ed. For
it remains a truth that 'the wrath of man worketh not the
righteousness of God,' neither can it open his eyes to see in what
his best interest consists. O, that your ears may be open to the
voice of wisdom before it is too late! The language of an eminent
statesman, who was a slaveholder, often occurs to me: 'I tremble
for my country when I reflect that God is just, and that his
justice will not sleep forever.' Surely we have high authority for
believing that 'For the crying of the poor, and the sighing of the
needy, God will arise.' I hope I shall not be suspected of
entertaining hostile or unkind feelings toward the people of the
South, when I say that I believe slavery must and will be
abolished. As sure as God is merciful and good, it is an evil that
cannot endure forever.

"An inspired apostle says, that our gracious Creator 'hath made of
one blood all nations of men;' and our Saviour gave this
commandment: 'As ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to
them likewise.' If we believe these declarations, and I hope none
doubt their authority, I should think reasoning unnecessary to
convince us that to oppress and enslave our fellow men cannot be
pleasing to Him, who is just and equal in all his ways.

"My concern for the welfare of my fellow men is not confined to
color, or circumscribed by geographical lines. I can never see
human suffering without feeling compassion, and I would always
gladly alleviate it, if I had it in my power. I remember that we
are all, without distinction of color or locality, children of the
same Universal Parent, who delights to see the human family dwell
together in peace and harmony. I am strongly inclined to the
opinion that the proceedings of that portion of the inhabitants of
the North who are called abolitionists, would not produce so much
agitation and excitement at the South, if the people there felt
entirely satisfied that slavery was justifiable in the sight of
infinite purity and justice. An eminent minister of the Gospel,
about the middle of the seventeenth century, often urged upon the
attention of people this emphatic injunction: 'Mind the light!'
'All things that are reproved are made manifest by the light; for
whatsoever doth make manifest is light.' Now, if this light, or
spirit of truth, 'a manifestation of which is given to every man to
profit withal,' should be found testifying