The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1856-08-27


every man of sin. And as most re.
markable demonstration of this great
truth, the only denunciations which the
Saviour did use were those used in ref
erence to the doctors and lawyers, min
listers and expounders of the law of the
Jewish Church, nor did Christ, in one
single instance, denounce the Church
Itself, though it was, surely, not ia q
moral condition, commendiDg itself to
His approval
The proof becomes more palpable and
overwhelming when the case of Paul is
presented. He had been falsely ac-
cused, despoticaliy arraigned, cruelty
imprisoned. And afterward his private
fortune and the generosity of his friends
were laid under tribute to procure his
release. He was brought before licen-
tioas governor, an unjust ruler, and an
in6del. In his defence before Felix he
never SO much as speaks of the Roman
law, which arrested the freedom of
speech, denied the rights of conscience,
and trammelIcd the liberty of opinion,
but he reasoned of Righteousness and
temperance and the judgment to come. ="
He arrested the conviction of his audi
tor; he charged hitu before Heaven
with personal delinquency, individual
crime, and, as man, he held him up to
a terribl, responsibility to God. "And
Feii5 tycmGled" Here wonld have been
a most fit opportunity to challenge the
correctness of the Roman law, to con-
demn its regulations, OF to question its
Legitimate authority, but instead of this
he plead his rights under the law. And
he appealed to tie Aaa0, aud justified him
self by the law. More THAI once did he
claim the rights Of Il " Roman citizen" "
and availed himself of its protection,
and scorned to play treason against the
law. The plan adopted by Christ was,
TO lay the axe to the root of the tree, to
purify the hearts of the people, as indi.
viduals, and thereby prepare them for a
better, aud higher, and Eobler condition
as citizens. s.....
This method of the Saviour for the
reformation of the world was one clear
ly founded upon ar unerring knowledge
of human character. He knew, as the
Omniscient God, what frail mortal man
has since seen Enthusiastically demonstra-
ted in the history of the world, that the
evils of civil governments have not their
origin in legislation, for legis alton itsolf
is only one Of the many effects of that
great cause which Jesus Christ came in
to the worll to destroy-the gorks of
the devil, the Inherent existence Of sin
in the human heart.
This view has been uniformly taken
by evangelical Christians in every age of
the world. Since the days of Simon
Peter, no more violent reforzrer had ap-
peared than Martin Luther. He spared
nothing which be believed wrong. He
fought everything that came in contact
with his dogmas. John Calvin bad an
unyielding determination, an unpublished
severity, a revolutionary spirit, that
gave no quarter. Yet neither of these
reforners proposed war upon the ex-
listing laws, of their respective countries.
John Wesley was the great reformer of
modern times. He moulded afresh every
society which embraced his doctrines.
He created anew the whole ecclesiastical
machinery of the modern church of
Christ. The revival of religion, of
which he was the prime mover, has
spread over the whole American cont
uent, and is leading element of Ameri-
can Christianity; hut John Wesley neE-
er did make war agains. the government
under which he lived and died. But, on
the other hand. he was so devoted to law
and order, that, fearing that the revolt
in the colonies might destroy the moral
power OF The early Christian societies,
ne wrote eiabors!ely against the revolu
ton i self With him, the duty of sub
mission to the law amounted almost to
non resistance. an, at loss to know
where, in the Word of God-in the
Gospel of Christ-in the history of the
church, single example can be found
sustaining the modern efforts to intro
duce iuto ecclesiastical Laao-making
bodies resolutions and instructions for
the direction of legislative bodies, unless
that precedent be found in the bulls,
accommodations, and pronunciamentos
of the Pope of Rome-authority which
governs neither you or me, or should it
govern our common church in its legis-
lative action.
If it be legitimately within the prov
ince of b e church to legislate upon
these questions, how far does that right
extend, and where does it cease to ex-
ist am in great fear that an attempt
will be made to change the fundamental
law of the church, upon the subject of
staUery, at the approaching session of
the genclal conference. If the church
has lived and prospered, and spread
light and salvation over the land by con-
forming strictly to the existing law, it
becomes entirely proper to enquire where
this legislation is to end, and bow far
this ri ght may be lawfully exercised, not
to do more harm than it possibly can do
good. I shall not now enquire whether
slavery, as a system, is right or wrong !;
that is not the question. The question
is, what is the duty of the church in re-
lation to slavery? In this short letter,
in discussing a subject upon which vol
umes have been written, I propose to
myself nothing more than brief sug-
gestions. The main doctrine has been
thoroughly canvassed-Eery ably dis
cussed-upon both sides. The wrongs
of slavery are sent forth by mere than a
thousand newspapers Of the country, in
every weekly issue, as the organs OF q
great political party. The whole pulpit
Of the land is discussing it; indeed, to
the exclusion of our old time Metho-
dism, this has become the absorbing
question in our own church. As the
Nory l shall therefore not enquire after
its n gan, causes, rights, wrongs. ten
denotes, or issues.
But this question has assumed prac-
tica. form and involves nract;cal ;ssuas