The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1850-04-17

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not rule ever one another with rig0r.~
This is one among the many direct.
positive. authoritative spprosals BY Ged
himself Of The institution of slavery. ex-
isiing ss the time nf The Jewish ihencraey.
IL is n1i mere trlersiinn--a mere for
bearance 10 prnhibil-bul an express per-
mission 10 The Israeliles. whom lie con-
descended 10 govern In The slfsd Of hn-
man ruler. 10 purchase Of the surrounding
nations and of strangers among them
slaves. and TO hold them as an inheritance
forever.
Slsvery. Mr.. President. was found. as
mentioned by the honorable senator from
Masssehusells. an existing institution al
The Time Of The Gospel dispenssiion. and
was spread throughout the earth. What
treatment did il receive from the founders
of that Gospel dirpensaiinnf {, was ap-
prosed-iirsl negatively. and then posi-
lively. First negatively. because. in The
whole New Testament there is moi 10 be
found one single word, either spoken by
our Saviour or by any Of The Esangelisls
or Apostles. in whirh that institution is
either directly or indirectly condemned.
And also afiirmaiively. TO show this. ]
desire 10 call The attention Of ihe Senate
10 two or three passages from The episile
of 81. Paul, and 10 hiring them forward.
with commentary from one OF The best
men that ever lived, as well as one Of the
must learned divines. who spent his life
between The years 1921 and 1899 in the
kingdom OF Scotland, who never set his
! foot upon the soil where ih.re was a slave.
and never saw a slave. lie gives his
opinions in most able work of his
titled, "A New Translation, CommenIa-
ry, and notes upon The Epislles not
any hasiy production, but the result Of
thirty years Of his life expended npon this
subject, which il is said was FIVE times
written over BY his own hand before lis
publication. | allude TO the celebrated
DIR. Mcknight. Of The established Presby,
terian church Of Scotland.
In the introduction 10 The sixth chap
ter Of the first epislle Of Timothy, he thu
expresses himself:
a Because the law ofMoses (Exod. 81, 90 al
lowed no Israelite to be made a slave for lii
without his own consent the Judaizing teacher
to allure slaves to their party, taught that unde
J the Gospel, likewise, inyouptary slavery was ur
lawful This doctrine the apostle condcmnc
here, as in bis other episiIes, Il Cor. z, 20. 81
90; Col. 3, 22,) by enjoining Christian slaves B
honor and obey their masters, whether they wer
believers, or unbelievers. (verses !, 2;) and b.
; assuring Timothy that, if any persons taugh
otherwise he opposed the wholesome precepts {
Jesus Christ, and the doctrine Of the Gospe
which in all points is conformabe to godliness I
sound morality. (versc 80 and was pulled u
: with pride. without possessing any true know
lege either Of the Jewish OF Of the Christian revs
lation, (verse ! J"
IS The passage in The episile referred TO b,
DR.. Mcknight is in these words:
"Let as many servants as are under the yok
count their own master worthy of all honor, tbs
the name Of God and his doctrine be not blal
phemcd. And they that have believing master
let them not despisc them, because they are brett
rem; but ratker DO them service, because they al
faithful and beloved, partakers Of the bencf
These things teach and exhort. Ifany man teac
otherwise, and consent not to wholesome word
even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and
! the doctrine which is according to godliness, b
. sproud, knowing nothing, but doting about que
tions and strifcs Of words, whereof cometh env,
strife, raings evil surmisings pcrvcrse disputine
of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the trutl
supposing that gain is godliness; from such witt
draw thyself."
On this he has the following note:
"By ordering Timothy to teach slaves to col
tinue with and obey their master. the apost
hath showed, that tho Christian religion Meth,
alters mems tank in life nor abolishes any rigl
J to which they are entitled by the law of natun
or by the law Of the country where they live. II
stead of encouraging slaves TO disobediencc, Ii
Gospel makes them more faithful and conscier
cious. And by sweetening the tempers of ma
ters and inspiring them with bencvolence, it rer
ders the condition Of slaves more tolerable tina
formerly; for. in proportion as masters imbibe Ii
true spirit of the Gospel, they will treat the
slaves with humanity, and even give them the
freedom, when their services merit such Fl
vor."
| ask the attention OF the Senate to
brief passage flom the sixth Chapter {
the Ephesians. Ii is i'm these words:
"Servants, he obedient to them that are yor
masters according 10 the flesh, with fear an
trembling, in sngleness Of your heart, as uni
Christ; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, b,
as the servants Of Christ, doing the will of Go
r from the heart; with good will doing service, Q
to the Lord. and not to men knowing that wha
soevcr good thing any man doeth the same sha
} he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond {
t Free"
The passage is thus paraphrased b.
T DR.. Mcknight in his Commentaries:
CAS- the Gospel does not cancel the civil righl
j Of mankind say to bond servants, obey you
f masters, who have the property of your body
with fear and trembling, as liable to be punishe
| by them for disobedience: obey also from th
!. integrity of your own disposition, as obeyin
/ Christ.
"Do this, not merely when their eye is on yo,
) or they are to examine your work, as those
| whose sole care is to please men; hut as bono
f men Of Christ, doing the will Of God in this ma
ter from the soul-that is, diligently.
e" With cheerfulness do your duty to your earti
ly masters as servants of the Lord Christ; for