The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1847-07-31

JAMS 4, 4; Masters give unto you
hat which is Just and equal, know 10
have master in heaven.
ty of attending TO the tellglou
hit of our servants, compromise
hers two most important partlcu
{eaching and encouraging them Il
cods nord, and inducing them 10 al
Is rorship. Many have avowed tn
etrine that it is not right to teach servants
read the Bible-and in some OF OH
States their instruction is prohibited by law
Our pos,erity will doubtless wonder how g
b,onstrous doctrine could ever prevail Il
4 any great extent in a christian land aliC
how good men could ever delu,le thenlsclve;
INTO the belief that such doctrine was con
siSent with the first principles OF that gospcl
. which is sent to the bond as well as tie
! free. and which requires all who receive II
80 impart a knowledge OF II TO the utmost
Their ability to all vino have 1t not.
To expose the falsity of this doctrine and
penicious consequences, 80 iully and
proughly as 70 ensure its universal con
hnaiion, would, perhaps, require more
ne than the limits of our discourse Will al
bw. But for Its retutation in the eyes OF
hi intelligent and rejecting men, nothing
bore, as we conceive, is needed, than that
heir attention should be directed TO the two
false assumptions on which this doctrine
4 rests. The first assumption is, that our
suaem Of serritude is inconsistent rht
ersn such d degree Of intelligence on The
pdrt Of srrdnts as WW enable them to
read he Bible. Why are slaves TO be pro-
hibi;ed from learning 10 read the answer
Is. because such instruction will unit them
Tor remaining in bondage Now if this as
sumption were true, ii would be the most
powerful argument that has ever been urged
against the sysiem-ior what plous or phil
anthropic heart could countenance, for a
moment. the existence OF system, whose
existence depended on excluding It's subjects
forever from obeying the divine command
10 search the scriptures, " in which alone
We have eternal lie ." The second false
assumption on which must be rested the ex-
clusion Of servants from learning 10 read is,
that, for The sake Of Perpetudtingd system
ichick ire imagine 10 Be gaintul, rre hare
a right 10 keep rhOle race Of our tellmr
men in such state Of degradation as 10 d.
bar them from all access to Gods holy
rOrd, and thus tedTully multiply The
chances Of their eternal perdui0R. If We
have no such right they must be allowed to
read. But can any christian imagine that
We have such right If 80, he must be
lieve that for an increase Of gain We might
rightfully increase still more their chances
of perditon, and that 10 secure a very large
amount We would be justified in ensurinc
the destruction Of their souls. But il is not
necessary, in addressing yoU, that | should
occupy time in showing that all human be
ings ought to be permitted to read God 5
word. No lniquitous or Heaven-insulting
laws have ever been passed among us,
making il penal to teach any Of Gods crea-
lures to read the messages which He himself
has sent TO them.
We have not 50 far initiated the Pope of
Rome as to make the Bible a sealed book
TO those who are under our authority
Were a law Of this Kind in existence, we
should feel bound to regard ii Just as far as
We would law forbidding us to feed the
hungry or clothe the naked. Is there aught
more valuable to any one of us as an I'M
mortal being than 10 be able to read the d.
vine oracles. Can you, then, think q ap-
peal TO the conscience Of every christian, }
that YOU are obeying the precept Of our
text, that you are giving to your servants
what is gust and equal" while you are
taking no measures to enable them to share
IN privilege of such priceless value II
the christian OF old, in the days OF heather
persecution, would rather suffer martyrdom
than give up his copy of the Bible, can we
imagine that We possess the christian spirit,
when We are unwilling to make exertions
that those under Our care may have the full
lest means Of acquainting themselves with
It's lie giving truths What would you
think, and how would you feel, if you were
yourself debarred from all personal resort
10 that living fountain of truth which God
has opened in the Bible for the healing and
retreshment Of the soul-if you were per
United to drink Of the water of life only a.
Others might find leisure and inclination ID
hand you an occasional sip. Gods WORD
is next to Gods Son, and Gods spirit, the
most precious gift which divine mercy. evel
bestowed on man, and shall We not ait
those whom God has placed under our care
ana Tor whose salvation We are in a grea
measure responsible, to secure to thelnselve,
lis invaluable influences Shall we suffel
those who dwell in our houses and labor il
our heids, to remain incapable of readin,
lor themselves that truth by which the Sa
slour prayed that the Father would sanctif,
his people,
AGAIN, master cannot discharge hi
dm'es to has servants unless he uses faid,
jM and diiigem efforts TO secure their atten
aanoe upon the preaching of the gospel
The preaching of the gospel is one Of God
appointed means Of grace, and means @
great value. Yet many christian master
take no pains to induce their servants to a
.end regularly upon the house of God
Ihey tram up their children to frequent tn
'sanc'uay-but the presence of their SCI
Iah's they do not require. Is it not tn
'auty o. the bond as well as the free to a
lend the ordinances Of God! And is il M
tie masters business to see that his dome.
ucs perform all their duties-not merely III
uu'ies which they eve TO him, but tho.
winch they owe to God! We are not r.
IulTed 10 control the HEARTS or o,,r .,o,,,,.,,