Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1864-03-03
g The Ministry and Politics.

Mr. EDITOR
| see u communication in
the RepuJlicdn of week before last, under
the above head, accusing the Farmer and
Others of making an unjust warfare on the
clergy of this county for meddling with pol
itics in the pulpit. The writer denies the
Charge. But claims that preachers have,
by virtue of their mission, a right to de-
nounce vice and point out error. Who dis
putes this But he assumes the very thing
he should prove. He should remember
that if he is preacher ofthc gospel, not,
however, of the doctrine promulgated from
Mount Sinai, for we are now under Christ
he should be governed by the teachings of
Christ and the apostles. No one will object
to minister denouncing sin. But did
Christ or his apostles ever denounce slavery?
Name the place. All the bombast and gra-
tuitous assertions about human traffic, bon
dage, &c, are irrelevant, and merely sickly
cant. The apostles, found human slavery,
more rigorous than American, existing un-
der the Roman Government. Did they
denounce it as sin? Did they, under the
protection of their calling, take the liberty
to interfere with it, as our modern Aboli-
tonists do? Not at all. Had they done
this they would have incurred the penalties
of violated law How different the course
of the new Testament Preachers from some
\ of our modern, called and 7un-for God
does not call and send such-preachers.
The great apostle Paul, for instance. He
says to those who were found in the condi-
ton of slaves:
cart thou called being a servant--the
Greek is douboS, a slave-care not for it,
but if thou mayest be free. choose it rath-
er.
The gospel, as Dodridse and other COM
mentators on the passage, makes no politi-
litical distinction among men, let's every
Christian remain in the state in which he
was called.
He must not get refractory, nor run off
. but wait until such time as he may be able
to obtain his freedom by the consent of his
master. We have two or three epistles ad-
dressed to preachers as a class, in none OF
which do we have any instruction to inter-
, fere with, or denounce the sin of slavery.
On the contrary, the relation of Master
: and slave Is recognized, and mutual obliga-
tions prescribed 1t was a relation santion-
: ed by law, and, if sinful one, they would
have denounced it, and said /: " Masters,
! emancipate your slaves" But did they
u say so? No; but servants, obey your mas
. ters.
G The abolitionists who are necessarily med
y ding with the relation of servant and mas
u ter, may do well to read lesson from tn,
II 9th chapter of Timothy.
''Let as many servants as are under Tho
yoke count their own masters worthy of al
/ honor, that the word of God be not bias
/ phemed And they that have believin!
), masters, let them not despise them, becaus
u they are brethren; but rather do them ser
II vice, because they are faithful and beloved
partakers of the benefit These firing
(, teach and exhort, If any man teach 9th
u erwise' take care Mr.. abolitionist-''a an,
d consent not to wholesome words, even tn,
, words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to tn
/ doctrine which is according to godliness
he is proud, knowing nothing "a fool, as i
e is in the margined reading--"but dotin
:. about questions and strites of words, where
II of come envy, strife, ratings, evil surmi
l zings, peryerse disputings of men of cor
g rupt minds, and destitute of the truth
! ! supposing that gain is godliness; from sucl
Z withdraw thyself y
: This is the manner in which the primi
&c tive preachers taught their focks; instea
= of political harangues about "human bon
= dage, freedom" &c.
- Fact, reason, and Bible truth should set
ie it tie this question in the nation. If the wri
u ter wants discussion he can have it to satie
y, ty, on certain conditions. If written one
&C. let him get the Holmes County Republica
II to publish both sides, IF the abolitionist
II are candid, honest men, they surely are no
afraid to let the people sec both sides Gu
i object is truth, and that the great qucstio
. which now convulses both Church an
~ ~ State, may be placed upon the immutabl
VI foundation of eternal truth
re Truth crushed to earth, will rise again,
~ The eternal years of God are hers;
lu But error, wounded, writhes in pain,
We And dies amid her worshippers.,,
s. INVESTIGATOR.