The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-01-05

that God has instituted in Paradise and which Jesus
Christ has restored 70 mankind IN their sacfedness and
their purty-n In any OF these things, or ohers the
deprves the bond servant OF that which is gust
and equalS governing, for his sole, exclusive benefit
then he abuses the power which God has given him. and
the cry of the oppressed shall reach the OF the Lord
God Of sabaoh appealing for delyerancc and for justice
Such a view OF Gods Providence. Second-Iet us now
resort 10 Gods written word and then regard The con-
duct of Jesus and Ills Apostles the law aud the estms
ny. The relation Of apprenticeship allowed among
the Hebrews for period OF six years. III thou buy
Hebrew servant, six years shall lac serve and IN the
seventh he shall 90 out free for nothing" (xod XXI
But emancipation prohibited If the servant chose 10
remain for life sAnd If the servant shall plainly say,
love my master my wife and my children: will not so
out free then his shall bring him unto the judges
he shah also bring him to the door OF unto the
and his master shall bore his through with aw
ard he shall serve him forever" hod XXI D, g. Deut
xv l2ls) Voluntary slavery was thus permitted out Of
regard to the slaves will and preference In auson To
this fact and ceremony the spirit Of prophecy speaking
in the OF Christ and foreteng his voluntary serv
tude for salvation describes Him saying sSacr
lice and Offering thou ddst not desire; nie hast
thou opened burnt Offering and sin Offering hast thou
not reqared then said To- come to do thy will, my
Gcd.o Psalms. xl., 6-8 compare Hebrews K, 59.l
The Apostle to the Hebrews employs this prophe and
us familiar illustration 10 exemplify the voluntary
the family TO whom privileges were allowed not
granted TO the guest TO the hired servant AS
ample The priests portion Of tho sacrifice Of the shew
bread (which it not lawful for any eat but the
priest and his family, the meat Of the bond slave
Of The priest or an hired servant shall not eat Of the holy
thing But II the priest buy any soul win his money ne
eat of his meat" Qevit. xvii, TO- III The special
which authorized bondage for life Is in these
wor1s;sBoth Thy bondInen and thy bondinaids which
thou shalt have shall be Of the heather that round
about you; Of them shall ye buy bondmen and bond
maids moreover Of the children Of the strangers .nat 40
miles that with you which they begat In your land,
and they shall be your possession And ye shall take
them inheritance for your children after you, TO in
hcrt them for possession they shall be your bOndmen
forever" Qeyit. XIV, 4446) Taking these permis-
tic slavery undoubtedly authorized but in every the
condition Of the servant improved by his servtude.
II was an institution for the mutual benefit of the master
slave for In the Of the voluntary slave, il
crafty his Affections and in the case o. the heather
slave bring him into the midst Of cvilzing cul
ture, both in mind and spirit It eminently domes
tic institution Yet the Word of God does not fail TO
present the condition Of the slave as hardship
when the civilized man Is reduced to bondage
for it is among the dreary punishments denounced
against the apostae tribes that they should be cold into
bondage Thou shalt be brought again into Egypt and
there shall be sold unto your enemies Tor bondmen
and bondwomen. In the morning thou shalt say would
God 1t cven and at thou shalt say would God
morning" (Deut xviii 6S, 69) In all this we re-
cognee certain authority for slavery which it would be
uncandid to deny Yet remains to examine the ques
mitted on all sides that the institution Of slavery
universal during the human life Of Jesus and His Apostles
Yet read Of no instance when our Lord changed the
ancient laws the subject but he taught those prnc
ples and precepts of equal love- which, obcyed would
nigate if not bless the relationship Of master and SER
while slavery was permitted. And the Saviour and His
Apostles denounced dolaTy but tolerated slavery The
apostles Inspired on the y o. &c tbsr taught esnd
which Is just and equal i.Iet as many servants
under the yoke count their own masters worthy Of all
honor that the Of God and His doctrine be not
blasphemed And they that have believing masters, let
them not dcspse them because they brethren, but
give unto your servants that which Is just and equal
knowing that ye have also Master In heaven" And
Fph vi, 30 Col w.. ~ Commentators Of every COM
pcxicn Of religious persuasion doubts that the
"seTvanis under the yoke" were bondmeD and bond
women, the slaves Of the Roman empire. And there s,
moreover, fugitive slave law Of the New Tesla.
onesimus fugitive slave Of Philemon fees to Rome,
where he is converted by st. Paul Verse 1o) The
would not keep him to serve himself OF regard the
masters right and the slaves duty oversees 49, 1 He
erjoins Philemon TO treat him as better servant than
ever, Christian brother oversees 15 16 and he
efels TO pay Philemon all damage: Verse 49, II We
believe this Scripture and acknowledge the authority of
aw 70 sssvss rom their masters and
for the to treat them cruelty their return
Such brethren is the statement OF Holy scripture as
it appears to your preacher this question Of domestic
slavery. Have the Southern States complied with the
law of God when they refuse TO their servants manhood
rights when they proane the sacred bonds Of marriages
when they separate family in the tenderness Of their
ageS Have Northern fanatics fulfilled the Christian law
when they proclaim unqualified abolition, and lure
wants from their masters nterpose hndrances 10 the
f,gtiyes ronditonf Public sentiment at the South is
wrong and States have already forbidden the
rage by their statute aw Public sentiment at the North
sober and just and scrptural the question of slave
ry and profoundly respects the respos Utilities the rights
and the duties Of master and servant. But passion has
now usurpcd the throne Of on both sides Tho
constitution Of the United states still spreads its majestic
folds around country regards slaves persons
having human rights cf protection and Of representa-
tion, yet az servants owing life service TO their
masters But the fury of political parisaus has trans
ferred question purely spiritual from out Of the
moral code into the arena Of sordid calculation
Of selfish profit and sectional preemnence. And In that
lustful controversy the battle Of the tribes enacted
in our country and fair State is lacking in Union
the meteor Of last evening rae in light from the
horizon TO the zenith; and at its highest ascension It
exploded into two beauteous but divergent Spheres aud
then they were both quenched In night Was that the
omen that presagcd countrys DOOM Have reached
the height Of grandeur and prosperity TO break and
be cxtinguishedf No, no, my brethren. The lacking
tribe Of Benjamin not lost 10 Israel but came back
reformed and purified And the eleven tribes who like us
to-day, wept before God and asked OF Him wisdom
and forgiveness learned to be considerable and kind to
thcr seeding brethren. SO, IL II please God that we
study the lesson Of that record, shall present dis
tnihanccs promote future welfare rencd States
In tho more perfect bonds Of Christian brotherhood
90 not viii not, despair Of the republic Collisions OF
Clint and steel produce sparks Of light The puri
6es the air The very lightning whose voice thunder
devouis tie yapors OF miasma This days pety at the
bh,et Of the Chief Magistrate Of the nation shall com
nane G,Gs blessing. And childrcn's children In
that better civilization which s In prospect shall rccrr
10 these times 10 a beacon which both warns ard
guides tho pilgrim traveller 10 eternity.