The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-12-09

all the laws, under which he was placed
He violated those laws end became rnisera-
BILE. And. from this first violation. and
other similar violations Of law, has origina-
ted all the unhappiness that has ever been
in tine world. Nor is it possible. that man
can ever be restored to that happiness. from
which he has fallen. except in harmony with
these principles. For, az il is manifest,
tina: self-will, and insubordination to law,
have produced all the misery that exists on
earth, it is obvious that the removal of those
fruitful sources Of mischie. is indispensable
TO the happiness of men, even in this world.
Hence the destruction of self-will. and the
cultivation Of o law.abiding spirit. involves
our greatest good, and is identified with hu-
man salvation. both in time and in eternity.
These preliminary considerations may
assist us in understanding what might 9th
erwiss appear dark in the moral government
of God, whilst they prepare US for an intel
ligent discussion Of our subject viz;
The philosophy Of Slavery as identified
Nth the Philosophy Of Human Happiness.
We have already seen. that all the misery
on earth originated in selEwill, prompting
to the violation of law; and that the saliva.
tion of men, both in time. and in eternity
is absolutely identified with the destruction
of this lawless spirit. Hence those circum-
stances, and that discipline, are best for
each individual, which are best calculated
to subdue selfwill, and cultivate spirit OF
subordination to lawful authority.
In accordance with those views, 80 soon
as our first parents. yielding to the impulse
Of passion and selfwill, disobeyed the laws
Of their Creator, that All-wise and Infinite
good Being benevolently instituted vari-
Gus grades Of bondage, not more for the
punishment than, for the cure Of sin, and
the removal of its sad consequences. The
woman, being first in the transgression, and
having beguiled the man, is put in bondage
to his authority. She refused to hold her
desires in subsection to the will Of God, and
therefore. Jehovah decreed, "Thy desire
shall be subject to thy husband. and he shall
rule over thee" Gen. 3: 16. The New
Testament confirms this decree. "Wives,
submit yourselves unto your own husbands
as unto the Lord. For the husband is the
head of the wife, even as Christ is the head
of the Church; and be is the Saviour of the
body. Therefore, as the Church is subject
unto Christ, so let the ,cipes be unto their
oarn husbands in epery thing" Eph. 5:
22-24)
But, as there was no created being on
earth, to which man could be made subject,
he was put in bondage to nature, and to the
stern and unbending necessity Of the circum-
stances. by which he was surrounded. And.
for the purpose Of rendering that bondage
the more intense and effective, the earth was
cursed with sterility for his sake, with the
intent, that he might be compelled, in con-
formity with his sentence Of condemnation,
to eat his bread in the sweat of his face,
and under the lash Of an imperious and in
exorable necessity.
In pursuance of the same benevolent
purpose arrest the r,nn,,s tendency of is
norance and self-will, children were placed
in bondage to their parents; and il was
enacted by the law OF Moses, that the stub
born and rebellious son, who would not
obey the voice Of his fnther, or the voice Of
his mother, should be stoned to death. (Deut.
81: 1919 Christianity is no less ex.
plicit in enjoining filial obedience. although
under different sanctions. And Paul assures
us. "that the heir. as long as he is a minor,
dffss nothing from bond-man," flor SO
doulos, the word used in the original. un.
doubtedly imports, and so Mcknight trans.
atss IT'D although no be lord of all; but is
under tutors and governors until the time
appointed of the father" (Gal. 4: 1-2)
All nations in all ages, (not even excepting
Mahometans and Pagans.) have with one
united testimony confirmed the wisdom and
benevolence of this decree, which places
children i'm subsection TO the discretionary
physical control Of parents or guardians,
during the period of their minority. If the
reason Of this universal agreement be inquir-
ed into, it will no doubt be found in the
universal conviction, that, during the period
Of minority, as general rule, the animal
propensities are too strong, and the intellecI
and moral sentiments too feebly developed,
to render it safe or prudent to trust youth
with the reins Of self,government. Thus
far, then, at least, we have the universal
consent Of mankind, in harmony with the
word Of God, that some are incapable Of
making proper use Of freedom; and, that,
for all such, bondage is blessing, and
freedom an unmitigated calamity.
There is another point, which it is i'm
portant to notice before leaving this part oil
the subject. Under the law Of Moses, by
the express statute Of Jehovah; the Gen
tiles residing in the land of Judea were
permitted to sell their children to the He.
brews, to be the bondmen of them, and oil
their children after them, ,forerer. Lev. 25:
44-46.
| whether domestic sorvitudc, as II is found
among us, existed before the flood, we are
not informed. Certain it is, however, it er.
listed very soon after that event. The EARL.
est authentic account that we have of the
institution, is found in the curse pronounced
on Canaan and his posterity. on account Of
the wickedness Of bis father, Ham, "Cursed
be Canaan; a servant Of servants shall he
be unto his brethren" Gen. 9: rs.
That this curse took immediate effect in
the establishment Of domestic slavery, and
that the Institution spread with great rapid
ty is incontestibly proved by the following
well authenticated historical fact. Wher
the war of the nine Kings occurred in thu
, vale of Siddim. there were found amonl