You abused my brother and sister without cause, and in like manner you did to myself; you surmised evil against me.  You struck me with your walking-cane, called me insulting names, threatened me, swore at me, and became more and more wrathy in your conduct, and at the time I quitted your place, I had good reason to believe that you were meditating serious evil against me.

Since I have been out of your hands, I have been signally favoured of God, whence I infer that in leaving you, I acted strictly in accordance with his holy will.  I have a conscience void of offence towards God and towards all men, yourself not excepted.  And I verily believe that I have performed a sacred duty to God and myself, and a kindness to you, in taking the blood of my soul peaceably off your soul.  And now, dear sir, having spoken somewhat pointedly, I would, to convince you of my perfect good will towards you, in the most kind and respectful terms, remind you of your coming destiny.  You are now over seventy years of age, pressing on to eternity with the weight of these seventy years upon you.  Is not this enough without the blood of some half-score of souls?

You are aware that your right to property in man is now disputed by the civilized world.  You are fully aware, also, that the question, whether the Bible sanctions slavery, has distinctly divided this nation in sentiment.  On the side of Biblical Anti-slavery, we have many of the most learned, wise and holy men in the land.  If the Bible affords no sanction to slavery, (and I claim that it cannot,) then it must be a sin of the deepest dye; and can you, sir, think to go to God in hope with a sin of such magnitude upon your soul?

But admitting that the question is yet doubtful, (which I do only for the sake of argument,) still, sir, you will have the critical hazard of this doubt pressing, in no very doubtful way, upon your declining years, as you descend the long and tedious hill of life.

Would it not seem to be exceedingly undesirable to close an eventful probation of seventy or eighty years, and leave your reputation among posterity suspended upon so doubtful an issue?  But what, my dear sir, is a reputation among posterity, who are but worms, compared with a destiny in the world of spirits?  And it is in light of that destiny that I would now have you look at this subject.  You and I, and all that you claim as your slaves, are in a state of probation; our great business is to serve God under His righteous moral government.  Master and slave are the subjects of that government, bound by its immutable requirements, and liable to its sanctions in the next world, though enjoying its forbearance in this.  You will pardon me then for pressing this point in earnest good faith.  You should, at this stage, review your life without political bias, or adherence to long cherished prejudices, and remember that you are soon to meet those whom