re I bring this essay to a close, that in
consequence of disobedience on the part of masters, as well as
servants, that the evils and calamities of slavery fall not alone on
him who serves, but also on him who rules. Therefore, the evils of
slavery can only be mitigated, or removed by obedience to the
requisitions of Divine revelations, on the part of masters and
servants. This is the only remedy. There is no other. Here is a great
principle of God's moral government of the world, which we should
never lose sight of. It is a principle of universal application. All
those evils that befal mankind in consequence of transgression, may be
mitigated, or removed, or otherwise the penalty may be averted, by
repentance and obedience to the requisitions of the Holy Bible.

CHAPTER IX.

I shall now take a glance at slavery under the Mosaic dispensation.
Whatever our views may be on the subject of slavery, if we have read
our Bibles, we know that it was tolerated and regulated by the Divine
Being among the children of Israel; no doubt for wise and beneficent
purposes. I know that it is vain for us to attempt to elevate our
minds to a clear comprehension of the moral government of God. There
is much, I admit, that to us is incomprehensible. Finite beings,
cannot fathom the Infinite mind of Jehovah. We can, however, if we
will read our Bibles, learn the will of God concerning ourselves and
our fellow creatures; at least so far as our respective duties are
concerned. This may be learned from the Old, as well as the New
Testament. Forms and ceremonies may change; but the eternal principles
of truth, righteousness and justice, change not.

Prior to the Mosaic dispensation, we read that Abraham held servants,
and that when Sarai treated her maid-servant unkindly, and she fled
from her face, the angel of the Lord said unto her, "Return to thy
mistress, and subject thyself under her hands." It is a notable fact,
that when the law was delivered to Moses on Mount Sinai, he received
from the hands of God Almighty the following words: "In it," (the
Sabbath,) "thou shalt not do any work; thou, nor thy son, nor thy
daughter, thy man-servant nor thy maid-servant." It appears that the
Hebrews under peculiar circumstances became servants; and they were
released, or went free on the seventh year. If, however, they
preferred to remain with their masters, they then became servants
forever. The Hebrews were not suffered to enslave each other