Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1857-09-17
Aou.slayery Preaching, and Religion.

Anti-Slayery Preaching, and Religion.
By the speech of Peachy r. Grattan, Esq, d,livcr
ei at tho late con Senton of the New School
Presbytcrians in Cleveland, we learn that the number
@, conversions in the Northern churches has dirnin
ished and that in some, there have been, ar long
time scarcely any conversions at all. This sa very
bad sign 1t is sign that the ministers of the COS
pei have neglected their duties most shamefully.
But above all il proves the utter wickedness Of the
present antisavery Crusade. 1t is to this ana this
alone that the decay ofreligon is owing Preachers
of the gospel have time to attend to the Salvation
souls--they have time to preach the word Of
God-they have time for any thing, bur 10 incu-
cate blood and murder the first duty Of man from
their pulpits, and to cry out Tor subscriptions to
buy Shapes rifles for the purpose Of carrying their
precepts into practice Hence tits that there few
conversions churches in others none in all
greatly reduced number.
1t is astonishing that men of real pety--if there
be any such among the crusaders-io not see this |
matter in its proper light. 1t is astonishing that
they do not see the TO which this great back
sliding is to be attributed. II is still more astouish
ing that theydo not see il they convinced of the
cause, that they do not seek to eradicate il Most
assuredly there cannot be greater wickedness than
the encouragement Of men TO persevere in a course
which leads them astray from the precepts OF religion
Ministers of the gospel set their faces against the
theatre, the ball. the course, the gaming table
and very justly do they do it They do it because
the tendency of all these is TO weaken the influence
of the gospel-to fasten the affections of man. al
ready but too much disposed that way, upon the
pleasures of this world-to make them careless Of
eternity and the far important concerns Of the
life to come. But here is cause that produces
III r Al. A.
the fercost passions OF nature-it arms man
against man-it puts strife between whole States
1t sets half of nation in hostile array against
the other-its inevitable tendency is 10 produce
civil war, with all its attendant horrors
There is surely no warrant in the scriptures for
this. The religion of Christ is religion of peace.
"Peace upon earth and good will to man" is the
most prominent of all its precepts We do not find
that, while earth, he troubled himself with the
political or social condition of men. He comma nded
his disciples "to render unto Caesar the things that
are Caesars" counseling resistance to his author
ity, though the Caesar Of his day was Tiberins the
most atrocous that ever sat upon the throne
He found system Of domestic slavery established
throughout the Roman Empire, compared with
which the Spanish system in the West India Islands
was but ''lenity and compassion" He saw the
slave subjected to power which was responsible TO
other EARTH for any manner Of cruelty it might
exercise upon him in LIE, or for any mode II might
chance to put him to death. Without bringing him
before the civil authority the master could cruelty
for the slightest offence, or for offence. During
his life time, servile instruction arose in Italy,
and after causing the death of thousands stihed
in the blood of the slaves. AL this ne saw yet new
er once, during his whole mnstration, did he al
lude to the subject farther than TO caution slaves
TO be obedient to their masters never did lac in
innate that it was wrong to hold slsveS-nevcr did
he say with regard to those who held them us he
did with regard to the man who cursed his brother
that he in danger Of hell-ire. 1t is nconceva-
BILE that he should not have said that the system
was wrong, if it so in fact. Ifto hold slaves be
q crime which entails upon the holder the loss Of
his soul, as is preached every Sunday from thou
sand pulpts in New England, then Saviour
guilty Of most cruel omission in neglecting point
out the danger Will any man say this of him p
Dare any man say it Of him2 Yes, we had forgot
ten. There is party in New England, that is in
favor Of higher law still, the bible being high
enough for them. They are led by Preachers of the
Gospel too, and these renegade preachers teach
ing them 10 reject the Scriptures because they afford
no text by means Of which they can show that
Shareholder is vessel Of wrath formed for destruc-
ton.
We are not alarmsts We despse the character,
and have little faith in the representations OF that
class. But we really think this attempt Of the
Northern pulpits, to make themselves the bead
Of a political movement is one Of the worst
signs Of the times When religion and poll
tics become mingled bad times may always be expec-
ted The page Of history is open to all; let it be
studied with care by all We read that Archbishop
Laud thinking the religion Of Christ was not able to
take ofitself took it under his own protection
and 30 efectual was his guardianship, that in 1899
hewss enabled to report to his master, Cbsh :.
that he had completely subdued all discussion. and
In two years more his head was rolling in the dust
The people Of England it seems, were not thankful
for his kind interference between them and their Ma
ker-they rose in their strength pulled down throne,
Aristocracy and wealth. and sent the King and The
Prmate, both to the block The Puritans v no sue.
ceeded, and to whom much gratitude is due. STUN
bled at the same stone. They had overthrow the
priesthood, and had they stopped there snd pro.
claimed that all at liberty to worship God &C.
cordng TO the dictates Of their own conscience they
would have conferred inestnable ice not only
on their country, but on the whole human race -
But IN their turn, they attempted 10 re,uats auirs
Of religion-in other words to mix VI polite. and
religion, and the consequence was tue restoration
ofCharles H., and the long reign Of bun.,ons and
harlots, which forms the most disgrnrcfnl cbstt,,
In English History Let the present g.,,crati,n or
Americans take warning, when they -cc IN attempt
made to muglc politics and religion.
For and Against.
u seems somehow, AZ " the a,es had 81, a.,.,,,,,,
ibs, the Bagsircy and South should occur, ,r,,gori,,,
positions upon almost every eo,c.,,.ti. -