Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1852-09-11
[BY REoUEsT.l
To Alrx'r Campbell, President Of Bethany
College, Brook County, Virginia.

College, Brook County, Virginia.
DEAR SR;-l attended the annual meet
ing of the Disciples at llanoverton, where,
perhaps, there were eight thousand persons
present. Tho eloqurncc aud fascinating
manner of your addresses, chained the at.
teliiion of the audience to your discourses,-
and if you ARE IN error you will mislead in
proportion rs You raptivaic.
Now, my dear sir. let me say TO you,
Judge no man except MS the Savior snys, by
their fruits ye shall know them, that is the
true Ministry. Now il ! were TO preach,
nch aud illustrate on the gories of tie
Lord aud of Christianity, in an eloquent aud
fascinating mnuucr,--show the cXcellpncy
of his commandments aud laws: aud were
to select the two cardinal principles Of tile
dccalogue, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God
with all thy mind aud soul aud strength,
aud thy nrighhor us ihysell--and were TO
declare tie lhund. rholis of heaven coming
down upon all governments of earth, aud
commandments of men, who make void the
commandments of God. aud ut the same
time, he giving my SUPPORT to such laws
aud commandments as did this, would not
my hearers, those who knew me, think that
there was n great discrepancy between my
preaching aud my practice. Thus | might
be,ray myself and in my own case, fulfil
the Snvur's word" there is nothing secret
that shall not he revealed; :" aud were to
preach like an angel, might not some of my
hearers he in doubt of me, aud say preacli-
cd righteousness and served the devil. Aud
were to talk cloqucnily of the love Of
Christ | might he brought to u very solemn
pause, when heard n voice from the excel
lent glory, sound IN my ears, " lie that hath
my commandments and keepeth them-he
it is that loveth me-" Lord help us all To
remember the caution, " Let him that think
eth lie standcth, take heed lest he tall !" o
for honesty of purpose, for It's the bullion of
the christian ministry. Dnpliciy and cum
ming we ought TO have no use for: he lsra-
elites indeed in whom is 10 guile and like
Paul reuounce the hidden things of diSlou-
esty, not walking in craiiincss, nor handling
the word Of God deceitliIlly; but 10y the
truth commenting ourselves 10 every mans
conscience IN the sight of God. II it be
thus with us habhualiy, we may be OCCASION
nlly injured and thrown off our guard; but
like the needle towards the pole, we shall
vccr round ngnin TO the point Of uprighncss,
(hrough the grace of the Lord) aud we shall
have our spmpdthcs on the side of mercy ns
the Lord has: we shall be drawn 10 commits
crate the poor aud the oppressed, for the
mind that was in Christ Jesus will he in us.
We shall remember them that are in bonds
as bound with them; and they that suffer
adversity ms being ourselves in tile body; aud
surely we shall stand aloof from an evil
which makes thousands miserable TO humor
the caprice, to maintain the luxury and osten-
tatUn, and TO crafty the ambition and avarice
while all who support or uphold such evils,
how can they expect to be heard or favor
ed 10y Jesus Christ, when they shall cry
unto him in extreme distress, for " he shall
have Judgment without mercy, who hath
showed no mercy"
But why is il, Bro. Campbell, that not n
syllable is uttered, or n prayer offered to the
Father of mcrcics, for three millions aud
more of the down troddrn aud cnslavod, at
any OF the annual meetings? Are the min
listers in the stand afraid TO touch the subject
in the presence of Mr.. Campbell? Aud are
the congregations awGd into silence by his
talents and influence? and nrc these the
fruits of the true ministry of which the Sa-
yior spenks, who came TO bind up the bro
ken hearted, to proclaim liberty TO the cap
| iives, aud the opening of the prison doors
to them that are bound? Surely there must
he great error in such state Of things
What if all the talent and eloquence, and
lacinnting manner is only made to help on
the delusion? 1t will produce great evil un-
der the guise of good, for he comes as an
angel of light and spreads his net often from
the stand, for the Bible says when man
faiters his neighhor he spreads n net for his
feet, aud Satan may take the whole compa-
ny in his snare. Any poor man, therefore,
uIny he justified in trying TO break this snare
and let the prisoner go free. Why is it that
ouI congregations are like the heath in the
desert? drying up for want Of ruin-spirit-
ual rain for ms there is power in the cries
of the oppressed, and as God answers prayer
10y judgements ms well MS by merces, they
nlay learn TO understand why they have no
reviying times, aud that the prayers of the
| oppressed for delivrrance, may shut Heaven
TINT it rain not upon the Oppressor! o, lei
us consider, my dear sir, That the Lord idGn-
tifies himself with his pious oppressed, wenli
and needy people: aud may you, dear sir,
aud your brethren, have courage 10 confess
the truth, TO net the truth, and in n kind aud
Scriplual spirit and manner, muy we all.
bear our testimony against that which is evil
Respectfully,
GEO. II. MARCllER.
HANovERToN, August "a, 1852.
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