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SERMON
2-A
M^Uf$ Aianuk
January
4,
<^kf^>..t^..?
liltijtww,
*-
1861,
BY THE
REV.
GEORGE
D.
CUMMIiNS,
D. D.
RECTOR.
titc
g^m^ilran.
January
4,
1861,
BY THE
REV.
GEORGE
D.
CUMMINS,
D. D.
RECTOR,
PUBLISHED BY REQUEST
BALTIMOKE:
PRINTED BY JOHN
1861.
D.
TOY
%r
'
'
Ibcehango
0iihr. of
Mid).
S E
RM
Isaiah, Ixv. 8.
new wine
I
is
found
in
IS
the
IN
cjaistek,
AND
r
ONE saith,
'
DESTROY
IT NOT,
FOR A BLESSING
IT,'
SO WILL
ALL."
We
circumstances
every
day holy by
humiliation, fasting
may
our
own
crimes and
If an inhabitant of
some other
planet, or
some
dis-
among
us
first
whence
arises the
need of
this solemnity,
its
and
what
is
dark shadow
before
noonday
burn your
cities,
it
anew
some
to the
the noi-
pestilence abroad on
over
its
met
to implore
God
to
relief
we would gladly exchange for the pestilence from God or invasion from a foreign foe. Willingly would we now accept David's choice, when God gave to him liberty to elect one of three
fearful
pestilence
King of
Israel,
"Let us
hands
into the
into the
of man."
No
rapid
we
we are
is
approach of a foreign
but
this
or
pestilence,
or
this
our
peril.
The people of
ous sympathy
but,
race,
past,
all
the
men
of policy,
turn the
turn to
God and
and
ask
Him
to
to peace
ruin.
conciliation,
and
to save us
As an ambassador
by angels
towards
Peace,"
Him whose
birth
was hailed
"Prince of
in
as bringing
solemn
jDulpit,
at such
a time and in
Xor do
be a very special
the present
crisis
in
our national
affairs,
it.
and of our
our troubles
involuntary servitude,
is
we awaken
us, us.
to
from
it
Arm
can save
Were
civili-
we can
danger arising
nation, unless
threaten
the
perpetuity
of
this
But
this
country
is
divided geographically
diverse and yet
between two
sections,
marked by two
is
by
law.
Now,
tion, T
It
is
land that her ministers and her bishops, her Ecclesiastical Councils,
Though
Pacitic,
deemed
settle;
from the
first
session in
New York
in 1785,
under the
in
Richmond
1859; and in
national
all
these not a
word on
this subject of
jDolitics
of
From
and a guide
in spiritual
matters alone,
the
it is
my
purpose to depart.
And
if
tlie
the
Protestant
Episcopal
Church, as
door.
I shall, therefore,
whether
Upon
certain conditions
it
necessary or
not
it
these questions
them
to you.
But there
is
exists
among
us,
which
it is
is
strictly
within
my
province to discuss.
And
exists, is called
upon
to
answer
God
towards
For
thirty years
and
strongest,
all
to
regard
slavery
and slaveholding
under
against
word, and
sin
and of course a
it
which excludes
who have
a part in
from the
kingdom of grace
hereafter.
here,
By the
press, secular
by books
and
lists,
tracts
by denunagita-
ciations
tions
blies
by
men and
we might
8
say,
it
had
its
origin,
our condemnation.
to
that
section
of
our
land
what do we
to
moral waste
barren wilderness as to
religious character?
integrity
and fulness of
spiritual
numbered by thousands
communicants
numbered
reality of religion in
to
self-sacrifice
and
self-denying
Christian toil
the gospel
among
the spiritually-destitute
home; missionary
and China
Howard
amidst
the
pestilence
by
St.
Paul,
by
Christ's true
and
the Church
Spirit
Holy
study of the
sacred
Scriptures
;
public
teachers of
youth
ple,
am
where
thou-
domestic slavery
well-nigh
whom would have adorned any age. And if not for all
may
Church
all
be a just
one
and
be a sharer in
of the
its
guilt.
What
I
then,
is
the
attitude
conscientious
?
come
is
make
at the bar of
God
1
a system of iniquity.
system where
I
one of
marked
features.
speak not
10
only for the Christian slaveholder, for
I
am
not one of
who have
its
influence.
:
me
one of these
He
is
born
life
in a
faces with
which
lie
becomes fami-
The
;
first
an African
he grows
to
manhood surrounded by
and learns
their faces
now become
familiar,
to regard
superior race
their distant
homes
in Africa, perhaps
Soon
and while
for
receiving the
benefit of
their well-being,
it.
And
the very
first
step he reaches
is
is
this
7iof
Tliat
lie is
responsible for
its
ilia
presence of fids
race around
Mm,
nor for
condition of serritiah
nor
evil:
was
his father
it
ceived
still
as an inlieritance,
for
good or
11
He
tries to trace
it
back
this institu-
Thus he
to have
its
its
Saxon history
nations,
and
it
still
pervading
the
great
historic
Italy,
up
Still,
satisfy
itself
his
mind concerning
it,
his
duty towards
it,
nor of
justify
for error
and wrong
right.
is
may
as well as truth
II.
and
needed,
to ascertaifi
God^s
will concerning
and a
Ghristian^^-
Word
of God.
The
entire
fill
we must be content
its
leading points.
is
The
first
of these
When
on the
earth,
domestic servitude
by law,
Roman
it.
12
war, by commerce, by inheritance, and even free-born
Romans
cir-
In the popula-
man.
Judea, transported their slaves thither, as an indispensable part of their domestic arrangement.
And
so,
indeed
it
first
man
ter;
and
it
was of
this
Roman
said, "I
not in Israel."
The
silence of
is
of slavery
that which
most
significant to a Christian
it.
man
in determining his
duty towards
He
did not
fla-
men
Mat-
rebukes which
fell
from the
uncleanness,
extortion,
oppressing
the
poor,
home upon
the peoin
until the
falls
one
how can ye
hell?"'"^'
Yet
in
33.
13
all
the
list
of woes, there
is
The next
argument
is
the
same
system.
the
men went
One
of
forth at
command
St.
them
espe-
the
Roman
and
Yet
ing and in
by
the
him, there
slaves,
not a word
man
it
condemned unsparingly
if it
but this
is
is
strangely omitted,
now proclaimed by
But look
in
detail.
some.
at the conduct
and teachings of
St.
Paul
more
and rea-
soned with the Stoics and EjDicureans in the marketplace, three-fourths of the population
were slaves
yet
not a word
falls
from
his lips
concerning
this chief
dis-
memorable
At
chief slave
mart of Greece,
months
and founded a
To
this
full
of inspired coun-
sels,
this:
14
in the
same
calling
is,
a servant?
(a
slave)
care
it
not for
rather"
but
if
thou
if
mayest be made
freedom
is
free use
that
and
is
is,
thy
it.
offered
let
thee,
accept
it
enjoy
"Brethren,
called, abide
At Ephesus,
St.
also,
where
slaves
bondmen were brought into the liberty of the sons of God and enrolled in His And writing to them afterward, the apostle church.
God."
Here, too, these
says, "servants? (slaves)
the
flesh,
God from
the heart
with
men knowing
;
man
doeth, the
same
Lord whether
he be bond or free."f
Here
accountable unto
God
for
to
Timothy
made him
many
servants as are
all
Cor.
vii.
2024.
f Eph. vi.
59.
15
And
despise
them not
faithful
Then follows Of a
like
who
is
import
"
bishop of Crete
Exhort servants
(slaves) to
own
them
in
all
things
all
not
answering again
fidelity,
good
that they
may adorn
Saviour in
all things.''f
"Crete was
of slaves from
As
Biblical scholars
men who have ever adorned the cause of Sacred literature. He says, "Onesimus was the slave of Philemon, a Colossian, who
absconded from
his
He
is
he met
whom
he was converted,
vi.
12.
lo.
16
This, then,
is
New Testament
Every
allusion
as a part of the
fidelity in
it,
by inspired
apostles recognizes
it
social
and no
is it
declared to be of itself
But there
still
is
perhaps
the
tion
more marked.
do denounce the
it
evils
in their day.
of the
was absolutely
At
wheel.
among
them by
when
the Spartan
fall
upon
fitted
It is
an insult
to Christianity,
whose
spirit is
one of
infinite
it
mercy
and
whether
approved or
The
life.
all
when he
so to
"
"
Whatsoever ye
17
them,"
treat the
The golden
rule,
bondman with
the
same
justice
and kindness
if
their rela-
were reversed.
the apostles of Jesus likewise did not hesitate
evils,
And
to
and
to
"And
is
ye masters!"
also
in
"
heaven
neither
v. 9.
Ephesians,
To
just
That
this
injunction cannot
is
mean
clear," says
Prof Edwards,
And
who
The argument
inasmuch
to be
facts
is,
that
itself
was
in
keeping with
this
view; for
in
every place
Oe't.
1835.
Timothy,
i.
10.
18
admitted into
its
Phile-
mon, of Colosse, was but one of the pious slaveholders who was a "brother dearly beloved and fellow
laborer,"* to St. Paul.
evils of
we
joyfully acknowledge.
charity,
proclaimed with
kindness and
trumpet tongue,
love.
It elevated
forgiveness,
It banished
common
share with
him
and
in
redemption
common Redeemer's
But
it
God and
Nor
of
its
three centuries
the days
fires
of martyrdom.
who was
at
Rome, writing
who,
says
"Overlook
subject
to
was burned
at the stake,
not the
servants,
neither let
them be puffed up
but rather
let
them be
more
that
they
may
obtain from
Him
* PliiUiiiou,
i.
J,
19
desire to be set free at the public cost that they be
own
lusts. '"^
not denounce
recognized
it,
overturn
It
it
by
and blessings
while
faith,
at the
same time
it.
sought to
Slaves, hold-
Chris-
to restrain the
power of
rose,
left
inhuman masters.
flourished
By
man whose
is
and that
is
freedom
to
this people
from
God',
and
He has
given
to
towards
them..
tutelar
guardian
of the
rise.
workings
mode He
has chosen to
* Epislle of I.'nalius.
'liai'. 2.
20
He
the
more
diverse from
each
By
the silver
The
Roman and
To
them
See already
how He
is
leading
on
1
in the
by
already translated
dialects
and
Above
all,
God
this child
and nurse
It
is
it
for
will give
thee wages."
a sublime
21
Christian nation, to train, to discipline a race, to pre-
fifty
millions of the
same
race.
We
it is
in this land.
And
this
us
to
decide whether
fail
we
will
fulfil
it.
high
mission, or
ignominiously under
it is
We
its
cannot
our seeking,
bilities,
if
We
cannot escape
from
shall
responsi-
we would.
But how
we
best
fulfil
that trust?
How
we prove
their
best guardians?
How
discharge our
duty towards
them
serve
in the light of
?
whom we
Will
it
not
this
too
much
to
say that
if
the
South should,
the
at
slave,
wisdom of the
God
It
all
will solve
in
His
own
time,
we do
sighted
schemes.
before
He
develops
He may
prolong the
But
in all
22
merits, there
is
It
required four
and
it
may
more
is,
extend
its
This
human schemes
all
faith, in
of impatient haste.
Many have
lost
upon
his signet-ring
was
Domine?
"How
long,
Lord ?
"
Him, with
whom
But the
us do for and
towards
them
1.
I reply
To acknowledge him
fears.
as of
selves, a sharer in a
common
humanity, a partaker of
To labor
from
Redeemer.
Who
if
the
now among
more
?
us and in our
St.
that they
would
desire to do
Paul did
at
not at
sus,
Ephe-
now
zealously
and
earnestly
striving
to
perform.
of this
Throughout the
fifteen
slaveholding
States
23
Union, there are
of
God who
feel
engaged
numbered by tens and even hundreds of thousands. Sunday Schools for their instruction in the
are
abound
preachtd
to
as
it
many of
is
to
land.
It
was
statistical scrutiny,
800,000 people,
only
House of God,
if
they so desired.
Can
of
the South?
the
number
these
is
exceedingly small
it
who do not
regularly hear
it.
own branch
is
of
Christ's
in nil
Church
and of that
cessfully at
work
to
in
the
report
the General
Convention of our
been
brought within
the
bosom of the
this
field
Church
in this diocese.
24
presented such an inviting aspect to the laborer in the
spiritual
harvest.
On
every hand
is
observed the
and the
their pressing
Word
Says the
God
Many planters
this
employ missionaries or
catechists for
purpose
to procure
so, if it
were possible
The number
is
very
Of
Virginia, I can
I believe facts
would bear
me
my
belief,
that
number
of colored church
is
members
that
in all the
denominations
equal
to, if
not
commonwealth
slave.
God
feel
most deeply
in this obligation,
Mississippi.
South Carolina.
Do.
25
means of discharging
for the slaves their
ritual teacher,
it.
T}\n
own
them a
spi-
IS'ot
a Church edifice
is
erected in town
its
made within
walls for
Sunday
care of
s<^'hools
nil
for Hdnlts
<^.'hur<"h('-.
the
lliousunds of
iiorne.s,
on
r/iistresses
assemble a por-
And
.slave,
of the Christian
relation
to
the r-hildren
whom God
h^s given
to
fiiin.
To
a
a Christian
him
relation
feels
himself responsible to
How
profound
is
masters of Virginia.
testify that
which
have
was
my
lot
to
slaves knelt by
them
I
to
Lord's supper.
have
sponsor
in
Vjaptism
for
faithful
rite.
I
slave
have
women
of
the
highest
refinement
Lord'B
and
position,
sitting
down on every
26
day
in the
slaves, to instruct
I
them
in the
girl
knowledge of
in
salvation.
consumption to be
sympathy and
love.
And
But
it
example of
towards slavery
correct
it
is
not
fulfilled until
we do our
part to
its
and we
both masto
and servants of
their
mutual
duties,
and
warn
relation in
to
"
Lord
to say
is
to the masters,
And we
that there
is
now
exists in the
Southern
States,
which
in
due time
force of
Spirit
Holy
in
There
to
poiver
South
grapple with
and
of
tmihindered hy interference
from
without.
27
word
to
the
Christian
to
There
the African
perils of the
much in your position towards race which may comfort you amidst the present crisis. You have not been wantis
this
people.
all
The
slaves of
the inheritance of
Eighty thousand
in thou-
your borders,
sands of happy homes, unoppressed by any heavy burden, wdth schools, churches, and ministers of their own,
make them
afraid."*
And
last
and not
least,
you
liave planted
from among
now
gem on
knowledge
its
heathen and
savage tribes.
Shall all tliw work continued
Shall
we go forward
mission
He
has
God's
blessed
Shall
purpose
towards
him
through our
agency?
his
final
we bear him on with us to our and triumph ? or shall we perish with him ? or
?
There
is,
to
my
the pre-
men
are to
iie
found
28
CONFEDERACY.
it
May God
in
His
infinite
mercy preserve
unborn.
And
let
God be upon
it."
us
establish thou
54
W)
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