The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-09-16


God, and countenaneei in the New Testament
by Christ and the Apostles2 Why should en- al
tempt be made 10 dcnollnce such an Institution as
sinful2 IL has been wisely said, that mem who
are better than the Bible ase generally wrong
Passing by the condition Of slavery in Egypt,
what houid picture havewe'of the slavery OF
Greece and Rome
al here read a lengthy extract giving theeon-
dltion of ancient slavery, which il is not neces-
sary here to insert. II was description Of the
most honid and appalling evils which then ex-
isted.y'
''This honid picture, Of Greek and Roman
slavery is the very thing we desire to gaze mt, in
order TO know what One Bible sanctions. Yes,
sir, ''this lengthy extraet," describing tho most
"honidl and appalling evils" ''eonntensnced
by Christ and his Apostles is the thing above
all others, which the readers Of the Examiner are
most anxious 10 see. As n volunteer defender Of
the black bnlwaTIs of Greek and Roman slave
ny, yo, are ceraisily moi ashamed 10 show YOU
color, even il they are dToogas villa blood
3efoss noticing ~ accurately as my memory,
assisted BY ana examination Of the atahoiiies)
win admit of, your description Of The actual con.
dition Of slavery in Greecoand Rome. you will
peualt me eoEIect sosfsnacenraeies Of state
|nlent in segsrdt 20 git9 t-isrnisoR-ef slarer, s.
ekifing al dii,efenf ped as d me wofa's Aistol
~ yoh say,"saeh was slavery ia p''gan
lsnds--sach was lis csaidilian, when God called
Abraham TO establish the Hebrew Common
wealth-such was its condition, when Godgaye
the moral aud oiyil law 10 Masses on Sinai IN the
wildemeSs--such was is condition when Nehe-
miah, the HebrewreioFmeT, aman Of uncommon
boldness, reused the minds Of that degenerate
community 10 conviction Of their violated oh
ligations-sach was lis condition when Chrisi
and his Apostles were engaged in establishing
Religion among men-such was its condition du-
mig all the progressive revelations which God
gave to man, down to the period when the sacred
canon was completed. Now here was slavery
not American slavery, tut slavery in its most APP
palling forms. How did the scriptures treat the
subject3 What is the course which Moses and
the Prophets, Chrlst ami the Apostles took in re-
lation to the matteIl'F
Now do you mean 10 Affirm, that this horT.d
state Of slavery. descnhbd by you as existing in
Pagan Lands, was ideAlieal with that mild con-
ditlon OF seyitude msntioRed in PatnaIcAal
times, OF that which was recognised by Moses,
and to a certain extent continued to exist ameng
the Jews until they wee carried into captivity
If you do, YOU afiTm that which every Bible
reader knows 10 be untRe, # you do do not, then
all you say about Moses and the Prophets recsg
nising slavery as you have desenbedit, amounts
to nothing at all. And challenge you to ellie a
single passage ip the Old OF New Testament,
where either Abraham, on Moses. OF Nehemiah,
OF the Prophets, or Christ and his Apostles re.
cognised Pagan slavery esyOa have described IT,
and as in accordance Nth their inspired teach
ings. II may he tme that seRitude, OF IL YOU
please slavery, IN some mild fOrm or other has
existed m all sges but this does not prove Greek
Roman, or Americana slavery right OF wrong
each Of these systems Ibilsi stand upon its own
merits, and in oIleI % iaseestsin how fai these
separate systems nj sisssay are consistent with
christianity, each ravst le tested by those CON.
prehensiye principles, and obligatory pIecepts
which aTe-reyealed ssrisaIly AMI faily in ils
teachings Of Christ and hs Apostles. n any
system Of slavery 'xin beat this test, we say 10
it, merely as question Of christian ethics, este
PeTPetHd.
But 10 this lengthy extract giving the "condh-
ton of ancient slavery" ''snd description Cd
the most homd and appalling evils" sanction
ed by God and co0ntenansed in the New Tesla.
ment." You gave "Meord's Greece Is the
authsnty for your appalling description Of slave.
ny. have examined thatwork and cannot find
the extract as read BY YOU, but from that and
other authorities consulted, I find you have no,
overstated the Truth. Greek slavery was as bad as
you stated, and perhaps worse. One fact some
what startled me. fa,d that one Scion, a wise
lsw-giyer Of Athens, so far iRierfeTsd with the
Institution Of slavery, as il existed in his day,
as to direct that sundr of IFS most cruel ami re-
pusiye features should be l0Iped OF, from which
infer, Gf your Uie~ Al n. Bible be trRe,) that
this Scion of Athens. was more humane man
than Jesus Of Nazareth AID more considerable
one than Paul Of Tarsus.
Some of the "appalling forms" Of slavery as
existing at the time Of Chiist and his Apostles
and which you say theS didnot condemn as SIN.
FIJI were enumerated BY yon as follows:
The power Of the master over the slave was
most complete extending even 10 life aad death.
If the slave should take the lie of the master,
all the masters slaves, nch,dirg the innocent as
well as the guilty mlghtbe, AMI frequently were,
put 10 death.
Slaves were frequently chained TO their mas.
tiers doors as gusnls.
The slaves of some Of thelGIeek nations were
compelled to intoxcate themselves, in order that
their young masters might takelessons in sobre
IT,
The slaves were compelled 70 make the most
shameful and indecent exposuHof their persons,
when required to do so BY thai masters; and to
complete ali, these slaves were frequently com.
PEELED sing songs, which dsscnbed and ridicul-
"a 'isoircw degradation Inns is your pictuYe,
Reverend sir; but Truth TeSaires that should
give Il few more touches. he slaves of the La.
were subject tSevey sort of abuse.
and even to the mNrdsroRs attacks Of the young
SpaItans, who were permitted TO enjoy them
selves in an hunt of these deerad.
ID beings. In the Afheniane ourts, at the discre
ion Of either of the parties! evidence might be
sIrnsI from the slave by torure, without the ex |
use az necessity, for although he might be viii.