REV. MR. F'SHER'S DISCOURS4

THE CHURC . .. ' 254 5x@2 ;a

THE MINISTRY, AND SLAVEI, - .

THE CHURCH, THE MlNISTRY, AND SLAVERY.

. D I S C O U R S E , -

t

D E L I V E R E D AT R U T L A N D , M A S S . ,

,:r7? f: 3.;:

J U L Y 1 4 , 1850. ./ - -.

- - . . . . BY

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G E O R G E R., F I S H E R .

WOT~C&TER :

PRI-NTED BY H%NRY J . H O W L A N D , 1 9 9 M A I N S T R E E T .

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PREFATORY NOTE.

This,%come goes before the public, not because it is thought to be wortby of publicity, but in consequence of an unpleasant excitement of which its delivery

_ has been the ?asion. The Discourse i ' as it was originally, with the exception of a few verbal changes, and now and then an additional, illustrative remark. None of its sentiments have been changed, none have been added, and none sub- tracted. In the delivery, a few remarks were made extemporaneously, which have p a c d from the author's memory, and which therefore do not appear. But the sermon is the same, and is now left to speak for itselelf, and to be approved or condemned, according to the different standards of feeling and action which ob- tain in the_ community, upon the questions herein disc

I have received fieq&rit intimations 'of the existence of a desbci among my congregation, that I would present; my &s upon certain questions which areno t in tiresting many minds. I refer to questions touching the relations of the church to slavery, or, the duties of christ'ians and christian ministers, in regard- to the sin of slavery. I have theref&;thought it proper to present my'views at the .present time; s h e 1 entertain no opiniohs.,of *which I am ashamed, or which I am afraid or unwilling to avow. I shall speak my own sentiments, though perhaps they may not accord with those of any hearer. I shall speak neith-

occasion,~at 'the'outset, to disclaim all intention of preach- ihg a personal discourse,. or of administering a personal rebuke, and if, after this open disavowal, any one shall charge me with such a design, I must regard it as eminently unkind, and unchristian. The Searcher of Hearts is my witness, that I would not injure the feelings of one of my hxirers. May I not therefore ask of you all a cg&dicl

So much I deem it important to say by way of introduc- tion.

I now proceed to the subject of discourse, and call your attention,

I. To a few plain propositions, in which 1 suppose we shall all agree. '1. The church, in its natire and design, is hostile to

all sin. I t is composed of those who have professedly for- Q;

saken sin, and banded themselves together, to accomplish, more effectually, its extermination from their .own hearts, and the world. I t is a body of believers who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit ; who are washed, who

who are justified in the Lord Jesus,--and by ur God. Christ loved the church and gave

himself for it, That he might sanctify and cleanse it, with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish. And to her was granted that she should be array- ed in fine linen, clean and white, for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints." Further citations and remarks in support of this proposition are needless; for the friend^ and foes of the church alike admit the truth of it.

2. If such be the nature and design of the church, then she is bound to bppose, with vigor and constancy, all forms of sin. Not to do this, is to dishonor her high commis- sion,-to prove false to her sacfed trust. I t is to de very end of her establishment. To bear testimony every form of evil, and to aim at its extirpation, is a duty which she owes to God, to Christ her Redeemer and Living ~ e a d , to the Spirit her Sanctifier, to the holy name she bears, to the high profession she has made, and to the world into which she is cast, as salt, as leaven, as a light, - as a reforming and saving power. She is to oppose sin

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in high places and in low, .in stian lands, and in pagan. . All sin is;dot -yet exterminated from the churob. has now existed many thousand years. She hm been

7often subjected to the purifying process of persecution. received many baptisms of the H ~ l y Ghost and of

has enjoyed the faithful ministra$&p~ of the . But never yet has a perfect church exiatedwwn

earth,-never yet a church of which it could be predicated that she was " without spot or wrinkle. " There always has been, there yet is much sin in the,heart of every chris-

consequently in the heart of .every church. . Nor ect to find a sinless church, until her wanderings erness shall cease,-until her warrings with the

be ended, and she shall reach her t in Heaven. The church in Heaven, and that hout sin. The church on earth ought to be so, e no ground for rational expectation that she

will be so. Therefore, ta denoynw- andsforsake her, be- not sinlessly perfect, is to pur8ue:o mqst absurd -

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4. Slavery is a sin. That it is so in my view, you have en apprized on former occasions. In those expressions opinion I was sincere, and those sentiments I continue

ate a jot of them. I would reiter- that slavejyis a sin, a sin against

olation of human rights. I t de- ers of its subjects. I t degrades tramples on the social affections.

he moral sense. I t buys, and i m g e of God. I t goes counter very suggestion of common sense,

d every principle and .precept of revelatiori. r +Such is the' system, in the abstract, in its generctLharac-

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ter, and spirit, and influen though I gladly allow that -""

there are cases of exception t o the general rule.' 5. If it be the duty of the church to oppose all sin,

and if slavery be a sin of such magnitude, it follows that the church should lend no.:counteaance to the system, and not only so, but &ery&li&jaah~ always, ' she is bound '% t o throw the whole weight b.$,%% ihfl'uQfice:againit it. If the preceding Qropositibns &e:established, this -fdlloms as a necessary coriclusion. J . , I

So far, I trust we are all agreed. YVhiixh~%hen do wm differ ? If we differ, it icr in regard to what ms&&mm approving, or countenancing, or fdlowshipping.y3if;

cb; or in respect to the steps which the %&%kk, in order to be free from the charge of

... r This brings forward,

11. The second division of my subject: I t is this ques, tion: What course must the church pursue, in order tc free herself from the just imputation of supporting.: fellowshipping the institution of slavery ?

I n speaking of the church, r,eference is made particularl~ to the Congregational Churches of New Englhd, and - our own church as one of them. .ac A ..-. .

1. Must she refuse to recognize &at as a christian church, which numbers s ~ m e slaveholders among its members ? I n my opinion she is not ealled upon to take this

,Such a course is certainly in direct hostility to t m which " beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all . d things, endureth all things, "-that charity which is one of the brightest and loveliest of the christian ornaments.

Again. To adopt such a course, is to unchurch near13 or quite all the churches established by the Apostles them- selves. There are a few facts which $re facts, and which

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The facts are these : a&-&clasre &at a skveholder c o d

the immediate

chwch, as still hol&g daveis.:~-

'~&$s&r;sj, kive unto you~servants that which is just ahd equal." A still moredecisive passage is found 6:.%'' iizknid they that have b e l i h g mast&&

t&& bebuse.they are brethren, but iatb

oof positive that there were slaveholders in the tolic churches. And that ca-iifidt be a true

rcum&aneesi;-lBBM$s &&%R-d r declare that the-

c&M8, and this let hiin

had to do, but it was slavery, and that too, in as severe a form as has ever existed. Nor are we to conclude that the Apostles were in favor of the system, for they inculcated principles which tended directly to its overthrow, thus showing their t

ur, amber , a man, ,v

his will, his fellow man, but the question is, wob, which, anywkre, in any age; and under

a8g circumstances, admits slaveholders to its communion, forfeits the name and ch&cter of a christian church,--E

ing a single slaveholder is no true church. question, and the affirmative of it I cannot consider it an unrighteous, a pharasaic

a vote to this effect,

not a christian. For I take it that we have no rig@ to

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dikderly. wivalk. . When pressed with this question, there ate many who reply; t61 do not know that a slaveholder ma-

whieh .the nature of the case affords, that there are many cbristians in this town, but as I cannot fathom the depths

+ t d arisbg, if it can be called an objection, is equally strong

uct which in the abstract, is wrong, and ircumstances, is wrong, may under cer-

&er cirWstwybu r,ight, or to say the least, be

IP .qggarded as not inconsis@nt with a christian character and profepsion. A certain course of conduct may be expedient

rtaig, ~ircumstances, which inexpedient at a time, and under different c

here bemt,with t& reply, L6

ctrine ~f expedienc~,+& ,& 9 device o

Bight is right, and wvong is wfong, ahd it I$ always righ'b to do right, and wrong to do wrong " Admitted, fgeely and fully. But the right most firat be aseertdned, and in the discovery of it; there must sometima, be a.cardzt con- sideration of circumstankes, or in other w'ords, a r 8 g d to expediency.-Any thing which peculiar circum8bnces fen- def inexpedient, is, for the time being, not righk And ib is a fact that all men do recognize the doctrine of expedi- ency, and act upon it. Those who decry loudat againsf it, as fully regulate their conduct by it, as do others. They nevef do any thing which thej- do nbt consider e$pedia Fnt.

c%~.h%e concei* of any palliating c i r c tum$ta~ , Mikh may so fpr eedui t te Qe guik of the slaveholder, as

demand of us the magnitiofi rf him t-ds a chtistian brother, and the admbsim t4 him to our. cotrllnunion-table if he be providentially present? In my bpinion, there are such circumstances.

There are many slaveholders 'who become such, and con- tinue such, involuntarily. They do not wish to' s~&& :

such a relation to their fellow men, and they arelonging, i >.

and waiting, and praying, that the way and the time may ' colne, when they cdn put end to it AndL I cahtlot feel it t i be right, to be khristiw, to denouxick'Iunsparingly such men, and t6 shut th&'b~%om the pale of christian char- $q ity and swpathy, for their hearts are right,--they are gf doibgkil &&it they -can, and who of us is doing more ?

But there are isthers who mstailb the relation of masters as8 ~ " D ~ W B ; w l ~ t a r i l y indeed, but from inoti~es of thd- pu~$t"behew>Ience. Aa eatire family, perhap, belong

$, Re giveg them instttiction in thingrl tern pal,4&h~rt, he treata them in all respects

ey Wte frhr @tre that he sast&iba the relation a9 master. "And this he doe8 snwe at their o m request,

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ether reason, for if he should set %hem, free, ,:2 M. &odd depart and leave them, the family circle -nuld % : % be bmken, the ~ ~ b e r s scattered and sold apart, and driv- :*:li en off to the plantation of a cruel master? where they , 2. - ,: I mould enjoy scarcely one of their present c~mforts and

privileges. And therefore, knowing these thhgs, their - , ' *p pvsent master, from purely benevolent sno t i~e r~a~ t inues ' ' the idation which he holds to those sla~es, they be+g, j,u , -- aR sther respects, frcemeii. There are actud cases &.e ' ' . this. And that relation abstractly considered is wrong,

: but under the circumstances, I maintain that benevoleuce *

requires the master to continue it. Though &ere cannot -

: - really be any rightm claim of property in man, yet $hat master may stand acquitted in the sight of God, and, in the view of ,gospel lore and charity, he ought not to be re-

- - .l garded as guilty of a high-handed crime against God- and :j man, and as h alien from the atmmonweslth of Israel,

mere is still mather circumstance which in some cases '$4 pailil&tes the guilt d t*. slwkholdm. It ' is the circum- -4% stance-of exwable i p m m upon the, euhje& - in fw- 9

mex days, dap of our common ignorance, many p a d me,^

ma;nda&urbd m d sold ardent spirits, never dreamkg $b& ?hey were violating the biv of love, md they wee not- re-

: $ garded as so doing by others. Yet no one dcobts that-rin- - a cerely piow .men #did then and thus violate that law. And , so it may %m with &very. Surrounded from their bir& with the sydem, some ~lav~oliaters do not intend to v i W ,

1 a d do not once think &hey are rackimg contimy to .the Zw - 1 of love; so long ps they kindly t r eq those wbom they d -% their shves. Thq have not our light, and cannot k m

'Allow me here tp sqy, that I have a personal acquaintance with one of this +ass. , He was a member of sthe same theological soh001 with myself He was universally regar- ded as a +~!us;d~voted, : conscibtbus r.aBristian. He, wit- nessed a good psofessih &:. Ther~wasirMone who did. n ~ t love him as a truly' pious, praying hm. ' h d yet he was a &weholder. In conversa~ons held ,~%h.;& upon the subject, I told hhn that I-.rega~ded-'slivehaJ.ding as a sin, to be repented of before God-I thus bore te&ony @t the system. ' He replied, with as honest andiconsdentiows a heart as was ever possessed, that he could not seea.that he was doing wrong to hold that slave as his property. If he could b e s e e n the wrong, he would have forsaken- it. I 'mid pt.9:do not wonder at his ignorance of the wfe, for he was conscious of no wrong intention. -He has always dwelt in the midst of slavery, and of course been under its blincting influence. He did not view the subject fi&n the same stand point with myself. That

a brother, though a slaveholder, I believe was a christian.

Lord and Re-

ohrktian feeling. You may call me pro-slavery, but yo.u calling will not make me so. You may ~harge me with countenancing and fenowshipping. slavery, but I can bear that, hm how 'baseless and false the charge would

is not a throb of my heart b i t beats £reedom. I know there is not; one ,a#rgau

all, that would u$hr a louder voice, or labor mcke untiring*

ly to demolish. the s h n 6 h~~ of oppression. Yh$refire Ecan bear that s t i e a . ' Nay, I would glory in carryhgib, to my d y i n g d q S affixed for such a muse. But I coyldl not bear h t , scorpion. stings of conscience which would surely follw, if by any voice or vote of mine, that broth- er in Glhrist should be driven away. from munbn, because I do not think him enti

$Now if you should put the general would admit slaveholders to our com ply, first, I have no power to admit or debar, except so far as .there is power in one vote. Do you then inquire wheth- er I would do it if I possessed the power? My answer is, that depends upon cirou"mst&ms. 1 cannot reply positiye- ly, either in the affirmative or negative, irrespective of cir- cumstances. I would inquire whether a slaveholder ,who srhould present himself, were involuntarily sa, :or if- .

tarily, whdher he appears to be actuated by b ~ ~ ~ t '

duty,-whether his sin might not be athibuted to a want bf light and knowledge, which in=his circumstances, he !could not have acquired, and if I found all these things so,

:- '. -. ghen~my-&sling would be, let my right hand forget its nning b&re.it is raised. to exclude a follower of Christ

Christ's'--table. But if I found him, while professiq ve the love of -Chist in his heart, actuated by selfish

otives,-selfishly holding in bdnds, and buying, and beat- nd selling those for whom Christ died, then I should' of nb right to admit him, for.he does not exhibit:.:&

tian spirit. I n admitting those of the for d say to them, "~rethren, I .regard slaveho

Except in' a very few F~SB% <I consider , it::

allrrnust come, .hi.yelatioa to such question$, if i b p - $ym!d be treated as &sisbim'q no matter how penitent for sin.they nay be, h o ~ ~ h h % k , h m beliering, how anxious to kn& and willing.@*6 their duty. Let him among us who is without g*.ca& the first stone at the chri~tian slaveholder.

.3. In order to escape the just accusatio~sf fellowship- " -

slavery, must the Congregational Pastors @f, New En- ;gland refuse all christian and ministerial in&rcoursejwith pastor; and Ecclesiastical Bodies in slaveholding states*? Is the fact 'that they hold such intercourse, a sufficient ground for the continual rin&ng of the charge that they are pro-slavery, and that through them, the churches of the

es a d rid iiai fdl are distimt, complete, inde-

selves, subject te no hhman ecclesi- d being thus ewlesiastically distinct

e, one church is not to be held responsible for .exist in another, especially if she lifts a voice

d exhortation to repentance. Such is amg~gational church in regard to this

matter. Is the positian changed, by an association of its pastors with pastors of slav&oldhg churches 1 Here, toob I enquire what are the facts in the case 1 Briefly these: I am pastor of this church. I am .connected with an - ciation of neighboring ministers. This bo gates annually, to a still larger body, 162. an

This General Association apioints delegates to the Gen'e. ma1 Assemblies of the P2esbyterian Church, and their dele- gates are appointed in return. These are the facts. Now I ask you, the members of this church, do you feel that you are accountable for the existence of slavery in a por- tion of the Presbyterian church, or do you feel, that as a church, or as individuals, you are fellowshipping slavery, because the ministers of Massachusetts choose thus to as- sociate themselves for mutual improvement, and to inter- change ministerial courtesies with a body., some of whose members are slaveholders ? Does conscience smite you on this account ? If there be, in this way, any fellowshipping of slavery, i t is done by the pastors, and by them alone: We come then to the question whether the pastofs of the churches of Massachusetts, are 'fostering slavery by such association ? and whether they are bound to refuse chris- tian courtesies to the Presbyterian pastors of the south- and West ? And my answer-40 these questions, is an ern~

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phatic NO. I take the ground that there are true, a d 6 faithful, and successful, abd acceptable ministers of Jqsq, -=

as there are private christians at the south, and in tion with the bodies- under consideration, and th they are to be recognized as such. I take it, furthermore, that if our delegates go remonstrating against the abomi- nations of slavery, they thus free themsdves, and all whom they represent, from all unjustifiable connecti~n very. And this they have done. This very year egate to the Old School Assembly went charged presentation of the following resolution, viz :

" Resolved : That in maintaining correspondence and connection with the two General Assemblies of the Presc ,

by terian church, we look with deep and fraternal solicitude upon the position of those bodies with respect to_ sin: (>-

) Mthren in those Assemblies & a%Jlidroiiii& i6. a3 'eomest and christian spirit, to put an 3na to 'this evil ;-thaV me

%, -:desire our delegatei'to tiidse %&idMies-ifi a decided and - - % ,

courteous manner to expresi'oizr-deep conviction, that the 2 - rights of tfie enslaved, the cazist? bf true religion, and the . -

honor of the Great Head'oy t?te church, require those eccle- siastica2 bodies to use all ~Riid%gitimatepower and injuence fbr the speedy removal' of?&avery from the churches under

- fhbir supervision.' Thi& resolution, embodying the senti- , ments of the General Association upon this subject, was presented. ASld it- is bht a' repetition in different phrase- dlogy, of saltinien td pre6duslp expressed." I t is therefore utterly dngeni$o$s aii13dii&iklto assert that our ministers are in @m$tthf & t l I t is most illiberal to make tlie bddy'responsible for the opinions of any two or three 6f i'ts members, however eminent they may be. As one .

.*?f the associated clergy, I deny the right of any one, or

.-s3, r.:.-&ny number, to call that body the bulwark and defence of .

+v

%&slavery, becahse we see fit to treat christians as chqstians, ' .- while at the same time, we are careful to reprove them for

: &heir evil deeds. For one, I am not in fellowship with . sla%ery. I disfellowship it, altogether. :i - 4. In order to be free from the charge of countenancing ,

FF-. *-.- - -* # The Ginera1 A.esociahon of & l a s s ! a v i n g oftenand earnestly ex- ]Bkk-

pressed their abhorrence of slavery, grieving that the systcrn has yet existed and -. ''

is sustained by some Christians and Ecclesiastical Bodies as authorized by the Word of God, do solemnly reaffirm their faith ; that the Word of God is utterly opposed to slavery as it exists in these United States, and that, as far as the Bible obtains the ascendency in the conscience and heart of Christim, and of the Church, such Christians must and will separate themselves from all responsible connection with the system; and, in the spirit of fraternsl fidelity, we would ear- nestly beseech all C* and Ecclesiastical Bodiea connected with that sys- tem, to be living examples of the Gospel, and in the light of God's truth caretid- . ly to review their opinions and practice, and to do their utdnost to free the Church of Christ from the pollution of thie of the p ~ k d Minubs of the Association for 1845. $&&li

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fellowshipping

.& slavery,

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must the refuse to lend her sympathy, and prayers, and pecuniary aid in the cause of foreign missions, because we have heathen at home ? I t is h e , that' there .are nearly three millions of heathen in our own country, but there are six hundred millions in other la~ds . I t is true that slaves have souls, precious, immortal, sb6u1 souls,-souls thqt must repent or perish ; but three millions of slaves' muls are no more precious than the same number of Chinese or Nestorian souls. I t is true that we ought to remember the slaves, and pray that they may ept. joy the preaching of the pure gospel, but these three mill- '

ions should not enlist all our sympathy, and prayers, a* *alms, while we forget the six hundred mil'rians who equally guilty, and equally immortal. I w ~ d d pray the slave, in comnpon with 41 others who are in distress and destitution of- the gospel, but I k ~ o w of no warrant for praying for him alone; .

W e cannot introduce our missionaries among the slaves Anti-slavery societies, and anti-slavery missionary societies have never done it, and for the reason that done. Shall we therefore refuse tq &end missio they can be introduced ? Shall we refuse t cries of the pagin world, because there are slav* at home? Where in the Bible is a charity, limited like this, inculca- ted ? Christ told the disciples to go bbo. all the world,- not t b stay at home because t h w was slavery there. .-. -- .

But perhaps you obj&.do the missionary b&: whose treasury our churches have been accus-drb send their contributions, on the ground .that kt b&'a wrongfd connection with slaveq-. To U i s o b j e c t i ~ ~ I would reply, if you cannot let your rills of bepevolenw pour in@ t&& channel, theg3 i,n c o m w ~ i o n to the dying heathen, by yiur - - remembrance of the s a v i o d ~ agmgr and death,;.&& of your own covenant vows, seek out anothersoci&yto which

. yoo can give aid,-til&&ra-ke perishing in pagan hnda may 1ive.t . - . **iC.

,;into its treasury. I t is true that the Board receives mon- $a"Pi.orn all parts of the country,-from the South as well

' 4ias the North. But in so doing, the Board no more cnun- 'tenances slavery, than does that anti-slavery merchant mho$e vessels lie at Southern wharves, and come home la-

. den with the products of the negro's toil, or that anti-sla- very shoemaker who sends to the South his cargo of shoes,

e price of blood. Many of the oard are doing this,-are eating

the products of slave labor,-are receiving y fiom the South, and even putting that same

price of blood, into what they.mgard as a pure missionary

and use it, until you have first ascertained whether sueh be at all, and neither are our benevolent socie- institute an inquiry, when a contribution

not had some connection with slave- i t Paul directs to buy what is sold ,

wtions for conscience' sake, .bail been offered to idols.

Partakiwof it was not cETu~nancing iddatry, provided the partaker knew not that it had-beeq so offered, and was not-to: inquire how that might be. Nor can it be r sonably dmtinded of the American .Board, that - i t , inquire int&t&e source of all its hnds. Paul says4

dV

man say to you, this is offered:in mcrifice wto idols, eat not." So, if one should say t o the Treasurer of the B~ard, "1 have just sold a 'mamand bereishis price, vhich I brjng to you," then i t could not be recek-ted 'withq,ut san&iiqPing th@t sale. v f < ! l :: 6 ; . , . r + - '

I cannot, therefore, considahhe ~br,axs~jection adid. I& is urged, again, that s h & o w r s .ar

mission -churches undm thpaae nf :the that among the Cherokee @fCbaetaw, 1ndianC ssme~uch admissions hav.e*,&abn pla~e. ,This subject has. been vir; tually considered in amather place, and for essentialky the same reasons, before presented, I would now say that' this fhct do@ no9 ju&tify.a withdrawal of patronage from tb Zbd-- .&.wonM thatithere were no slaveholders in the churches, but the Missionaries, who were best qualified to judge in the case, saw fit to receive them, on the ground of penitence and faith in the Lord Jesus Cbrist, and there fore, this fact should not forfeit to the Board, the confidence anfl support of the christian community; for, under the cir- cumstances, it seemed to be best,-best for master apd slave, best for the church and the cause of Christ,+@& the giving up of their slaves should not be made o &st of discipleship. Lri - :: .%

The chief remaining objection tQ ,t rd, is that slave labor has been hired by aries. Among the Choctaws there lhavehtk .a,.few such cases. There was much manual labw rnecessary to be done, and not being able to procure fieej white laborers, the missionaries - were obliged to avail themselves of slave labor, to some ,- extent. ?'.he Board however disapproved of the practice, inasmuh as it did seem to lend countenance to the system of oppwss5on, and more than two years ago, sent a long . communi&on upon the subject, to the mission. :iErom

the following extract. Ia &k state

#

& b g s , it appeamb-be om:dutyty.to ask you, first- of all, .&it inquire once more into the supposed necessity of this practice, and to see if slave labor cannot,.in some way, be dispensed with. And if you can discover no method by which a change ean be effected, we submit for your eon- sideration, whether i t be not desirable to request the Choc- taw government to release us from our engagement in re- spect to the boarding schools. I t is with pain bhat we present this alternative, but such are our views of duty in the case, that we cannot suggest a different course."

Bus-h is the extract. The result is, that only one slave is now employed, and doubtless the labors of that one will J

soon be dispensed with.. ' Board has repeatedly,,,A,> I declared that it can never sustain any reIation to slavery, which implies approbation of the system. I t appeam to

e, therefore; that a heart filled'with love and forbe8~mw, nd warm with a true missionary spirit, can reasonably ask f the Board nothing more. Tt- is an anti-slavery Boa~d,

and does send out an anti-slavery gaspel; as: purely. so ak that proclaimed by any other ~jr~adzatkio~. , ' . I

There is an additional consideration, which I deem of no little importance. I t is the fact that God, the God of Liberty, and Righteousness, and Truth, and' Love, does

$t signally bless this Board. Itp successes are most .% wondekul. They at least equal the success granted to any

other orgmkation. The Holy Spirit is all over the field, gathering in a rich harvest of souls. Now, so long as God thus sets to ihe Board the seal of his approbation, I

I think we may tenture to favor and support it, without a fear that me shall, $$us cherish the system of slavery.

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111. If the church, as 'a body, does not come up to what an individual member regards as the Btanddrdf

*A;:* ? d duty, in feeling and action upon this subject, what' 1s ha$ '&an's duty as an individual ? ' - ' ';%

4 I s it his duty to leave the ~cKirdh .'I Y%at good will that do ? Whom will it benefit '? Whom will it con&ce of his error? I t can do no good to the slave. On the ather hand, it will do him much harm, for the hope of the slave is in the church. I t is the spirit of the gospel, per- -

vading the hearts of men, that is to melt the bondman's chains, and break off his fetters. . But the :church is the repository, the defender, anti the extender of the gospel. This she was appointed to do, this she has done, and this she is doing ;) and in Goe9 own time Christianity will re- move every form of evil, and fill the world with freedom and love.

~f st&@ I .Ckfore , is noj -right, surely it is the do@ of those.insividuals~who. are right, to stay in it, and endeavor to set it right. If they labor unsucc~ssfully, they will be acquitted,-they. have nevertheless discharged their duty. Even if the church, as a body, were fellbnshipping slavery, if we, as individuals, disfellowship it, and labor untiiingly for its removal, we shall stand acquitted at the bar of conscience, and at the bar of God. Far better is 'it to remain, and even suffer a little for conscience' sake,-and hope, and wait, and pray for the dawn of a better day, thqn to break away Gom our holy and eternal covenant ; from the corpmunion of saints, and from all the saged or- dinances of religion, when such a course can do no good, bat must do.mBch harm to the cause of the slave, and the cause of ~ h d s t .@nivers&lf.

My hearers, I have done. I have freely spoken my sen- -

tirnents. - You may not approve of them. I ib not expect -

you all will. I t would be a miracle if you.should, I have spokeh warmly,-some of you will say fanatically, while others will think me far behind the position which.1 ought to take. I pray you now to remember, that you all d$er from me as widely as I db from yea, and y h e t w -you are

willing or not, to tolerate my views, I cheerfully tolerate yours. However applicable any thing which I have said, may be, to any in this audience, I repeat it, that I have not intended my remarks as personal for them. I think that there are views somewhat prevalent in our churches, which are fatal to all personal growth in grace, and enjoyment of religion, as well as detrimental to the prosperity of Christ's cause, and the cause of humanity. Therefore I have spoken as I have.

And now, may God forgive all that has been wrong in spirit and in word ; accept and bless all that has been true and sincere ; guide us all in the way of duty ; free the bondman; convert the pagan, and gather us all at last in one eternal home in Heaven. Amen.