Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-08-02
God and Humanity.


wnrmcst regard for the Savior, especially as
the Atoning Sacrifice. For this purpose,
they employ the strongest language they ore
able to select. Jesus Christ and Him cruci-
fied-ihey Try, IL fpossible, TO outdo Paul in
magnify ing his merits aud cxaliing His
claims. To Him they profess to look as tho
source of every bcssing-tho ground oftheir
salvation. Now If in all this they are ut al
sincere, they will regard every mnn, who
maintains in his sphere and amidst his relu-
tons, the Divine authority at whatever haz-
ard or expense, with warm complacency
and deep veneraton IT, for the sake of in
tegrity, consistency and fidelity, he exposes
himself TO poverty aud eproach-countng
wealth, reputation, friendship as nothing in
| the comparison, they will love and trust him
as living symbol of the crucifed One
They will give him right cordially and CRATE
fully their countenance, support, co-opera-
ton. Thus will they mike him n medium,
through which their regard for Jesus Christ
and him crIIciiied may be manifested. But
the great body of rcligionists around us
move of in quite the opposite direction. II
any of their fellows daros to indemnity him-
self with suffering Savior by hazurdiug or
enduring anything in honorimg the Divine
authority, they are among the first TO dccry
hlm-to hold him up TO suspicion and re-
pronch. They heap upon him the most op-
probrous opilhcis. lie is, they declare,
| pharisaical, obstinate, headlong-a very fool
who is sacrificing his usefulness and repuiu-
ton and comfort to the ideas with which he
is possessed! Thus, rs they will hereaiier
find, they pour contempt upon what they
profess TO venerate--the cross of Christ
We often witness attempts TO magnify the
worth ofthe human soul. For this purpose,
the strongest language is chosen and en-
| ployed with the greatest emphasis. llusira-
ton is added TO illustration, argument sue
ceeds argument, one figure opens the way
for another Around what is thus described
as OF inestimable worth we are summoned
aud urged with great solemnity aud puihos
TO exert ourselves for its salvation. We
must in this matter serve the Redeemer,
who, we are reminded, endured the ngoncs
of the cruciixion Tor its benefit. Where in
terests so comprehensive and commanding
e are at stake, heaven and earth are appealed
/ TO for assistance. What prayers, what ele-
qnencc, what arrangements and processes,
wllnt comprising Of sea and land, do we
not witness in this business of soul-saving
Bnt what is the human soul? what but the
personality of you, my brother, and me, and
every other member of the family of Adam
-tlat which makes each of us an niyseLC2
And IN what else can our salvation consist
lbnn in being restored, each man to himself
restored TO self.possession, inward harfno-
ny, the free and vigorous Use of our clurac-
teristic powers 10 the prerogatiyes we are
naturally entitled to WELD, and the privile-
gcs we are naturally entitled to enjoy? We
are then saved when we are enabled 10 dis
charge our duties and maintain our rights
And not otherwise. llowscnn we he saved,
| when for whatever cause, we live in the vio-
| lation OF the laws OF our own existence and,
though made in the fashion of man, are,
whether by our own passions or the pas
sions of others, prevented from acting man
J 1ully amidst our relations and responsibilities.
We are then eXerting ourselves for the sal
vation of the soul when we endeavor right
earnestly TO raise our fellows TO the dignity
of the nature they inherit when word
wise and deed-wise we encourage and as
sist them to be what the Creator designed
them 10 he, just, wise, and strong men, free
to employ their powers and expend their re-
sources in supporting His authority aud in
promoting the general welfare.
But alas, the religionists around us to
great extent separate the soul from human
personality and place its salvation in the
Future-in some sphere beyond the grave
Salvation with them does not even imply
seli-possession-a restoration to the rights,
prerogatiyes and privileges which naturally
belong TO mankind. Nay, many of them in
wade the rights of their fellows, trampling
on their personality, and yet affect lively
interest in their salvation. They can SEQ
human nature assailed--reduced TO the deep
est degradation, subject to all sorts Of insults
and injuries, without indignation without
coming manfully TO its assistance. They
can even 60 the length of pronouncing sla-
very itself consistent with the scheme of re-
dempton !? So that one may he az the same
time a saint and slnveholtler--a preacher
of righteousness and trafiicker in human
flesh They are quite in favor of missiona-
ry efforts among the slaves of this republic
not for the purpose of proclaiming liberty
to the oppressed, but future salvation =
They have the efffontery to tell the slave
that il is the will of heaven that he should
wear out his present existence, as a chditel:
he ought therefore 10 reconcile himself TO
oil the fiagrant contradictions and inconsist-
ences, which such a condition Involves
At any rate, they must refuse TO exert them
selves for his deliverance. They are on
good terms with his oppressor giving him
their confidence as q sound Christian and a
high-souled patriot! They, however, inean
to show their good will by exhorting the
slave to lay up treasures in the unexplored
and for him the ineomprehonsible Future -
And this, when the present life is the only
germ, whence fruit for the Future can bo
expected When in no other way can
reach the Future than through the Present!
The following extract from work, pub
lished by Bishop Meade, of Virginia, illus
trates and confirms the statements thus re-
corded. The slaves are here addressed;
"Almighty God hath been pleased 10
make you slaves here, and to give you moth