North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1863-08-05
VOL. 2, NO. 81.

Of slavery was not abolished by the gospel.
Compare now the course of the ultra aboli-
zionist with that Of Christ and his inspired
apostle The divine Redeemer OPENLY re-
Dukes the sancumonious Phariseess, "who
made void the law OF God by their traditious.'
He spares not the wealthy, infidel Sadduces.
He denounces the hypocritical Scribes, who
loved the uppermosa rooms at feasts and to
be called of men, Rabbi Rabbi"
He calls the royal Herod I" that fox,'' entire
lY regardless ofthe kings displeasure. He cen
sures severely the Jewish practice of divorce
ing their wives for the slightest cause, and
vindicates the original sanctity of marriage,
He tells the deluded crowd of his enemies
that they are the children of the devil, and
that the lusts Of their fathers they woul do
He makes a scourge of small cords, and
drives the buyers and sellers out of the tenn
pie. And while he thus rebukes the sins of
all around him, and speaks with divine au-
thori.y, he proclaims himself the special
friend and patron of the poor-preaches TO
them his blessed doctrine, on the mountain
by the seaside. or in the public streets, under
the open canopy Of heaven-heals their dis
eases, partakes of their humble fare, and pass
ing by the rich and great hooses his apos-
ties from the ranks of the publicans and the
fishermen of Gailee. Yet he lived in the
midst OF slavery, maintained over the old
heather races, in accordance wi th the Mosaic
law, and uttered not one word against it
What proof can be stronger than this, that
he did not regard it as sin or mora! evil?
And what contrast can be more manifest than
this example of Christ on the one hand, and
the loud and bitter denunclations of our anti
slavery preachers and politicians, calling
themselves Christians, on the other ? For
they not only set themselves against tho
Word of God in this matter, condemnng
slavery as the monster sin,' the sum of
all villanies," but-srange to say they do it
in the very name of that Saviour whose
whole line Of conduct was the very opposite
of their own!
Look next at the contrast afforded -' -
inspired Apostle Of the Gentiles. He preach
es to the slave, and tells him TO be obedent
to his Master fer Christ's sake, faithful and
as a main branch OF religious
duty. He breaches to the master and tells
him to be just and equal to his slave, know
ing that HIS Master is in heaven. He finds
fugitive slave, and converts him to the Cos
pei, and then sends him back again to hs
Did home, with letter of kind recommends
ton. Why does St. Paul act thus ? why
does he not counsel the fugitive to claim his
right to freedom and defend that right. if
necessary by the strong hand of violence,
even unto death? Why does he not write to
MS disciple, Philemon and rebuke him for
the awful SIN of holding fellow man in
bondage, and charge 1t upon him, as solemn
luty, to emancipate his slaves, at the peril o
lis soul.
The answer is very plain. ST. PAIL ardS
Inspired. and knew the 1cW Of the Lord Je-
'us Christ, and Vas only intent on obeying II.
And who are we, that in our modern wisdom
presume to set aside the Word of God, and
corn the example Of the divine Redeemer,
and spurn the preaching and the conduct of
he apostles, and invent for ourselves a
higher law than those holy Scriptures
which are giyrn to US as " a light to our feet
md lamp to our paths," in the darkness of
sinful and pollutsdl, EqE!4ar !ara ats ts s!n, and re-
ard as duty? Who are we, that are ready
= ,romnle ON the doctrine Of the Bible, anu
oar to shreds the Constitution OF our country
nd even plunge the land into the untold nor
.ors of civil war, and yet boldly pray 10 Inc
God Of Israel to bless our very acts OF reoe'-
,c.;nst his own sovereign authority woe
1r,;on when the blind become the
leaders of the blind Woe to the man VINO
doras 70 strive against his Maker = 49,.
yetI do no, mean to charge the numerous
and respectable friends of this popular ueiu
s,o- with a wilful or conscious opposition 10
tho truth. They are seduced, douo'leSs, ~
the great majority of cases, by the feei'ngs 3, "
false philanthropy, which palliates, 1t II can
not excuse, their dangerous error. Living
Car ow,v from the Southern States, with no
practical experience of the institution, anu
accustomed, from their childhood, 20 at'acn al
an iuordinate value to their personal hoertN'
.hav are naturally disposed to compassionate
,ho rocro race. and to believe that tho save
must be supremely wretched IN his bondage
Thev are under TO special inducement 10
70 g search the Scriptures on this.partlou-
,or subject, nor are they in general, am sor-
.. Gov accustomed TO study the Bioi0
h,,f rs much as they read the newspapers
! 49, nova, and the magazine Taere they tind
m,ny "y W, revolving pictures of slavery, and they
ma". annot n,use to ask the question whether
Ip tbs "o are Just and faithful; Perhaps ius.-
tive m comes along who has fled from ms mas, .,
,e r. and who in justification OF hlmseh, VIZ ,hs
usually give very distorted statemen. .. ,,n tne
facts, even if he does not inVent .neS. a.,o
pether. And these good ana k'ha' heai .o'