Year: 1860

thclr declpllne Wnlch IorDlus 10
preachers the holding of slaves, we
must presume that they believe
slavery to be sin; and hence will
! inculcate that idea in their private
intercourse with their brethren


both white and colored. From


thence it has spread. Many whites


have imbibed the idea, but will
: hold ON to the service oftheir slaves


while alive, and then to make


amends for the sin, free them at


their death, and thus turn them
loose upon an unfriendly world, to
shift for themselves Ifa sin, then
tits injustice and oppression ohold-
you in slavery; and knowing tho
effect that the idea of suffering such
wrong has upon the mind, we are
not surprised that the idea that
your masters are committing sin,
and of course sin against you, in
holding you under the yoke, has
led many Of your kin who are not
subjects of grace, to SO much insub-
ordination, and to think that they
are justified in plundering from


their masters and in running away,
&c. And the reason why more of
them have not acted in the same
way, must be found in the attach
ment they have to their master and
the families where they belong:
and perhaps from consciousness
that they would not be bcttering
their condition by thus acting
Now, some of you can read search,
then the scriptures for yourselves,
and read them to your fellow SER
wants, and see for yourselves, if the
statement we have made, that slav-
cry is an appointment of God and
sanctioned by the scriptures, is not
so. If you find that it is so, slavery
cannot be sin. For we acknowl-
edge, as Old School Babtists, NO
higher law, nor any other law as


the standard of right and wrong,


than the revealed word of Cod


You have another point, which if
;tyou will notice, will confirm to You
the truth of what we say the scrip
lures teach upon this subject


Those of you who are subjects of
Grace, know that the law of God is
holy, and when applied, it convinc-
ed you of sin, and made you desir-
Gus of forsaking those practices
which you saw to be sinful; and If
you had been disobedient and un-
, faithful to your masters or misstres-


ses, you have been convicted Of the


sinfulness of such conduct, and


have felt determined to do better.
On the other hand, you believe that
some who hold slaves are subjects
of grace; if so, they have been con-
victed of sin by the same law you
have; yet you never heard any in
relating their experience tell Of be-
ing convicted that holding slaves
was sinful, or that they felt it their


duty to free them. You have seen


them become kinder masters and


misstresses through grace, as yon


have been made more obedient and


faithful servants Hence, when ac-


cording to the injunction Of the


apostle, in our text we teach such


as are under the yoke, that is bond


servants, to count their masters


worthy of all honor, and to be Obe-


dient to their own masters, not pur-


loining, or stealing, but showing


all good fidelity, We only teach that


which you have been taught inter
nally, is according to the word of
God. The providence of God rules


in all things; not sparrow falls to
the ground without him; We are of
more value than many sparrows.-
Ifyou are in bondage, it is because
God wills you to be so situated, and


that because he sees it best for You


to be there. God is wise, he can


not be mistaken as to what is best;


he is good, he cannot be unkind to


his children. Trust then to him
and be content with what he has
appointed for you. You may, as
Jonah did, attempt to run away
from the Lords appointment, but


you will find as he did that the


providence of God will still sur
round you and visit troubles upon
you. We would in conclusion say


to you that as you love Christ, and
would obey Gods word, honor
your own nastDrs and be Obedient


unto them, not only to the good and
gentle, but also to the froWard, as the
Apostle Peter teachcs.-1 Peter ii.
18. 70. rt r-Irr -.,. ...t


To our brethren generally, North
and South, East and West, know.
ing that as Old School Babtists,
you will readily admit that what
God has been pleased to reveal in
his word, is worthy Of our serious


consideration, we will say, We think
you will not object to our calling
your attention to this subject, i'm
, portant as it Is in consequence OF
. the confusion at present prevail
: ing in our country, Remem-
: her, brethren, amidst AL tha com
: u1ations that may be in the earth,
Ic6&Iudel on fourth page.l