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Show 154 LIBERTY AND SLAVERY. so confidently upon "a higher law," even upon "the divine law" itself, be not as hasty and rash in theu: interpretation of this law as they arc accustomed to be in their judgment respecting the most universal and long-cstnblishcd institutions of human society. In the first place, if their interpretation be correct, we are at once met by a very serious difficulty. For we are required to believe that one passage of Scripture grants an "authority to take slaves," while another passage is designed to annul this authority. We are required to believe that, in one portion of the divine law, the right of the master to hold his slaves as "bondsmen" is recognised, while another part of the same law denies the existence of such right. In fine, we are required to believe that the legislator of the Jews intended, in one and the same code, both to establish and to abolish slavery ; that with one hand be struck down the very right and institution which he bad set up with the other. Ilow Dr. Channing and Mr. Sumner would have disposed of tbis difficulty we kuow full well, for they ea!-ry within their own bosoms a higher law than this higher Jaw itself. But how Dr. Wayland, as an enlightened member of the good ARO UMENT lCRO:M THH SCRIPTURES. 155 old orthodox Baptist Church, with whom the Scriptm·e is really and in truth the inspired word of God, would have disposed of it, we arc at smne loss to conceive. We labor under no such difficul ty. The words in question do not relate to slaves owned by lie brew masters. They relate to those slaves only who should escape from heathen masters and seck an asylum among the people of God: "The first inquiry of course is," says a learned divine,* "in regard to those very words, '\V'hcre does his mastct" live?' Among the lie brews, or among foreigners? The language of the passage fully develops this and answers the question. 'lie has escaped from his master unto the Ilcbrcws; (the text says-thee, i.e. Israel;) he shall dwell with thee, even among you ... in one of thy gates.' Of course, then, he is an immigrant, and did not dwell among them before his ilight. If he had been a Ilehrew servant, belonging to a Ilcbrew, the whole face of the thing would he changed. Restoration, or restitution, if we may judge by the tenor of other *Moses Stewart, o. divino of Massachusetts, who had devoted o. long and laborious life to tho interpretation of Scripture, nnd who was by no means o. friend to the institution of slavery. |