Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-05-21

ment does indeed speak of servants ana mas
ters, so by permission, perhaps, as kings ana
con0uerors are. 1t speaks of masters and ser
wants as if such relation were possible within
the pale of the church; but as it is not eNPii-
cit in defining the nature and limits OF such
possible servitude, We must look for them IN
the tenor Of its teaching, which it maintains
throughout. The tenor is love, and in the law
of love do we find abundant instruction to dis
pei all the darkness which hangs round the sor-
ceress of slavery, and to drive her out to the
light of day. (Matthew 20, p, and -, "a
Mark 10, ~ and -, %. Luke 22, %. John
Is. 81. and l5, II. Love to God is the great
est commandment, and love to man the next;
and this commandment of love is the highest
law, even the decaloguc being supplementary
to it. On it hang all the law and the prophets.
1t is the fulfilling of the law. The whole BIZ
bic is based upon it-a!l the revelations are
pcrvaded by it. God so loved the world that
he gave his only Son to be sacrificed for the
sins of it; and the sons commandment is
lovc-purc and holy, godile love; even to-
ward enemies, for We are enjoined TO aSsimi-
late ourselves as nearly as possible to him, and
want is not greater than his master, and the
master came not to be ministcred unto, but TO
minister, and to give his life 4 ransom for ma
ny. Anything which is inconsistent with the
holiness Of this principle is intcrdicted, such
as pride, ayaricc, falSchood, drunkenness, a
dultcry, marlcr, &c Oppression in every
form is denounced with terrible threatcnings.
Mercy to the mcrciful, and judgment to the
opprcssor, is the constant tenor of scripture.
Such love is imrulsivc in the hearts of those
who are affected by it. and imparts ycarning
sympathy for the whole human family but at
the same time it is 4 duty TO God. Now if We
examine the nature Of ehattcl slavery, in view
of such a duty, We shall find that it is based
upon a fundamental falschood, for it teaches
the master that 4 servant of God like himself,
is his absolute property. Not anything, how
ever, can be the property Of a creature, where
all is Gods; for the idea of absolute ownership
implies an independent existence. Much less
can one moral agent become the rightiul pro-
pcrty of another, without a direct commission
| from God authorizing it to be so. You can
not serve two masters, and there is one mas
ter even Christ, to whom all obedience is due.
| Place then, the master and the slave under the
| law of love, and the shackleS virtually fall
! for that law transformed them into brothers,
and sets them upon common level. (Philc-
mon, 16.) Now We find that the fruits of chat
tel slavery arc in perfect accordance with this
view of its nature. 1t cultivates pride. arro-
gancc and presumption, and juStifics the most
| bitter oppression it is the hot-bcd of idle
ness, hatred, lust and murder. ALI past and
| present experience goes to confirm this fact.
1t is an indisputablc verify, instances to the
| contrary being merely exceptions to the gem
eral rule. Cherishing such views, must we not,
! as Christians, regard American chattel slavery,
as gigantic power of evil, binding us by her
very magnitude and proximity; and looming
up with an illimitable blacknesS OF living
death, which pals the power of utterance. and
the last, the brightest hope of the human race,
! for peace and cnfranchisement on earth? Ay-
aricc, drunkenness and lust, are her paramours;
and like the sin of Milton, whose younger sis
| ter she is, she brings forth horrible progeny
! of hcll-hounds; which do not at present, like
! them, return to destroy their dam, because
she is still most prollicly pregnant with the
!
nate gholcs sent forth to feed and fatten upon
| the bodies and souls Of men and ficrcely do
| they yelp and yell, if victim escapes their
| fangs; for they are like their parents. They
| support their mother as she does them and
they struggle to extend her dominion, for she
is in her very nature aggressive, like beast OF
prey Already does her hidcous body cover
| the faircst half of the land, and the remainder
| is involved in her shadow, and in tumult al
her approach. Nor will she pause while the
temples of freedom and truth are standing Sc
near, for their light has talismanic influence
upon her, which she cannot endure. The bay
of her furics is heard from coast to coast, and
the fearful are trembling and submitting to hel
sway. Those who resist her, must die and
those who yield, she harnesses TO the car o.
her oppression, transforming them into beasts
to do her will and to satisfy her desires.
panic prevails, for ga horror of great dark
ness'' has fallen upon the land. Even profes
sing Christians arc casting their incense pro
fusely upon her altar and ministers of the
gospel, from their pulpits, are sanctifying tho
sorceress in the eyes of the people.
Now what should true Christians do IN cri
sis like this Those who do not cling to thC
world, nor bend the knee at the shrine OF IT.
idolatries. Those who worship God, and love
his people as an undivided brotherhood; ant
even love and pity their enemies who oppos'
themselves. should they not stand forth from
these errors. in an unbroken phalanx, pano
plied from heaven. to meet this devourlng ter
ror with the sword of truth ! 1t is not tn
Christians part to hold his peace, but to Ger.
aloud - to s.sound the trumpet, to warn th