The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1861-02-27
The Character and Influence Of ABB
oIifionism---A Sermon Preached
In the First Presbyterian Church,
Brooklyn, ON sabbath Evening,
December 9th, 1S6O, by Rev. Hem

1FOOAtyus 0n SaDDatn Evening,
December 9th, 1S60, by Rev. Hem
ny j. Van Dyke, Pastor.
]. Let as many servants as ate under the yoke
count their own masters worthy OF oil honot, TINT
the name Of God and his doctrines be not bias.
phemed.
O. And they that have believing masters, le,
them not 6espise them, becaure they brethren;
but rather do them service, because they faith
full and beloved, psrtakers OF the benefit. These
things teach and exhort.
g. II any man teach otherwise, and roDsent not
10 whole some words, even the words Of our Lord
Jesus Christ and TO the doctrines which is accor-
ding to gsdliness;
4. He IL proud, knowing nothing, but dotng a.
bout questions add strife Of words. whereof COM
eth envy, strife, tailings, evi surmisDgs,
5. PerYerse disputings OF men oi corrupt minds
and destitute OF the truth. supposing that gain is
! Timothy, vi is.
propose to discuss the character and infu
ence of Abolitionism. With this view, have
selected a text from the Bible, and purpose to
adhere to the letter and spirit its teaching
We acknowledge in this place, but one standard
of morals-but one authoritative and infallible
rule OF faith and practice for we are Christians
here not blind deyotees, to bow down TO the
dictation of any man or church not heatheh
philosophers, to grope our way by the feeble
giimmerngs ofthe light OF nature not modern
infidels, to appeal from the written law of God
to the corrupt and tickle tribunal ofreason and
humanity but Christians, on whose banner is
inscribed this sublime challenge; ITO the law
and to the testimony; ifthey speaknot according
to this word, it is because there is no light in
them"
Let me direst your special attention to the
language of our text. There is no dispute
among commentators, there is ne rooom for dis
pute, as to the meaning OF the expression, 'ser
wants under the yoke" Even Mr. Barnes, who
is himself distinguished Aboltionist, and has
done more, perhaps, than any other man in this
country to propagate Abolition doctrines, ad-
mits, that "the addition OF the phrase under
the yoke shows undoubtedly that it a. e., the
original word, doulos) is to be understood here
ofslavery."< Let me quote another testimony
on this point from an eminent Scotch divine
I mean DR.. Mcknight, whose Exposition of
the Epistlcs is standard work in Great Britain
and in this couatry and whose associations
must exempt him from all suspicion Of pro-sla-
very prejudices. He introduces his exposition
ofthis chapter with the following explanations
Because the law of Moses EXODUS xxi. 2,) al
lowed no Israelite to be made slave for life
without his own consent, the Judaizing teach
ers, to allure slaves to their party, taught that
under the gospel, likewise, involuntary slavery
is unlawful. This doctrine the Apostle con-
demned here, as in his other Epistles, Il Cor.
vii. 90; Col. Iii. % Eph. vi 5,) by enjoining
Christian slaves to honor and obey their mas
tiers. whether they were believers, and by as
suring Timothy that ifany person taught other
wise, he opposed the wholesome precepts ofJe-
sus Christ and the doctrine OF the gospel which
in all points is conformable to eodliness or sound
morality, and was putfed up with pride, with
out possessing any true knowledge either OF the
Jewish or Christian revelation" Our learned
Scotch friend then goes on to expound the pas
sage in the following paraphase, which we com
mend to the prayerful attention OF all whom it
may concern
"Let whatever christian slaves are under the
yoke OF unbelitvers pay itir own masters all re.
tpect and obedience, that the character ot God
+Mr Barnes adopts most extraordinary method
30 avoid the force of tie precept which commands
slaves who have believing masters TO 'do them
service, becsuse they are faithful and beinveo.
partakers of the benefit" He says. 1.-THE passage
befor. us only proves that Paul considered that
man who was O STAKEHOLDER might be converted
and be spoken of as believer or Christian.--
Many have been converted in similar circums1an-
ces. many have been in the prac'lce OF oil oth-
er kinds of iniquiiy. What was their duty after
their CT INVERSION, was another question; aud what
the duty OF their servants or slaves was anoh-
er question, STILL"
Vi man can lie a christian, ahd continue to hold
others in hcndnge. II does not teach that he ought
TO be considered as maintaininga god standing
In the church ii he continues to be slapeholGer
The tact that man might he converted who was
STAKEHOLDER. no more proves that It would ne
right or desirable that he should continue that re-
laiion. than the fact that Saul of Tarsus became
christian when engaged In persecution proves that
it would have been right tor him to continue IN
,hst business or that lhe conversion Of the Ephe.
sians, who used curious arts,'3 proved that IT
would have been proper for them TO continue in
that employment. Men who are doing wrong, are
converted in order to turn them from that course
of lie not to justify them In it." Now, in view
of these extracts, have three rem rks to make
III They iustrnie the power Of fanaticism to
imbitter the heart. Mr.. ia rnes well knew when
he wrote these passags, that multitudes OF the no.
biest and holiest men OF this land have been. and
are, slaveholders-that many OF the founders OF
cur government, with Washington at their head
were slaveholdeIs--that there nre now In our
Southern States thousands OF christian masters
who give every Scriptura evidence of piety; and
yet in way that is oil the severe, because OF
it's quiet and rec mingly gentle maDner he teaches
thai siavehoding Is crime on par with the i'm.
posture Of the Ephesian sorcerers, with the slargh
ter of Saul the persecutor,a crime go obvious and
enormous, that convert from heathenism with.
out any inspited instruction uptn the subject at
once, and iustinctively Abandoned it. ~ These
extracts illustrate most pitiably how tanuticism
wsrps the human intellect The inspired Apostle
commands that slaves v bo have believing masters
mot masters who might ecome believers, as Mr..
Barnes, with an amazing ingenuity. iniimates but
believing ~ asters- masters who had bee convert
ed) thoUid do them service. And whyi Because
they are "iaithful and beloved partakers OF the
benz fit" Because these masters had been convert
ed were beloved oi God, were faithful in the dis
chargeof their social duties, par takers al the
senefits OF Divine grnce---thereiore, their slaves
were to be more obcdient and respectful in their
department. Now does not any one see that such
a precept contemplates ME continuance Of the re-
iatinn between the christian master and his savesf
Would Paul 10 siuliify himself Us to give com.
mancmenis for the regulation of that trelauon, ba-
sed upon the fact Of the masters conversion ii he
had expected and known this fact would instantly
dissolve the relation itself When he says, "chi.
dTen. obey your parents IN the Lord" does he 40.
ipy that the parental relation is TO be continue df
And 50 when. in the very sume passage tEphesians
viz 16 be says, "Servants tDoULoi. slaves) be obe.
dieni 10 them that are you- masters according to
the hefh." does he not intimate, in the strongest
torn, that he expects that relation to cont nuei
t3) these passages cast an imput alton upon
the In egriiy and candor Of the great Apostle. l
do not soy Mr.. Barnes meant such an imputatiop;
] spenk OF the effect Of such interpretations upon
those who imbibe their spirit Mr.. b. puts slave.
holding on level with "all other kinds Of iniqui
ty." and intimates his estimate or its guilt by
choosing persecution and sorcery to illustrate il.
Very wall then; If This be true, Paul might trt at
..ali other kinds Of iniquity" in the same way
To Be consistent be should have said: "ssorcerers,
use your curious arts and practice POUR inpostures
In o christian way Prosecutors, when you hate
men and women, and breathe out threatenings and
slaughter against the church, see 10 II tha, You
strangle and beat and kill the saints IN the most
gentle and tcador manner Adultersrs give 70 your
Darsmonfs that which 10 Just. Adultfessss, be obes
Men who 40 down from Jerusalem 10 Jerics, do
not de espisS the thieyes among whom YOU fall, for