The Anti-Slavery Examiner, Part 2 of 4 eBook

American Anti-Slavery Society
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 1,105 pages of information about The Anti-Slavery Examiner, Part 2 of 4.

The Anti-Slavery Examiner, Part 2 of 4 eBook

American Anti-Slavery Society
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 1,105 pages of information about The Anti-Slavery Examiner, Part 2 of 4.
power of first principles?  And what if we were to discover what we were thus in search of?—­something directly or indirectly, expressly or impliedly prejudicial to the principles, which reason, placing us under the authority of, makes self-evident?  In what estimation, in that case, should we be constrained to hold the Bible?  Could we longer honor it, as the book of God? The book of God opposed to the authority of REASON!  Why, before what tribunal do we dispose of the claims of the sacred volume to divine authority?  The tribunal of reason. This every one acknowledges the moment he begins to reason on the subject.  And what must reason do with a book, which reduced the authority of its own principles—­broke the force of self-evident truths?  Is he not, by way of eminence, the apostle of infidelity, who, as a minister of the gospel or a professor of sacred literature, exerts himself, with whatever arts of ingenuity or show of piety, to exalt the Bible at the expense of reason?  Let such arts succeed and such piety prevail, and Jesus Christ is “crucified afresh and put to an open shame.”

What saith the Princeton professor?  Why, in spite of “general principles,” and “clear as we may think the arguments against DESPOTISM, there have been thousands of ENLIGHTENED and good men, who honestly believe it to be of all forms of government the best and most acceptable to God."[A] Now, these “good men” must have been thus warmly in favor of despotism, in consequence of, or in opposition to, their being “enlightened.”  In other words, the light, which in such abundance they enjoyed, conducted them to the position in favor of despotism, where the Princeton professor so heartily shook hands with them, or they must have forced their way there in despite of its hallowed influence.  Either in accordance with, or in resistance to the light, they became what he found them—­the advocates of despotism.  If in resistance to the light—­and he says they were “enlightened men”—­what, so far as the subject with which alone he and we are now concerned, becomes of their “honesty” and “goodness?” Good and honest resisters of the light, which was freely poured around them!  Of such, what says Professor Stuart’s “good old Book?” Their authority, where “general principles” command the least respect, must be small indeed.  But if in accordance with the light, they have become the advocates of despotism, then is despotism “the best form of government and most acceptable to God.”  It is sustained by the authority of reason, by the word of Jehovah, by the will of Heaven!  If this be the doctrine which prevails at certain theological seminaries, it must be easy to account for the spirit which they breathe, and the general influence which they exert.  Why did not the Princeton professor place this “general principle” as a shield, heaven-wrought and reason-approved, over that cherished form of despotism which prevails among the churches of the South, and leave the “peculiar institutions” he is so forward to defend, under its protection?

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The Anti-Slavery Examiner, Part 2 of 4 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.