Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1863-09-12

The meaning that have adopted is the
only one which agrees with the established
principle of legal construction, and it has
invariably been sanctioned by the doctors
of the Jewish law, and every respectable
Christian commentator.
Such, then is the institution OF slavery,
laid down by the Lord God of Israel
for his chosen people, and continued for
Gftcsn centuries, until the new dirpensa-
tion of the Gospel What change did this
produce / grant, of course, that we, as
Christians, are bound by the precctts and
example of the Saviour and his apostles,
Let us now, therefore, proceed to the all
important inquiry, whether we are au-
thorized by these to presume that the
Mosaic system was done away.
First, then, we ask what the divine Re.
deemer said in reference to slavery. And
the answer is perfectly undeniable: lie
DID NOT ALLUDE TO IT AT ALL. Not
one word upon The subject is recorded by
any of the four Evangelists who gave His
life and doctrines to the world. Yet sa-
very was in full existence at the time,
throughout Judea and the Roman empire,
according to the historian Gibbon,c contained
sixty millions Of slaves, on the lowest prob
) able computation How prosperous and
united would our glorious republic be at
this hour, if the eloquent and pertina-
cious declaimers against slavery had been
willing to follow their Saviour's example /!
But did not our Lord substantially re-
} peal the old law, by the mere fact that he
established new dispensation Certain
ly not, unless they were incompatible.
, And that he did not consider them in
compatible is clearly proved by his own
express declaration. "Think not" saith
he, "that am come to destroy the law
or the prophets. I am not come to de-
stroy, but to fulfill" Matt. 5; l7') On
that point, therefore, this single passage is
perfectly conclusive.
1t is said by some, however, that the
c great principle of the Gospel, love to God
and love to man, necessarily involved the
, condemnation of slavery. Yet how should
it have any such result, when we remem-
] Der that this was no new principle, but, on
!, the contrary, was laid down by the Deity
i to his own chosen people, and was quoted
from the Old Testament by the Saviour
c himself? And why should slavery be
thought inconsistent with it In the re-
t lation of master and slave, we are assured
! by our Southren brethren that there is in
comparably more mutual love than can
;, ever be found between the employer and
d the hireling. And | can readily believe
Il it, for the very reason that it is a relation
for life, and the parties, when rightly dis.
o posed, must therefore feel far stronger
r and deeper interest in each other.
. The next evidence which proves that The
=. Mosaic law was not held to be inconsistent
: with the Gospel occurs in the statement o
o the apostles to St. Paul made some twenty
I, years, at least, after the establishment o.
r the first Christians church in Jerusalem
C "Thou seest, brother" said they, show
;. many thousands ofJews there are who be
C lieve and they are all Jealous of the law.
| (Acts 2l : 20) How could this have
| been possible, if the law was supposed tc
= be abolished by the new dispensationl
But the precepts and the conduct o! ST
c Paul himself, the great apostle Of the Gen
e tiles, are all sufficient, because he meet
the very point, and settles the whole ques
= ton. Thus he saith to the Ephesian Ser
c wants, lin the original Greek bond servant
|. or slaves "bc obedient to them that arr
your masters, according to the flesh will
n fear and trembling, in singlencss of you
s Learts, as unto Christ. Not with eye ser
h vice, as men pleasers, but as the servant
h of Christ, doing the will of God from tht
q heart with good will doing service,as to tn
"a Lord, and not unto men, knowing tina
j. whatsoever good thing any man dOelh, thu
same shall he receive of the Lord, whethe
n he be bond or free. And ye masters,do th
same things unto them, iorbcaring threat
Of ening, knowing that your Master also
/. in heaven, neither is there any respect o
ID persons with him." Eph. 6: SOL
,e Again to the ColossianS, St. Paul re
\. peats the same commandments "Servants
d THAT is, bond servants or slaves "obey i
\. all thingsyou masters according to the fes
IA not with eye service, as men pleasers, bu
,r in singleness of heart, fearing God" Co
IS 3: 22.I 'Mastcrs, give unto your ser
:. wants that which is just and equeal, know
10 ing that ye also have Master in heaven