which related to the slave-trade." As op- lost upon us. It has given a great impulse position was made to it by some of the to the moral movement which is steadily members, it was stricken out in order to going on in the community. It is true secure entire unanimity.

that, as slavery is by our Constitution left to the government of each state in which it exists, to be managed by it alone, there can be no such action among us as that of England, by which the overthrow of slavery in her dominions was effected at a blow. It is in the midst of us; it is not at a distance. Its destruction with us can be accomplished only by those whose pecuniary interests are at stake for its maintenance. This point foreigners should well comprehend. It is the slaveholders among us, that is, the inhabitants of each slaveholding state, who alone can overthrow it. This it is which makes our position so difficult.

The war of independence found slavery existing in all the thirteen colonies. During its progress, or soon after its close, the original four New-England States, Massachusetts, New-Hampshire, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, abolished slavery within their respective limits. Some years later, Pennsylvania, New-Jersey, and New-York followed. In process of time Vermont and Maine, in New-England, and Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan, in the West, were formed into states without slavery. To these we may add the two Territories of Iowa and Wisconsin. On the other hand, the six original slaveholding states, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Caro- I am of opinion that it will require many lina, South Carolina, and Georgia, remain years to efface this dreadful evil and burnsuch to the present day, and to them have ing disgrace from the midst of us. It will been added, in the West and Southwest, require long and persevering efforts on the the States of Kentucky, Tennessee, Ala- part of good men, and a large amount of bama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Missouri, Ar- that "wisdom which cometh down from kansas, and the Territory of Florida. And above." But of one thing I feel very sure: the number of slaves has augmented from it is, that although some may act rashly, about 600,000, at the close of the Revolution, to nearly three millions. How and when the abolition of slavery is to be accomplished in these thirteen states and one territory, is a question which no one

can answer.

and sometimes attempt to promote the cause by unwise measures; and others may be too supine, and, through fear of evil consequences, not come up to its help as they ought; although both these parties may charge each other, and perhaps justly, It may not be amiss for me to say, how- with so acting as to retard the work, yet ever, that this mighty task will never be there is a growing dissatisfaction with this effected peaceably but through the influ- great evil, a conviction that it ought and ence of Christianity. This has accom- must be terminated as speedily as possiplished all that has hitherto been done-ble, consistently with the true interests of the destruction of slavery in seven states, all concerned, which will one day lead to and the prevention of its entrance into six or eight more; the abolition of the slavetrade before any other nation had done anything on the subject, and the declaring of it to be of the nature of piracy, and as meriting the same punishment. And however desperate the struggle may prove to be, she will not shrink from it.

The noble example of England in abolishing slavery in her islands will not be

* It was in these words:" He (the King of England) has waged cruel war against human nature itself. violating its most sacred rights of life and liberty in the persons of a distant people, who never offended him, captivating and carrying them into slavery in another hemisphere, or to more miserable death in their transportation thither. This piratical warfare, the opprobrium of infidel powers, is the warfare of the Christian King of Great Britain. Determined to keep open a market where men should be bought and sold, he has prostituted his prerogative for suppressing every legislative attempt to prohibit or restrain this execrable commerce. And that this assemblage of horrors might want no fact of distinguished dye, he is now exciting these very people to rise in arms among us, and to purchase that liberty of which he has deprived them, by murdering the people on whom he also has obtruded them; thus paying off former crimes committed against the liberties of one people, with crimes which he urges them to commit against the lives of another."

its overthrow. I do not know how it will be brought about, but Christianity will effect it. God-our fathers' God-invoked more and more earnestly, as I am sure he is, will, by his providence, open the way for this great achievement.

To this great struggle, which Christians with us must carry on-let it take what course it may-in order to be successful, we are far from wishing our brethren of other lands to be indifferent. We want

to do good among us, when made in the spirit of a * The visits of foreign philanthropists cannot fail great and a good man who lately came to us from England, who travelled throughout all our states, and "reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come;" who, though he neglected no opportunity to speak of the wrongs done to the slave, slaveholder, for he spoke words of mingled wisdom was ever heard with respect and attention by the and love. And when he had accomplished his mission and returned to his native land, he addressed a series of letters to one of our most distinguished statesmen on the subject of slavery, and especially

on the effects of its abolition in the British West In

dia Islands, which have been widely and attentively

Mr. Gurney, a distinguished member and minister of the Society of Friends, and who, with his excellent brother and sister (Mrs. Elizabeth Fry), is one of the brightest or naments of humanity.

churches have done all that they ought to do, that they feel all the solicitude, and distress, and sorrow, which they ought for the continued existence of this great evil. There is nothing more probable in itself than that our churches should fail of com

their sympathy and their prayers. We in relation to this subject. Now I have wish them to make a proper allowance no disposition to say that the American for the difficulties of our position; and while they reprove our delays and stimulate our zeal, we wish them to do it in a Christian spirit, not only because it best comports with the religion which we both profess, but also because of its influence upon those among us who are slaveholding up to their whole duty on this subject, ers, the great majority of whom are not more than on almost any other, when we religious men. It is easy to grow indig- consider how they are situated. I do not nant on this subject, and indulge in hard say this by way of apology, but to state epithets; but the "wrath of man worketh the case truly. But to accuse our churchnot the righteousness of God." There are es throughout the land with approving of those abroad who see no difficulties in our slavery, because, in some parts of the position; to whom the fact that slavery is country, they think they are compelled to entwined about our very vitals, so far at tolerate it as an evil from which circumleast, as one half of the country is con- stances do not at present allow them to cerned, is of no importance; and who extricate themselves (and this is the most vainly imagine that it is enough to de- which can be said against them on this mand that every slaveholder should let his point), is going beyond the bounds of slaves go free. This, indeed, is a very Christian charity. Besides, to charge all simple way of getting rid of the evil; and the American churches, as well as those if it were practicable, it would be well in the fifteen states and territories in which enough. So if all mankind would at once slavery is unknown, as those in the thirof their own accord give up their rebel- teen states, one territory, and one district lion against God and yield a heartfelt obe- in which it does still exist, with the sin of dience to Him, this world might be deliv-"robbery," "man-stealing," etc., is to be ered from sin without the toil of preaching the Gospel, and the employment of so many other instrumentalities which are now found to be necessary. And if all the men in the United States who were engaged in the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors twenty years ago had, of their own accord, or upon being simply requested or commanded, abandoned their wicked business; and all who drank such liquors ceased to do so from the same influence, there would have been no need of all the labour and expense which it has cost to promote the cause of Temperance among us. But how vain it is to talk in this way! To overthrow slavery in the United States is a great work-the greatest and most difficult, I hesitate not to say, that ever man undertook to accomplish. And there is nothing but Christianity, employing its blessed influences, LIGHT and LOVE, which can effect it. A good deal of time, and a great deal of patience and prudence will also be required, if we would see this evil come to an end in a peaceful

guilty of something more than a mere want of Christian charity.

66

Nor are some other denunciations of a sweeping nature much less unjust or injurious. "Let America," said a distinguished Christian minister whom we all love, at a missionary meeting in one of the great capitals of Europe, a few years ago, let America wash the stain of slavery from her skirts, and then she will be worthy to come up and join us in the great work of converting the world." Indeed! and must our American churches be compelled to abstain from attempting to obey the command of their risen Saviour-and which may be one of the means of staying, if not averting the divine wrath, which would otherwise overwhelm their guilty country-until their land be freed from slavery? And if they are to be condemned for national sins which they have not been able to overcome, where are the churches which are to cast the first stone at them? Shall it be those of England, or France, or Holland? Blessed be God, our heavenly Father does not use such language towards us. He deigns to bless our humble efforts to make known his Gospel to the heathen nations, notwithstanding our many sins; nor does He forbid our co-operating with those who love his name in other lands to make known this great salvation to all men. Still more, He condescends to visit the churches in all parts of our land with the effusions of His Holy Spirit, without which, indeed, we might well despair of our country.

But sympathy, love, prayer, and co-operation better become those who love God in all lands, than crimination and recrim

ination. They form one vast brotherhood, England's sweetest religious bard,* with and their trials, their labours, and their which we bring this book to a close: hopes are common. Neither difference of "Come, then, and, added to thy many crowns, language, nor separating oceans, nor diver- Receive yet one, the crown of all the earth, sity of government and of ecclesiastical Thou who alone art worthy! It was thine By ancient covenant, ere Nature's birth; organizations, nor variety of modes of worAnd thou hast made it thine by purchase since, ship, can divide them. They have their And overpaid its value with thy blood. various difficulties to encounter, and their Thy saints proclaim Thee king; and in their hearts respective works to perform. And how Thy title is engraven with a pen they should delight to encourage each other in every good enterprise, rejoice in each other's success, stimulate and reprove each other (when reproof is necessary) with kindness, and not with bitterness; and thus strive to hasten the universal triumph of the kingdom of their common Lord! And how appropriate to them is the prayer of

Dipped in the fountain of eternal love.
Thy saints proclaim Thee king; and thy delay
Gives courage to their foes, who, could they see
The dawn of thy last advent, long desired,
Would creep into the bowels of the hills,
And flee for safety to the falling rocks.
The very spirit of the world is tired
Of its own taunting question, asked so long,
'Where is the promise of your Lord's approaca?""
* Cowper-The Task, book vi.

INDEX.

Abolition Riots, how viewed in this country, p. 331. | Camp-meetings, origin and nature of, 216.
exaggerated report of, in Europe,

66

America (see North America).

Carolina, North and South, benefits of dissolution of
Church and State in, 115.

Charters of American Colonies, curious character
of, 27, 28.

Cheever, Rev. G. B., extract from lecture of, 319.
Cherokees, removal of the, 298.

Americans, best method for obtaining correct knowl-Christ-ians, origin and belief of the, 280, 281.
edge of, 29.

American Revolution, effects of the, on religion, 102.
morals, character of two foreign censors

of, 335, note.
American, meaning of, when annexed to religious
societies, 140, note.
American Sunday-school Union and Auxiliaries, 152.
Education Society, origin of the, 157.
Bible Society, notice of the, 166.

Tract Society, operations of the, 167.

66 Prison Discipline Society, 174.

66

Christianity, happy influence of, on public order,
332, 333.

Christianity, only remedy for slavery in the United
States, 336, 337.

Churches and ministers at the Revolution, 103, 104.
membership in, how obtained, 185.
evangelical, order prevalent in the, 218.
three divisions of, 220.
general statistics of the, 264,

66

66

265, 269.

Churches, evangelical, missionary efforts of the, 317.

Home Missionary Society, operations of Church, relation of unconverted men to the, 187.
the, 140.

Atonement, doctrine of, illustrated by American Colonists, religious character of the early, 51, 52.
theology, 291.

Ballou, Rev. H., work of, on the Atonement alluded
to, 275.

Banditti, no organized hordes of, in United States,

Roger Williams not the founder of the, Colony at Plymouth, causes of aversion of, to prel-
231, note.

Congregations, new, how formed, 133.

Congregationalists, parent stock of those in Eng-
land, 224.

Congregationalists, not Dissenters, 225.

present religious system of, 225.

mode of church discipline among, 226.
mode of, for supporting public worship, 227.
nature of the "Associations" of, 228.

pastoral office among early, lost by dismis-

sion, 228.
Congregationalists, ordination among, how perform-
ed, 228.
Congregationalists not Independents in practice, 229.
"Consociations" among, nature of, 229.
Congregationalism, opinions of, as to preventing
heresy, 279.

Dwight, Rev. Dr., opinion of, on union of Church | Lutheran Church, Theological Seminary of the, 164.
and State, 115.