American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-09-07

D. %, 3l.-'The people OF the land nave
used oppression, exercised robbery and have vexed
the poor and needy yoa they have oppressed the san
ger wrongfuliy. And sought FIR man among them
that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap be-
fore me for the land that should not destroy it; but
found none. Therefore have poured ont mine ndigna-
ton upon them; have consumed them with the re of
my wrath; their way have IrecOmpensed upon their
hSads, saith the Lord God"
A great nation on their knees offering
prayer to God, is sublimer spectacle
than great nation in arms. But when
a nation with one hand grasps the sword
to maintain its own existence, and with
the other lays hold of the Almighty the
ayenger of wrong, it is spectacle which
the universe may admire. But the great
cause of grief is, that multitudes refuse
to be humble and penitent under Gods
chastising hand. Comparatively few lay
hold on God in times of trouble. Men
who ought to be patterns, and whose po-
sition gives them influence, are often pro-
fame, Incorporate, and sceptieal. God is
not in all their thoughts. While they
Should make up the hedge and stand in
the gap before the Lord in behalf Of the
land, that he should not destroy it, they
too often trust in their own proves or
wisdom or righteousness. Let us this day
cease from man, and sensible of our sins
humbly confess them before God. When
Ezekiel uttered this prophecy, the nation
and church of Judea had become deplo-
rably corrupt-ripe for Gods judgments
Because their mercies had been great, their
sins were the more offensive. The sins of
this nation stand forth prominent in the
sight of Heaven and earth and all the
more so because like Israel, we have been
in peculiar manner favored of God
And why he has borne with us so long, is
a question harder to be answered, than
why be is now visiting us with such a
tremendous calamity.
In this chapter the prophet gives list
of the crimes of his people, many of
which darken and pollute our own favor
ed country. Murders, idolatry, disregard
to the laws, oppression, despising holy
things, profaning the Sabbath, commit
ting lewdness, bribery, extortion, forget
fulness of God; these are the crimes
which the prophet denounces as making
Gods iispleasure as furnace. 81 will
gather you, and blow upon you in the fire
of my wrath, and ye shall be melted in
the midst thereof; and yeshall know that
| the Lord have poured out my fury up
on YOU" verses 2l, % "Can thine heart
endure, or can thine hands be strong, in
the day that | shall deal With thee ?"
verse IL.
In our text one of these evils is especi-
ally dwelt upon as particularly offensive
to God. 1t is the sin of oppressjon.-
The people of the land have used op-
preston, they have oppressed the strang-
er wrongfully. And sought for man
among them that should make up the
hedge, and stand in the gap before me
for the land, that should not destroy it;
but | found none. Therefore have |
poured out mine Indignation upon them,
&C."
Oppression assumes various forms ac-
cording to the disposition and opportuni-
ties of the oppressor. 8" So | returned
aud considered the expressions that are
done under the sun: and behold the tears
of'such as were oppressed, and they had
no comforter; and on the side of their
oppressors there was power; but they
had no comforter" Feel 4 l. As there
are sharks to prey upon the fishes, and
wolves-upon the focks, and eages-up-
on the smaller birds so there are tyrants
who prey upon their fellow men. We
need not go to old Egypt, and call up the
signing of Israel under their bondage, to
get tale of woe and wretchedness. We
need not tell Of prison houses, bastiles and
inquisitions. Oppression is everywhere.
1t is in many fathers strong arm, in
many mothers flashing eye,-in many
a childs perversity. Auttority is not OPP
preston; but it is often employed as
such. Its proper exercise saves families,
churches and nations.
The oppression to which / wish to die
rect your attention now, as constituting a
great national sin, and which ! verify be-
lieve is bringing Gods sore chastisements
upon us, is Ame,ican ,Soca,y. | wish
your candid and prayerful attention tc
this subject to-day, because, first, we all
have to do with this matter in some shape
and have probably all been partakers in
this sin; and, second, because there are
certain phases of the subject that | have
never seen or heard discussed and which
deem of Importance. might add tha
the General Assembly of the Presbyter
an church have enjoinod it upon all in
their several spheres to do all they can fo
the removal of the evil of Slavery Anc
ministers must enlighten the public mine
on this subject as well as Others Severa
things have caused some of us to be too
silent on the subject. Let me refer t
some of them
L. To many, the Bible seemed to pal
late, if not to justify the holding of mel
in bondage. The arguments from thu
Bible are suchas these; which | expec
to show to be delusive and fallacies.
-. First. A curse was pronounced agains
Canaan the son of Ham by Noah, declar
ing that he (Canaan) should be servan
of servants to his brethren. This pre-
diction is said to point out the African
as being doomed to servitude by Coo
himself And the inference drawn, is
that it is right to enslave them.
Second. Slavery is supposed to be sane
toned in the example Of Abraham VIII
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