The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1861-12-24

The following article from the Christian
Adroeate and Journal will be perused will
interest:
THE GOSPEL AND SLAVERY.
How did they set 10 work TO preach
thiSf ! wall answer this question by two
others: How did Bossuet SET TO work to
proclaim, in The name OF tile Bible, obli-
gaiory monarchy, divine right, the ALSO
lutte authority Of kings, etc How, in
turn, did certain doctors among tie Round
beads set to work TO proclaim the divine
right Of republics, and to ordain the mas.
sacre OF the New Amalekiies?
The method is very simple: it consists
only in coniounding the Law with the
Gospel.
This confusion once wrought, the polit.
ical and civil institutions Of tie Old Tes-
lament lose their temporary and local
character, and we 90 to the New Tesla
menl in search Of what is not there, name.
ly, political and civil institutions. The
Gospel, which addresses itself 10 all ma
ticns and all ages, does not pretend TO
force them into the straight vestments Of
the ancient Jewish nation; no more does
it pretend 10 "sew a piece Of new cloth
upon an old garment, else tue new cloth
iakeih away from the old and The rent is
made worse | speak here Of those who,
In the Law as in the Gospel, in the New
Testament a in the Old, yenera,e the in
fallible word OF God. A revelation, TO be
divine, does not cease 10 be progressive
and nothing exacts that all truth should
be promulgated in single day. If God
deemed proper TO give his people, SO long
as they needed il, a legislation adapted TO
their social condition, this legislation, d.
vineiy given Mt the time, may be also d.
vinely abroga,ed aiterward. And this is
what has taken place. Those who quote
TO us texts from the Old Testament con-
cegning slavery appear TO have forgotten
the saying Of Jesus Christ in reference to
another institution, divorce: 1t was on
account OF the hardness Of your hearts
Yes, on account Of the hardness Of their |
hearts God established among the Israel
ties, incapable AT that time OF rising high
or, proyisionsry regulations, perfect as re-
CARDS his condescension, but most imper-
feet, as lie declares himself, rs regards the
absolute truth.
II was Jesus Christ himself, therefore.
who drew the line Of demarkation between
the Law and the Gospel, who announced
the end Of local and temporary institutions
Has he revealed other institutions. this
time defniiyey 10 form such an idea Of
the Gospel NC must never have opened
II. The Gospel Is not Koran. In the
Koran we doubtless find both civil and
criminal laws and the principles Of gov
eminent; the apostles did not once tread
on this ground.
Fancy wha, their work would have
been had ,hey substituted social for a
spiritual revelation; had they touched,
above all. The question OF slavery, which
formed part e The fundamental Law Of
ihe ancient world. And here ] wish my
10 be clearly understood. DO
rot pretend that the apostles were con-
scioos oa the unlawfuuess Of slavery, and
that they avoided pointing it ont through
policy, for fear Of compromising their
work. No, indeed. this happened uneon-
sciously. According TO all appearances
they hold the opinions Of their times and
God revealed nothing 10 them on the sub
ject. wishing that tie abolition Of slavery, !
like all The social results VI the Gospel.
should b. produced by moral agency, /
y hies, sa.lks from aiih'n outward, which
changes tic hear before changing tho ac-
.scns With ORE ssyine. " hat ye
wunia lhas ssen shoald do IL Soa, DO ye I
al.gio item, he q spell has openel be-
Ierv % lahaiie yiatas II moral develop {
alent. Il
Before this one saying the crueliics and /