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ing every question and difficulty involving important results to the word of God, refusing to take the dogmas and authoritative opinions of any man or set of men; to the Bible I went—and the result you have given you to-day. My mind is now completely at rest on this subject; for I rest on scriptural fact and scriptural argument—on “Thus saith the Lord.”
But, though we have clearly demonstrated that slavery is consistent with Christianity, yet I am willing to change the form of the question, and meet the anti-slavery party on the grounds of concession, that slavery is an evil; I am willing to allow them so much—and yet defend its existence also, on biblical grounds, and by scriptural examples. This may appear as a solicism; but let us try it. There are more truths in the Bible than were ever deemed or conceived in our lean and sterile systems of theology—on which, if immortal souls feed alone, they will become as lean and sterile too. The masterly and arbitrary opinions of men have set bounds to that book whose depths are fathomless, and whose stores and treasures are exhaustless.
There are certain evils of a social character, that may exist in combination with the essential elements of social life—to destroy which by hasty and violent measures, is a far greater evil; and, in such cases, the existing and lesser evil is under the protection of Heaven.
The novelty and boldness of this position may startle you, but it is susceptible of the clearest demonstration from the word of God.
When the children of Israel became tired of their theocracy, and captivated with the pomp and pageantry of regal government, they demanded a king from Samuel. Now this was downright rebellion against God, and so he informed Samuel, who, in turn, informed Israel, declaring that their request was a political rejection of God. But, as both nations and individuals can only be cured sometimes of their folly by letting them have their own ways, God, at length, yielded to their importunities; and, after informing them what a king would do unto them, granted them one. And although such a change in the political economy of Israel, was in direct opposition to the will of God, (so much for the Divine right of kings) yet, when a regal government was established in Israel—and when every thing became adapted to that form of government—and when the safety, the prosperity and the happiness of all, became identified and interwoven with the existence and preservation of that government and of the king, then wo to him who raised his regicide hand
