who had been most rudely thrust out of the family of Adam, and forced to herd with swine; who, without the slightest offence, had been made the footstool of the worst criminals; whose “tears were their meat night and day,” while, under nameless insults and killing injuries they were continually crying, O Lord, O Lord:—­this class of sufferers, and this alone, our biblical expositors, occupying the high places of sacred literature, would make us believe the compassionate Savior coldly overlooked.  Not an emotion of pity; not a look of sympathy; not a word of consolation, did his gracious heart prompt him to bestow upon them!  He denounces damnation upon the devourer of the widow’s house.  But the monster, whose trade it is to make widows and devour them and their babes, he can calmly endure!  O Savior, when wilt thou stop the mouths of such blasphemers!

  “IT IS THE SPIRIT THAT QUICKENETH.”

It seems that though, according to our Princeton professor, “the subject” of slavery “is hardly alluded to by Christ in any of his personal instructions,"[9] he had a way of “treating it.”  What was that?  Why, “he taught the true nature, DIGNITY, EQUALITY, and destiny of men,” and “inculcated the principles of justice and love."[10] And according to Professor Stuart, the maxims which our Savior furnished, “decide against” “the theory of slavery.”  All, then, that these ecclesiastical apologists for slavery can make of the Savior’s alleged silence is, that he did not, in his personal instructions, “apply his own principles to this particular form of wickedness.”  For wicked that must be, which the maxims of the Savior decide against, and which our Princeton professor assures us the principles of the gospel, duly acted on, would speedily extinguish.[11] How remarkable it is, that a teacher should “hardly allude to a subject in any of his personal instructions,” and yet inculcate principles which have a direct and vital bearing upon it!—­should so conduct, as to justify the inference, that “slaveholding is not a crime,"[12] and at the same time lend its authority for its “speedy extinction!”

[Footnote 9:  Pittsburg pamphlet, (already alluded to,) p.9.]

[Footnote 10:  Pittsburg pamphlet, p. 9.]

[Footnote 11:  The same, p. 34.]

[Footnote 12:  The same, p. 13.]

Higher authority than sustains self-evident truths there cannot be.  As forms of reason, they are rays from the face of Jehovah.  Not only are their presence and power self-manifested, but they also shed a strong and clear light around them.  In their light, other truths are visible.  Luminaries themselves, it is their office to enlighten.  To their authority, in every department of thought, the same mind bows promptly, gratefully, fully.  And by their authority, he explains, proves, and disposes of whatever engages his attention and engrosses his powers as a reasonable and reasoning creature.  For what, when thus employed and when most successful,