Year: 1864

iuS W INC pCsiotiS duu SNSi iuSIedsiuS
demands OF the slave power And many
among us excuse and palliate, and some
even justify the execrable system OF op-
preston and some there are in cur midst
who even 80 so far, as to take the word Of
God to prove that slavery is right, and in
accordance with the Divine Will.


The Bible indeed recognizes condi-
tion of service regulated by the precepts
ofthe gospel of Christ, which is not sin
full. But the system of human slavery
established by law in the Southern States
of this Republic where human beings,
intelligent and immortal creatures are
absolute property, mere chattels: where
they are bought and sold, like cattle in
the stalls, and sheep in the pens: where
they are deprived of the right of mar
riage; deprived of parental rights; de-
prived of the right to mental and moral
improvement deprived offthe right to
read the word of God for themselves;
and deprived of the right to worship God
according to the dictates of their own
conscience, and the requirements of the
Gospel Of Jesus Christ is sinful and only
sinful continually.


The celebrated Chatham we are told
once said he would never come into the
British House of Parliament with the
Statute Book doubled down in dogs ears
to prove that liberty was the birth-right
of British subjects. And the Hon.
William Maxwell, a distinguished and
able Lawyer aud Statesman, and an en-
inently pious Elder in the Presbyterian
Church, in debate on slavery in the
Synod of Virginia more than thirty years
ago, referring to the language of the noble
English earl and statesman, said "Nor
will come into this Synod with my BIZ
Bile doubled down in dogs ears to prove
that slavery is wrong. No, sir, will not
undertake such work Of supererogation |!
One need read but the first chapter in the
word of God, to be convinced that slavery
| il wrong How was man created with
dominion over the soul and body of his
fellow man? mol There was no slavery in
Eden It's preposterous togo tothe Bible
to defend slavery. Its universal spirit Is
against the institution gloriously against
it." Shareholders therefore. and all who
are apologists and defenders of such a
system of injustice and iniquity, are gull
ty of heinous sin in the sight of God.
And it hiss called down the righteous
judgments of Heaven upon our devoted
country.


Slavery is not the only great sin in our
land 1t is true. There are other sins Of
fearful magnitude Drunkenness and
profanity, Sabbath breaking aud unclean-
ness, lying and perjury, theft and muir
der, and with them this gigantic system
of cruelty and oppression. 1t is these
great crimes that have brought the dis
pleasure of just and holy God upon us.
1t is for these he is visiting us in his an
ger. 1t is in punishment for these things
that he has torn us with his justice, and
is making US wlithe in anguish under the
strokes Of his avengng rod. And my
dear friends, stroke will follow swift upon
stroke until we are truly humbed, and
brought to genuife repentance before the
majesty Of heaven, aud say with Gods
ancient people, come, and let US return
unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he
will heal us; he hath smitten, and he
will bind us up"


The second thought presented to us in
the text is, the duty of individuals and
nations in these solemn circumstances.
The duty is clearly end definitely stated.
1t is to repent and return unto God.
Come let US return unto the Lord,
With feeling sense of our guilt and un-
worthiness, and with deep humiliation on
account of it, we must confess our sins
unto God, and implore pardon, and mer-
cy, and divine help. A mere verbal con-
fession of guilt, mere outward and for
mall humiliation, will not find acceptance
with God. We must not only say that
we have sinned against God, but we musi
ieel in the depth of our sou[conscious
ness that we have sinned, and sinned
grievously against him, and we must pros
trate ourselves at the footstool of sover,
,egn mercy; and cry for forgiveness, and
for the favor and interposition of Jeho.
yah.


| But we must not only confess our sin;
to God as individuals, and as nation
but we must repent of our sins, and for
sake them, and return unto God. The
scriptures teach us most clearly that, "ht
that covereth his sins shall not prosper
but whose confesseth and forsas eth then


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