>■ «' ^ . o ' O,"^ O ^ ■^ S^y * r(A «» A "<^f> A t-0^ A .0. ,4 < D . O ^" The clergy of the slaveholders were members of the Church of England, and being patronized by the oppressors, they were to a man in favor of the perpetuity of slavery. Yet their brethren of the establishment in Europe, generally, were 21 not disposed to act with them. Interests and influences, such as operate among us, upon the sects of the north, in regard to their southern brethren, did not exist, or Avere not of sufficient importance to aflect them. The great and al- most the only barrier in the way of abolition was the interest held in the system of slave la- bor by the aristocracy of Great Britian, But, by the overwhelming pressure of the public will, they were compelled to give way. Fur- ther, the abolition of slavery in the West Indies w^as completely within the power of the people of the mother country, and they needed not a great moral change^ such as would lead them to give up a supposed personal interest, but simply a given amount of intelligence, fitted to wake up their natural love of liberty and sym- pathy with the oppressed, which would bring them to exert that resolute and appropriate ac- tion, which was adapted to the effectuation of the desired object. If the people of Great Bri- tain had been compelled to wait until by moral influence they had convinced the slaveholders and their time-serving clergy of their criminali- ty, and thus led them to consent to the abolition of slavery, how long a period, do you suppose, would have elapsed, before their desire would have been gratified? Now, look at our own country. We are 22 able to exert no other than a moral influence on the slaveholder. We can effect nothing, un- less we can bring him to see his sin, and vol- untarily to renounce it. But, to me, insur- mountable difficulties are in the way, so far as mere moral suasion is concerned. The oppres- sor, with the obstinacy and desperation of a de- mon, has closed up every avenue of access to his understanding and his conscience, so far as this has been within his power. He has trans- formed the pages of the Bible into brazen shields, to ward off every arrow of truth. He has thrown around him a rampart of spungy priests, who, like bales of cotton, extract the momentum from the balls that are levelled at his callous heart. He has trampled under his impious feet, the rebukes and remonstrances of the civilized world. He has shown a Corin- thian impudence, which would look the moral world out of countenance. He has perpetrated the most daring and unparalleled piracy, to give unending perpetuity to his crime. He has sworn eternal allegiance to the prince of mur- derers, and sold himself, soul, body, and spirit, to perpetual evil. Look at the vast army of advocates and apologists, that cluster around him ! Every sect, with the exception of the Quakers, (and they dare not bark.) which in- habits his territory — their Judas-like priesthood, 23 who teach for hire and divine for money — the great body of the equally corrupt clergy and corpulent, gouty sects of the north — the greater influence of a pseudo-religious press — the wor- shippers of mammon, a mighty host — a widely extended, unprincipled political press — the two great political parties which divide the country in their sordid strife for the spoils of office — the vast army of mercenary office-holders, without feeling and without honesty — the governments of nearly all the states, and the government of the United States — all combine to justify, to protect, and defend him. I know that there is nothing too hard for the Lord — that he is able to surmount all these, or any other obstacles. But what reason have we to expect, that he will interpose his all-conquer- ing arm to rescue such a nation as this ? — a na- tion which has proved recreant to every princi- ple upon which its government is ostensibly based, and for the rectitude of which, in their birth, they most solemnly appealed to Heaven — a nation more perfidious than Arabs or Algerines, guilty of the blackest perju- ry before all the VN^orld in violating solemn treaties with the grievously wronged Indian, scattered, and peeled, and driven with force and cruelty from his rightful home — a nation guilty of the most high-handed and daring robberies 24 — a nation dyed in the blood of stolen Africans^ of murdered slaves, and murdered Indians — a nation which weighs evevy principle and every interest cf heaven and earth in the scales of avarice, and calculates their value accordingly — a nation vvdiich has trampled upon all justice^ all law, all government, all truth and righteous- r.oss, in eiTorts to crash the best friends of our common humanity — a nation which, like the drunkard or the maniac, has lost the power of self-recovery, and is every way well worthy of being made a proverb, a by-vrord, a hissing, and a curse among all the nations of the earth- ' Were they ashamed when they had committed abominations ? Nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush I There- fore, they shall fall among them that fall at the time that I visit them : they shall be cast down, saith the Lord.' ' Shall I not visit for these things ? saith the Lord. Shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?' There is a certain class of medicines, power- ful but equally valuable, which, when adminis- tered to a patient in whom the vital stamina is not materially injured, invariably effects a cure ; but which, v/hen administered to one whose con- stitution is imperceptibly, yet irrecoverably im- paired or undermined by a complication of dis- eases, have no other tendency than to develope 5* 25 the most frightful symptoms — such as deadly- chills, violent convulsions, and raving delirium — and hence, hurries him to his tomb. The state of this latter patient, I consider a just rep- resentation of the moral, religious and political condition of this country, generally. Abolition would effect a cure, if there was enough of vi- tality to sustain its operation ; but fierce dis- eases having pertinaciously seized every part, its only tendency is to develope (not create) ap- palling symptoms of deep decay and speedy dis- solution. The violence of mobs, the fury of oppressors, the virulence and madness of their protectors and apologists in Church and State, are but the tremendous convulsions, the fearful delirium, the dying throes of an expiring na- tion. The signs of the times indicate clearly, to my mind, thai God has given up the sects and par- ties, political and religious, of this nation, into the hands of a perverse and lying spirit, and left them to fill up the measure of their sins. When this measure shall have been completed, I doubt not that he will thunder in his burning indignation upon them; and as each scathing round shall successively demolish the various ecclesiastical and political structures, all minds will instantaneously recur to the remonstrances and warnings repeatedly given by those true 26 friends of God and man, ' who would have made up the hedge — who stood in the gap be- fore the Lord, for the land, that he should not destroy it ' — but w^ho were thrust away, and trampled under foot. Moral Reform, Peace, An ti- Slavery, Anti-Sectarian, or any other phil- anthropic measures, will never, by themselves, effect their great objects. One design of God in originating them is, to prepare this nation to understand, when he comes to judgment, what are the mighty sins which have kindled his wrath against it. Observe how ready e^^en a Bacon* was to refer to slavery as one of the prominent causes of divine judgment in blasting the commercial interests of the country. The late pressure ^vas only a fore-running presage of what He is about to do. When the Lord reveals himself in flaming fire, all the facts, the arguments, appeals, rebukes, entreaties, which have been heaped around the abominable, the whoremonger, the sorcerer, the blood-stained warrior, the vile oppressor, the bigoted sectari- an, the sin-advocating levite, the perjured states- man, &c. will kindle like so many faggots, and burn upon the conscience like the raging fires of a volcano. I look upon abolition as the greatest moral * Leonard Bacon of New-Haven. 27 scliool, instituted of God, now existing — in which he is disciplining- a class of noble minds for a more tremendous crisis than this world has ever yet seen — which, I think, is not far distant. I consider it as a voice from heaven to the honest-hearted, saying, ' Come ye out from among them, (i. e. all who are joined to their idols,) that ye be not partakers of their sins — that ye receive not of their plagues.' I vievv' it as holding a similar relation to the de- velopement of that kino'dom which shall destroy all others, and never end, which John the Bap- tist held to Christ in his first advent. It is not the revelation of the Lord from heaven, but the ' voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord ! Make straight in the desert a highway for our God !' — Hence, I re- gard it of more consequence and of more advan- tage than any other moral movement now ex- tant. But all are not Israel who are of Israel ; and God will, in his own time and way, insti- tute a winnowing process, v/hich will send back many professed abolitionists to the place where they legitimately belong. As in Gideon's ar- my, tests will be successively developed, which will discover and purge out the heartless, tem- porizing, pusillanimous and selfish spirits which have intruded themselves among you. I value abolition because of its Christ-like 28 principles. Its fundamental principles, as ap- plied to the natural inheritance and happiness of man, are Christ's principles, as applied to the spiritual inheritance and happiness of man. The arguments and objections which are urged against it are precisely of the same character, and come from the same source that those do which are urged against a pure and perfect Christianity. That I may not seem to be 'a setter forth' of strange doctrines, I will present a few particulars, in which the parallel may be distinctly seen between the two. Arguments in favor of sla- very, or objections to natural freedom. 1. Slavery was forced ■upon us by a superior pow- er, (the British Govern- ment,) without our consent, and it is not in our power to remove it. 2. Slavery was entailed upon us by our ancestors : cannot help what was done before we were born. 3. The patriarchs were godly men, yet were great slaveholders. 4. The Jews -were the chosen people of God, yet they greatly indulged in slaveholding. 5. Members of the prim- itive church held m:any Arguments in favor of sin, or objections to spiritual free- do?!^ 1. A sinful nature was forced upon us by a high- er power, (the Divine Gov- ernment,) without our con- sent, and it is not in our power to remove it. 2. Sin was entailed up- on us by our common an- cestor: cannot help what was done before we were born. 3. The patriarchs were godly men, yet were great sinners. 4. The Jews were the chosen people of God, yet they greatly indulged in sin. 5. Members of the prim- itive church committed ma- 29 •slaves, yet were acknowl- edged christians. 6. Emancipations of slaves nowhere required in the Bible as necessary to piety or the divine favor. 7. No instances in the Bible of any, upon becom- lag religious, emancipat- ing their servants from slavery. 8. Many of the best men in all ages — philanthro- pists, patriots, ministers, and pious laymen, as such, have held many slaves. 9. Bible predictions lead us to expect that African servitude will always exist in this world, even in the best of countries. 10. In the nature of the case, the slave cannot be free from physical bond- age here. The prejudices of the whites, his degrada- tion, and natural inferiori- ty, must ever keep him un- der the servile yoke, in some form. 11. Have never seen any who were the better for being ostensibly free from slavery. 12. If we should practi- cally acknowledge slavery to be inconsistent with jus- tice and humanity, we should be stript of all the property we possess. 13. Slaves have been so ny sins, yet wer« acknowl- edged christians. 6. Freedom from sin no where required in the Bi- ble as necessary to piety or the divine favor. 7. No instances in the- Bible of any, upon becom- ing religious, being eman- cipated from sin. 8. Manyofthe best men in all ages — philanthro- pists, patriots, ministers, and pious laymen, as such, have committed many sins. 9. Bible declarations lead us to expect that sin- ful servitude will exist in this world, even in the best of men. 10. In the nature of the case, the sinner cannot be free from moral bondage here. The corruptions of the world, temptation, his bodily constitution, habits, and natural propensities, must ever keep him under the servile yoke, in some form. 11. Have never seen any who were the better for be- ing professedly free from sin. 12. If we should hearti- ly acknowledge sin to be inconsistent with truth and Christianity, we should be stript of all the religion we profess. 13. Sinners have been 30 long accustomed to sla- so long accustomed to sii> very, they cannot be made ning, they cannot be made free at once, but gradually, free at once, but gradually, 14. The slaves cannot 14. Sinners cannot be be made free here — must made free here — must be be transported beyond the transported bej^ond the sea, and colonized in the grave, and colonized in the land of their fathers, in or- land of their fathers, in or- der to be liberated from sla- der to be liberated from very. sin. Dearly beloved, the morning cometh, and also the night — but the night first. A blighter day is approaching — but a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, must intervene between this time and that glo- rious appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, when he shall consume the Man of Sin with the spirit of his mouth, and destroy him with the bright- ness of his coming. That day is near at hand, yea, even at the doors. Already a mighty moral famine is in the land — not a famine of bread, nor a thirst of water, but of hearing the pure word of the Lord. The distant sound of approaching earthquakes is heard. Spiritual pestilences have commenced their mortal rava- ges. False prophets and false Christs are many. Brother is offended with brother, and ready on the slightest occasions to betray him. Love waxes cold, and iniquities abound. Dis- tress of nations is beginning to appear, with perplexity. Men's hearts are failing them for fear, while looking for those things that are 31 coming upon the earth ; for the powers of heav- en shall be shaken. Bat all who have receiv- ed that kingdom which cannot be moved — who stand upon mount Zion, upon the Rock of Ages, will look undaunted upon ' the wreck of ele- ments and the crush of worlds,' peaceful, joy- ful, in the Christian's rest. My brother, I have not written this letter for the Liberator, either in whole or in part, or for publication any where. I have written it that I might, in this way, hold communion with you personally ; and thus, as I have long de- sired, breathe the abiding sentiments of my soul into your own bosom. I know not but you will think that I have laid a large and heavy tax upon you, and have acted the part of an intruder. If I have, forgive me this wrong. The Lord knoweth that it is the love I bear to- ward you, and the desire which I cherish, that you may be sustained and borne successfully through the many conflicts which you have to pass, because I have seen a spirit in you which is not of this world. All these, and many oth- er considerations of good will, have led me to take the liberties (if such they may be called) which I have in this letter, and to open my heart so freely and fully to you. I find but few unfettered minds and congenial hearts with whom I can hold sweet counsel — because 32 I am a heretic of the worst kind, in holding to a most disorganizing, pestiferous and deceitful doctrine, viz. that Jesus Christ came to save his people from their sins, and, consequently, from the power and tyranny of all who live upon these sins. I have found me a lodging place of wayfaring men here in the wilderness, as a stranger and a pilgrim, tarrying onl}^ as it were for a night. I might say much respecting my present retirement from the busy world into a new and poor country, surrounded by the forest, &c. &c. but consider it wise to be silent. The Lord direct and succeed you. Wishing you and yours, and all who are associated with you in operation and heart, grace, mercy and peace, I subscribe myself your affectionate brother in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ. Farewell ! JAMES BOYLE. P. S. In saying that I did not write this let- ter for publication, I would not have it under- stood that I have any secrets, or would pre- scribe to you any course in regard to it which you should take. Do as you please with it. It formed no part of my design, whatever, in writing it, to gain any notice from any class of men, or from yourself. I know you have oc- cupation enough, without that of noticing every 6 33 individual who may write you. I have a thous- and things in my mind respecting the great things of God, of Christ, of hjs kingdom, of the gospel, of the law, of antichrist, of the world, the church, &c. &c. about which I should re- joice to converse with you, but will trust that my Father will, in his own time, give me an opportunity. A thousand blessings on you and yours. Amen. J. B. Wm. L. Garrison. LofC. UNIVERSAL EMANCIPATION. BROoKLTifj August 14, 1837. My dear friend : What an oath-taking, war-making, man-enslaving, sin-perpetuating religion is that which is preached, pro- fessed, and prao'iised mi th i ;■ . - , under a school-master.' — 'For I through th'^iaw^y: ead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am erucified with Christ: nevertheless, I live ; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. I do not frustrate the grace of God : for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.' — ' For the law of the Spirit of life in Jesus Christ, hath made me free from the law of sin and death.' — Paul. (4) ' The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin.' — 1 John i. 7. — ' For by one offering he hath per- fected forever them that are sanctified.' — Hebrews x. 14. (5) ' For if when we were enemies, we were recon- ciled to God by the death of his Son ; much more, being reconciled, tee shall be saved bi/ his life.' — Romans v. 10. — ' And you, that were sometimes alienated and ene- mies in your minds by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled, in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy, and unblameable, and unreproveable, in his sight.' — Colossians i. 21, 22. 40 Once healed, to find a pciTcct cure ; (6) As Jesus blameless, undefiled; (7) Once saved, no more to go astraj- ; (S) Once crucified, then always dead; (9) Once in the new and living way, True ever to our living Head ; (10) (6) 'With his stripes we are healed.' — Isaiah liji.5. — ' We know that we Jiave passed from dcatli unto life' — 1 John, iii. 14. — 'lie that heareth my word, and be- lieveth on him that sent me. hath everlasting life' — ' He that believeth in me, though he were dead^ yet shall he live, and shall nexer die.' — Christ. (7) ' Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he (Christ) is pure.' — * In him is no sin.' — ' He that doetli righteousness is righteous, even as he (Christ) is righteous.' — 1 John iii. 3, 5, 7. — 'Christ liveth in )iie.' — Galatians ii. 20. — ' If any man have not tJie Spirit of Christ, he is '^"'•e of his.' — Ro- mans viii. 9. — ' I in them, ■ iie, that they may be made perfect in ^ (8) 'I give vmio ^^^they shall never perish, neither _,, a. • "out of my hands.' — ' I know whom I ha. t ved, ^d am per- suaded that he is able to keep tliat v»4iich I have com- mitted unto him against tliatday.' — Paul. — ' Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.' — Peter. (9) ' Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might he destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For lie that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him.' — Romans vi. C, 7, 8. — 'For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.' — Colossians iii. 3. — 'And they that are Christ's, have crucified the flesh, with the afl'ections and lusts.' — Galatians v. 24. (10) ' Speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in ali things, which is the head, even Christ.' — Ephesians iv. 15. — ' Who shall separate us from the 41 Dwelling in God, and God in us ; (11) From every spot and wrinkle clear ; (12) Safely delivered from the curse ; (13) Incapable of doubt or fear. (14) It is to have eternal life, (15) To follow where the Saviour trod ; (16) love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or perse- cution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors, through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.' — Romans viii. 35, 37, 38, 39. — ' I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me, shall never hunger ; and he that believeth on me, shall never thirst.^ — John vi. 35 — ' How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein ?' — Romans vi. 2. — * Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.' — 1 Peter i. 5. (11) ' God is love : and he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and God in him.' — ' He that keepeth his commandments, dwelleth in him, and he in him.' — 1 John, iv. 16 — iii. 24. (12) * Not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing.' — Ephesians v. 27. (13) ' Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us.' — Galatians iii. 13. — * The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the na- tions. And there shall be no more curse.' — Revelations xxii. 3. (14) ' There is no fear in love ; but perfect love casteth out fear : because fear hath torment. He that fear eth, is not made perfect in love.' — 1 John iv. 18. ' For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear.' Ro- mans viii. 15. (\^) ' God hath given to us eternal life : and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son, hath life.' 1 42 To be removed from earthly strife — (17) Joint-heirs with Christ — and sons of God ! (18) Never from rectitude to swerve, Though by the powers of hell pursued; To consecrate, without reserve, All we possess, in Moing good.' It is to glory in the Cross, Endure reproach, despise the shame, And wisely count as dung and dross, All earthly grandeur, homage, fame ; To know the Shepherd of the sheep — Be gentle, harmless, meek and lowly; All joy, all hope, all peace — to keep Not one in seven, but all days holy ! John V. 11, 12. ' The gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.' Romans vi. 23. 'I give unto them eternal life.' John x. 23. (16) ' Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an exam- ple, that we should follow his steps.' 1 Peter ii. 21. < If any man serve me, let him follow me.' John xii. 26. ' If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.' Luke ix. 23. C17) ' God hath called us to peace.' 1 Corinthians, vii. 15. ' Follow peace with all men.' 2 Timothy, ii. 22. ' Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you.' John xiv. 27. (18J ' If children, then heirs : heirs of God, and joint- heirs with Christ. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.' Romans viii. 14, 17. ' Behold, what manner of love the Father hath be- stowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God !' 1 John iii. 1. 'That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation*' Philippians ii. 15. 43 It is to be all prayer and praise, Not in set form or phrase expressed, But ceaseless as angelic lays — This, only this, is christian rest ! He who, believing, hath obtained This REST, shall ne'er be troubled more, Thougli round him lions, fierce, unchained, For his destruction rage and roar ! He may be famishing for bread. Or be of men the jest and mirth. And have no where to lay his head, No spot to call his own on earth ; Temptation, with its endless wiles. May strive to turn his feet aside — And Flattery, with its treacherous smiles, May hope to flush some latent pride ; He may be hunted as a beast — As heretic dragged to the stake — Placed on the rack Revenge to feast. And Bigotry's fierce wrath to slake ; Or whether earth or hell assail, It matters not — v/ithin his breast Is joy, is peace, that cannot fail — Nought shall destroy his christian rest ! WM. LLOYD GARRISON. .» 1^214 .^ z^^ ^^ N