The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-10-05

We find in the Anti-Slarery S,sndard a
martial report Of a Sermon delivered by the
Rev. W. II. Furness, at Philadelphia, on
Sunday last, from which We extract the fol-
lowing passage:
WThe present generation, no doubt, will
ridicule and reject the gin, and revile, for
instance, the unloading integrity and large
humanity 10 which our noble friend now in
prison clinss at the price OF personal li5er-
~, falsely aiiributing his uprigh,ness TO an
insane passion for mariyrlom He is hu-
man, and IL may be, rs our judges. putting
off the dignity OF their station, most ur-
wor;hily insinuate, that our friend is aciua-
ted by this folly but there is nothing ia
his character, nothing in his recent course,
tina, authorizes them to make any such in
situation. i, may be, tool believe before
God that il is so, and all who know him
believe likewise-,hai he has been and is
still aciua,sd BY the purest motives. that
the spiri, Of Truth and Humanity sways
him |; and ,ha, hold to be the very spirit
Of Cod. How, then, will il fare with those
who have put him in prison, and who keep
him there, and VINO are thus fighting against
God! Bot what confession is j, OF insensi-
billy 10 the worth OF Freedom, aud Right
eousness when men canno, understand wha,
our friend has done = cannot explain his
conduc, bu, by resoriiag TO the supposition
that he Graves TO be n martyr, and is so
madly bent upon being conspicuous that he
PUSHES into prison TO gain that eminence
Is there, then, no power, no inspiration in
the love Of liberty, in the simple dictates OF
humanity and integrity, TO enable nan 10
confront, prisons for their sake!
I" But although we OF the present hour
refuse the giit Of God TO our own loss and
shame, posieriiy will accept it with accla-
nations We and our rulers and our judg.
es, Supplied by tie deadly poison with
which the Slave Power, has besot,ed our
humanity, may suffer Passmore William
son to lie there in his cell till death sets
him free. But no palace on earth ever
shons as that cell will shine in the eyes oil
those who come afer US, made beautiful as
j, is by the simple presence OF humane
and upright man. He has become now an
historical person. Heaven is teaching Us
through him, and what immortal lessons
We may learn. for instance, from this case
OF our friend and brother now a prisoner,
tina. il is in vain 10 excuse ourselves from
rendering wha, service we may 10 God and
nan upon the plea tina, we are humble,
private individuals, with no advantage oil
position or influence. The plea has no
force with the Eternal Providence. Tha,
chooses its instruments and agents from
among the humble and obscure. II was
the last thing tina, our friend thought Oft
is the las, thing, will answer for Il, tina, he
desired, ever 10 make himself conspicuous.
He thought only Of discharging faithfully a
plain human duty. and in the Providence
Of Heaven, the performance oil that duty in
sianily becomes n gate, flung wide open.
whereby he enters and ascends 10 a posi-
ton seen Of all men. II becomes the means
whereby he is at once made a public pes
son, with interests OF indeScribable impor-
lance, with the welfare OF this great coun-
try, the emancipation OF the African race,
the cause OF Freedom Universal, the dear.
esi hopes OF the world, resting upon him,
involved in his fidelity. have no fear that
that fidelity will swervc a single hairs
breadth. He will justify his position, be
assured Of that. | would 10 God were
ouly half as we'll assured that we shall JUS
iiiy our position also as Christians, as men,
as citizens OF Free State. o Tor tho open
sense, Tor the seeing eye, for the hearing
ear. tina, we may discern the warning signs
o. the times, Iha, our loins may be gir
about, and our lamps trimmed and burn
ing, that we may meet the events that are
coming, the grea, crisis OF the mighty con.
fic, between Light and Darkness, Liberty
aud Oppression, which is slowly but s,ernly
approaching, which no man can escape,
and which will try every man 10 his inmOsl
soul"