North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-10-01
From the Washington Union !
SUNDAY READING
Mr.. Grahana's discourse the co"Aros. oe'0ee''
the Bible and A6olitio"is"' concluded

the Bible and AbOt5ttoR1S"e '"''''
After hav;np proved, as we have shown IN the
articles IF the last two Sabbaths, that Slavery S
now exists was not only tolerated. put eSPeos.
recognised and regulated ke T Te but by
the Gosnel dispensation, Mr.. Graham goes on TO TO
oxb;b;t the contrast presented by comparison "
the tenets held by the aboltionsts with thoSe ino'
Gated by the Word of God -...., ,,;.1
And. first, as it regards their conneGtioh wi'h
the church, the aboIitlomsts wouu eAcluue leoif
Cb;atian fellowship all who sustain the relation OF
..oa+or because they condemn it as contrary to the
Gn;r;t If Christ. d" Here they establish term OF
Communion unknown to the church since the be,
er;nnnp-one which would exclude prophet, and
apostle. and martyr, and which alike condemns
the laws and the Lawgver OF the church NJ.
Does it ever occur to these over-righteous Fharl-
o.os tbat in condemning an institution which was
universally prevalent when our Saviour came into
tho world to reprove and reform it, and which, so
far 90 we can Judge from what He said OF the
slaycholding Centurion, He regarded with entire
complacency they are virtually condemning INN
for a gross oversight and neglect! But our oa-
yiour, though reformer of the evils which,
throurh the sinfulness of man, had crept INTO so
c;atv % instituted bv God himself, no reform
or Of society no socialist, transcendentallst no
obolitionist He who knew all things knew that
nothing was to be gained by overturmn@ the es-
tablshed order of society. He nowhere taught
that the domestic relations were to be oblterated,
and the inequality of condition which ever has
characterized and ever will characterize humanity,
as long as it exists, reduced to a common level
He came not to create a new world but to repreve,
reform and save the world, such as it was and
His teachings and His practice are living and
scathing rebuke to those false reformers who, IN
stead of going about doing good, devote their time
and exertions to the baleful task of sowing mis-
chief and dissension in Church and State, and scat
tering firebrands, arrows, and death among those
who have ever before lived together brethren and
friends.
Next, as it regards the relations between the
abolitionsts and the government under which they
live their princip pies place them in direct opposl-
ton to the laws and to the constituted authorities
all of which is in direct contrast to the precepts
of the Gospel, which inculcate obedience and sub
mission to those in authority.
Abolitionism is also exhibited in strong contrast
to the Bible, inasmuch as it attaches an undue and
unscriptural importance to the temporal condition
of the slave as compared with his eternal interests
The Word of God teaches that mans outward con-
dition is of little importance, compared to the vel
fare of the soul. The apostles in their exhorta-
tons to the slaves of their day, while they incu
cate obedience to their masters as a matter of
course treat the circumstance of their being in
vitude as of importance-bd them, i'll so
many words, " not to care for it" but to 90 on
and do their duty faithfully, and promise them an
eternal reward hereafter The abolitionists, says
Mr.. Graham, teach different lesson. They con-
centrate their energies upon another object they
agitate the Church and the State threatening each
with dissolution if this object be not obtained.
They descrate the Sabbath by collecting crowds in
political assemblage on that holy day. They ad-
wise the slaves to violate the eighth commandment.
and to disobey all the commands which God has
addressed to him a slave. And what Is this OBJ
jeet dearer than the integrity OF the government,
the peace of the church, the sanctity Of the Sab
bath, and the commands of God = 4 so-called
right or privilege for the slave which not one in
ten thousand could properly understand, Or if he
did understand, with all Its consequences, would
accept For we do contend that there are few, if
any, slaves who, if they knew and could rightly
comprehend the misery and degradation, the des-
ttution for the present and anxiety for the future,
inseparable from the condition of the free negroes
as class, in this country, would accept of freedom
a gift. Offer it to them, ignorant and uncon-
scious as they are, and most of them might take
it; and so would the majority of our children of
twelve years old gladly hail an emancipation from
parental control and the confinement of school,
and set out to seek their fortunes in the world !:
but is that any reason it should be accorded to
them and would the momentary qualification
they might experience be fair set off against the
incalculabe disasters and untmey regrets by which
it would be followed And yet, for the attain
ment OF THIS worse than doubtful boon, the aboi-
zionist would sacrifice all that is sacred and all
that is dear in our relations to God and to man
But the contrast between the Bible and abo-
tionsm is most strkngly exhibited by placing side
by side, as Mr. Graham goes on to do, the precepts
inculcated by the one and the other
The Bible says, Il Cor, vii, 81 y Art thou
called b:ing servant, Tor slave,) not for it
but, if thou mayest be free, use it rather
Abolitionism teaches the slave to care greatly
for ito care more for it than for obedience to
God, or for his soul-and that if he be not
made Free he is to free himself by flight or violence
This Ephesians, Vi, s. teaches servants to be
obedient to their masters in singleness of heart as
unto Christ"
That teaches that masters are not to be obeyed
at all.
This Il Tim, vi, y teaches servants to count
their masters worthy of all HONOR
That not only despises masters, but teaches ser
wants to despise them.
This Titus, xi, 10y teaches servants not to pur-
loin, but to show all fidelity"
That teaches them utter faithlessness, and bids
them steal, if necessary to enable them to escape
lhIs (llm VI, 3, and Tit, ri, 81 commands all
ministers OF the Gospel to teach and exhort servants
to perform all these duties.
That forbds ministers so to teach and condemns
those who do
This says, Il Tim, vi, 8, ~ " if any man teach
otherwise, he is proud, knowing nothing, but dot
ing about questions and strifes of words, whence
coneth envy, strife, railing, evil surmising" (The
apostles idea of such as inclined to abolitonism in
that day. -
That utterly denies this and clo;,,s s,,oh ~ - =.