The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-04-08

glass the true position of the apologst! viii
not the wise and the good read. through the
tissue of his sophistry and the subtlety Of his
logic, the unsOundness of his premises? VIII
he not feel that the fear of man, the tempta.
ton of circumstances, apparent present inter-
ests, supposed expediency, love of self;justtica-
ton, and such like motives, have bewildered
the reasoner rather than the reader!
There is no position more true than that the
nominal church is the stronghold of slavery.
Were every professor all that he processes to
be, oppression would roll off before the light of
the Gospel, as the darkness rolls back before
the rising sun. Still it may. be affirmed with
truth, that The Church will abolish slavery
from the earth The true Israel will pray, and
not faint-they will also work, and never
weary in well doing. God will hear their
prayers, accept their offerings, dry their tears,
and give success to their trials and their war
fare.
would not be understood to hold that
every man, because he happens to possess or
to have inherited human beings, is necessarily
an alien from God and sinner above all other
men. When nominal Shareholder grants to
his slaves all the essential prerogatives of free
men, and when he is honestly making all
proper arrangements for their entire emanci-
patton without unnecessary delay, then we may
say he is a reformed man. He is no longer a
stakeholder But what shall we say of the man
who boldly and audaciously advocates the OPP
pressve system, and who lends all his influence
to rivet the degrading chain of bondage in per-
pctuo, and even perverting the doctrines and
example of Christ and his apostles to this un-
holy purpose
But the voice of the civilized world has gone
out against slavery--thc fat Of Omnipotence
is against it. and true Christianity will uproot
it 1t is sin before God and man and, as
such, would ever treat it. While would
pity and dcplore the state of the sinner, would
labor and pray, and hope for his best temporal
and eternal g,od--employing no weapons
against him but those of reason. and truth,
and love- These will prevail They are mighty,
through God, to the pulling down of strong
holds. But the friends of freedom have need
of patience I; that after having done the will
of God in this service, they may inherit the
blessing There are many things to chafe, and
irritate, and harass the souls of the good. On
the side of the oppressor there is power and
power often welded haughtily On the side
of the oppressed there is weakness and fear,
and sorrow and groans and imploring cries
and dark prospects All these things and
mann more, are as fires in our bones, and we
are in danger of feeling burning restless
ness, an irrepressible heating haste, and of
even Gliding Providence, as if tardy or unfeel-
ing But let me say be patient PATIENT,
PATIENT, brethren, for the coming of the
Lord draweth nigh. The Lord is not indiffer-
ent, not asleep, not slack His great and ever
lasting laws move on. His deep Interchangeable
purposes remain undisturbed by the roar and
rattle and splashing of mortal frenzy. He will
work in his own way, in his own time, by his
own laws, and with his own means. He will
utterly abolish slavery. He will abase the
pride of human glory, and he alone will be
exalted Blessed are all those who are found
to be laborers together with Him. Blessed are
all who fight under the banner of Him who
has gone forth upon the white horse, conquer
ing and to conquer" OF such it will be said, |
that their weapons are not carnal but mighty |
They are called, and chosen, and faithful.
The cause of emancipation ever has been,
and ever shall be, near my heart. Whatever |
promotes this, rejoice in whatever retards it,
| regret look steadily at the cause, and this |
| can never abandon. Measures may be va
rious, wise and unwise; we may differ and con-
tend-wise and weak, discreet and RASH honest |
and intriguing, Christian and infdel gentle
and terocious advocates may arise to extermi-
nate slavery. They may fight the common
enemy Or deyour one another. They may call |
me too hot or too cold too fast or too slow a |
fanatic or philosopher; wise man or fool;
II saint or II devil-still, none of these things |
shall move me. pronounce myself. every.
where and forever, reprover of oppression,
and friend of universal freedom, and light,
and love-
Of course, remote as ] am from the imme-
date scene of strife, and fully occupied as am
with the tolls and responsibilities of my sta
ton, you will not expect to see me on your
great battlefield but my prayers, and sympa-
thies, and soul, are with you; and so are those
of the church under my care, whose accompa-
nying mite we beg you to accept in the name
and in the1ove OF our common Redeemer
! need not report to you the religious polti-
cal and social state Of our little island home,
tor you get all from public journals
Allow me to express my obligations for a |
copy of your Report for 1850. 1t is very
valuable document. rejoice to see the stand |
good men are taking in relation to that master
mistake of our wise Congress, the Fugitive
Slave Law
Excuse the liberty of a stranger, and believe
me, dear sir on behalf of the oppressed, your
friend and brother, TIrus CoAs.
Lew's TGPpdn Esq,
Secretary Of I'm q For. H. S. Soc, ~ Y