The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-12-01


soon vote it down.
| Not only is the church responsible I,
the phase of our public morals, but {,
many Of the unjust laws which we hav
for the church forms on questions OF rig
public sentiment, and public sentiment Law
Hence, when the Legislature Of New cor
was solicited TO extend to colored peopI
the right Of voting and Of testimony, the
refuse TO act, saying: SIT is useless Tor tn
Legislature to act in the case. so long a
the churches kept up their distinctions an
partiaIities. thus it is. that the action G
the church regulates and forms the publ
sentiment and laws of the land. She i
designed to be the light of the world, tn
salt OF the earth. But If the light that i
in her be turned to darkness, how great i
that darkness That is, if the truth sh'
has is corrupted, society becomes corruPte'
and souls are deceived by the false light
and are led down to hell
Vl.-Consistency requires that we have
co fellowship with slavery.
Seventy five years since, this nation de
clared liberty and the pursuit OF happiness
TO be the inaienable right of mankind
Fifteen Of the States Of the Union have
acted out the principle. and treated their
fellow beings as men. All over the south.
ern States the question is beng agtated-'
shall man be allowed to enjoy his natural
rights!'--.shall the oppressed go free?-'
Tens of thousands are rising up and saying;
my vote shall be cast for no man who is
not in favor Of this reasonable requirement.
Yea, many think it such an immorality--
an act Of such injustice-to deprive an un-
offending man OF his dearest rights-liber.
~, personal ownership-that they will not
vote for any man who is a slaveholder--a
STAKEHOLDER by choice and practice. They
deem such an act a great moral disqualih.
cation, and will not bestow office on such
a man. Yet, many Of these same consci-
entious christians will go and sit down
around the communion nbie,-ove the
emblems OF that broken body and shed
blood so freely given for all-emblems of
that Saviour who laugh; his disciples that
lone is your master, (Chrisl, and all We
are brethren: yet here will these persons
(commendable in deed in many things)
place the very badge of discipleshiP upon
those whom they could not vote for for the
lowest office. Yes, they welcome and fel.
lowshiP persons who they say are com
nitting crimes-oulrages- their lel-
low men, compared with which gambling
and counterfeiting and sheep-stesling are
nothing. Thus the world comes TO the
conclusion that such are more holy in their
politics than in their religion-that they are
more particular about their temporal king.
dom than Christ's kingdom-aboui the 60
vernmsnt OF the nation than the govern
ment Of God. Such persons will refuse
to vote for a stakeholder, not merely to
ruI'ru,,O.S .han, 80 their county ~ Stats, but
particularly in Congess--their General
Assembly Of the nation. But in the Gen
eral assembly Of the Church-in the king
dom Of righteousness, they will commune
or hold ecclesiastical connection with such.
Such men cannot represent their interests
in the state OF affairs, where dollars and
cents are concerned, but in the church,
where the purity OF Gods word aud Gods
house are concerned, -where the interests
of the never-dying soul are at stake.--here
such men are not only brothers ON equal
footing, but even "mas;ers Of ceremonies.
Yes, men whose moral character is such
that they would not vote for them as super
visor OF county road, Yet. for men OF the
same character, they will hold ecclesiasti
cal connection.
Christian brother, does not the world re-
gard this as slrainiDg at gnat and swal-
lowing a camell Can you expect the con-
fdence Of those around you, when you are
acting thus? This leads Us TO notice an
other reason why you should have no fel-
lowship with slavery.
VII.--Your usefulness demands it.
God has placed you here as light to
direct others in the path Of truth and safety
as a laborer in his vineyard, and to Prune
il and gil it with branches Of the true vine
AS an ambassador on an important en-
bassy: that Of wiHning souls TO Christ
Now, your success in this work. with the
blessing OF God, depends upon The conf.
dence which other men have in you, your
judgment and purity. Blu. when they see
you conuadicting your belief and your
teaching by your practice, they cannot have
confidence in your integrity. Whatever
may be your inward desires to he careful
that you do no wrong, they see not; but
feel that you either love "ism"--your de
nomination--more than righteousness, Oh
that you regard your popularity and pleas
ure more than you do the truth, the cause
Of Christ, or else you are hypocritlcal il
your professions.
An instance; A short time since bro
lher was talking about the sin Of slavery
and the recreancy Of christians ia regard Il
il. The neighbor TO whom the conversation
was directed, himself not protesting chris
tan, replied "Mr. =, your talk is good
but YOUR practice is bad" What he mean
was, that his neighbor regarded The relation
as sinful, and yet fellow SHIPPED it in tn
church. The brother understood him
felt the point Of the rebuke, and replied
al have for months clearly seen that m
God commands me not to eat with extol
TONERS, and regard slave-holding as tn
worst form Of extortion; and also, my Go
commands me TO come out from conuE
church, practising this very sin, as Mysti
Babylon did. have been trying to rous
the brethren TO action, and have gone wit
burdened conscience ever since to tn
communion table. | will bear it no loT
ger If you are present next Sunday, 20