| 891 it may be to ameliorate the condition of the slaves in the southern and south-western States, or to remove slavery from our country, these objects we are fully persuaded can never be secured by ecclesiastical legislation. Much less can they be attained by those indiscriminate denunciations against slaveholders, without regard to their character or circumstances which have, to so great an extent, characterized the movements of modern abolitionists, which, so far from removing the evils complained of, tend only to perpetuate and aggravate them.
The Apostles of Christ sought to ameliorate the condition of slaves, not by denouncing and excommunicating their masters, but by teaching both masters and slaves, the glorious doctrines of the Gospel, and enjoining upon such the discharge of their relative duties. Thus only can the church of Christ, as such, now improve the condition of the slaves in our country.
As to the extent of the evils involved in slavery and the best methods of removing them various opinions prevail, and neither the scriptures nor our constitution authorize this body to present any particular course to be pursued by the churches under our care. The Assembly cannot but rejoice, however, to learn that the ministers and churches in the slaveholding States are awaking to a deeper sense of their obligation, to extend to the slave population generally, the means of grace and many slaveholders not professedly religious favor this object. We earnestly exhort them to abound more and more in this good work. We would exhort every believing master to remember that his master is also in heaven, and in view of all the circumstances in which he is placed, to act in the spirit of the golden rule. "Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even the same to them."
In view of the above stated principles and facts,
Resolved, That the General Assembly of the Presbyterian church in the United States was originally organized, and has since continued the bond of nnoin [union] in the church, upon the conceded principle that the existence of domestic slavery under the circumstances in which it is found in the southern portion of the country to no bar to Christian communion.
Resolved, That the petitions that ask the Assembly to make the holding of slaves in itself a matter of discipline, do virtually require this judicatory to dissolve itself and abandon the organization under which, by the Divine blessing, it has so long prospered. The tendoacy [tendency] is evidently to separate the northern from the southern portion of the church; a result which every good citizen must deplore as leading to the dissolution of the union of our beloved country, and which every enlightened Christian will oppose as bringing about a ruinous and unnecessary schism between brethren who maintain a common faith.
The resolutions were passed by an almost unanimous vote. The report and resolutions were then adopted-yeas 164, nays 12. The Assembly then adjourned.
COMMUNICATIONS.
PARACLETES.
MR. EDITOR-If you think the following sketch of the "Paracletes" worthy of a place, in the Times and Seasons, use it.
Once upon a time, the most honorable men of the creations or universes, met together to promote the best interest of the great whole.-The "head" said to his oldest son, you are the rightful heir to all, but you know I have many kingdoms and many mansions, and of course it will need many kings and many priests, to govern them, come you with me in solemn council, and let us and some of the "best" men we have had born in the regions of light, to rule in those kingdoms and set them in order by exhibiting good that evil may be manifest.
It was said and done, for every thing there, was adopted from the "head" by common consent. As free agency gave the sons of the "head" a fair chance to choose for themselves, the most noble of the hosts, came forward and selected a world or kingdom, and a time or a season, when he would take his chance, at winning the hearts of the multitude, a kingdom, crown, and never ending glory.
The innumerable multiplicity of kingdoms, or spheres for action, with beings and animals in proportion, and time, times, eternity and eternities [eternity's], for a full development of the qualities and powers of each, would so far exceed the common comprehension of mortals, that I can only say eye hath not seen, ear hath not heard, nor hath a natural heart yet been able to calculate either. I then shall content myself, for this time to sketch but one. Idumia is the one as interesting as any, and being situated at an immense distance from the center or "head's" residence, and many eternities [eternity's] from the birth of the "Son of the morning" or even the great holy day when the "morning stars sang together," because so many worlds had been wrought out and left "empty and desolate," as places for "all the sons" of God to multiply and replenish the earth, I select that.
Time being divided into seven parts, the following
(page 891) |
