alf before
_God_; seeing that thereby Divine Providence has brought them where
missionaries of the cross may freely proclaim to them the word of
salvation, and the work is not interrupted by agitating fanaticism. * * *
We regard Abolitionism as an interference with the plans of Divine
Providence. It has not the signs of the Lord's blessing. It is a
fanaticism which puts forth no good fruit; instead of blessing, it has
brought forth cursing; instead of love, hatred, instead of life,
death--bitterness and sorrow, and pain; and infidelity and moral
degeneracy follow its labours." There is no shirking of the question here.
Slavery is proclaimed to be the GOD-appointed means for the regeneration
of the African race, and those who seek to bring about the emancipation of
the slaves are branded as apostles of infidelity. Upon these grounds, the
confederate clergy appeal to Christians throughout the world to aid them
in creating a sentiment against this war--"against persecution for
conscience' sake, against the ravaging of the church of GOD by fanatical
invasion."

In their reply to this appeal, the Scottish ministers do what the
Confederate ministers professed their intention of doing--they avoid every
thing in the shape of political discussion. Among those gentlemen there is
no doubt considerable difference of opinion respecting the two parties in
the civil war; but they say nothing of that, and address themselves
exclusively to the question of slavery. Happily, there is no difference of
opinion upon that point among men who take upon themselves the high office
of preaching God's word in this country. The Scottish Ministers, in
powerful and manly language, express the "deep grief, alarm, and
indignation" with which they have seen men who profess to be servants of
the Lord Jesus Christ defend slavery as a Christian institution, worthy of
being perpetuated and extended, not only without regret, but with entire
satisfaction and approval. "Against all this," say they, "in the name of
that holy faith and that thrice holy name which they venture to invoke on
the side of a system which treats immortal and redeemed men as goods and
chattels, denies them the rights of marriage and of home, consigns them to
ignorance of the first rudiments of education, and exposes them to the
outrages of lust and passion--we must earnestly and emphatically protest."
We believe that this is the answer of the whole British community to the
appeal of the