The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1861-02-27

wing masters let them not despise them, Inn
cying thst thew are their equals because they are
their brethren in Chr is for, though all christians
equal TO religious privileges, slaves are IN.
ferior 10 their masters in station Whefetore, let
them serve their masters .6fe diligently, because
they %hU enjoy the benefit Of their service are be-
lieters and beloved Of God. These things teach
and ethufl the brethren to practise them. II any
one teach differently by affirming that, under the
gospel slaves are NOT bound to serve their masters
but ouRh' TO be made free and does not consent to
The wholesome commandments which are our
Lord Jesus Christ,s, and TO the doctrine oil Inc
gospel which in all points Is conformnble TO true
morality, he is putfed up with pride, aud knoweth
nothing either Of the Jewish or Christian revela-
tions, though he pretends to have reat kho"e dge
both; but Is distempered in his mind abvnt idlH
questions and debates OF words, which anoro no
foundation for such doctrine, but are the sourc .
Of envy, cont, ntion evil speaking, that the trut
Is not sincerely maintained, keen disputings car
ried contrary to conscience, by men wholly cor
rupted in their minds and destitute oil the true
doctrine of the gospel, who reckon whatever pro.
duces most money is the best religion. From ali
such impious teachers withdraw thyseit, and do
not dispute tth them."
1t would be easy for the to confirm the testi-
meDy Of DIR. Mcknight, by extracts from COM
mentators OF every name and nation. Suffer me
to select few as representatives Of various reli
glous denominations,
DR.. Adam Clark who is the standard of bib
lical criticism among our Methodist brethren
and perhaps the most learned man that large
and jealous Denomination has ever produced,
gives US the following clear exposition;
"The word uoULoI (serv ants) here means slaves
converted to the christian faith; and the zUsoN or
yoke is the state OF slavery and by DEsPoTM. mas.
ters, we are to understand the heather masters OF
those christianized slaves. Even these, In such
circumstances, and under such domination, are
commanded to treat their masters with all honor
and respect that the name of God, by which they
called, and the doctrine OF God, christianity,
which they had ptciessed, might not be basphe-
mcknight not be evly spoken Of in consequence
of their improper conduct. Civil rights are never
abolished by any communca ton from Gods Spir'
it. The civil state in v bich man was before his
conversion is not altered bv that conversion; nor
does the grace OF God absolve him from any
claims which either the State or his neighbor may
have on him All these outward things con tnue
unal,ered And they that have believing masters
let them not despise them, supposing themse yes
to be their equals because they are their brethren
in Christ and grounding their opinion on this that
in him there is neither male nor female, bond nor
frees for although all are equal 10 their spiritual
privileges and state, yet ,eir still continues IN
the order of Gods providence; great disparity III
their station, the master must ever he, In TINS
sense, superior to the servant But rather DO them
service -obty them the more cheertully, because
they are faithful nnd beoved-faithiul to Gods
grace; beloved by him and his true followers. Par
takers of the benefit This is generally understood
us referring to the masters participation in the ser
vices Of his slaves; or il may apply to the servants
who are partakers Of many benefits from their
christian masters. Others think that benefit here
eiers to the grace of the gospel, the common sal
vaiion OF believing masters and slaves"
DIR. Doddridge great light among the Eng
lish CongregatoHallsts, whose practical works
are in almost every Christian family, and whose
precious hymns are sung wherever the name OF
Christ is known, gives US the following para
phrase:
''Let, therefore, as many servants as are under
the yoke of honda ge. accou mt their own masters
worthy Of all that civil honor and respect which
sui It's the station in which they respectively are:
not taking occ8s lon from their own religious know
edge and privilege to despisc and rebel against
them that the name and doctrine of God which
they profess may not be blasphemed by their inso.
ence and pride. And as for those servants who
are so happy to have Ge lievng masters let them
not presume on that account to despse them be-
they are brethren, and withrespect to sacred
privileges "qual in Christ their common Lord; but
lot them rather serve them with so much the great
er care and tenderness, because they are faithful
and beloved and pai tnkers with them of the great
and go ious benefit which the gospel brings TO all
its professors OF what ever rank station in life
will add one more testimony from olhaus,
en-, Gas continued by WIesinger,) q work which
ucoeIFeuiy tHc IuOob evan
gelical productions of modern Germany.
avs. l. AS many under the yoke as are slaves
thus De Witte rightly renders the word, taking
DouLo as the predicate; for the distinction cannot
be amended to be drawn between such slaves as
are under the yoke and such as are not. slave
Is. as such under tn yoke; the expression there
fore does not imply harsh treatment nor can it, in
itself mark the distinction between such slaves ms
serve heath"n and such as serve christian masters
The expression Is rather used by the Apostle in op'
position to the false ideas that were held on the
subject of emancipation Whosoever is under the
yoke is to conduct himself according to his posi-
tioD. They are to count their masters wo thy ot
oil honor, that the name of God and the docuine
be not blaspbemed. One can easily conceive wha
danger there was ies the christian slave would in
wardy exalt himself above his heather master,
and look down upon him. 10 mee' this danger
there is here required of him not merely outward
subiection, but inward esteem.
I've. treats of christian slaves under christian
masters. Such slaves are not TO see in the fact OF
their masters being their brethren in Christ, rea-
son for despisng them, tor to place themselves on
n level with tho to whom they owe subsection IS
already to despise hcm;) bnt they are rather to
find in this circumstance a motive to serve the
more, ! E :, to do all the what their position
as slaves lays upon them"
DR.. Gill, the we'll known Baptist commenta.
tor. gives us substantially the same exposition.
The text, as thus expoundcd by the concur
rent testimony of all the commentators, is q
prophecy written for these days, and wonderful
ly applicable to our present circumstances. It
gives us lifelike picture of Abolitionism in its
principles, its spirit and its practice, and furnish
es us plain instruction in regard to our duty in
the premises. Before entering upon the dis
cusslon OF the doct rine, let us define the terms
employed. By Abolitionism, we mean the
principles and measures Of Abolitionists. And
what is an Abolitionist? He is one who be-
lieves that slaveholdng is sin, and ought there
fore to be abolished. This is the fundamental,
the Characteristic, the essential principle of Abol
itionism--that siaveholding is sin--that hold
ing men in involuntary servitude is an intring-
ment upon the rights Of man, heinous crime
in the sight OF God. A man may believe, on
political or commercial grounds, that slavery is
an undesirable system, and that slave labor is
not the most profitable; he may have various
views rs TO the rights OF Shareholders under the
constitution Of the country, he may think this
or that law upon the statute books OF the
Southern States is wrong; but this docs not
constitute him an Abolitionist; to be entitled to
this name, he must believe that slaveholdiny is
asoyaRy svong. The alleged sinfulness of slave
holding, as IT is the characteristic doctrine, so
IL is the strength Of Aboltionism in all its ram
ified and various iorms. 1t is by this doctrine
that il lays hold upon the hearts and conscien-
ces ofmen, that 1t comes as disturbing force in.
to our ecclesiastical and civil institutions, and by
exciting religious animosity, (Which all history
proves TO be- the strongest o human passions, }
imparts peculiar intensity to every contest
into which II enters. And you will perceive il
is Just here that Aholitionisn presents proper
subject for discussion in the pulpit foe 1t 10 one