Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1858-10-30

with anectlOh anu esteem,
Your brother in Christ,
WM. a. HALLocK,
Sec. Am. Tract Soc.
1t is generally known that the Tract Society is,
sue the whole Bible with notes. But this does
not prevent it from publishing selections of Scrip.
ture in separate tracts, and there is an obvious
propriety in thus concentrating its inspired teach
ings on particular subjects, both as bringing the
truth to bear with more force given point,
and as giving it far wider circulation. My eye
now rests on four tracts in the Society's General
Series land there may be othcrs) composed ex
clusiveiy of Scripture texts The longest of these
(No. 7O) is prepared on the very ylan Of the
tract here rejected, doctrines and Duties Of the
Christian Religion, stated in the language Of the
Bible, embracing twenty-five different headings
with an array of texts under each selected from
the whole Bible. If the Society's edition Of tie
Bible does not render such tract superb uous
nor diminish its value, and If on So many subject
the risk can be incurred Of stating truth without
error in this form, is it impracticable to do the
same on another topic, on which the public con,
science needs to be enlightened or vitazed? One
OF these topics, Social Duties, would naturally
have embraced one of the quotations of this tract,
(Col. iv. u Of which it stops just short--includ.
ing the several classes named in Ephesians and
Coosslans with the exception of masters--and in
place Of which it quotes Rom. xiii. /, Lee every
soul be subject unto the higher powers ecs. The
tract Scripture Promises to the Liberal is also
compiled ON the same plan
1t is conceded, of course, that truths detached
from q connection which is essential to their mean
ing Lecome error and not truth /; and such quota
tiJns are the common resort Of the disngeruuus
That the preceding lis. of texts commencing
with what one Of my brethren here pleasantly
terms "A glitterng Mosaic generality'-is is the best
possible selection, is not claimed But is it notCa
tuir collection? Do these texts singiy, and as IL
whole, imply fatal error? Do they not, rather
embody citat truth? Though selected with care
and examined in the original tongues as well as
compared with the context, the list may not De
perfect. But with suchr evasion as it might have
ceved from the collective wisdom OF the Publis hing
Committee, or such only the experienced Sec
retary is accustomed patiently and kindly to bes.
tow on otaer manuscripts, might not the danger
Of iuculcatug fatal error nave been happily OBJ.
waited Is the divine testimony on this subject,
OF all Others, SO equvocal or OBSCURE that may
despair OF presenting it intelligently and safely
IN the very words of inspiration! Does an ex.
ceedng jealousy for the Word of God preclude
the attempt? This certainly does not emburrass
the Committee on other topics. Take as a sing lie
specimen the following paragraph in the trac,
(No. 204l entitled "A Scripture Help
'Sercants you also should read your Bibles.
Perhaps some of you are in hard service, und sr
severe masters. The word of God will console
you in the worst service, Thy statutes says
David, have been my song In tie house OF my
pilgrimage Psalms cxix 81. There you will
find an account of pious servants you will see
how faithfully Abraham's servant obeyed his mas
ter, Gen. xiv; how servant maid was useful to
Naaman, the captain of the King of Assyria s
army you will see the punishment of a lying ser
want in Gehazi, kingsv. There you will find
your duties fully pointed out and explained. Col.
iii. % 25 Eph. vi. So; Titus ii. 0, 10. 1t is
therefore undeniaby Important that you read the
Bible
Here are Scripture references; freely given, with
no apparent apprehension of distvrting he truth;
and what greater hazard would there be, in this
respect, in treating the duties of masters and the
doom of the oppressive. in the same way as the
duties of servants and the punishment OF the un-
faithful Whence this difference?
The remaining reason intimated by the Secreta-
ry for the rejection of a tract like the one here
offered is, we are now quietly pursuing our spr'
itual work." etc. plainly implying what in other
documents has been plainly asserted, that the
issue of such publications as this would
be departure from the proper spiritual work
Of the Society. This distinction. for which
the advocates of its present policy have labOred
so earnestly, will not bear examination. 1t will
not for a moment abide the test Of the Bible, nor
even that of the SOciety's own issues. The Conn
mittee will hardly admit that there is any diver
sion from its spiritual operations in its tracts on
Simplicity in Dress on Dancing as Social
Amusement on Sleeping in Church. on 'Theat
rical Exhibitions. or the Friendly Word with the
Gamester.,, the Alarm to Distiilers,' the Appeal
to tho Patriot the 'Well'conducted Farm, and the
famous 'Ox Sermon These are but portion OF
the tracts which are devoted TO social evils and
moral duties. One Of the above, as its title might