WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON.
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��whatever name called, have right to take the life of man as penalty for transgression : that no one who pro- fesses to have the spirit of Christ can consistently sue a man at law for redress of injuries, or thrust any evil doer into prison ; or hold any office* in which he would come under obliga- tion to execute penal enactments ; or take any part in the military service ; or acknowledge allegiance to any hu- man government."
At this time, it cannot be doubted that the faith of Mr. Garrison in the in- spiration and authority of the Bible and the Trinity, and especially in the teach- ings and precepts of Christ, was sub- stantially such as is professed by the whole evangelical church. And on that faith and philosophy alone were the New England Non-Resistance Society and all its auxiliaries founded.
Among Mr. Garrison's poetical effu- sions, this "Sonnet to the Bible," may be found :
O Book of books ! though skepticism flout Thy sacred origin, thy worth decry ; Though transcendental folly give the lie To what thouteachest; though the critic
doubt This fact; that miracle; and raise a shout Of triumph o'er each incongruity He in thy pages may perchance espy ! As in his strength the effulgent sun
shines out. Hiding innumerous stars, so dost thou shine, With heavenly light all human works excelling. Thy oracles are holy and divine ;
Of free salvation through a Savior, telling. All Truth, all Excellence dost thou en- shrine ; The mists of sin and ignorance dis- pelling.
Boston, Nov. 1, 1841.
Such was Mr. Garrison as a Chris- tian, as a follower of Christ. And sub- limely consistent with his faith, were his spirit, his life, and his whole char- acter.
At home, or abroad ; in private, or in public ; as writer, or as speaker ; as husband, father, friend, or in whatever human position, or relation ; after long and wide acquaintance with men, in
��pulpit, in church, in politics and in the world at large ; for the constant exer- cise of what are called the Christian virtues and graces, I surely have seen few the peer, none the superior of William Lloyd Garrison. Mr. Emer- son says, " Swedenborg seemed, by the variety and amount of his powers, to be a composition of several persons." Y ox powers, read moral goodness and excellence, and the remark applies well to him.
Revering the New Testament as divine authority, he kept its teachings. When he read, " swear not at all," he let his communication be, "yea and nay." And no more. Did he read, " Resist not evil ;" he observed the sublime requirement ; and preached it in his paper, The Liberator, and prac- ticed it everywhere. Hence arose the Non-Resistance Society ; I think the truest Christian Association ever form- ed under heaven, or known among men ; with Garrison, its very chiefest apostle.
When he read, "Love your enemies," it ne/er meant to him, shoot them in war • nor imprison, nor hate, nor hang them, in peace. And the Liberator was not only a proclamation of free- dom, and of peace on earth, but of universal unfolding progress and reform, to all man and woman kind.
Mr. Garrison early lost his father, but became the hope and joy of an excellent mother, of English birth, and devout member of the Baptist church. He ever cherished fervently her mem- ory ; and never spoke of her but in tones of tenderness and affection. He never united with any sect, but respected the true Christian faith and work, wherever found. The God he worshipped was " no respecter of persons." No more was he.
But chained down to no dogmatic ringbolt, he had an eye and ear ever open to discover new truth, in whatever book or religion it might be found. Ten years of violent opposition and persecution from almost the whole American church, on account of his profound adherence to the Christian doctrines of peace and liberty, as he
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