Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-08-09

II this reasoning be correct, and if sloverv
IS sancuoned by the church, then the most
efficient support of the system is NOT given
by political leaders nor political parties !; nor
must we seek Tor its strongest entrencL,nents
| in the constitution of the United States. Inn,
! we discover that its only really imprepnnble
| delcnces are those thrown around IL bv the
church herself wv
NOT Is u necessary to state arguments up-
on 'he question whether most of the BRAN
cues OF tle church do thus sanction, and by
sahciionIng' propagate slavery for the high
est Official act of a church is the admission
TO lis membership and communion, which is
welcome approval in the name of Christ;
and when Shareholder is thus received. the
highest possible sanction is given TO his char
nctcr and practice aud no unti.slaycry pro-
testing through public bodies or the press
can materially weaken the far more potent
teachings of her example, these oGicid recon-
mendaiions of the churches.
! Christians, individually, and the press. and
! puDllc assemblies, may dcnounce slavery i'm
the seVerest terms yet what can it avail, if
ihc chilrches, acting officially, take il to their
! bosom III the name of God!
VINO will bc convinced that slavcholdinr
Is grlcvous offence, or earnestly to be avoi.
ded, II the churches speaking for Christ, de-
clare that it throws no suspicion upon n
mans Christian character, that il does not
exclude him from tho church, nor forbid a
well-grounded hope of heaven?
We are therefore from necessity. MS we
think, led TO this conclusion, that the church,
es through their fellowship and communion
with slavery do afford il direct and most
effective support, and if this were Withdrawn.
ard hslavcry were condemned by the church.
CEN The paine of God, it could not survive
cd.
We would also direct attention to the fact
that the churches by their action on this sub
Iect present to the world false and dclusiyc
views of holiness, of the nntnre and mission
OF the church, aud of the character of God.
Christ is represented in tho Scriptures ms
the model Christian, the type and head of
Tie Christian species, AMI theoretically and
practically the Bible presents no lower
standard Than this; that each member of the
Christian family should present the distin-
gushing characteristics of the head and TYNE.
A Christian therefore, must he like Christ,
tH1St-ene aud church, consequently, must
he composed of men like unto Christ. nj
then, the churches gather promiscuous as
sembly OF mon, some of whom are guilty of
palpablo and acknowledged sin-thc slave
holder bclng among them; if they are all
seated at the table Of Christ, MS tic church
OF God, the peculiar people, the holy body, |
TIC sanctiied ones, surely such churches are |
gnlIty OF false teaching Of the most perni- |
clous character in regard to holiness and |
even IN regard TO God Himself who is thus !
ohlcially represented as having fellowship |
and communion with unrighteousncss, and, |
consequently, as unrighteous Himself
This view becomes the more impressive |
aud alarming from the important fact that
the world obtains its theology not mainly
from the Bible, nor from our religious litera-
ture, but from the practical exhibitions of
truth and holiness, presented in the indv-
dual and associated action of Christians, for,
by their living example they define what
they mean by the terms employed in their
formulas of doctrine.
The command to he holy is thus interpre-
ted to mean, the becoming as good as a
Shareholder, rs righteous us n God that sane
tons this iniquty.
The whole system of Christian doctrine is |
thus in danger Of being corrupted, while the |
written theories Of the church remain I'M
changed by causing the old language to be- |
come the sign ofnew ideas.
The individual responsibility and duty of
members in connection with slaveholding |
churches has also engaged the attention of
the Committee, and we remark that no prin- |
cipe is more clearly stated in the Word of
God, or more strictly acted upon in the ad- !
mlnistraton of his government than that of |
associate responsibility, by which each MEM |
ber OF an organic body is held responsible for |
the wrong doing of the organization TO |
which he voluntarily belongs Each nation, |
each distinct community, each religious body |
denomination xuIf f,,l. I,t -. :
constituted one whole, is without expection |
so lar ms we are aware, treated by God as a |
unit, ns n legal corporation, n moral partner |
ship, each member of which is responsible |
for the doings of the body, while his organ
ic connection with it remains.
The sin of the organization is the sin of |
tho individuals who compose it, which sin is |
so much the more fragrant than private. |
offence, as the influence of the innosing |
public body is greater than that of an indiyi- |
dual From this sin and its consequences
there can be no escape except in severing the
organic bond, which is secession from the
body.
In taking and recommending this course
at this time il is important that the position
of seeding Evangelical Christians should
be clearly defined and correctly understood. |
This secession, is not for the purpose of
discording or of thrustng into the back
ground those sublime aud distinguished doc
trines of grace which cluster around the cross
of crucified Savior, who died for our sins
and who is " God manifested" 1t is for the
purpose of vindicating those precious doc
trines fiom the charge of sustaining oppres-
sion, by such a faithful and impartial applica-
ton of them in every direction MS shall rem
der them mighty through God to the pulling
down of strong holds.
IL is not for the purpose of superseding or
disbanding the diynely appointed institution
and instrumcntaities of Christianty-the
church, the ministry, the Bible, the Sabbath,
the public worship of God, and the ordinan- |
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