The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-05-02

TEN, is admitted into the church, it is then bap-
tized as not sinful-sealed as consistent with pi-
ety-and others may therefore practice the same
without necessarily running their souls or the
church And
3. With those who are not willing to do the
deed-practice the iniquity thcmselves--their
hearts become calloused by Oft familiarity with
the sim their consciences scared by resisting the
command Of God, "put away the wicked per-
son p" have no fellowship with the unfruitful
works of darkness ~ and for fear they should
speak their own condemnation In fellowshipping
that which they admit to be wicked-wrong-
they too, become silent, or apOlogists for the in
EQUITY, to make consistent their own position OF
connection. Thus it is "a little leaven Of corrup-
ton leavens the whole lump And have we not
already seen that this has been verified in the
case of slavery exists in the churches Of the
land2
And, reader, how stands your own case You
have, perhaps, had an awakened conscience on
tax S.>>.-.a1, vsZ S.sSiy y6s.5s Xxx h-r t-I6
ing and laboring. How many converts have you
made Any7 And are you Reforming your
church aDyl Is II becoming mose snd more free
from pro-slavery influence through youy uaru-
nleataily? Some members may have been reused
by the secession and consistent action Of other
members in other churches But what reforma
particular question: Perhaps, in reality, you are
growing less active, and If not, perhaps the
church is increasing its slave area, and, in real
ity, whilst it makes to you and others many soft
concessions as oonscience-plasters TO hull you IN
til you shall tumble into your grave, or it gets
beyond your reach, the church is all the while
becoming more and more pro-sayery. Or, you
may have but recently been awakened on the
subject-your zeal strong, and yet in your first
love. So far, this is well. But mark-led by
the force of truth, you viii 60 forward to the
goal of consistency, or else yet 20 back to the
dungeon of slavery. In religion you can take no
neutral ground And from this hour you will
go ON until you shall soon have no fellowship
with slavery, or else You will go bck, and fold
your arms in the cause of freedom, and that,
,Hhllst the voice Of imploring millions is falling
upon your ears. You are ready to say, is thy
ss&>sn. n dog that he viii al ~..tks sNpg ~
Nevertheless, the process will be theirs. /. You
will feel condemnation for your rebellion against
God and your inconsistent position. ?. You will
come TO hate that subject which gives you pain or
unpleasantness. 3. You will then Danish it as
much as possible from your mind, and particular
ly from your conversation and action Yea, soon
you will not, unless for mere show, 80 where the
subject is named.
We know the case of many who started in the
cause OF freedom with much zeal, but who on md
ing that consistency demanded Of them to come
out from slavsholding churches, and not liking to
do this they began to apologize for their position,
others for slavery ITSELF and many Others are now
silent on the subject And, as a confirmation of
the truth Of the subject, we refer Thereafter to
letter which we have read since we commenced
penning this last thought 1t is the excellent let
ter Of Edwin III. Nevin addressed 10 the Anti
Slavery Ministers and Members Of the Presbyte-
rian Church, 10. ST. Of which he WIS until very
recently q mesaber In this letter he points to
those once active, notorious in their untring de-
votion to the slave, but now silent. The body to
which they belong has decided that slavery Is not
sinful, and therefore no bar to communion, and
refuse action on the subject. Thes, once active
members have been called upon to come out.
They do not like to; they see the inconsistency
of their position, and are silent
Reader, in the language Of Almighty God to
Lot, we say to you, Escape for thy life; tarry
not thou in all the plainn "a little leaven
leavcns the whole lump Oh, how appropriate
our Saviour's prayer, Lead us not into tempta-
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