Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-04-21
roR THE SPECTATOR.
Letters 10 Northern Uni0nists OIL
the Scripture View Of Slavery.
LETTEI, NO. II.

LETTER no. II.
WEST VIRGINIA, March, 1852.
The laac of the Bible on lie duties of slaves
-Slapery sanctioned by The rules gire'
fo, The treatment of slares.-PauPs pic
fme of .AJolition.-Philcnlon and One
sinus.
RESPECTED FRIENDs,-It was shown il
my last letter, that Christ and the Apostles
instead of denouncing shareholders like thu
modern Abolitionists, recognized them a.
Christian brethren; and that when the A
postles organized churches, they admitted
them as members; thus teaching by thei
conduct, that slavery is not such sin, a:
it has often been represented. We vii
now examine their recorded instructions ir
reference to this subject, and see whether
they do not bear a similar testimony. These
instructions are so numerous and extended
that it would occupy loo much space tc
transcribe them at large. l will therefore
merely give extracts, referring to the Bible
for the full copy. In the epistle to the E.
phesians, Paul having treated of the duties,
which husbands and wives, parents and
children owe TO each other, proceeds TO en-
Join the mutual duties of masters and slaves,
6: SO. "Servants, be obedient to them
that are your masters according tothe flesh. "
"With good will doing service, as to the
Lord, and not to men; knowing that what
soever good thing any man doeth, the same
shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be
bond (doulos) or free" "And We masters,
do the same things unto them, forbearing
threatening" Like instructions are given,
and in a like connexion, Col. 3: 22-25.-
Servants, obey in all things your masters
according to the flesh: not with eye-ser-
vice as men-pleasers but in slngleness of
heart, fearing Cod" 4: l, "Masters, give
unto your servants that which is just and
equal knowing that We also have master
in Heaven" Timothy is directed as to the
doctrine, which is to be preached on this
subject, l Tim. 6: /, 2. "Let as many SER
wants as are under the yoke count their own
masters worthy of all honour, that the name
of God and his doctrine be rot blasphemed.
And they that have believing masters, let
them not despise them, because they are
brethren; but rather do them service" Slmi-
lar directions are given to Titus, 2:9, 10.
"Exhort servants TO be obedlent unto their
own masters, and to please them we'll in
all things not answering again; not pur-
loining, but showing all good fidelity.
Peter teaches the same doctrine, Pet 2:
1926. "Servants, be subject to your mas
ters with all fear; not only to the good and
gentle, but also to the froward. For this
is thank-worthy. if man for conscience
toward God endure grief suffering wrong
fully" 1t cannot be questioned, that these
passages refer to slaves. In the one last
quoted, the Greek term for servant is oike-
fes in all the others it is doulos. The word
for master, in Ephesians aud Collossans,
is kurios; in the other epistles it is despotes.
We see that obedience is strongly and re-
peatedy enjoined upon slaves. Instead OF
receiving license to rebel against their mas
ters, or 10 run away from them, they are
exhorted to "obey" them, to "be subject
to them, to "count them worthy of all hon
our" to "do them service" 10 shew them
call good fidelity" And this is TO be done
"not only to the good and gentle but also
to those who are harsh and abusive. And
the whole duty is to be performed, not
merely from motives of expediency, but as
a matter of religious obligation, "as to the
Lord" and "for conscience toward God. "
This Is the "higher law" of the Bible; and
any man, who advises slaves to course OF
conduct different from that which this law
requires, or who aids and defends them in
such course, is plainly guilty of sin a.
gainst God.
Masters on the other hand, are required
to edo the same things unto them to act
towards them on the same conscientious
and religious principles: 'forbearing threat
ening," abstaining from violent language f;
good servants do not need anything Of the
kind, while bad ones need something more
effective. They are to give unto them "that
which is just and equal !, to give them in
food clothing, religious opportunities, and
other needful things, such compensation
for their labor, as the principles of equity
demand. The fact, that rules are given for
the treatment of slaves, is proof that sla-
very is allowable. The Apostles do not
tell us TO lie and steal, TO commit perjury
and murder, on CONSCIENTIOUS and religious
principles, and in such manner as shall
be "just and equal
It would seem, that there were some in
the time of Paul, protesting 10 be Christians,
who taught different doctrines from those
exhibited in his Instructions 10 Timothy, l
Tim 6: 1, 2, quoted above. For he goes
on to say, VS.. 3-5, "lf any man teach 9TH
erwise, s consent not TO, wholesome words,
even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and to the doctrine which is according to
godliness he is proud. knowing nothing,
but doting about questions and striles of
words, whereof cometh envy, strife, rail-
ings, evil surmisings, perverse dispatlngs
of men of corrupt minds, and destitute OF
the truth" The Greek word rendered do
Ting is noson, which signifies sick, distem-
pered It here indicates that disorder OF
mind, which has been found in modern abb
ol,tionists, and which has been aptly styled
mouomania. Bishop Wilkens was not far
from the mark, when he explained "doting
about questions, /" as meaning sick Of ques-
Gons. or of the irrangling disease" An
antithesis has been remarked between the
"wholesome words Of Christ and the in
sane rawlings of these derahged teachers.-
In this whole picture We have modern abb
clifton painted to the life every touch Of
the pencil portraying some prominent fea-
ture of the monster; so that the likeness
must be at once recognized by all who
have seen the hideoiis mis-createa form,
those only excepted, whose eyes have been
jaundiced by partiality. earnestly exhort
you, my friends, TO follow the Injunction of
Paul "From such withdraw thyself.n
Having noticed the manner in which
j. III arAtf