Lay Sermon: For The Signal Of Liberty: Number IV

ƒ have done what I could.n Original! y this remark was made respecting the woman who anointed Christ, with a mere verbal diöercnce, -'She hath done what she could. " The occasion was, ihat at a eertain time, a certaín woman ancrinted Christ, his disciples esteemcd t to be a waste of precióos ointment nlthough they wouldhave approved of i ís use in nnointing his body, were hedead and to be buried. To this Christ al ludes and eays, (irnplying that he shall soon bo laid in the.tomb) she has done whaí she could appropriately do. This anointing is appropriate - it is not a waste. Using could in the sense of could appropriately, and not in the sense that she had done every thing to the extent of her abilify. Then I propose to exnmine':S. Y. E," in his correspondence and if, as he Iriumphantly conclues his aríicle, he has done what he could appropriately do; see lf his climax is suited to the subject. He first admits the principies of the anti-slavery party to be correct, and responds "universal and mmediate emancipation," but enters his bill of excepiions to the action and course of abolitionists. I ask then,is this appropriate, is this right'? It does not admit of an argument that if the principies of the anti-slavery party are correct, they should act them out infiny and every condition in life, as were the Israelites required respecting their principies and codes. But my impression is, that, in common with the many, your correspondent 'S. Y. E.,' holds to the jjriaciple without the practico; and if I were a Yankee and permitted to guess, 1 6houldgiess that the excresceat length of the anti-slavery creed of which he complains, was the belief that they ought to act as they believed. After moving thro' his traverse avenues se vera 1 times, I am led to the belief that his principies trouble him some - that action is not exactlygreeable with his present conditton, and that he has finally fallen upon the old cant, to say of what was done lit might have been. bettcr done." Wéii this is easy enough to do. Any body, can accomplish it. But seriously, friend S. Y. E. will you not on reflection admlt, that in common vith any and every moral enterpríse or reform, the anti-slavery cause has met with many cruel and unrighteous hiadrances and obstacles - that ihough it has been unwisely managed in man v instances, it has not deviated more than, it as muchas most of its kindreds -that ií demandsyour sympathy and support. Tben you are called upon as a minister to act for the cause. Wel), you say, as an individua?, I will act, but in associated bodies, I will not. Do you well? Do you appropiateiy in this? Can you conscientiously act for evil in any capacity? Orean you more appropriately withhold benevolent action in any such condition? If you, as a minister} or as a member of the Gen. Assembly, see the wickedness of Slavery and withhold warning, and slave and slaveholders perish, are you guiltless? Look at oá Commissions given 2500 years ajo. Ezekiel, 33 chap. If you should act, then every ?nember should act,and if every tnember should act, the Gen. Assembly would act. and how can you exempt any moral or Religious body from action in the case. You suggest that the General Assembly, and otherorganizations of the church, areformed for other purposes, but how can they refuse to act on slavery? They are formed to preserve the peace and purity of the Church, and certainly Sjavery is a disturbar and defilcr of the Church. - How excuse action? But you arrogantly assert your purpose, to act where and as you please, you notify us that our efforts to get ecc'l. bodies toxpress their views even on the subject are and will still be scorned. You do as many of your fellows do, claim that because you are ministers of the gospel, you are above censure, or question; and when the charge of "bireling" is made, you do not, as you should, teach to othersto do; you do not examine yourself, and calmly show the reasons for yoar course, but in impetuous indignation, hurl back the charge, and thus more deeply fix the importation of time-serving, upon Is this righf? Do you in tliis what you can appropriately? You charge abolitionists wilh a wish to unite in unholy alliance Church and State, purposing to control both with reckless in difFerence. Have anti-slavery men used more violent means, or made more glaring assertions,or used more corrupt means to secure such ends.than temperance men have used? We challenge you to th proof. If, then, like other moral reform into which I am happy to say thatyou enter with zeal and energy, anti-slaverj has forced itself through difficulty an trial to its present position, do you well in now adding another obstaclel Nay,rather respond, "go then, good soldier, plant your standard upon the summit of liberty, and may mercy guide you and prosperity follow you." It must be apparent to any man that churches, in all their organization, shouldaim to overthrow wickedness. It is th "Light of the world," put it out, or con ceal it, and darknes3 reigns: there is nothersourceof light to the world; whateverKght other institutions is reflected. The church is the sim of our system. Then, sir, will you act wel'l your mrt if you withhold one ray even for an hour? Can you in an honest and aithful discharge of your obligation ask or advocate a raoment's truce for the Slave Powers? Think how much crime - hovv much sorrow and anguish a day of American bondage produces - kow many who are denietf their inherent rights on earth, shail find release only n that land where the servant is free Vomhis mast er, and wher they stand aproved of God, and yet swift witnesses against the oppressor and his supine sup)orters,and also against the indifièront and careless observers. Then, as we have already well nigh trespassed upon the courtesy of the Editors of the "Signal of jiberty" and asthis will conclude what I shall say, I ask you as a christian miniser once more to take your directory, the code of Christ, and examine the whole 'round, and as if before the Judgment seat of Christ give a fair decisión, see if you are not bound to pray for the slave - to act for the slave - to vole for the slave, and as you see the sword coming, wamhe people, and when we are called to our final account rnay we then in truth and with propriely have it $aid of us, 1 You have done what you could do."