Squatter sovereign., 1855-06-19
BY THORNTON sTRINGFELLoW
Continued.

1 have been tedious on this first PROPOSE
ton, but l hope the importance of the sub
ject to Christians as well as to statesmen
will be my apology. l have written it,
not for victory over an adversary, or to sup
port error or falsehood, but to gather up
Gods will in reference TO holding men
and women in bondage, in the patriarchal
age. And it is clear, in the first place,
that God decreed this state before it exis-
ted.
End. 1t is clear that the highest mani
festations of goodwill which he ever gave
to mortal man, was given to Abraham, In
that covenant in which he required him to
circumcise all his male servants, which he
had bought with his money, and that We're
born of them in his house.
3rd. 1t is certain that he gave these SER
wants as property to Isaac.
these slaves, Isaac received similar tokens
Of Gods favor.
9Th. 1t is certain that Jacob, who inher-
tied from Isaac his father, received like to.
kens Of divine favor.
9th. 1t is certain, from fair construc-
ton Of language, that Job, who is held up
by God himself as model of human per-
fection, was great Shareholder.
9th. 1t is certain, when God showed
honor, and came down to bless Jacobs
posterity, in taking them by the hand to
lead them out of Egypt they were the
owners of slaves that were bought with
money, and treated as property; which
slaves were allowed OF God to unite in
celebrating the divine goodness to their
masters, while hired servants were exclu-
ded.
sth. 1t is certain that God interposed
TO give Joseph the power in Egypt, which
he used, to create a state, or condition,
among the Egyptians, which substantially
agrees with patriarchal and modern slave
ry.
9th. 1t is certain, that in reference to
this institution In Abraharn's family, and
the surrounding nations, for five hundred
years, it Is never ccnsured in any commu-
nication made from God to men.
10th. 1t is certain, when God put Pc
riod to that dispensation, he recognised
slaves as property on Mount Sinai. If,
therefore, it has become sinful since,
it cannot be from the nature of the thing,
but from the sovereign pleasure of God in
its prohibition. We will therefore pro-
ceed to our second proposition, which is
Second. That it was incorporated in the
only national constitution emanating from
the Almighty. BY common consent, that
portion of time stretching from Noah, un-
til the law was given to Abraham's pos
terity, at Mount Sinai, is called the patri-
archal age; this is the period we have re-
viewed, in relation to this subject. From
the giving Of the law until the coming OF
Christ. is called the Mosaic or legal dis
pensation is. From the coming of Christ
to the end of time, is called the Cos
| pei dlspensation. The legal dispensa-
ton is the period of time we propose
now to examine, in reference to TIE
institution of involuntary and hereditary
slavery; in order to ascertain, whether, dur
ing this period, it existed at all, and if it
did exist, whether with the divine sanction,
or in violation of the divine will. This
! dispensation is called the legal dispensa-
ton, because it was the pleasure Of God to
take Abraham's .posterity by miraculous
power, then numbering near three million
souls, and give them written constitution
of government, country to dwell in, and
covenant of special protection and favor,
for their obedience to this law until the
coming Of Christ. The laws which he
gave them emanated from his sovereign
pleasure, and were designed, in the first
place, to make himself known In his es-
sential perfections; second, in his moral
character; third, In his relation to man;
and fourth, to make known those princi-
Piles of action by the exercise of which
man attains his highest moral elevation,
4! viz: supreme love to God, and love to 9TH
! ers as to ourselves.