Slavery

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k (<:" --~ - . ~~» .. 138 well as of foes, should give to abolitionists a caution and moderation, which would secure the acquies­cence of the judicious, and the sympathies of the friends of mankind ! Let not a good cause find its chief obstmction in its defenders. Let the truth, and the whole tmth, be spoken without paltering or fear; but so spoken as to convince, not inflame, as to give no alarm to the wise, and no needless exasperation to the selfish and passionate. I know it is said, that nothing can be done but by excitement and vehemence; that the zeal which dares every thing is the only power to op­pose to long rooted abuses. But it is not true 'that God has committed the great work of reform­ing the world to passion. _ Love is a minister of good only when it gives energy to the intellect, and allies itself with wisdom. The abolitionists often speak of Luther's vehemence as a model to future reformers. But who, that has read history, does not know that Luther's reformation was ac­companied by tremendous miseries and crimes, and that its prouress was soon arrested? and is there not reason to fear, th~t the fierce, bitter, persecut­ing spirit, which he breathed into the work, not only tarnished its glory, but limited its power? One great principle, which we should lay down as im­movably true, is, that if a good work cannot be carried on by the calm, self-controlled, benevolent spirit of Christianity, then the time for doing it has· 139 not come'. · God asks not the aid of our vices. He can overrule them for good, but they are not the chosen instruments of human happiness. We, indeed, need zeal, fervent zeal, such as will fear no man's power, and shrink before no man's frown, such as will sacrifice life to truth and free­dom. But this ener{;y of will ought to be joined with deliberate wisdom and universal charity. It ought to regard the whole, in its strenuous efforts for a part. Above all, it ought to ask first, not what means are most effectual, but what means are sanctioued by the Moral Law and by Christian Love. We ought to think much more of walking in the right path than of reaching our end. We should desire virtue more than success. If by one wrong deed we could accomplish the liberation of millions, and in no other way, we ought to feel that this good, for which, perhaps, we had prayed with an agony of desire, was denied us by God, was reserved for other times and other hands. The first object of a true zeal is, not that we may prosper, but that we may do right, that we may keep ourselves unspotted from every evil thought, word, and deed. Under the inspiration of such a zeal, we shall not find in the greatness of an enter­prise an apology for intrigue or for violence. We shall not need immediate success to spur us to exertion. We shall not distrust God, because he does not yield to the cry of human impatience.