The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1856-07-04
NV reliance IS upon God and The Cos

merely. My reliance IS upon God and The Cos
pei
9th. The divine administration, as seen in the
workings OF Providence in human affairs, fur
nisheS abundant instruction for our guidance
in dealing with this great question. Evils are
permitted by Providence 10 church and STATE.
wholly inserulible TO US. Look al the poinp
and pride, costly veSturrs, costly ceremonies,
and the extravagance of so called prelates and
ministers, who profess 10 be representatives OF
the meek and lowlv Jesus, and successors OF
ih. postles Look at the horrid carrcatures
the miserable mockery OF religion by vast num-
bers who profess ii, who crowd voui cathedralS
and costly churches, and pirate their church
manship merely TO carry out the behestS at
fashion, aud give them, as they call II, position
ia society. When | contemplate these things,
sir and the huge corruptons OF christianity,
and worse than sham representations OF the re-
ligion Of the cross, am amazed that God has
not long since, bv some signal stroke OF Provi-
dence, upturned thu whole, and dashed It into
thousand fragments! But he has not done SO.
He olerates these evils in the church, and
seems to leave TO The operation of causes other
than special Interference by himself, the cure
and remedy of them.
Providence seems in the government of the
world to overruie if not employ one ecH 10
correct another How else can we account for
the exterminating wars waged by the jews
against the Canantes by the express command
of God, 10 which women and children We're
doomed to death as well as those who fought in
battle, all old and Young. male and female that
fell into the hands Of the Jewish conqnerors
were slain. Taking an abstract view OF these
transactions they are abhorrent as connected,
however, with the design and purpose of God
10 destroy Idolatry, to eradicate II completely
from among men, they wear a totally different
character, and Mr.. Gibbons slur in commenting
upon them that 'sMoses' God appears to have
been God OF cruelty" is Slander. These
wars We're an eUH unquestionabiy but idoiafry
wos much greater evH in every respect, and it
was right to correct the latter By the former
The principle here stated is a leading one IN
the administration Of Providence, conspicuous
in the general affairs OF the world, and is seen
in the overruiing the ambition and action Of
wicked agents, to accomplish his own purposes
as in the case Of Cyrus, Alexander and others.
The same law holds good in physics. Do not
physicians to cure disease give one poison 10
expel another? And how do | know, SIR
HOW 10 YOU KNOW. lIUN ubFS any DOHF ktpW
bnt that Providence will override the ensavng
of the African race in this country, to the q
vangelization of the vast continent of AfIica !
and connected with this grand result who
knows hat what he uses the instrumentalny of
conrerfing siaDe holders to get the gospel among
the slaves, that they NAV bp prepared aud quail
itied to lake part in this glorious enterprise
Certain it is that this religious element in the
slave holding States has operated the bpttering
the condition Of the slaves. This gives them
the Gospel-the Word of God bleSses them
with many advantages Of civilization, and this
it is that prepares them TO found on the shores
Of their ancestors republican governments 10
plant there the banner Of the Gross " hch is
destined TO wave in triumph over rpgenerated,
redeemed Africa. With all this looming up i'll
bright prospective shall the General Confer
ence Of the Methodist Episcopal Church come
forward and impose an impeachment BY cutting
off all shareholders from her communion? Who
have been the principal instruments Of benefit
ting the condition of the coored people Meth
odiSt preachers and Methodist members. This
is eminently true in that portion Of slave terrific
rv retained under the jurisdiction of the Bati-
more Conference, and doubt not it is equally
true Of other portions. | mean, sir, no diS7ar-
agement to other branches Of the Christian
Church, when | say that MethodiSn has been
the main insrumentality 10 carving the light
oftruh to the descendants OF Africa in these
United States. Shall it be put ont r? Pass the
measure before you, sir, and you DO all in your
power to accomplish this undesirable end.
Why. sir, there is one single feature in the
administration Of the Baltimore Conference that
has exeried incalculablp influence upon the IN
terests Of coorrd people, and the provisions in
the discipline upon which it is founded is left
out of the report Of the committee altogether,
aIlude 10 the course to BE- pursued when ,rav-
rlfing preacher becomes the owner of slave by
any means. By the faithful enforcement, ofthat
regulation no preacher Of the Baltimore Con-
ference is a STAKEHOLDER. We have kept it out
Of the annual Conference
9th. This whole matter, sir, is to be met and
controlled by moral power solely, none other
is comprteEt to it. take the position though
II may appear bold one, that moral principle
is neither created nor evolved from either civil
or ecclesiastical legislation. 1t comes from
higher source, and is rarely il ever aided in its
purpose by measures of human invention. The
strength is in the principle itself, which will
work It's way and effect It's results as s'leaven in
the meal" It reaches the conscience Of man,
an empire beyond the sphere and inaccessible to
physical force and stringent enactments in
Church or State. II is the moral power of the
Gospel which achieved such triumphs in The
days Of the Apostles, which revoluionised pa
gan Rome, and planted the banner Of the cross
on the throne Of the Caesars. The same potrn-
tial influence gave us the reformation. Never
since the Apostolic times was it so conspicuous.
In the age Of darkness, and the universal dom
ination of the Papacy, Martin Luther, an hum