of them in slavery is consistent with Christianity or not. And we are assured that a question of such importance, can be answered in no other way than by a reference to scriptural statement, and scriptural practice.
But I am well aware of the difficulty that lies in our path, from the fact that scriptural statements and examples are often lost sight of and disregarded when sectarian and partizan measures are to be carried into effect, and men find it very convenient to erect a standard, and frame rules founded on abstract Biblical propositions, and inferential deductions that shall suit their purposes, and arm them with authority to carry out all their plans, and justify themselves in all their conduct; although, by so doing, they nullify some of the first and best principles of Christianity, as well as violate the essential laws of humanity, of which all persecutions for conscience’s sake are the proof. The Bible is very far from being the only rule of faith and practice, even among Protestants; else why so many different faiths? so many antagonistical systems of theology? So many contradictory forms of church policy? and last, but not least, so much wrath, contention, strife and rangling, all about words—which discussion only darkens, and explanations mystify? and the church of Christ, that should be the focus of peace, holiness and love, resembles the arena of vulgar politics.
To the “law and the testimony” we will go, and from them take nothing by example and precept.
And the first example of slavery we have here, is in the family of Abraham, “the father of the faithful”—the church of Christ—nor could the whole number of his slaves have been small, seeing he had three hundred and eighteen born in his own house, or bought with his money, that were fit for war. So then, even father Abraham was a trafficer in human flesh.
The next prominent example we have is Job, whose slaves must have amounted to several thousands; and yet this man had the most honorable testimony of his God, as being “a perfect and upright man, one that feared God and eschewed evil.” Now, if to hold slaves is among the greatest of sins, as the anti-slavery party affirm it is, then God’s testimony respectpecting Job’s eschewing evil, is false and hypocritical, and, according to the standard of Abolitionists, for graduating the degrees of criminality that attaches itself to slaveholders, Job must have been the greatest sinner in the land of “Uz”—and Satan the greatest fool for trying to get one already so securely his own. But the abolitionists must pardon us for prefering the testimony of God to their affirmations.
But it may be replied that these cases are not in point, because they existed before the giving of the law. Well, then, to the law let us go: and here we find Moses, under the direction of God
