concession, that slavery is an evil; I am willing to allow them so much—and yet defend its existence also, on Biblical grounds, and by scriptural examples. This may appear as a solicism; but let us try it. There are more truths in the Bible than were ever dreamed or conceived in our lean and sterile systems of theology, on which, if mortal souls feed alone, they will become as lean and sterile too. The masterly and arbitrary opinions of men have set bounds to that book whose depths are fathomless, and whose stores and treasures are exhaustless.
There are certain evils of a social character, that may exist in combination with the essential elements of social life—to destroy which, by hasty and violent measures, is a far greater evil; and, in such cases, the existing and lesser evil is under the protection of Heaven.
The novelty and boldness of this position may startle you, but it is susceptible of the clearest demonstration from the word of God.
When the children of Israel became tired of their theocracy, and captivated with the pomp and pageantry of regal government, they demanded a king from Samuel. Now this was downriight rebellion against God, and so he informed Samuel, who, in turn, informed Israel, declaring that their request was a political rejection of God. But, as both nations and individuals can only be cured sometimes of their folly by letting them have their own ways, God, at length, yielded to their impornuities, and, after informing them what a king would do unto them, granted them one. And although such a change in the political economy of Israel, was in direct opposition to the will of God, (so much for the Divine right of kings,) yet, when a regal government was established in Israel, and when everything became adapted to that form of government, and when the safety, the prosperity, and the happiness of all became identified and interwoven with the existence and preservation of that government and of the king, then woe to him who raised his regicide hand against the “Lord’s anointed. And, now that which was contrary to the mind and will of God, receives his protection and approbation.
Take another example. When John the Babtist commenced his public ministrations, among the many who came to him for advice and counsel, were some soldiers of the Roman army, then quartered in Judea, saving unto him, “And what shall we do?” Now, when we consider that war is one of the greatest evils of our world, that it is in direct opposition to the letter and spirit of the gospel of peace, life and love; and that John came to prepare the way for that gospel, by removing the obstructions out of the way, the greatest of which is war; when we consider all these things, it would have been expected that John would have commanded these soldiers to throw down their arms, desert their colors, return to their homes, and “learn war no more.” Such
