God permitted the transgression, and he also permitted the penalty to fall on the transgressors; and it then devolved on him, as Supreme Ruler of the universe, to regulate, govern, and control the transgressors, and the calamitous consequences of their transgression according to his own righteous will.  “Justice and judgment are the habitation of his throne, and righteousness goeth before him.”  “The wrath of man shall praise thee, and the remainder of wrath wilt thou restrain.”  That the almighty and all-wise God governs both men and devils, and the consequences of their acts, in accordance with the strictest principles of righteousness, judgment and justice, we have no right to doubt.  He, in his amazing condescension, illimitable goodness, and boundless mercy, has given us a revelation of his will, to regulate, govern, and control our actions; and all that comports with our best interests, or that is essential for us to know concerning himself and his government of our world, is revealed in this Holy Volume; and if there are some things in the moral government of God, which we cannot comprehend, we have no right to cavil.  “The Judge of all the earth will do right.”

If either masters or servants wish to know the will of God concerning slavery—­if they would learn their respective relations and duties, as masters, and servants, I must refer them to the Bible.  There they will find a revelation of the will of God in relation to slavery, clearly set forth.  If we have any other authority, or guide, I am not aware of it.  I know of none.  It is true, that I have heard something about a higher law but from whence it came, “to whom related, or by whom begot,” I know not.  It is enough for us to know, that it did not come from God.  Christians must take the Bible as their guide, and God as their master; and if others think that they can do better, let them try.  Poor old Ham, I suppose, thought that he could do better; and he deserted the source of all mercy, goodness, truth, light and knowledge; and what was the consequence?  Ignorance, barbarism, degradation and woe; ending in the accursed slavery of his race.  Accursed of God!  A curse entailed on sin—­an individual curse—­national curse!  Too often, a curse to him that serves, and him that rules!  God be merciful to the slave and his master.  The master, as well as the slave, is entitled to our sympathies, and not to our maledictions.

Whether the mental powers of Shem and Japheth, were originally superior to those of Ham, we know not.  We know that the posterity of Shem and Japheth, are mentally superior to the posterity of Ham, at the present day.  To me, it seems probable, that Ham came from the hands of his Creator, in every respect equal to Shem and Japheth; and that his mental and moral powers were debased by sin, and they thus acquired a superiority over him.  But, supposing that Ham was originally inferior to his more fortunate brothers, he had no right to complain.  Suppose that the