The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-02-14
an,t-sIavcry Lecture.
Delivered at the Town Hall, Ravenna, Feb. 1Ih isss
BY REV. WILLARD BURR.

Of the last lecture, II devolves upon me TINS
evening, to make a practical use Of the doc
tFines that were taught in the lectures that
have gone before. A knowledge and dec
larstion OF right principles. are first in the
order Of things, in attempting to accomplish
any work of reform. The first step in such
o movement is to secure a right doctrinal
basis. And this is an all important step to
success. But it is equally as important, that
along with right principles, we'have Alright
practice. In fact right principles, without
right practice have always been, and always
will be dead letter. And especially will
this be the case, when the practice is dgainst
the principles. Every one knows, that the
power OF example, is greater than the pow
er of words, and hence when the example
is against the words, the latter fall power
less to the ground, while the former becomes
the. moulding influence Of society. The
gradual moulding Of public sentiment in
this country, in favor Of Slavery, both in the
Church, and State, is an illustration Of this
point, In both, we have a good theory. Says
the State, all men are created free and equal,
and are endowed by their creator with GER
tain inailenabls rights, among which are life,
liberty and the pursuit of happiness" y
This is good doctrine, and we all glorify
it in the abstract. And what says the Church;
-lIer language is "thou shalt love TIE Lord
thy God with all thy heart, and thy neigh
bors as myself" This also is good doc
trne. And yet with all this good preaching,
in both Church and State, the pro-slavery
power which denies it all, has kept gradual
ly increasing in this country, until it is now
able to controll, both its religion and poll
tics. Now why is this; mantestly because
cur theory, has been on one side, and our
practice on the other, In theory we have
proclaimed the doctrine of equal rights, Of
love to all men. In example we have de-
MED all this. And as factions speak, loud
er than Words" public sentiment has been
moulded by the former instead of the latter,
and hence the reason why that senti-
ment is now pro.sIavery wise, instead OF
freedom wise. The great thing needed then,
to change this pro-slavery sentiment, and
save the Church and State, from its blight
ing and ruinous curse is, to preach sound
Anti-slsvery Bible doctrine on the subject
Il And the next thing, (and the one most diff
,fculD is, to SO apply ythat doctrine to the
hearts and consciences Of men, as to induce
them to carry it out in practice. 1t is this
latter work that | am to attempt this eve-
ming. Aud as have already intimated,
am aware that have somewhat difficult
task before me. Not because there is any
want Of light or meuns to show what the
general practice is, or whether it conforms
or not, to that hich is acknowledge to be
true in the abstract. But the difficulty ars-
es from the fact, that mankind US a general
thing DO lot like to have their faults, OF de-
parlures from acknowledged truth, point
ed out to them. And he who attempts
TO do this, by an application ot that truth
generally performs thankless task; il ht
does not prejudice minds against him Es
pecialy will he be likely to incur the pref
udice OF that class of minds, whose practice
,deviales from the truth and yet are unwilling
to amend it. @ .a. ... -s.s--
40 We oil wish to believe, or at least try t,
make ourselves believe, that we are doing
the best we can, under existing circumstan
ces. And when person attempts to sho"
us, that there is better way, and that We
ought to adopt it-w he does this, BY
fair and logical reasoning, from premises al
ready granted, those who are determined
not to change their course, instead OF finding
fault with themselves, as they should do
will be likely to complain OF the preacher
and give Indulgence to feelings of prejudice
towards him. Christ and his Apostles SUI
fered in this way, from those who were un
willing to yield to the furce Of their unaI'
swerable arguments in favor of a bette
course Of conduct, and higher standard o
action, And so it has been with all tru
reformers in every age. They have incnre
the dspleasure Of those, who refused to en-
ter upon that line Of duty, which their faith
full application Of the truth, had discovers
to them. And it is this circumstances, Of com
ing into collision with established habits
and excited prejudices, that renders an ut
tempt to apply the ruth, more difficult, Q
more of trial, than simply to preach tn
truth in the abstract. 'aaa a' 1ir'' q |! i
Vet notwithstanding this difficulty, III
truth must be applied. No change for tn
better can be effected in society, without ii
1t must be applied, it is true, in loye--an
yet with plaianess, and taithiuiness 8
MS to make every one see just where b
stands, or what is his practice with regar
cit, So Christ-so his Apostles-so MART
Luther--so SO ell true reformers, in every ag
have applied the truth. Had Luther, &
whose worthy example we were referred
the last lecturel say, had he contented hin
self with merely preaching the truth in III
abstract. he never would have laid the fouI
dation Of that Reformation, which broke II
Papal yoke from of the necks of thousand
and, whose ,iniluenceaiss felt upon the caus
of freedom ia Europe, and in this country
the present day. Luther's great work, wa