The New York herald., 1860-12-10
THE CHARACTER AND influence Of ABOLITNNISM.

THE CHARACTER AND influence Of ABOLlTlONISM.
| Sermon Preached I'm the First Presbyte-
rian Church OF Brooklyn Last Even
ing, by Rev. Henry J. Van Dyke.
The First Presbyterian church. corner Of Remsen and
Clinton streets, Brooklyn, was dcnsely crowded last
evening with highly intelligent congregation who liz
tened with marked interest and discourse
from their pastor, Rev Henry Van Dyke Charac
ter and Influence Of Abolitionism scrptural point
of view In his opening suppcation the gentle
man prayed that Providence would bless Southern
| brethren and restrain the passion of the evil among
them that the might be made Christs servant
and the servant Christs freeman and both sit togc.
ther united in Christian love that church founded by
Christ and His Apostles which there neither Greek
Jew male female, bond free but all are one
in Christ Jesus lie also prayed that God would bless
the people of the Northern States restrain the violence
of fanatica men, provide for those who by tho agi,
ton of the times have been thrown of employ
keep the speaker himself from teaching anything which
was not in accordance with the Divine will, and dsabuse
the minds Of his hearers of all prejudice and passion
so that they might be willing be convinced Of tho
| truth.
His text chosen from Pauis First Epstlc to limo.
thy sixth chapter from the first to the fifth verse in
| clusive;-
l. Let as many servants as are under the yoke count
their own masters worthy of all honor that the name
I Ged and his doctrine be no, blasphemed
| Ana they that have believing masters let them not
them service because they are faithful and beloved
partakers Of the benefit. These things teach and
hort.
B. II any man teach otherwise and consent not to
| wholesome words the words of our Lord Jesus
Christ and 10 the doctrine which is according godl
ness,
| T. He is proud, knowing nothing but doting about
questions and strife of words whereof comcth envy
| strife, railings, evil surmisings,
i s. Perverse disputngs Of OF corrupt minds and
destitute Of the truth suposng that gain is godlincss
from such withdraw tbyscf
Iprorose he sad discuss the character and influence
| Of aboltonsm. With this view have selected a text
from the Bible and purpose adhere the letter and
spirit Of its teaching We acknowledge ia this place
standard Of morals, but authoritative and in
| fable rule Of faith and practice. For Chris
tians here; Papists 10 bow down the dictaton
| Of any church; not heather philosophers, to
gropc our way by the feeble glimmerngs OF the
light Of nature not modern ndels TO appeal from the
written law OF God to the corrupt and tickle Tribunal
and humanity; but Christians, whose banner
Inscribed this sublime chalengeTo the law and the
testimonyf they speak not according to this word
| Is because there Is light in them"
Let direct your special attention to the language Of
our There is dispute among commentators there
n for dispute to the meaning OF the expires
sion servants under the yoke" Even Mr. Barnes who
himself distinguished abotionist and has done
perhaps than any other this country propagate
| abolition doctrines, admits that "the addition OF the
phrase under the yoke shows undoubtedly that ii a.
the original word docs) Is TO be understood here
slavery. Let me quote another testimony this point
| from an eminent Scotch divine, mean Dr Mcknight
whose exposition Of the cpiste liz standard work in
Great Britain and in this country, and whose associations
must exempt him from all suspicion Of prosavcry preu
dices lie introduces his exposition Of this chapter with
the following explanation Because the law
lowed Israclito 10 be made slave for life without
his consent the Judazng teachers allure slaves
their party taught that under the gospel likewise
untary slavery unlawful This doctrine the apostle
condemned hee in his other epistles, by enjonlng
Christian slaves honor and obey their masters whether
| they were believers unbeicycrs, and by assuring
Timothy that any person taught otherwise he opposed
the wholesome prcceps Of Jesus Christ and the doctrine
OF the gospel which in all points conformablc 10
| godlinoss or sound morality, and was pufed
up with pride without possessing any knowledge
either of the Jewish Christian revelation" our learn
cd Scotch friend then goes TO expound the passg In
| tho following paraphrasc, which commend TO the
| prayerfuI attention Of all whom may concern
let whatever Christian slaves under tho yoke OF
cnce that the character of God whom worship may
not be and tho doctrine of the gospel may
L
rights OF mankind And those Christian slaves who have
believing masters iet thcm not dcspise thc fancyng
that they their equals because they their brethren
In Christ for though all Christians equal 20 rcli
gous prviieges slaves arc inferior 10 their masters ~
station. Wherefore ct them serve their masters more
diligently, because they Who enjoy the benefit Of their
service are believers and beloved Of God "fhese things
teach and exhort the brethren 20 practice them any
one teach dinercuy by armirg that under the gospei
slaves are not bound their masers but ought 20
Dc made ffcc and dos not consent 10 the wholesome
commandments which lord iesus thrists, and
i In he tpsfr
formabe true morality, he pulled np with prize and
revelations though be pretends 20 have great knowldge
| Of both hut " d-tcmpcrcd IN lis mind about idc
questions and debate of words which Afford no founatn
for such doctrine. but the source Of envy, con
tenton evil speaking, unjust suspicion that the truth
not sincerely maintained, Keen disputngs carried on
minds and destitute 4 the true doctrine u the gospel
| who reckon whatever produces most money = The
hest religion frm all such impions teachers withdraw
thyself aud d. mol dispute with them
| The text a. thus expoundcd by American aboIi-
tRnls and scotch divine, (whoso testimony need not
be confirmed by quct from all tho other commcuta.
tors) / prophecy written Tor these days, aud wonder.
fully applicable present circumstances II gives ~
lifehko picture 81 aboiionism IN principles ~ -pi
rlt and its practice and furnishes plain instruction
regard to or du'y the premises Before entering upon
the discussion ~ the doclrinc let define tho
| employed BY abolitionism the principles aud
measures of aboltcns,s. And what is aboltionisti
lie i one who believes TIA, saveholdng sin and ought
therefore to be abolished This i the fundamental tn
Characteristic, tho essential principle Of abatonsm-
that slayehoding y sin--that holding men IN In
voluntary servitudc s infringement upou the
| rights OF man, heinous crime IN the sight u
God. man may believe on political common.
olal grounds tha, slavery Is undesirable systam,
and that slave labor Is the most profitable; he may
have various views 70 the rights Of Shareholders under
the constitution of 'hc oouo'ry ne may think this O
,ha, law upon the statute hcoks Il southern states =
wrong, but this docs not constitute him an abotonp'
| unl,ss he believes that slavohoding s mof'nE
| wrong The alleged sigfulncss II .ayehodins' e.
| Il IA the characteristic doctrine. - = te
strength or abolaonism ~ IT. ram'aed ana safous
| forms s BY ,liis dcc,rnc that 4 hAa ho'd upon
ue hearts and corscenccs of mcn, tia. = comes as
disturbing forcc INTO eccesiastcal nna eva mu'a'
| b-s m, Nv eycany religious amnesty which a bis
Toy i.oycs to lc the strongest human assFosi ina.