Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-04-14
FOR THE sPEcT AToR.
Letters 10 Northern UnioRists on
the Scripture View of Slavery.
LETTER NO. I3.
WEST VIRGINIA, March, 1852

LETTER NO. 13.
WEST VIRGINIA, March, 1852.
Had slauery been sin in itself, Chris and
ihe .4postles must hare condemned ii. bu'
then did noi.-Ow Saviour heais IL as
7mpfuz.-THe APOSTLES admitted slare-
holders into The Church.
RESPECTED FRrENDs,-Had there been
no slavery in the world in the time of Christ
and the Apostles, and had they said moth
ing respecting it, the strong argument for
its lawfulness contained in the Old Testa-
ment would have remained Unaffected
As the case really stands, that argument is
powerfully re-enforced. While slavery was
more prevalent, and that in worse form,
throughout the Roman Empire, than it now
is IN the Southern section of our Union; ;
our Saviour and his inspired followers, al
though constantly coming in contact with
the institution, and often speaking of it, yet
said not one word in its condemnation.-
These facts are so incontrovertible, that alb
oltionIsts, instead OF attempting to deny
them, endeavor to explain them in con-
formity with their own theory. DR.. Chan
ming says Slavery, in the age of the A.
postes, had so penetrated society, was so
intimately interviewer with it, and the ma
terlals of seryile war were so abundant, that
a religion, preaching freedom to its victims,
would have armed against itself the whole
power of the State. Of consequence, Paul
did not assail It," To the same effect Dr.
Wayland, Moral Science, p. 225.] This
explanation is utterly inadmlssible. II is
as much as 10 say, that Christ and the A.
postles knew slaveholding 10 be great sin,
but did not dare 10 say so It is very likely,
that the abolitionlsts Of the present day
would, in similar circumstances, pursue
such a course as this. We see, that while
hurting their anathemas at Shareholders they
are careful to keep themselves at very re-
spectful distance. But they have no right
to suppose that Christ and the Apostles
had no more courage and principle than
they themselves have. Not only does the
acknowledged character of those preachers
of righteousness forbid the supposition, that
they would act in such manner; but such
course would be inconsistent with what
is known to have been their conduct in all
analogous cases. Not thus did they treat
the vices of profaneness and lying, of GOV.
etousness and stealing, of drunkenness and
adultery The Apostles did not hesitate, to
declare Jesus the Messiah, and to charge
their countrymen with his murder, although
they thereby arrayed against themselves
the whole power of the Jewish State. They
did not shrink from the duty of denounclng
idolatry, although it forced them to encoun-
ter the fiercest rage Of the Roman govern.
ment, sustained by the colossal power of
the Empire and ten bloody prosecutions
bore witness to the constancy OF the early
christians and the virulence of their oppres-
sors. If slaveholdlng were in itself sinful,
how could they have failed to denounce 1t
in like manner Or failing, how could they
call their hearers to witness, that they had
"not Stunned TO declare all the. counsel OF
God" and were 'pure from the blood OF all
men :" There is, however. no probability,
that opposition to slavery would have pro-
voked anything like the degree OF persccu.-
ton, which opposition 10 idolatry provoked
There have been many in Virginia, who
have borne testimony against slavery; there
are some entire religious bodies who still
do so; for instance, the Quakers and the
Tunkers but they have never experienced
persecution on that account.
Such is the argument for the lawfulness
of slavery, drawn from the omission OF the
Saviour and his Apostles to declare it sim
full. Their positive testimony presents
still more forcible argument. In the life
of Christ, the subject is repeatedly brought
to view, in no doubtful manner. The CEN
turion, whose servant was healed, was q
STAKEHOLDER. The void pals is applied to
his servant Mat. 8: 6, 8, 13 and the word
dou1os, Luke T: Q, 8, s, 10. Not only did
Jesus administer to him no rebuke, but ne
gave him the highest commendation ;-"He
marvelled and said unto them that followed,
Verify | say unto you, have not found so
great faith, no, not in Israeli "And Jesus
said unto the centurion, Go thy way; as
thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee.
And his servant was healedi in the selt-same
hour" Another example of slave-owner
who received a special favor from Christ, Is
found in the case of the nobleman OF CaPer-
naum, whose faith obtained the cure OF his
son. He had servants to whom the term don-
los is applied, John 4: 81. In several OF his
parallels, our Saviour introduces slavehold-
ers in manner, which Is entirely ncon-
slstent with the supposition OF their crIml'
nality even making them represent hlm-
self and his Father. The householder, IN
the parable of the tares, has domestlcs, who
are designated by the term douloS, Mat. IA:
27, %. In the explanation of the parable,
v. 81, we are told ;-"He that soweth the
good seed is the Son of man." In the par
able Of the talents, the Son Of man is rep
resented bv the "lord OF the servants Mat.
25: 1870. The term kurios is applied to
him ten times, and the term doulos to them
six times. Christ several times compares
himself to master leaving his house IN
charge of his .erv lnts jolrneying TO distant
place and returning to them unexpectedly,
Mat. "a: 42-51-Mark 10: S4-Luke II:
36-49. In each case, the master is called
Eurios, and the servant doutos. In the par
able of the great supper, the same terms are
applied IN the same manner, Luke IA: IT,
"a. The master represents God himself
The same is true of the householder, in the
parable of the vineyard let out to husband
men. Doulos is repeatedly applied to his
servants Mat. 21: 33-41-Mark IL: 1-9
Luke 90: 9-16. The father of the prod
igal son had indeed hired servants, misthioi,
but he had also bond servants, who are de-
sinatcd by the words dOu7os and pals, Luke
Is: %, 26. On one occasion, Christ speak
ing of the master of servant, doufoS, who
had been obedient, says ;-"Doth he thank
that servant because he did the things that
we're commanded him! | trow not. so
likewise We, when ye shall have done all