the ground the “cup of cold water,” which might have moistened my parched lips; I was a stranger and ye drove me from the hovel which might have sheltered me from the piercing wind; I was sick and ye scourged me to my task; in prison and you sold me for my jail-fees—­to what depths of hell must not those who were convicted under such charges be consigned!  And what is the history of American slavery but one long indictment, describing under ever-varying forms and hues just such injuries!

Nor should it be forgotten, that those who incurred the displeasure of their Judge, took far other views than he, of their own past history.  The charges which he brought against them, they heard with great surprise.  They were sure that they had never thus turned away from his necessities.  Indeed, when had they seen him thus subject to poverty, insult, and oppression!  Never.  And as to that poor friendless creature whom they left unpitied and unhelped in the hands of the oppressor, and whom their Judge now presented as his own representative, they never once supposed, that he had any claims on their compassion and assistance.  Had they known, that he was destined to so prominent a place at the final judgment, they would have treated him as a human being, in despite of any social, pecuniary, or political considerations.  But neither their negative virtue nor their voluntary ignorance could shield them from the penal fire which their selfishness had kindled.

Now amidst the general maxims, the leading principles, the “great commandments” of the gospel; amidst its comprehensive descriptions and authorized tests of Christian character, we should take our position in disposing of any particular allusions to such forms and usages of the primitive churches as are supposed by divine authority.  The latter must be interpreted and understood in the light of the former.  But how do the apologists and defenders of slavery proceed?  Placing themselves amidst the arrangements and usages which grew out of the corruptions of Christianity, they make these the standard by which the gospel is to be explained and understood!  Some Recorder or Justice, without the light of inquiry or the aid of a jury, consigns the negro whom the kidnapper has dragged into his presence to the horrors of slavery.  As the poor wretch shrieks and faints, Humanity shudders and demands why such atrocities are endured?  Some “priest” or “Levite,” “passing by on the other side,” quite self-possessed and all complacent reads in reply from his bread phylactery, Paul sent back Onesimus to Philemon!  Yes, echoes the negro-hating mob, made up of “gentlemen of property and standing” together with equally gentle-men reeking from the gutter; Yes—­Paul sent back Onesimus to Philemon!  And Humanity, brow-beaten, stunned with noise and tumult, is pushed aside by the crowd!  A fair specimen this of the manner in which modern usages are made to interpret the sacred Scriptures?