The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1861-01-19

alone coold its object--a universal mora
revolution-have been accomplished. Fo
II it had forbidden the evil, instead 0
subvsrting the principle; if it had pro
claimed the unlawfulness of slavery, anC
| taught slaves to resist the oppression o
their masters, it would have instantly ar
rayed the two parties in deadly hostility
throughout the civilized world; its an
nouncement would have been the sigma
OF servile war, and the very name Of the
Christian religion would have been forgot
ten amidst the agitation OF universal
bioodshed. The fact under these c;rcum
stances, that lhe gospel does not forbid
slavery, affords no reason to suppose that
it does not prohibit it."
We pause not now to comment upon
the admitted fact, that the gospel does
not forbid slavery, and that Jesus Christ
and his Apostles pursued course entirely
different from that adopted by tho Aboli-
tionists, including the learned author him
self; nor to inquire whether the teaching
of Abolitionism is not as likely to produce
strife and bloodshed in these days as in
the first ages of the church. What we
now call attention to, and protest against,
Is tbs imputation here cast upon Christ
and his Apostles. Do you believe the Sa-
viour sought to insinuate his religion into
the earth By concesling its real design,
and preserving profound silence in re-
gard TO one Of the very worst sins it came
to destroy? Do you believe that when he
heated the centurions servant (whom
every honest commentator admits TO have
been a slave,) and produced that precious
eulogy upon the master, +" ! have hot seen
so great faith in Israel do ycu believe
.bat Faz,,. i.y
sin because he deprecated the consequence
Paul stood upon Mars Hi, surrounded
ers as there were idols in the city. do you
believe he kept back any part OF the re-
quirements Of the gospel because he was
afraid OF Il tumu!t among the people? We
ask these Abolition philosophers whether.
as matter Of fact, idclatry, and the vices
connected with it. were not more intimate
ly interviewer with the social and civil life
Of the Roman empire than slavery was
Did the Apostles abstain from reaching
a gairst idolatrv? Nav. who does not
know that by denounc!ng this sin they
brought down upon themselves the whole
power Of the Roman empire? Nero coy
cred the Chris tan martyrs with pitch. and
lighted up the city with their burning
bod;es, ust because they would not with
hold or compromise the truth IN regard to
the worship Of idols In the ligit OF that
fierce persecution, il il profane tritiine for
Dr. Wayland. or any other man, to tell Us
that Jesus and Paul held back their hon
est opinions Of slavery in order TO avoid
4 serg.!e ur-. IN which the very uaIne OF
the Christian religion would have been
forgotten" The name Of the Christian re
.igi0n is not so easily forgotten; nor are
iod great purpose. Vi redemption capa-
Die of being defeated ~ an honest dec.a-
ration Of His truth everywhere and al all
times And yet this philosophy. 20 dis
honOrinG to Christ and He Apostles i
tAe character Of our young men
and women. Il comes into our schools
and mingies with the very !.ie-b.ood Of
future generations the sentiment that
Christ aad HIS apostles held back the
truth, and suffered sin 10 go uETebuked TO
avoid the wrath oI man. And all this to
maintain. al all hazards. and in the face
Of the Say!ours example 10 the contrary,
the urscrirtnrsl docT1a that slavehnllins
Is sin.
But II must be observed, in this CON
nect.on, that the Apostles went much far
ther than to abstain from preaching gainst
THcy admiae9 siqr>hoi{crs 70
tie C5a,mfqsoa or tie CIlorch. In our text,
are acknowledged a. " Brethren,
1.itkful and beloved, parts.ers Of the
benefit. If the New Testament IS TO be
received IS faithful history. no man was
ever rejected by the Apostolic Church up-
on the ground that he owned slaves. ii
ne abused his power es a master. If he
ava;led himself OF the authority conferred
-. p-s,Dr,, Law .n IN n~
murder, or cruelty. lie was rejected for
these crimes, just as he would bs rejected
now for similar crimes from any Christian
Church in our Southern States
II parents abused or neglected their
children, they were censured, no; for hav-
ing children, but for not treating them
Aud so with the STAKEHOLDER. 1t
was not not tue owning of slaves. but the
manner in which he fulfilled the duties
of his station, that made him subject for
church discipline The mere fact that he
was a stakeholder no nloTe subjected him
to censure than the mere fact that he was
a father or husband. 1t is, obviously,
upon the recognised lawfulness OF the re-
lstion that all the prscepts regulating the
reciprocal duties OF that relation are based.
These precepts are scattered all through
the inspired epistles. There is not one
co,,r,ard or tybortatio,, tn eruancinata
tp.iiIi'ai." 60 " ,I I'll - H.
S'ie 80 ,;", ID ha ,o
lo' 'ne go 20 ~
req o.esSIils - ii.'Ii I"S s-e mas =
'el. - "1 80 -. a. ~. ~. I.i.,.
tne s!"No " 20 oo'' '~i,l - 10, S,,,oi ~,
ih'ght !IesS[se 'i.e u'iity o. .'.a' ho. r.o,,
"a - VIZ NE, 1 aia ~ f...aIa LonS or
uIeeN of Jew ii-"'7 "a iS''-'''' '''0' u
fHTs I':. or.., .o:l thot r .ha pib,a docs
Al - o-ien 80 .iia a VIZ 80 80
sa'lc'ioti sia.e'io'o'.is II go NO. ". go,
-im'It t'dh S'@'e,y' Ia ahaT;t;nn
s1aVeliotu.S ti''-' 'i.e
ISL l'iote, o'', aJ''.,7' 80 '-'e
'',t,. r. ',t ~. I answ.r tho R;bIe doss not
sanc,;on i,a,r.,.1, ,,1rr;,1s Ire system
go as whaIe i fulI Of evil and in;ou;,
-, Tha low. Of tho several states in ra-