circumstances anc the-nation, for
which Il was originally intended.
All ask Of .he reader Is, that he take the pas
sages have cited ia this WI Die discussion, and
especially in thislast syicle, ane read them care
fully through In the Esgli<h translation, the an
Gent septnaginsversion, tie Hebrew original, or
any other version edition he plesses, and then
eandidiy answer me these two Questions, name
ly--
/. Was there any institution among IL an
Gent Hebrews at all analogous to negro slaksry
among Christians7
z Even II there was, can the fact be consis-
tehiiy urged TO justify negro slavery anon G
Christians?
Nov, brethren, be honest, consistent, manly;
hO' winning, Prevarieating, sneaking.
G. z. S.