Page:Copley 1844 A History of Slavery and its Abolition 2nd Ed.djvu/35

Rh grace of God, to adorn the doctrine of God his Saviour in all things.

But though all this proves the excellency of the gospel, it only serves to set off, by contrast, the evils of slavery. As to that most delightful epistle of Paul to Philemon, it was a matter of correct and delicate feeling, both on the part of the apostle and his convert, that Onesimus should go and surrender himself to his injured master, and receive, as a willing gift, that which the apostle evidently anticipated, and which he trusted to the influence of christian principles to produce, without a set command, forgiveness, and freedom. This was at once a trial of the sincere repentance of Onesimus, and of the christian spirit of Philemon, as well as an evidence of the apostle's regard to such things as were expedient, lovely, and of good report. But it implies no approbation of slavery; and, on the whole, it may be fairly said, that, in the whole Bible, there is not a single passage that warrants one human being in holding another in absolute and irresponsible subjection; while there are several severe censures, and awful denunciations, against the sin of man-stealing, a practice which is almost invariably connected with slavery in modern times. —See 1 Tim. i. 10; Ezek. xxvii. 13; Rev. xviii. 13. 

"A tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit, therefore, by their fruits, ye shall know them:" and what are the natural fruits of slavery?

