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


sisiing between masters and servants in any
other way than to teach bob parties their
respective duties? All. who are intellgesl.
and candid on this subject, mast admit, that
wholly unlike modern aboliionists, neither
Christ nor his Apostles eva commanded
masters to free their slaves, nor permitted
slaves to free themselves from the yoke Of
their masters. On the contrary, Paul, Wi.
ting to the Corinthians on this very subject.
commands Christian slaves not to be anx-
ious to obtain their freedom. "Let every
man abide in the,same eallins. Tor state, }
wherein he was called. Artthou called,
being bond-man, (doulos. sare.) Care
not for it; but if thou msyest be made free,
use it rather" Cor. u 20 81.
Writing to Timothy, be says, "Let as
many servants, (doa,los, SLAVES, as are I'M
der The coke. count their own masters wor-
thy OF all honor, that the rameof God. and
his doctrine be not blasphemed And they
that have believing masters, let them Tot
despise them, because they are brethren;
but rather do them service. because they ire
faithful and beloved, pan lsss Of the ben
eft. These things teach, and exhort. 81
Tim. g. I.2. II any man teach differ
emily, Paul most explicitly atirnls, that he
is proud, and so profoundly ignorant of the
principles of Christianity, asto know MOTH
ing at all about them correctly. My hear
ers. do you not think it at lest highly prob
able, that an inspired Apostb told the truth?
IL he did, the seal of Heavens disapproba-
ton is stamped on the forehead of aboli-
tionism, in characters, than which none
could possibly be palmer, Or more easily
understood. In short, neither Jesus Christ,
nor any of his Apostles ever interfered with
the institution Of slavery in any other way,
than to condemn and rebuke abolitioni:an,
and to exhort both masters and slaves to
perform faithfully their respective duties.
tbs well known. that Paul sent back to
his master a runaway slave, who had been
converted to christianity by his preaching.
Had the Apostle been an abolitionist, even
in feeling, here was an occasion, that could
not have failed to draw out bis sentiments
But how stands the case? He sends the
Christian slave back to his Christian master
with letter entreating the master to for
give him for the injury he hat done him in
leaving his service. And, to give additional
weight to his petition, he pledges himself.
that he will indemnify the master out of his
own pocket, if he should desire it.
1t is matter Of curiosity to know by
what process Of reasoning, those, who re-
gard slavery as opposed to the spirit Of
Christianity. attempt TO harmonise the fore.
going fact, with theirt views. The distin-
guished President Of Brown University. the
ablest writer perhaps on hat side OF the
question, admits, (and we'll he may, for it
can't be denied with the least shadow oi
truth,) "that the gospel neither command,
masters to manumit their slaves, nor au
thorises slaves to free themselves from their
masters; and. also, it goes farther, and pre-
scribes the duties suited to both parties in
their present condition" Wdyland's Ell
II. Ss;S-,s~, P o19, pnssnn III 1910.
In order, however, to reconcile these
facts, with his snti-slavery views, he re-
marks, ave answer; again, this very course
which the gospel takes on this subject,
seems to have been the only one, that could
have been taken, in order 10 effect the uni
versal abolition Of slavery .
ain this manner alone could its object, {
universal moral revolution have been &C
complished. For, if it had forbidden tn,
euil, instead Of subverting the principle; if
il had proclaimed the unlswulness Of slave
ry, and taught slaves to resis the oppression
OF their masters; it would instantly have ar
rayed the two parties in deadly hostility
throughout the civilised worlG its announce
ment would have been the signal of servilt
war; and the very name of the christian re
ligion would have been forgotten amidst tn,
agitations of universal bloodshed. "--lMOr
Sc. p. p. 214; 215.
In the name Of insulted Christianity
feel bound to enter my solemn protes
against this summary method Of cnttin4
for it certainly does not ,atie) this Cor
dian knot. Can any person, acquainted
with the Bible, be ignorant O. the fact tina
Messiah and his Apostles proclaim openl.
an uncompromising war-a war OF eIter
mination-against all manner Of sin; ant
taught that he, who was unwilling to la,
down his life in this warfare, could not be
disciple Of Christ? Yet, here we are grave
ly informed, that the Son Of God was redu
ced to the humiliating necessity Of comm
wing at one form of sin, for season, ant
forming disgraceful compromise with it
that he might in the end, by stratagem, ant
indirect means, accomplish that, which h
found himself unable to accomplish direct
ly, and by his almighty power. Can an.
idea be more shocking to the pious ant
we'll balanced mind, than that the gospe
should prescribe the duties suited to bot
parties" in a relation. that was directly op
posed to the will Of God? And wherein
wvuld such vvuduvr diner fvrn Ieachinl
men. how they might lie, steal, get drunk
or commit murder, in accordance with tn
will Of God, and "their present condition.
The unprejudiced needs not to be informed
that it must be a bad cause, which require
to be sustained by such arguments.
Hence it is obvious, that, il the Bible j
the word of God. it is proved beyond rea
sonable controversy. that labor and bond
age Of various grades were instituted by Je
hovah, at the same time, and for the sam
holy and benevolent ends. viz; to punisl
sin; to limit its range and its atrocity; ant
to cooperate with remedial economy il
effecting its cure. And here it should neve
be forgotten, that what is an undoubte'