It is the doctrine of expediency, so prevalent and corrupting in the American Church, which has deceived you into the belief, that a large share of the professing Christians in the free States, think slavery to be sinless.  This share, which you have in your eye, is, as well as the remainder, convinced that slavery is sinful—­only they think it inexpedient to say so.  In relation to other sins, they are satisfied with God’s way of immediate abandonment.  But, in relation to slavery, they flatter themselves that they have discovered “a more excellent way”—­that of leaving the sin untouched, and simply hoping for its cessation, at some indefinite period in the distant future.  I say hoping, instead of praying, as prayer for an object is found to be accompanied by corresponding efforts.  But for this vile doctrine of expediency, which gives to our ecclesiastical bodies, whenever the subject of such a giant and popular sin as slavery is broached in them, the complexion of a political caucus steeped in unprincipled policy, rather than that of a company of the Saviour’s disciples, inquiring “in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom,” the way of the Lord;—­but for this doctrine, I say, you would, long ago, have heard the testimony of Northern Christians against Southern slavery;—­and not only so, but you would long ago have seen this Dagon fall before the power of that testimony.  I trust, however, that this testimony will not long be withheld; and that Northern Christians will soon perceive, that, in relation to slavery, as well as every other sin, it is the safest and wisest, as well as the holiest course, to drop all carnal policy—­to “trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding.”

Not only are Northern Christians, with very rare exceptions, convinced of the sin of slavery; but even your slaveholders were formerly accustomed, with nearly as great unanimity, to admit, that they themselves thought it to be sinful.  It is only recently, and since they have found that their system must be tested by the Bible, thoroughly and in earnest—­not merely for the purpose, as formerly, of determining without any practical consequences of the determination, what is the moral character of slavery—­but, for the purpose of settling the point, whether the institution shall stand or fall,—­it is only, I say, since the civilized world has been fast coming to claim that it shall be decided by the Bible, and by no lower standard, whether slavery shall or shall not exist—­that your slaveholders have found it expedient to take the ground, that slavery is not sin.