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Show 80 LIBERTY AND SLAVER~ diate and universal abolition of slavery. If slavery were abolished, says he, "the laborer would then work in conformity with the conditions which God has appointed, whereas he now works at variance with them; in the one case, we should be attempti~g to accumulate property under the blessing of God, whereas now we are attempting to do it under his special and peculiar malediction. llow can we expect to prosper, when there is not, as Mr. Jefferson remarks, 'an attribute of the Almighty that can be appealed to in our favor'?"* If we may rely upon his own words, rather than upon the confident assertions of Dr. Wayland, we need not fear the curse of God upon the slaveholder. The readiness with which Dr. Wayland points the thunders of the divine wrath at our heads, is better evidence of the passions of his own heart than of the perfections of the Almighty. Again he says: "If J effcrson trembled for his country when he remembered that God is just, and declared that, 'in case of insurrection, the Almighty has no attribute that can take part with us in the contest,' surely it becomes a disciple of Jesus Ghrist to pause and reflect." Now let it *Letter~, p. 119, 120. ARGUMENT S OF ABOLITIONIST S. 81 be borne in mind that all this proceeds from a man, from a professed disciple of Jesus Christ, who, in various places, has truly, as well as emphatically, said, " The duty of slaves is also cxplicjtly made known in the Bible. They are bound to obedience, fidelity, submission, and respect to their masters,"* &c. &c. Such, then, according to Dr. Wayland himself, is the clear and unequivocal teaching of revelation. And such being the case, shall the real "disciple of Jesus Christ" be made to believe, on the autl10rity of Mr. J cfteJ-son or of any other man, that the Almighty has no attJ·ibute which could induce him to take sides with his own law? If, instead of submission to that law, there should be rehellion,-and not only rehellion, but bloodshed and murder,-11hall we believe that the Almighty, the supreme Ruler of heaven and earth, wonld look on well pleased? Since such is the express declaration of God himself respecting the duty of slaves, it surely becomes a disciple of Christ to pause and reflect whether he will follow his voice or the voice of man. We owe at least one benefit to the Northern *Moral Science, Pn.rt ii. chnp. i. sec. 2. ll - |